This is the first time I've done a Holiday card since we've been a family. That's a bit embarrassing given my career as a photographer and past life as both a graphic designer and stationer. Add in my penchant for awesome stamps and it's all the more surprising. We wrote a message on the back (complete with custom kid art!) & mailed our cards as part of our advent calendar activity. I am pleased with how it turned out and will definitely do them again next year.
We're up at my mom's house for Christmas this year. John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album has been on repeat. Every Christmas Eve we make cookies for Santa and my son gets to have his annual cookie. It's a highlight in our normally sugar-free household. "Making cookies for Santa" was on the agenda as part of our advent calendar. It was really fun using the cookie cutters that I used to use as a kid with my mom.
Christmas morning came early, which is obviously no surprise to anyone. It was barely light outside when we started opening our gifts. Our son is the only little one on my side of the family, so the attention was quite focused on him. Next year will be a different story (did you see this funny that Honest Toddler posted this morning?) The wishes of our sweet 4 year were granted in the form of drums, a little umbrella for when it rains, Legos, and a "playhouse" (dollhouse). My brother and parents lucked out and found an awesome Plan Toys house sitting in a corner of a local hobby store for $50 (retail $240!!).
We had a great time wrapping presents this year. Our advent activity the other day was to wrap presents together. I wrapped up using kraft paper and twine and my son added the red pom-poms (with gobs of elmer's glue!!). I knew it would be a fun, doable project that would look great!
Here are a few photos from Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. What are you up to today?
At the top of my wishlist is time. Me time. Alone time. My time is pretty limited these days and with a new baby coming in March, me time will be non-existent for awhile. Other desirable tangibles include the following 9 items. All links are for lovely small businesses. Please support small businesses every chance you get.
1. Custom watercolor portrait by Danny Brito
2. Avalon by Homer Laughlin (China) I bought a decent set from a flea market 10 years ago, and I would love to add on to it. Available pieces are hard to come by.
3. Calligraphy Class with MayBelle
4. A weekday of childcare so I can go enjoy the Makeshift Society work space. I'm already a member.
5. Gift certificate to Heath Ceramics, the greatest tile and homewares place. Located in Sausalito.
6. Gift certificate to Mountain Bookshop, a lovely book store in Sonora, CA.
7. Gift certificate to Flora Grubb, a wildly unique nursery in San Francisco.
8. The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA and Canada book.
9. Home by Novogratz book
Ok, well, he doesn't know this is his wish list, but I'm sure he'd love anything from this list. If you ask him, he'd say Legos, trains, a playhouse (dollhouse), and a small umbrella. I thought I'd expand on his interests for the inquiring grandparents.
1. Eat like an Engineer: wooden railway-breadboard with dining car and tunnel cup with wooden coaster.
2. Modern Playouse: Uncle Alan is going to have a go at making a playhouse similar to this.
3. Membership to Children's Discovery Museum
4. The Commute poster by the bird machine
6. The Black Dog book by Levi Pinfold
7. The Draw and Cook: 107 Recipes Illustrated by Artists from Around the World book by Nate Padavick
8. Flip-O-Storic book by Sara Ball
9. A Home for Bird book by Philip Stead
10. Legos