"...and mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again..."

I used to think that line was just mean and unnecessary. I kind of get it now. There’s a lot more cleaning and planning and refereeing when everyone has some time off. Me, I’d like to take a little rest—I’m tired! Them, they just want to play. Me, I want to relax in a nice clean house. Them, they seem to enjoy their Christmas toys more when they are spread in an even layer throughout the house. Me, I’d like to drink some hot chocolate. Them, they would too, but I don’t want to have to deal with the aftermath of sugary bliss. Me, I’d like to sleep through the night. Them, they have a secret code: I woke her up last night; it’s your turn tonight.

Me, I really do love those little people. I'm so glad they're mine. (But man, they’re exhausting.)



On a business sidenote:

My etsy shop was recently spotted on the Rachel Ray show about cool online shopping ideas. How cool is that!? Too bad I don't have TiVo.


I am currently ordering more fabric and will be offering hostess aprons throughout the year for your various gifting and baking needs. You'll be the first to know when they are ready--thanks for all the enusiasm!

a little update

I think tomorrow is officially winter, but we've been feeling winter weather in a big way this December.



I was going to post some pictures of all. the. snow. but I can't figure out how to take a picture of thigh-deep snow that really leaves an impact. So just picture that to take the photo above (I know, enough with the berries and rose hips, Britt. (but they're pretty, sheesh.)), I had to trudge through snow that was almost waist high. No joke.




didn't last long!

We've been spending our time doing all kinds of things. In fact, it's all a big blur. I didn't even get Christmas cards done, and now it's just too late to start. I can't keep up with everything, but I am trying to make sure the kids enjoy their holiday-ness.



This is #1 and #2 right before the elementary school's annual holiday chorus concert. It was the little guy's first year, and my boy took it very seriously. I even caught him in the bathroom making his hair handsome! (He won't even do that for church.) (He has since talked me into chopping all his hair off so he can make a "faux-hawk.") And he wore a belt, too. For #1, it was old hat, and taking this picture you'd think I was trying to make her eat spinach.

merry christmas, me!

just wanted to share some girly goodness - these are genius! trash ties. click and check them out!

Rebutting My Humbug

sparkling paperwhite canon digital rebel xt

You guys are cracking me up:) Who knew I would stir up all kinds of passion? Not me!

But seriously, let’s not get too dramatic. There's tons of magic in the lives of my children even when you take out the deception of Santa Claus (which I haven't actually done yet). Who needs to believe in elves when fireflies twinkle in July? Or when the wind blows a million leaves off the trees in November and they swirl all around you? Who needs a fat man in a red suit when the snow falls and each snowflake seems to quiet the earth a little bit more? I don’t need a flying reindeer when I see plant life popping from the thawing earth to believe in magic. There’s magic in those things that exists without deception mixed in. The mere fact that the Earth is spinning and we get to see a sunrise at every dawn and a sunset at every dusk carries enough truth and magic to make my adrenaline rush. What about the miracles that happen daily? Like new life being born into the world, or answers to prayer? There isn’t a lie in that to confuse them. What about opening your mind to a new world inside the covers of a book or when you put on a hat and become someone else and a whole story immerges? Imagination doesn’t need to be thrown at them from every store, commercial and adult for it to exist and thrive. I appreciate the innocence of children and the optimism that they possess and I love the renewal of my own since children have become a part of my life.

I’m not trying to make any parent feel bad for playing Santa every Christmas Eve; I do it too. Plus the cookies are a bonus (which I would take with or without the title of Claus). So go ahead, love the magic and miracle and imagination of Santa if you really want to. But I still prefer the real stuff any day.

Spinach Leek Soup Yumminess

It's time to share some recipe love. This may sound scary to some of you, but it is my very favorite soup ever. I took some pictures of the leeks after I chopped them because they're so pretty. Yes, I find food pretty.



5 Tablespoons butter
1 lb fresh spinach (or 1 small package frozen spinach)
4 lg leeks
6 Tablespoons flour
4 1/2 cups chicken broth
4 1/2 cups water
1 teaspoon salt
8 oz. cream cheese
2 cups plain yogurt
2 cups cooked ham, cut into cubes
4 egg yolks, beaten

chop the spinach and leeks (the white part of the leeks only); saute in the butter (I do this right in my soup pot). Sprinkle the flour over the top, stir. Add chicken broth and salt, cook until slightly thickened. Mash the cream cheese and add it and the rest of your ingredients. (I usually temper the yolks by adding a ladel of the hot soup to them before I add them to the soup.)

Eat. It is creamy and delicious!! Even the non-spinach-eaters love it.



edited to add:

I origionally put 1 1/2 cups of broth instead of 4 1/4 cups of broth and left out the water. oopsie-sorry! I just fixed it, but wanted to let anyone know who had printed it out or copied it so they could fix it...

bahumbug.

Warning: santa spoilers ahead.

I don’t lie. I’m not good at it and I don’t like to do it. Who came up with this big idea to lie to our children about some dude who brings toys and then peer pressured every parent into playing along? It’s sick. SICK, I tell you.

“How does Santa fit down the chimney?” “How does Santa go all over the world in one night?” “How does Santa see what we do all day and when we’re sleeping and stuff. Does he have, like, tons of computers and lots of hidden cameras and stuff?” “Does Santa only eat cookies and milk, or does he eat other stuff, too?”

Seriously, people, I’m all out of “hmmm” ’s and shrugs and “what do you think”’s.

They have started comparing believing in Santa to believing in Jesus and God. I’m sorry, but that’s just WRONG. I had to set them straight with that one.

The other day on my way out of the bank I saw Santa driving down the street in a charcoal Toyota pick-up. He didn’t even look happy, just annoyed.

winter chill

Here are some visuals of the past couple days for you:


this was on the car window this morning when I went to drive the kids to school. (missed the bus!)


this is the reflection on the car window this morning.






the wood stove just before going to bed.

drumroll please.....

and the winner is

congratulations!

to visit her lovely blog, go HERE