stupid list

Have you ever had a "to do list" that laughed at you?  A list that provoked a challenge?  One that dared you to try and check off each task? Mine was scoffing at me last night.  I danced around it for a while, trying to figure out what to do about that "to do" list.

I tried thinking of ways to get out of a few things, I tried prioritizing and time scheduling...eventually I just gave up.  11 o'clock rolled around and I was so tired.  It had already been a very full day. I started walking towards my bedroom with the intention of scrapping my list and heading to bed.  Just about the time that I started to crawl into bed, I heard Laurel crying from her room.  It was an "I am sick" type of cry.  Yes, she has had a bit of a cold- but now it was definitely at a whole new level.  Croup.  Before long, I had humidifiers, hot steamy showers and boiling pots of water all going at the same time. Finally, she found her way back to sleep- in my bed.  On my side of the bed.  Propped up on my pillow.  And I was awake.  Wide awake.  In the far off distance I could hear my list.  It was taunting me, "ha! now it would truly be impossible for you to conquer everything on this list- there is a sick baby to deal with."  Little did my list know that I am not to be taunted at 2am.  I looked that list square in the eyes and said, "you wanna piece of this?"  And so it began...

What? Your kitchenaid mixer doesn't look like that?

48 gingerbread house cookies for the girl's Christmas Parties today. (I don't want to eat/smell/roll/cut/eat/mix/decorate/eat another gingerbread cookie for a long time!)

I downloaded this from itunes in the hopes of burning 22 CDs for Emma and Hannah to give away as gifts to all their classmates.  Yeah, did you know that you can only make 7 copies of each download?   I didn't- until after I had burned the 7th disc at 3am. That wasn't going to work for 22 students.  Quick, what to do?

Instead, Emma's classmates are getting little books.  There has been so much book love out there these days, I was grateful to have that idea tucked in the back of my brain.  I made ours with over sized index cards (1st graders love to write on lines.) The "binding" is just a straight machine stitch running down the side.  I never thought the needle would go through 5 layers of card stock!  Address labels slapped on the front made for a perfect place to write a title or your name.

Hannah's class will be receiving a "Thank God for Pinking Shears and Felt" ornament.  No, I did not sew all those buttons on- why do you think they invented hot glue?

It works don't you think?  So, onto the next task on my list.  Tired?  Pshaw, I don't know the meaning of the word. Overwhelmed?  Nonsense, there is no such thing.  "All Nighters", sick kids, Christmas Parties, weekend travel- mole hills. I refuse to go down with a box unchecked! Take that you stupid list!

Santa Lucia Dolls

A few weeks back I purchased a Santa Lucia Doll Kit put together by the lovely Alicia Paulson.  I was so excited to receive it knowing how much fun the girls would have making the cute clothespin dolls.  Waiting, waiting I was for a nice unrushed block of time to sit and doddle over this project.  I didn't want it to be one of those "slap-it-together" kind of deals. Finally the opportunity arrived yesterday afternoon.  Just in time (Santa Lucia Day is December 13th!)

We spent a little time learning about the holiday's origins, and then got right down to the making.  I decided in advance to let Laurel just do her thing.  I wasn't going to worry about her doll having one eye or blue hair.  She did pretty good.  And while her paint was drying she kept herself occupied by doing this:

(she was dipping her brush in her "dirty paint water" and coloring her lips)

Crafting with your kids always offers so many insights into their personality.  Typical Emma, she studied the directions carefully and set out to make her doll just like the picture showed.

And classically, Hannah thumbed her nose at any suggestions about how her doll should look.  She broke all the rules and made her doll with black hair, red shoes and yellow tights.

It was a fun afternoon, and I love the way our dolls turned out.  I am also loving the idea of "breakfast in bed" .  Traditionally, saffron buns are served with coffee.  The day didn't allow time for bread baking so croissants ("sacronts" as Hannah calls them)  will have to do.  Emma set her alarm early, and when we explained to Hannah that the older sister is supposed to have attendants (younger sisters) she just looked at us with a confused look.  "Nah, I think that I will just wake up at the normal time and you can make my sacront mom", she said.

not going to make it...

Well, I have come to accept the reality that my advent garland will not be totally complete by tomorrow.  I have mittens 1-12 finished, there is no way that I will get to the other 13 by the end of the day.  Oh well, I guess it will just be a "get- it- done- as- I- go- along" kind of project. 

I have all kinds of filler for it.  Three tiny little trinkets or treats will be stuffed inside each mitten. This was the really fun part (did you know that 3 things for 3 girls for 25 days equals 75 things- eek!) My Grannie (who is a feeling a bit sick...hi Grannie) gave me her old craft box.  Inside I found all kinds of vintage figurines that were used in cake decorating. I also threw in some peppermint sticks, suckers and tons of other little thrifted doodads. Next year I think I will stuff them with ornaments -much easier.

I am headed out tomorrow for an overnight shopping trip with my Tante and my cousin.  Looking forward to some girl time...have a great weekend!