Bethlehem Dinner

This is the second year we've had a special dinner on Christmas Eve.  Another idea I got from a family I knew in Dallas.  We attempted to dress like and eat as the people of Israel would have 2000 years ago.  (I know we're waaaaay off)

Of course Christmas Eve is a crazy time for parents, right?  And of course we (should I say "I") procrastinated making our gifts from the heart until Christmas Eve day, so the house was a wreck, we had company coming, and I had yet to make the dinner.  So our outfits definitely left something to be desired (ha, just check out our "sashes"-- old tights, we have plenty of those).  And I didn't comb any one's hair, either.  But it was the thought that counted.

Again the kids and I made this bread together.  It's not as hard as it looks and they loved helping me braid it.  And man alive, that stuff is good.  (I linked to a recipe from Smitten Kitchen, but I used a recipe from America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook)  In a way, it was nice to have a mini-cultural lesson aside from the Christmas thing altogether.

I was really nervous about asking guests to sit on the floor and eat with their hands.  But they were very good sports.  And my kids just loved sitting on the floor and eating with their hands for once!  And I shut off the lights and lit a few candles, and they loved that too. Christmas gets so crazy with all the things that start to seem like must-haves.  Including the fancy tree and presents.  Yet sitting on the floor, eating basic food with our hands, remembering the humble circumstances surrounding what I want my kids to see as the real reasons for our celebrating Christmas (this is just my family!  Christmas can mean different things to different people, or maybe your family celebrates Hanukkah or Kwanzaa).  It brought the simplicity home.  And that special Christmas feeling sunk into all hearts.  And it brought so much into perspective-- just how much we have to be thankful for.  (we joked that at least we weren't sitting on a dirt floor outside!)

When we were finished we watched these beautiful Luke 2 videos. 

Things got really quiet and a little more somber, for lack of a better word.  I knew they were thinking.  The Spirit of Christmas was really strong and quiet.

We exchanged our little handmade gifts.

 And we topped it off by having pie and milk in the kitchen.

O Holy Night.

This dinner was my idea, my husband is supporting me by making sure people feel authentic.  If a brown or pink towel make you feel authentic.

It's a good thing I'm taken, or I'm sure they'd be knockin' down the door about now after seeing me in this photo.

 My father-in-law graciously accepted the task of making this dish.  Probably much more "authentic" than I would have.  He is a great cook-- it was yummy.

 Huh!  Didn't notice Bob Cratchit carrying his little Tiny Tim in the bottom of this photo until now.  Perfect for Christmas Eve dinner.

 Paper plates extra authentic, too.

 And a little boy who is much more interested in cup stacking than dinner.  Maybe the tights around his waist have affected his appetite.

Gift From the Heart

Okay, I have one of those confessions to make.  Yes, I thought yesterday was Friday!  Oops.  So here is a quick post for the real Friday, today.  My husband had to tease me for this a bit, because when he told me it was Friday I didn't believe him! 

(Since we moved our littlest boy and girl into the same room a couple of months ago, I've been wanting to make their curtains a little more gender neutral.  Since I had the baby's name, I made these curtains for him and Ava.  Not the most exciting gift -- last year we made him a shaker from a plastic bottle-- and I'm not the most stellar seamstress, but I'm really pleased with how they turned out, my bullet sweating notwithstanding)

Last year we started a new tradition in the family called "gift of the heart." I got the idea as an LDS missionary serving in Texas when I was in my low 20's and was invited to a kind family's home for Christmas. I was so impressed with their family and the way they celebrated Christmas that I tucked their ideas away in my head but only last year did I finally try them out. This has been a great experience for all of us. Its fun to see the kids get into it and fun to see what they will choose to make for their sibling. It is nice if it is handmade (a couple this year weren't, but that is ok), and has to be under $5.  I'm sure as our kids get older these will get better.  

 Four year-old Ava wanted to make her sister a pillowcase, so she picked out this fabric and the design and I made it. 

 Like what the baby made for my husband?  Polka dot curtains for a little bathroom privacy.  :)

 My six year old made this for me (incl. picking out the fabric) with help from me, but I let her push the pedal.  Isa, my nine year old, made little pockets for all with initials on them.

My 11 year old wanted to make "wings" for his 4 year old sis.  He mostly made them on his own.

My husband cleaned some windows for me that needed it, and one girl used her money to buy brother a latch hook kit to replace one he lost.

I enjoy that my kids are learning the true spirit of giving and enjoying the feelings they get when they gift their handiwork and hard work.

