Life In Color

They're Here

They've actually been here since they were delivered at the butt crack of dawn right before Christmas. The delivery truck showed up before seven!

Overcast Dawn

And on to the next project.

Christmas Magic

Christmas time was wonderful this year. We got to see lots of lovely family:

 

Bj and Tuesday with her cousins (Bj's step sister's super nice kids).

 

Family that loves you no matter what. Like my uncle loving Tuesday even though when he picked her up she spit up on him... straight into his mouth (for real I was so shocked I couldn't do anything for a moment).

 

You get to play with paper even though most of your days your mama is trying to keep every scrap away from you.

 

You get to give presents and steal presents and then do a crazy dance with Snuggies. Loved going to my aunt and uncle's for Christmas eve this year. It was the first time in many years we've been able to go and it was wonderful seeing all my crazy family. 

 

You get to see what Santa brought and spend half the day in brand new jammies.

 

You get to hear from loved ones near and far. Score one for getting cards out this year and getting back on people's lists!

Indeed not only was this season wonderful, but this year was truly my favorite yet. I have never felt so blessed, so tired, so loved, so full of everything. Of course I have wants, and that is something I'm going to work on this coming year, to be at peace with what we have and what we're doing. It's not always going to be perfect, but when I look around I know that we have it better than most. I'm not saying that to brag, but rather to be so thankful that we were optimistic enough last year to know that it could get better. 2008 was just sad enough, even with the house and being pregnant, loosing grandpa was rough. 2009 was all about new and light and happy and I love that. Life is good, 2010 bring it on.
 
 
 
 
 

 

Back in the home reno game - beware!

I decided to paint Bj's office yesterday and today it is done! This kind of lickity split do good home reno thing has not been happening for me lately (see my many, MANY unfinished projects). But I did do it for a semi selfish reason, so I could move all my junk in! I need a place to stash my stuff while my room gets a make over. All though after scraping and sanding and panting and scrubbing floors I'm not looking forward to doing the den, so maybe I should have done mine first. Wait that wasn't the point of the post. This is:

 

See this seemingly innocent finial sitting on this table?

 

I lept out of Bj's hand from here (and nicked him along the way, he's not having the best luck on whenever he steps on things above about a foot; stools, ladders, they are all dangerous for him).

 

It just went thunk (after Bj did this juggling move to make sure it wasn't going to hit his computer monitor) and we both stared at it. Then we started LAUGHING OUR ASSES OFF. Seriously I have not laughed that hard in a while. I would have never guessed: A. That this thing was so sharp and B. The table so thin. Bad combo.

Obligatory cute baby experiencing first Christmas photos and stories still coming. This was just too funny not to share.
 
 
 

Princess of all the baby girls

"Bj she might pull a bead off in the car."

"Well she might be adorable."

Adorable wins :)

Merry Christmas

The clock just rolled over to midnight as I sit nursing tutu. Christmas eve was wonderful, visiting with so much wonderful family that I don't get to see nearly enough. Now I just need Miss New Christmas Pjs to finish up so I can climb back into bed. I pulled off a Christmas surprise and in addition to Bj new flannel sheets await me. Bj has been wanting flannel sheets and I managed to buy (at an insanely low price, deals baby deals), wash, dry and make up the bed without Bj noticing today. Here's hoping your holiday includes a little magic too :)

Also of note: the above photo was taken yesterday while Tuesday took a TWO HOUR nap. It was on my lap, but still!!!

Elf in Training

That was what was written on Tuesday's shirt today. I feel like an elf in training too, trying to get all the little things done. This really is my favorite part though. I'm so glad we are all feeling better (and are staple free :) so that we can spend these last few moments before Christmas enjoying each other and our little projects. 

 

I don't really know how to embroider, it was a total guess job. But Bj loved the results (this is the beginning of the fourth one of these I did). There is something about seeing plain text or objects embroidered that is so neat (speaking of, I love this).

 

Checking hat sizes. Still no teeth on top, I can not believe it!

 

One new thing I started doing in the last few days is this method of wrapping gifts in fabric taken from the Japanese called Furoshiki. I made square pieces fabric from my stash and turned the edges under twice and sewed them down to make them nice and finished. Then used this guide to tie my packages up (I also printed it and cut out parts of the sheet for tags). I got the idea from a blog entry from one of my local fabric shops: Bolt. Check it out, they also list a cool book dedicated to the topic. Bj said, "Just when we have our cool wrapping figured out you come up with a new thing to try." It's true, I really do like our 29 cent a yard (from Paper Zone) kraft packing paper and simple re-usable ribbons (the idea is featured here on The Ribbon Jar ideas page), but there is still so much waste. This past weekend we got to spend time with Bj's parents, his step-sister and her family and when kids go at presents it can be mayhem! Plus where they live there is no recycling (which I still can not believe, it's terrible!) so even our un-printed, un-bleached paper got tossed, along with glossy plastic type paper and ribbons that will take a long time to break down. The fabric option is not going to work for everything, but for gifts with in the family, or people who you know would appreciate it, it works great. Plus I think it's super cute! Now off to wrap some more presents! 
 
 
 

Drawer fun

"Mama did you know this whole drawer is full of Tuesday sized papers and cards?!?!?"

Dang I knew she'd figure that out eventually. At least she didn't open the one on left full of tiny things and sharp things!

Denile

Oh man am I ever in denile about how quickly Cheistmas is coming! I am trying to squeeze in little projects but I am sick. Ugh and sick of being sick! I powered through a whole box of Kleenex in 24 hours - go me! Since I had my christmas paper crafting goods out for the daily album (that sadly did not make my list of must fo projects) I decided to whip up some tags. I really like the tabs turned alien creature ones. Because this is a mobile entry I can't add another picture to it, but if I could I would show you how Tuesday decided to "help" me by demolishing my card drawer. Time for more baby proofing! Oh and I edited this in Photoshop mobile, a cool free app. Hope you are all getting things done in time, and having fun doing it!

I call it optimism

So things are a little crazy around here. Husband with staples in head, daughter with the croup (it's getting better thanks for the well wishes), and now me with a sore throat, stuffy nose, cough... dare I say it? A cold! All this has not stopped me from working on ordering supplies for lots of Christmas crafting. First off True Up had a felt week and I just had to get some yummy part wool felt. I decided to try two different sellers to see what I liked.

 

That lovely stack is from Giant Dwarf and it's 20-35% wool. 

These are from Lit'l Brown Bird and are 60% wool. I'm not crazy about the packaging on the latter. I also got their color card, you know for all the wool crafting I'm sure to do:

Of course that's not all the wool in this house, oh no. I still have fiber clubs coming to me:

Hello Yarn Fiber Club

Southern Cross Fibre Club

Now, never mind that Bj has banished my wheel to the basement since he thought it was getting dusty. 

And in case you didn't know there is going to be a new yarn shop in town called Teaslewick Wools (cutest name ever right?). The propitiator just happens to be my neighbor and friend. I am in so much trouble people. Now the baby is sleeping so should I sleep or craft? I think I might have to sleep, but hopefully crafting is in the very near future. Or I might just be making a bunch of IOUs!