Another Handmade Christmas

Who doesn't love a handmade gift? Or, perhaps a better question, who doesn't love making homemade gifts? Ok, maybe not all of us, but with Pinterest we can at least imagine right??
I for one have really come to love both. They are personal and sentimental and I get to be creative and artsy-fartsy.
I have wanted to re-do/DIY a play kitchen for Charles for a while now but lack of time or finances or 'that-perfect-entertainment-center-to-turn-into-a-little-kitchen-that-fits-my-imagination-and-small-apartment' have forced me to put it off. Until about four days ago. A good friend of ours found this at a thrift store and being the nice woman she is, thought of us. Thus, the beginning of my last minute DIY project to get done before Christmas morning!

In need of a little work but with not much time to do it in, I decided to simply paint it and change out the knobs for now. So on Christmas Eve I headed to Home Depot, bought some paint and hardware and got to work.

I wont get into the details of the struggle it was at the beginning to get this thing painted but let's just say that my mom came home to see me trying to rock a screaming Lawrence in his car seat with one hand and paint with the other. Needless to say she came home at the right time! 

Here is Charles' face on Christmas morning when he saw his new kitchen. 

Worth it.

Nana and Papa got some pots, pans and dishes too

I am so happy I was finally able to get this for Charles and I know he will have lots of fun with it. Big thanks again to our friend who found it for us, you know who you are :)

Speaking of handmade gifts, here is the quilt my Grandma Betty made for Lawrence. We picked out the fabric together while she was home for Thanksgiving. I love it, it's perfect!

And for the grandparent's gift this year I made shadow profiles of the boys. I love how they turned out!

12*12*12

Twelve thoughts..

1. It is both weird and wonderful when I catch myself saying, 'the boys' in reference to Charles and Lawrence. Am I really a mother of two??

2. Tomorrow is my first interpreting job since June. Hoping I'm not too rusty.

3. I love the new holiday drink Caramel Brulée Latte at Starbucks.

4. The postpartum hair loss has begun. At least Lawrence is going though it with me :(

5. I need to buy some eggnog and make eggnog bread ASAP

6. My Christmas wish? A trip to Brooklyn.

7. It's really amazing what a cup of hot cocoa and some quiet time can do to my mood.

8. I am so thankful for free activities to do with Charles (and Lawrence), libraries, the playland at the mall, free admission to the Children's Museum.. all wonderful things.

9. I love that feeling deep in my heart that comes with cuddles from Charles and Lawrence. Thank you Jesus for my sweet boys.

10. I have the best husband. Hands down.

11. I pray that my boys will grow up to love and follow God with their whole hearts.

12. The new season of Downton Abbey starts January 6th!

Snowed In

I have to admit, the snow is pretty, but it sure puts a damper in any plans one might have. We didn't leave the house at all on Sunday. I was supposed to have an interpreting job that night but had to cancel  and yesterday me and the boys were stuck at home too.
But we made the most of our time inside. Chris and Charles went out in the snow and made a snowman and snow angels. We drank hot chocolate, stayed in our sweat pants, colored, and baked. Who can complain??
I took these pictures of the boys from the warmth of our apartment. Lucky thing we live on the first floor.
  
Behold, Pioneer Woman's French Breakfast Puffs. If you haven't tried them, please don't waste any time and go make them now.

Three Months

I took more than a hundred photos of Lawrence to get this (almost) smile.
Worth it.

Most of the time all I got was a disinterested stare or crying.  

 

Oh yea, and the perfect smile, blurry :)

And for Rachel, and for those of you who know her, a turtle face! 

The past three months have flown by. I love my little mister more than words can say.

Movember Moustaches and Morning Cafés

Auntie Rachel came to visit over Thanksgiving and brought these super cute bearded hats she made for Lawrence and Max. They are sooo cute!

  

This was Lawrence's first time meeting Auntie Rachel

I know I speak for Jess too when I say we are so happy our boys have Rachel for an 'Auntie' and that we miss her loads and loads. Ray and Jess took me out for a delicious birthday breakfast (and the best vanilla latte ever) at People's Organic Cafe that was so special to be the three of us together. Thank you friends. I wish we had gotten a picture! dang. I guess we'll just have to go again over Christmas. (right girls?)

