Handmade Christmas

In the old days, before my design business really started to make me busy, I used to make gifts for almost everyone on my list each Christmas. This year I let myself off the hook, so to speak, realizing that I would only drive myself insane trying to get it all done while maintaining my work, my home, and did I mention I'm now homeschooling my kids three days a week?

But... there were two little exceptions this year. Two people were "blessed" with labors of my time.

For my Mama, a tray of glass bubble magnets, depicting the cute heads of her 12 grandbabies.

And for my sci-fi loving baby brother, who actually asked for interesting/odd things to put on his desk at work... a tin can pencil holder with a cross-stitched Star Trek: The Next Generation wrap (design by weelittlestitches on etsy). I changed up a few of the colors and added all of the gold stars to the background to help fill up the space needed to cover the can.

And now I might have to make a few more for next year, because there were some jealous people in the room when he opened it (the sci-fi gene is strong in this family).

Around Here

I tend to do my best thinking and writing in the morning. Before little voices and to-do lists take up their space in my head and crowd out those ethereal threads of thought that used to come effortlessly. But my mornings are now full of packing lunches and combing hair and serving vitamins with breakfast and have you brushed your teeth?

I've been letting my photos speak for me. I hope you don't mind.

There is still a hermit recluse writer living inside my skull, and she comes out to threaten me with angry words every so often. She has even mentioned bodily harm to my camera, since I keep using it as a blog crutch. I tell her often that her time will come, but my kids have to take first place. That usually calms her down for at least a week or two.

My Funny Valentine and a hand-made treasure, my Grandma's yellow bird, With One Accord, Threads, the Letter T, Old Painted Landscape, Well-loved Doorknob, Forever Young next to Forever Old Spoons, Mincemeat, Yarn, Rusty Screen keeping Treasures un-dusty.

36 Hours

For two days and one night, I shared Clara's space.
She mostly slept and ate while her Daddy, Mama, and I packed boxes.
But for a brief evening spell, she was awake and enchanting and in my arms.

 As of now, she continues to fly past her health checks, and is pretty close to the size of my firstborn on the day he came home from the hospital... but still tiny... he was only 5 pounds 4 ounces.

It is truly amazing how quickly the time goes by. He is a giant now, and I had a hard time, as I held Clara, wrapping my brain around the fact that he was so teeny not so many years ago.

While her parents grabbed a quick soak in the hot tub, I introduced our newest family member to a few of my favorite things... Whiskey Sours, Raspberries, and Star Trek the Next Generation.

She decided these things were all very exciting.

Then we went back to packing boxes.

 Which she thought was very boring, and shortly after she fell fast asleep.

Now I'm back home with my own babies and a house that has been neglected for two days and one night.

Guess I had better get busy.