The past week and a half

I don't know where the time has gone, I last posted over a week and a half ago. Nothing too exciting here - just our everyday life. I did remember to take a few pictures, so I'll add in comments to show what we have been doing.

I started a new knitting project. Quite a few, actually. I love when the decision of what colors to use, what size to make, casting on is happening. That might be my favorite part of a project.

Made super yummy butternut squash soup, had some lovely whole-grain nutty bread with it.


Cleaned out Elise's closet - the storehouse for all of the kids' outgrown clothes. Donated.

Elise has been making up funny names for her lunches. This was "tongue-twister Tuesday", with Pauletta's pesto pasta with parmesan:

I hosted book club at my house. We discussed Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.

We had a beautiful snow. I loved the shadow of the swings on the newly fallen snow:

Owen was doing his evening reading assignment, and chose to read a book to Elise. It was all so picturesque.

We went to Rockwell's Holiday Party for John. It was nice, not as good as last year ;-p A friend asked me to be at the birth of their baby. I am so honored.

Owen and Elise made us breakfast. Hot chocolate, raspberries dipped in chocalte, and chocolate hearts. Wow.

Anyone want to buy this car? John's new car is in Chicago. It's not going anywhere until all of this snow is done!

I'm working on my Nia routines - a friend has asked me to lead one song/dance at her solstice party. It should be interesting leading before a group (of non-Nia people) for the first time.

I have been thinking about this for a long time, and this year I really decided to have a non-commercial (less-commercial?) Christmas. Shopping, trying to guess what people will like/want, just the general stress that everyone seems to carry. I don't want to be part of that this year. A few friends helped me to make teacher's gift baskets for school, and I decided that I would share what I have done creatively over the past year with family. Maybe not the perfect gifts, but gifts that I have put my energy and good thoughts into. If you are a recipient of one of these gifts, enjoy if you can. Regift if it works for you. D0nate it :-) But appreciate the thought.

I did buy some gifts for my kids this year, but I think they are thinking along the same lines as I. Did you read Owen's Christmas Wish List? Elise didn't make one, but she had very few requests. We will be enjoying the days home from school, together, our warm fireplace, and hopefully MORE SNOW!

It IS snowing yet again (just after John finished snowblowing it all....)!

And last, but not least, FOAMHENGE:

With all of this cold weather, fort-building in the basement is at an all-time high. Creativity is soaring.