annah pearl, birthday girl

Happy 7th birthday to my sweet girl, Annah. Funny, giving and kind, Annah is such a joy and treasure in our family.  Annah loves to dance, be silly and play with babies and toddlers. All she wished for was crafts, and more crafts and she got it!

these December days

 

 

With Mimi (my mom) and Granny (my grandmother) next door, the girls are always running back and forth between houses. These days are a blur of activity in both homes: baking, decorating, crafting and lots of "hygge" (Danish for cozy) time together is filling our days. Growing up in Denmark, I especially treasure our Danish decorations, special holiday treats and traditions like lile Jule aften and Santa Lucia day. Yesterday Mimi had the girls over to help decorate her house for the holidays. Always one to turn any gathering into a party, Mimi had cookies to make, crafts to do and treats to share around the fire.

little forest critters

There’s been lots of late night, secret knitting going on around here. I’ve been working on these little forest critters (from the book Little Knitted Creatures by Amy Gaines) for the past couple weeks, trying not to let the kids see what I’ve been working on. Once finished I wrapped them in little burlap packages and tied them onto the stairway advent calendar. I’m still working on the owl, some toadstools and the forest gnomes to complete the set. For now the little advent packages awaiting these additions are stuffed with Shane’s socks. Shhhh… don’t tell the kids! I promise I’ll get them done before the day those packages are to be opened.

For more knitting inspiration, head on over to  Ginny at Small Things and also to Frontier Dreams.

what I’m loving right now

What I’m loving right now:

 

Watching and waiting every day for that first, real, baby smile

This gorgeous Oregon sunshine and blue skies every day. Every day has been sun and more sun and it makes winter walks so much more fun.

Unpacking fewer Christmas decorations and finding less is more in the decorating department (I just need to convince my girls of the same).

Writing my first Christmas letter ever and finding it quite challenging but fun.

Watching the girls’ delight at their hand knit forest critters found in their advent package.

Having Shane home every day all day while he’s on FMLA leave and how he works so hard to help me with cleaning, dinners and baths.

The constant crafting going on and all the new ornaments being made like the paper ornament nativity scene above.

Wearing my new sweater every day.

Parties and more parties. Our tree lighting party, an afternoon of gingerbread house making, an upcoming work Christmas party (AKA the chocolate fountain party), homecomings, birthdays and more!

Getting to experience Christmas through the eyes of a toddler. The excitement of a tree in the living room, the lights, the daily advent chocolate!

town square tree lighting

Every year, on the first Friday in December, our small community gathers in the town square for the lighting of the Christmas tree. The high school band plays Christmas carols on a makeshift stage, the local weekly hands out steaming cups of hot chocolate and the small town shops that line our little downtown stay open late with live music and special treats. Friends gather on the lawn in the town square and children run circles around the tree. It's a magical, much anticipated event and one that culminates with Santa rising high on the fire truck to light the tree. With his wand ready, we count down: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6... then a sprinkle of glitter and the tree is lit.

Afterwards, together with friends, we parade the eight or so blocks back to our home, the children singing Christmas carols and skipping with arms linked, babies bouncing on mothers' backs. Once home hot cocoa and spiced wine is poured and we gather with our neighbors and friends to kick off the holiday season. Snacks are shared and new friends are made. Before bundling up sleepy toddlers and heading home, we gather around our piano where Mira and a good friend play familiar carols. Singing together we feel happy and blessed. The Christmas season has begun.

{this moment}

{this moment} – Joining with Soule Mama for this Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

and the countdown begins

To celebrate the advent season and turn our hearts towards Jesus' birth during this busy time, we read a Jesse Tree devotional every morning and the girls take turns hanging the ornaments that go with each days reading. I usually also surprise the children with an advent calendar of some kind. This year it was small gifts like knitted mice and hedgehogs, special candy and ornaments to decorate tied up in little burlap and fabric packages. I tied each package along the stairway late last night and it was a fun surprise for them this morning. How do you celebrate advent and the countdown to Christmas?