You can view last year's gifts here, toward the middle of the post.  I am probably helping a little too much, and I don't know how in the world this stellar seamstress got stuck sewing so many things, but I've loved the feeling this little gift exchange has had on our Christmas Eve, to usher in the special day.

A Happy Christmas Peek

With all the fam home today, we are going sledding soon!  So here is a little Christmas snippet.  We had a wonderful Christmas. 

It's funny because we thought the littlest boy in the family was too little to really "get" Christmas.  Yet it has been such a joy to watch him have so much fun with his new little cars and trucks.  He didn't put these down all day.  An aunt present.  So cute, right?

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas and have a great weekend! 

Anti- Perfectionist Christmas

This year I have let go of the inner perfectionist a bit and it is so liberating. :)  See my stocking hangers with yet again no photo inside (5 years?), usually I hang three but couldn't find the third and didn't bother to look for it (though I have all the stockings).  One thing I love about Christmas is that decorations don't have to be perfect because they are temporary!  I love how homey and cozy my house feels, especially at night, during the Christmas season. 

My hubby, who has been a little distressed by my attitude this year, has taken on the role of perfectionist in my place.  He spent some good time creating a Christmas letter like this classy vintage example and it looked fabulous (I was going to send the photo card out without a letter, this was heresy in his mind, so he took over the job, which in fairness, he did last year too).

In place of neighbor gifts, we got together as a neighborhood and donated to a charity.  This has been a relief, though I do love giving neighbor/friend gifts and hope to be back up to the task at some point in the future.

For a fun tradition we did last year, called "Gift from the Heart," see this post.  It was such a good experience we are doing it again this year (late as usual).

 The tree with no star and eclectic ornaments and a line where our arms could no longer reach.  With no presents underneath the tree yet.  Normally we try to get them wrapped in advance for increase of anticipatory childish delight, but we've been behind this year.

 One of my favorite ornaments, an egg we bought in Prague at the Christmas markets when Isa was a baby.  And note the gold-ish plastic ornament we paid pence for :) in England when K was a baby; we didn't have hooks so we used paper clips which are still in use.

 I love all the ones with photos on them!  Cute sideways smile.  So fun to see how they've grown, though it makes me sad, too.

We get ornaments from family in Maine each year, these are some of my favorites too.

 Vintage decorations that were my grandmother-in-laws. :)  And some seconds we bought at the Spode factory in Stoke-on-Trent.  And quintessential Dickens.

 This is what my living room looked like on one busy day this month.

While little ones play happily, oblivious to the mess.

My very favorite decoration, given by my mother-in-law the Christmas before she passed away.

What are your favorite traditions?  Do you have a pretty tree or an eclectic tree like we do?  Or maybe you can pull off pretty and eclectic? 

Happy Birthday to Me

This picture just makes my heart melt.  And my frosting.  And my candle wax.  And just in case you are wondering, those cute little sticking out candles correctly represent my age-- the big 3-6.

I've been having a little mini mid-life crisis (nothing major, I promise) over the last few months, though I haven't mentioned it to anyone.  I have never had a mid-life crisis before, this is a first for me. :)

Up until this year, I always told myself that relatively speaking, I was still young (and still am! I hope to live to a ripe old age).  That I have lots of opportunities still ahead.  And I have reminded myself of all the people who have accomplished important things in their 30's and beyond (this woman inspires me!).  But for some reason, turning that leaf over into the upper 30's has had me panicking a bit.

It doesn't help that I have started having arthritis in my hands.  I wondered why my joints frequently felt achy and stiff until it hit me that I am already getting arthritis.  Ug!  Already?

But seeing my kiddos being so sweet and thoughtful makes me realize that it has all been worth it.  (remember last year?)  Aren't they so sweet?



Here for your laughing pleasure, a poem I wrote the night before my 30th birthday.  I never have been able to tweak it quite enough to like it (except for the end), but you get the picture. :)  Any suggestions appreciated, as always.  :)


On the Eve of My Thirtieth Birthday

I held you till you fell asleep

Your little body curled up to mine--

Still.

Then, reluctant arms

Put you to rest;

I looked over to

Your sister, sleeping

Like an angel

In her three year-old

Dreams.

When I looked in on

The big(ger) boy,

His legs propped like the poles of a tent,

Red cheeks from the uncomfortable heat

Of winter colds.

I held his hand for a minute

Or fifteen,

Smoothed his soft-straw hair,

Remembering our

Buddy-hood.

Felt his little heart beating in his chest,

Remembering the first time I heard

That sound,

An inauguration into the most

Beautiful

Awe

Of Motherhood.