While she was here we made a morning trip to Isles with Charles' other special 'Uncle' Ishabor for some puppy tails. YUM.

 

 I love my friends and I love cafés and when the two come together it is truly a wonderful thing. 

little things make the difference

Sometimes it's the little things. Like watching your little boy enjoy his first hot chocolate. With 'shem-shallows'  of course (marshmallows).



A little sticker representing one vote out of millions. Did you get yours?


Making the most of our limited space and giving Lawrence his own little corner in our room. Little elephants, owls and prints make it a cozy place for our little mister.


I love every little thing about L, especially his little mohawk

Two Months

Our Handsome Fella is TWO months already

Carrying the Banner

This is the first year Charles has really participated in Halloween. Chris and I weren't sure we were going to do anything but decided that we would give it a go. Our good friends the Hildens invited us over to their house for pizza and trick or treating in their neighborhood so after a stop and Nana and Papa's house so they could see Charles, we headed out for some Halloween fun.

I had wanted to dress Charles up as a garden gnome but he was not having it. What did he want (agree) to be? A NEWSIE! Be still my Jack Kelly loving heart. It was a bit last minute so I had to make do with what we already had. Good thing I snagged this hipster vest at Goodwill a few months back.

'neva fear, Brooklyn is here!'


We switched out his conductor's hat for a more newsie-esque one that Papa lent us. With a paper tucked under his arm the costume was complete. "a penny a pape!"

'what's a matta? You scared a Brooklyn?'

It was so fun to see the little kiddos dressed in their costumes. Max was Max from Where the Wild Things Are- isn't he darling?? I could eat him up :)

'let the wild rumpus start!'

'look at this, 'Baby Born With Two Heads'.. must be from Brooklyn'

Charles had such a fun time. Thanks Hildens for inviting us!


And Jess, this one's for you:
'dear me, what is that unpleasant aroma? I fear da sewer may have backed up durin' da night'
'nah, it's too rotten to be the sewers.'
'it must be... the Delancey bruddahs!'

I will most definitely be watching The Newsies today.

Sewing Project

A growth chart for Hannah.

 

Love at First Scoop

I love pumpkin. It' one of the best things about fall. Pumpkin bread, pumpkin scones, pumpkin butter, pumpkin PIE! The only thing I don't really like pumpkin in is drinks- not a fan of pumpkin spiced lattes. I'll stick with my dirty chai thankyouverymuch.
Last fall I discovered another pumpkin love. Pilgrim Joe's Pumpkin Ice Cream from Trader Joe's.



Now, don't misunderstand me. I have had pumpkin ice cream before and loved it. It's one of those seasonal things I look forward to every fall. But THIS pumpkin ice cream blows all the others out of the water. or the park. or whatever..

I bought some last October and knew I had found something amazing the first second it touched my tongue. The rich creamy texture, the spices, and the amazing pumpkin flavor, all partying together in my mouth. Like a perfect waltz. I made a mistake, though, that has haunted me ever since. I only bought one carton. Thinking that it would be around at least through Thanksgiving I figured that I would be able to get another when we finished the first. Wrong. They  had completely sold out by the end of October! WHAT?? So I was left to only dream about this wonderful frozen goodness and cry myself to sleep at night wishing I could have just one more spoonful.. ok, maybe not that bad.

Anyway, as the cooler weather approached this year I was anxiously waiting to see if they would have it again, and when. About a week ago we got our newsletter from TJ's and I rushed to the store as fast as I could. Behold! There it was! and pretty well stocked, for now. Not wanting to make the same mistake as last year I quickly put three in my basket and headed home. Yes, that's right. I bought three. I am not ashamed. I am determined to make them last as long as I can. Or at least until Thanksgiving. To be honest, I don't know if I should even be sharing this with you because if you know whats good for ya, you would run out and get some as well. But then there will be less for me.. if I cant control myself. which I can.



Ya know what, forget it. Forget everything I just said. It's not that good. honest.