Christmas Celebrations 2015

Our Christmas decorations are already packed and stored in the scary sub-basement until next year. At least I assume the are under the house for now, but I refuse to go into the black abyss as it terrifies me to my very core. Really all that matters is that the boxes of decorations are stowed away somewhere until next year. I am ready to call it a day on 2015 and the Christmas festivities, but there is one last step. Blog about it! You know if it isn't recorded on the blog it might as well have not happened at all. Kidding. I have a lot of Christmas celebration photos to share, so buckle in and brace yourself for a last blast of 2015 Christmas.

Leading up to Christmas there was a Sunday School thing in church (I call it a thing because I have seriously got zero idea what else to call it--not a play---a production?) Anyway, this was Elise's first time in the Sunday School thing and Cordelia's first time with some real lines in a solo capacity. Cordelia nailed her lines with pride, but she had a shared second line...not one to be lost in the fold she took the opportunity to grab the mic and thank the crowd. You will see in the end that both girls faded by the end...


Spotted someone she knows.


Nailed it and know it.


We lost Elise at this point. She also took out one pigtail and let a boy from her class play with it for a bit.


I would like to note that Cordelia is dressing herself. When I asked her to wear legging with no holes she said, "Looks should not be important mom." Touche my child, touche. 

Christmas Eve is basically my favorite day of the year. I love the family, the tradition, the excitement. All of it is awesome! We have a family tradition of Chinese food before the evening service.

The girls at dinner.

My mom.

My dad and Cordelia.

Then we went to the night service and didn't make it home until nine. Our girls have a strict early bedtime, so they were beat!

Our family


My mother and the girls. Please note the stuffed cat with whom Cordelia coordinated outfits.


It wouldn't be Christmas if Sam were not dressed in a hoodie.



 
Too much!!!!

Christmas morning was presents at our house before heading to my parents for more presents and breakfast...and lunch.

Opening presents.

Elise

Drums

Breakfast was soooo good!

My parents and Bode.

My dad and Betty.

The day was mellow and lovely! 

Making Christmas

Over the breakfast table this morning Eric and I started discussing Christmas. We made lists of family, friends, acquaintances. We broke it down into groups of those who need significant gifts, those who might like a homemade treat (fudge anyone?) and those to whom we will need to send cards. Each year our list gets longer and longer. Mostly we have tons of cards to send. I am working on plans for the rest. 

This morning I decided to set to work on a painting to be made into a holiday card we can order now and send out to friends and family around the world. I really am happy when we can take time and make personalized gifts and cards.

Painting with two young kids around is only possible if I include them. Thankfully both girls can happily paint for an hour or more. So I have set us up and we are all busy working.

Sure I have to field weird questions like,"What color does silver and orange make?"

 In case you are wondering my answer was silvange.

Have you begun Christmas prep?

Merry Christmas

I Hope You Have a Beautiful Day!

Merry Christmas!

We Totally Don't Do Santa....

So I was not raised to believe that Santa was/is a real person. My parents did not want to lie to me (if you let your kids believe in Santa I am not your judge, so don't have hurt feelings) and Eric and I are raising our girls in the same manner. That doesn't mean that we carefully hover over our girls and make ourselves into human shields when Santa pops up. We DO NOT think Santa is an anagram for Satan. We don't want to suck the fun out of the holidays, but we also don't want to direct the focus away from the holiday. Instead we just talk about Santa, if he even comes up, as a pretend thing like unicorns (although I am still not entirely sold that those are imaginary) and Cordelia knows that the world likes to imagine Santa around the holidays. She also is very aware of the real meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.



With that said, Cordelia's preschool apparently got into it this year. She had a photo taken with Santa (who Cordelia outed as Teacher Tanya's husband) and wrote Santa the weirdest wish list ever. Here, let me show you...



In case you cannot read the list it reads:

Dear Santa,

I want a ball because I only have two. I want a friend for mama because she only has six. I want a friend for myself because I only have a little.

Love, 
Cordelia

I have no idea about anything on this list, total nonsense. When I asked her about it she burst out laughing. Whatever kid, whatever.

Hand Made For Christmas

We are trying to do a mostly homemade Christmas this year. Obviously we won't get off the hook without a little MLP (My Little Pony) gear, but we are working to make stuff for our girls, family, friends this year. What we cannot make ourselves we are looking to outside sources like other artists and crafters. I am finishing up paintings for the girls, a long overdue quilt will be completed (with a little help from my mother) there will be new hats and scarves.

Are you doing the same? Eric and I are both artists and we are selling for Christmas as well. We have original paintings on the higher end as well as prints and linocuts for most every budget. Here is our website www.planetwimmer.com Just email us to ask about prices as they vary from work to work (maria @ planetwimmer . com)


Here are several of Eric's linocuts that are available.










Here are a few pieces I have ready for print. All prints are singed and numbered, printed on high quality paper.

If you are making a purchase at Wyoming Rose Boutique (click here) use the coupon code:

ROSIE

This code will automatically give you a 15% discount on any of our items, 

including the brand new ones.  

Maybe you will find some good ideas for Christmas Gifts!

Christmas 2012

Yesterday was Christmas. Yesterday was Elise's first Christmas and the first Christmas that Cordelia was able to grasp the what and why of the day.

We generally start our celebration on Christmas Eve evening. First we got all dressed up and then we met my parents and youngest brother for dinner at a local Chinese restaurant.











After dinner we went to Christmas Eve service. My father, the pastor, led the service. My mother and Eric were in the choir. Sam and the girls and I sat in the pews. I was up and down with the girls a few times as Elise wasn't too keen on sitting around waiting for something to happen. We ended the service with the traditional candle lighting. Sam held Cordelia as she held a candle. Elise was transfixed. Finally we took a few minutes to take photos before heading home.



For the record Sam is standing on a step, but he is still super tall (like 14ft.)

We left the church just as snow was beginning to fall. It was cold and quiet and beautiful.  Eric and I put the girls to bed and enjoyed a movie before turning in for the night.







The next morning we were up and going early (I made pie before 9am). We opened some gifts at  our home and then traveled over to spend the day with my parents and Sam. We skyped with my brother Ben who insists on living on the other side of the country with his lovely wife Sara (something about work and grad school, whatever).

We spent a wonderful and laid back day with my family. The girls were happy and mellow. There was good food. My mother made amazing sticky buns for brunch (mom wanna guest post that recipe on my blog?) and later a delicious meal of tofurkey, glazed carrots, lemon nutmeg potatoes (surprising and good), fresh salad, cranberries, lefse (!), and something else I must be forgetting.
















The day was quiet and perfect and wonderful. Time with family, calls to distant family, texts to friends. Couldn't be more thankful!

OH!!! AND Eric adopted a manatee for me! Her name is Elaine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

How was your day?