Anna's Moomins

We're home sick today, which is one of those horribly guilty pleasures for me. Obviously, I hate that my kids don't feel amazing, but we haven't missed a day of school all year, ZB worked all weekend and I could really use a day to just be. So here we are, keeping warm and mellow. We've been reading some Moomin stories this morning and playing with some very special somethings.
In the midst of all of the holiday hubbub - parties, dinners, visits, which lasted well into January for us this year - Beckett did his best to hide from the revelry (more specifically, the revelers) until a dinner with two of my favorite people. Anna, who had lived with my parents while on exchange\ and her husband Doug (who she fell for while on exchange and has been with ever since. Seriously - like a modern day fairy tale) are bright, funny, but quiet people and B came alive with them. He said later "They were quiet and kinda shy, like me. They just seemed like my kind of people." Agreed, couldn't have put it better myself. It didn't hurt that Anna loves Moomins and knew each of Beckett's favorite stories.The catch? They live in Sweden. Which may as well be Mars to a 5 year old. So after spending as much time as we could with Anna, there was a brutal goodbye. Beckett and I were beside ourselves. But Anna had one last surprise up her sleeve.She made these wonderful Moomin figures, and this great Moominpappa applique/embroidered pouch, and delivered them to B at school. It made his day. And though there were many many more uncharacteristic tears shed, these figures have become a happy way to think about our friend. Thank you Anna, if you're reading this! You changed the whole world with your visit, made it bigger, sweeter, and a lovely place for us shy people!

Whew!

It's been a hard fall off the new year's resolution wagon. Oh how the mighty... yada yada yada. It seems like I have to shoot for the moon just to accomplish the basics. The wedding show votive wraps were awesome, and highly appreciated by my sister and a few brides, but the etsy shop is in limbo (you'll be the first to know when that changes!). Zion was out of town for a week leaving me fully overwhelmed by simple things like walking the dog and brushing 3 sets of teeth. And finally, even though we're still digging out from the holiday toy, food and decoration avalanche, we threw a birthday party for our boy. Whew!

That right there is enough to make me step away from the x-acto and pick up some laundry, dishes, cooking, insert any number of neglected house chores here.

Then came snow... then more snow... then ice... then more ice. Then our power went out. Madness.

But we were safe and together, and lucky enough to flee the blackout zone before the refreeze made the roads too treacherous. We stayed with my parents and I watched Beckett come out of his (sometimes overly) cautious shell and become a sledding master on my own childhood sledding hill with a whole crew of neighborhood kids. Calder delighted at each snowball he threw,and giggled at the snowman's carrot nose. And Zion, because he works from home (or wherever he can plug in) didn't miss any of our adventures. He's a bit of a sledding master himself.

So despite the chaos and upheaval. The 4 of us homeless, snowbound vagabonds had a lovely week. Our power is back, we went to a beautiful wedding last night, and now we're in our pj's watching football. Life is good. And my x-acto is calling...

Happy 5th Birthday, Beckett!

5 is a big one. I'm not as emotional as other years, but just filled with an awe in the person Beckett is. He's fascinating. We had a birthday party for him last weekend with robots, monsters, trucks, mustaches and a few good friends. Snow fell the following morning, and we've been rosy cheeked and frosty ever since. We're expecting more snow tonight and our sleds are waiting. School has been canceled and I'm looking forward to spending the day with my 5 year old. I had an alien changeling baby once upon a time - alert, responsive, flawless skin and huge, bottomless gray eyes. I blinked and he became a clever, sensitive, articulate and aware little boy. I'm so proud and so inspired. Happy Birthday Becks!

Exciting Stuff

In my New Year well wishing, I neglected to mention that I've also been busy on a special project. My sister asked me to do a potentially lucrative favor for her; She's setting up the Woodland Park Zoo's booth at the upcoming Seattle Wedding Show and she's asked me to create some cut paper pieces to display! I know there will be tons of talent, all more professional than me, but I appreciate the chance for a little exposure.In order to make the best of this opportunity, I'll be finally setting up my etsy shop. I'm focusing on cut paper to start - cards and the like, but I'll welcome custom orders. Especially from my readers! So if you've seen anything on this here blog that piqued your interest, send me an email or an etsy convo and we'll see if we can work something out.

Thanks for your interest, and if you'll be at the Wedding Show, be sure to check out the Woodland Park Zoo's booth! They host beautiful weddings, and other corporate and private events, at a variety of unique venues within the park. Jubilate with jaguars or revel with river otters. What could be cooler than that?

Happy New Year!

Hi everyone. I hope the dawn of 2012 finds you cozy and well. This holiday season was drastically different for us, being the first Christmas since moving close to our families. More parties, less travel, new traditions and friends, and the lights and decorations of a whole new neighborhood. I must say it was the loveliest, sweetest Christmas ever. Somehow, despite the proximity to a horde of doting relatives, we had more cozy time, just the 4 of us, than ever before. Absolutely charming.
Our house is filled with such festive details, most of it handmade by the boys, especially Becks, who was my very own Christmas tomten, sneaking around leaving his childlike wonder in every corner of this apartment. There are gnomes and snowflakes, pine cones and boughs, garlands and displays and loads of pipe cleaners. The boys' even had their own tree this year. The only thing missing was the blogging. There have been times when I've neglected my blog because I hadn't made anything worth posting. Lately, though, I've had plenty to post and I just haven't taken the time. I miss the writing, I miss the community of inspiring bloggers and blog readers and I miss having this little piece of something all my own.

Thanks for putting up with me this past, lean year and I promise to be more present in 2012! I suppose this is my resolution. More posts, tutorials, patterns and all the good stuff I had in mind when I started this little blog. Happy New Year everyone! Here's to a beautiful, charming, creative year!