Hollyhocks

Handmade Christmas

 

Well...the bows are crushed, the paper is torn and my living room is a Toys 'R' Us annex for the 'under 6 months' set. It was a beautiful Christmas. Just sitting in the dark by the tree with our dog and our 2 best gifts would have been perfect...but, alas...we continued our beloved tradition of wretched excess. We're Christmas people here. The teapot has been on my wish list for a while so I am delighted to make a "steaming hot pot of tea" every morning now.

 

The books are from mom and the DH, loving the Amazon.com Wish List feature... the baby food books are part of my desire to make most of the twins' food...which will be a PLEASURE...thanks to the twins' godparents who got this for us...

 

It's a masterpiece of French design that steams, purees and cooks all manner of fruits, vegetables and meats...Yipee!!! I can't wait to play. We're on rice cereal now so it will be a while. I do love my household appliances...no jewelry for this girl!!! Don't even get me started about the "pet hair eraser" the DH got me...

Now, on to the handmade part...I like to give handmade gifts...partly to support like-minded individuals and partly to avoid giving mass produced items that everybody has. I made rice heating packs and travel tissue holders for the day care ladies. I wrapped them with peppermint hand sanitizer and vanilla lotion and forgot to take a photo. This was sent as a gift for Rory from a lovely local blogger....

Thanks Tina. I love it!!! 

 

Just before the babies were born, I ordered this from Etsy...

 

The DH was a bit jealous so I got these for him for Christmas...cufflinks...

 

After I told her that I would try to win the chance to buy a twin bear for Kitten, Julie  generously offered to make a brother for Pia and I greedily ordered 2 cakes too...I am a little afraid to even write this because I don't want to expose Julie to angry emails as a result of her generosity.

 

Her work is just flawless...and so darn cute.

   

This print, from The Black Apple on Etsy, reminded me so much of Rory and how I imagine her as a young woman, that I had to get it for her...

 

So, thank you to those of you who make things and those of you who write books about making things for making our Christmas even more meaningful.

 Poor Rory left for day care last week, dressed thusly, and returned home in her "emergency outfit"  looking like she dressed herself in the dark. The twins had their first bout of the flu, thankfully brief. They are with me full-time this week which is both magical and tiring. God bless you, full-time moms!!!

Send me your suggestions for homemade baby food...I'd love to hear what you made for your children.

I'll see you next year! We're going on a date tomorrow. My brother and his girlfriend got us a gift card to the fondue restaurant, The Melting Pot, and they're babysitting. We would have been happy to just drive around and eat sandwiches in the car...but this will be great fun.

All is Calm, All is Bright

 

We'll be celebrating 3 miracle births this year. Merry Christmas to all!

Notes From the Buzzy Chair

 

Hi Everybody! Rory here...or should I say Aurora Paige, Goddess of Dawn...Mom's up to her eyeballs in laundry (Kitten has been spitting up buckets) so she asked me to post and tell you about our going's on..

 

We were baptized on the 7th and it was quite a day. Kitten wore his great-grandfather's 100 year old gown and I wore vintage...a dress mom bought from Pretty Petals. Mom made us linen bibs lined with something called "Binky". Here I am in my car seat, waiting for church to start. I was pretty uncomfortable but I didn't want to wrinkle my dress. I slept through most of the service until a man washed my face and mom cried. I was a perfect angel. Kitten, on the other hand, did that fake cough thing he does before he cries and once he fell asleep Uncle Scott had to remain motionless for over an hour to keep him silent.

 

After the service I changed and went to coffee hour for a bottle of milk. Which reminds me...Kitten and I went to the pediatrician (mom calls him the Vet sometimes when she forgets) and I am in the 74th percentile for height. Kitten is in the 77th. We are both over 2 feet long! My uncle Chris has to duck through doorways and I may be headed that way. Not to worry, mom says most stores carry talls now. Developmentally, I think I'm on target. I stare at these things at the end of my wrists a lot. I think I may be able to use them as tools...

 

I like to sleep in the stroller and the car seat and when I talk I usually say A-GA or Herr-Goo (mom says that's the German in me). We tried cereal last week...

 

I'm still not completely sure that I like the stuff. I'm being polite about it though. Kitten, on the other hand, is eating like he's starving and cries when mom and dad don't shovel it in fast enough. They keep telling me that Kitten and I will be best friends, but where am I going to go with someone who looks like this?

 

Mom says she's going to have to send him to college with a bib.

All in all things are going pretty well. I get my arm stuck through the crib rails sometimes and scream for help, Day Care doesn't always change my whole oufit when I spit up so I sit in my bouncy chair looking like a rummage sale mannequin, but I still smile at everybody. Dad thinks I'm the cat's pajamas so that's going well. I'll keep the coos and smiles going his way until I am old enough to make out an extensive Christmas list...

 

Cadbury the Dog has been dropping toys in my chair so I think we'll be great friends as soon as I can throw a ball. It's been nice visiting with all of you. Have a great day everybody...or as I like to say..Herr Goo!!!!

4.5 months

 

We have a winner...

 

According to the Random Number Generator, the fabric winner is....Karen at Recycled Rita. Please send me your address and I'll have your fabric in the mail soon. Congratulations!!!