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.