7 Quick Takes

 

If you'd like to see more quick takes, go visit Jen.

 

~1~

Only seven weeks until Christmas now! I never used to care- Superman and I were always kind of ambivalent about gift giving, but with kids around I get almost more excited than they do. I'm making several things for Christmas this year so I'm trying to be ahead of the game to get everything done in time.

 

~2~

This weekend is my first big sewing weekend dedicated to Christmas gifts. I cut out Christmas stockings awhile back but never got to sew them so I'm working on those first, followed by Superman's gift and finishing a quilt top for Ender and another for Ezra so I can get those off to be machine quilted.

 

~3~

I saw this tute for stackable Christmas trees quite awhile ago and immediately saved it to my "future project" folder. They are so cute, and I *know* I have enough scraps to make these!

 

~4~

I mentioned in my November links list that I was planning to make superhero capes for the boys. We have an awful lot of "Saving the Day!" going on around here lately.

And remember the button turkeys from that post? I'm planning on some Christmas buttoning activities too- maybe a Christmas Tree or a snowman?

 

~5~

One of the projects on my "if I have time" list is this cute yo-yo garland that I bookmarked last year. If I find myself ahead of schedule sewing-wise after Thanksgiving that garland will be calling my name!

 

~6~

Need Some advent ideas? Sarah has a few lovely posts about her Advent planning.

 

~7~

I come from a family with no holiday traditions-seriously, absolutely zero. Superman's family only has the tradition of opening gifts on Christmas eve instead of Christmas day.

When Ender was born we really wanted to think about creating some traditions for the family, and so far our Christmas traditions include decorating the weekend after Thanksgiving, spending Christmas Eve with Superman's family and coming home to open up a package of Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve. This year will be the first talking about Advent with the boys. Does your family have traditions for Christmas?

Daybook

Outside my window… It's a crisp morning. I'm just waiting for the first frost so that I can dig up the lily bulbs. We brought the little  lemon tree inside not too long ago and it's doing well.

 

We've had a few cardinals visiting the crabapple tree in the backyard in the last few days, and they boys are so excited to see new birds!

 

I am thinking… about the holidays. Only 7 weeks now until Christmas, and I will be out of town for one of those weeks. I need to spend a lot more time at the sewing machine!

 

I am thankful for… a clean kitchen. I've been making that a focus in the last week or so while I've been feeling overwhelmed with other things and it helps so much to always come down to a clean kitchen in the morning. I feel like I'm ahead on my day!

 

Always Learning… We picked up a few School Zone workbooks at the store that were pretty cheap (I think $3 a piece?) because Ender asked for some papers to do. I think that desire was born out of two things- he is *really* into writing right now, and also his friend at church goes to preschool and talks to him about bringing papers home, so I think he wanted the same thing.

 

Ender has been working his way through the Math Readiness book whenever he likes and he's been doing 3 or 4 pages at a time. Right now it's a lot of counting and matching groups with the same number, both skills he's had for quite awhile, but using his pencil to connect them makes it more exciting. He's really seeking to write a lot  and this is satisfying some of that need without the exercise of forming readable letters.

 

Ezra has been using descriptive speech lately and his 2 word vocabulary is expanding. Lots of "blue shirt" and "pretty flower" kind of talk. I'm so happy to hear his language expand now. He's been on the borderline of needing speech therapy several months, but this is the first time he's been firmly in an "average" category. He also said "love you" to his daddy the other day for the first time. I love those little words from little mouths!

 

From the kitchen… A really good potato soup earlier in the week, and on the menu for the weekend is a roast with potatoes and carrots, chili, and fresh bread.

 

I am wearing… My long red linen skirt, a black long sleeve t-shirt, and black knee socks. I really need to finish those new slips so that I'll be a little warmer in my other skirts.

 

I am creating… Christmas stockings and December lesson plans.

 

I am going… to sew like a maniac starting this evening while Superman is in class and through the weekend.

 

I am reading… Kushiel's Justice by Jacqueline Carey.

 

I am hoping… that this annoying cold clears up soon. It's difficult to blog or sew or do any of my extras when I'm asleep by 8:30.

 

I am hearing… Little Einsteins and little boys munching on crackers and cheese for snack.

 

Around the house… I’m keeping up on the minimums housekeeping wise, but sleep is definitely coming in first place.

 

One of my favorite things… Is it too soon to claim the frozen Apple pie filling? I had some last night and I'm sooooo glad that I put that away for this winter!

 

A few plans for the rest of the week … Helping Superman study for another competency exam, spending time outside while we have the sun with us, sewing, and finishing out the garden.

Our November

 

Some of our fall/November/Thanksgiving plans:

 

Thanks and Giving Trees

 

What's Alive?

 

Learning to Button with Turkeys

 

Candy Making

 

Superhero capes (shhhh! don't tell- these are for Christmas!)

 

Leaf projects: collections, rubbings, drawings, paintings . . .

 

Using some ideas from Jean Warren's November calendars.

 

Picking from the excellent Thanksgiving and Fall ideas from the Crafty Crow.

 

And our habits to build this month are generosity and kindness, particularly with brother.

I've Been Tagged!

Erin tagged me for The 8 question Meme.

 

Six names you go by:

Mama (to the boys of course!)

Honey (the husband)

Babe (again with that husband)

Erin

Miss Erin

Mrs. W

 

Three things you are wearing right now:

Navy Blue long sleeved t-shirt

Jean skirt

new argyle socks that make me really happy, but Ezra says "hippo" every time he sees them. No idea why.

 

Three things you want very badly at the moment:

Peace to some medical issues for Superman.

An answer guide on how to get a 2-year-old to sleep more than 45 minutes at a time.

May 2010 to come quickly! (Graduation day for Superman)

 

Three things you did last night/yesterday/today:

I went to bed early.

I finally finished off the last of the apples.

I just sat to knit during naps yesterday. No cleaning or keeping up. Just knitting.

 

Two things you ate today:

A ton of chips and salsa- my comfort food!

WAAAAAY too much halloween candy.
 



Two people you last talked to on the phone:

Two sisters- T and C. C called to tell us that she and her boyfriend got engaged while on her short term missions trip to the Phillipines! (He is there until January, she was only there for a few weeks.)

 

Two things you are going to do tomorrow:

Go pick up a few notions to finish up sewing projects I started last weekend.

Get into Christmas sewing!

 

Your three favorite beverages:
Dr. Pepper (I'm trying so hard to stay away from it though because it affects my sleep tremendously)

Hot Chocolate

Cranberry Juice

Consider yourself tagged if you'd like to play along!