christmas day

christmas eve, part two

My favorite night of the year- the big family Christmas Eve celebration - Santa, cousins, cocktails and many, many presents. Just a few pictures . . .

christmas eve part one

Some pre-Christmas eve shots.

crochet, mama

I just finished this scarf . . . and rather then knitting, I crocheted! And I can't share too many too many details because it's a gift on it's way to a dear friend.

it's a pattern call chain mail - very fun to work on. Hopefully she will like it - I am going to request a picture of her wearing it for the blog

card shark

One of my favorite things about my parents visiting is that we play cards nearly every day. E joined us tonight for "65" - which is kind of like a progressive gin rummy. He ended up in second place and made it through the whole game. The soda pop and chex mix didn't hurt.

09 cookie exchange

egg nog logs, lemon rosemary shortbread, peanut butter cherry coconut bonbons, jam thumbprints, coffee crisps - it's a good cookie exchange year! No blizzard to keep us from sharing. yeah!

yeah christmas!

em's first little girlfriend

Em has been in a class of all boys since she was five months old. She loves her boys but definitely talks a lot about her official first girlfriend, who happens to live across the street - Margaret. Margaret is very serious - yet very funny, even wry. While they haven't started interactive play, they do circle each other a bit and play next to each other. I am looking forward to seeing their friendship grow

e's birthday

7! My best boy is 7! What a great celebration we had! I don't have words yet to put it all in perspective but here are some photos from his big day, from breakfast to party time.

yeah Wisconsin

Another year, another lovely trip to Wisconsin.
We took our Christmas card picture out in my parents' woods. We marched out a bit and found a great rock and picture-perfect log, hoping no wayward hunters would pick us off.

We spent some time out on the farm. Emme and Ev fed the llamas and an old donkey that Em believed was a pony.

E rowed around the pond like a pro.

And of course, candy bloomed on the candy tree the day we arrived. Em was thrilled!