born imaginative.

Merrymaking

Merry making...we've done a lot of it lately. For pretty much a week, these kids have been home (with either my husband or me) because my oldest was quite sick. They have certainly gotten into the holiday spirit. More so than many other years. Not that I want a repeat of illness,but maybe I do want a repeat of cancelling activities in favor of staying home during the holiday season. While there's quite a bit we missed out on because we stayed home, there's also so much we have been able to do. Musical Christmas carols, crafts (many from an interesting vintage craft book), making cards/decorations, making treats, reading Christmas books on repeat...

It's so fun to think we have a full week ahead of more merry making opportunities! It's tempting to think of where we could go/what could we experience. There's so much to do where we live! Looking back on what we experienced this past week at home, I don't think we need to go anywhere to get into the full Christmas spirit. We have all we need right here at home.

We're decked...2016

For the first time in ages, I had nothing to do with the Christmas tree. I didn't pick it out, cut it down, put it up or decorate it. Which means the carefully picked out/organized/designed tree decor is a thing of the past for now. Which is okay, truly. It's their tree and they have been really enjoying making it their own.

Just about everyday, they have been creating a new ornament for the tree.

And those presents...just about all the presents under the tree are presents they purchased....for each other/other people. I brought the kids to two holiday bazaar/holiday sales, filled up zippered pouches with quarters and let them go. I am beyond impressed with what they got and how thoughtful they are. Audra got Adrian a book about tractors, a tractor, a cow ornament, legos and a T Rex shirt. Adrian got Audra a pink ball, a craft kit, a picture book of Charlotte's Web (her fave) and a sparkly ornament. And really, except for one new thing, the rest of their budget was $4.00 in quarters for each other! You think thrifting success runs in the family!?

I have had years of no waste Christmas success with all my cloth reusable gift sacks. Pretty proud of myself. But, my kids wanted to wrap. Wrap everything. I let them buy all this wrapping paper at the thrift store...fifty cents a roll....and my we have an assortment.

Not sure if there's any room left under there for presents come Christmas Eve, but it does fill my heart with happiness that thus far they have really embraced the giving.

And so, Christmas 2016, we're ready!

Hot Cocoa

My kids have been having fun using my grandmother's sifter for making hot cocoa mix. I don't remember where I found the recipe, but we've been doing 1:2:2 ratios of cocoa powder: powdered milk: powdered sugar. We've been doing 1/2 cup cocoa powder, 1 cup powdered milk, 1 cup powdered sugar and sifting it.

Maine is going to be bitter cold this weekend, hot cocoa will help warm us up!

Someday....

Someday I will finish this, I promise! Instead of a wedding gift, I'm aiming for an anniversary gift. Making some progress tonight is the plan.

T-Rex

My little hardworker and the poster he wanted to make.

Our ballerina

Pretty proud of this little ballerina on stage for the first time for the Nativity Ballet. Up waaaaay past her bedtime 3x this week for the show, she did it! She said she was scared, but didn't want to tell her friends because they might get scared too. You should see the performance when she does it solo around the house. She sings "Oh Holy Night" and performs her moves. So adorable.