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Happy December!
The holidays are half over! I love and hate this time of year. It feels like September was yesterday but if you blink too long, it will be February already and time to start thinking about doing taxes. Blah! But I do love the festivities and coziness of winter. I just wish I could slow time down a little. Summer lasted forever, why can’t winter?
Payam and I hosted thanksgiving together for the first time. It was a really huge, big deal because my parents got to meet his (mom and uncle, his dad passed away a long time ago) for the first time. I knew they would like each other, they’re roughly the same age, same interests etc.. but they come from vastly different religious and cultural backgrounds.
I was actually way more nervous about cooking than I was about everyone getting along and to compensate I made way too much food. I really wish I had bought about three extra card tables and invited all the neighbors over too (or at least Lubna’s family) but that would have put me over the edge probably. Next year, if we do this again, I’m inviting twice as many people.
Everything went well until the virus that Bug had been fighting all week decided to take up residence in her throat and make breathing difficult for her. She’s never had any problems with breathing before so I was a little at a loss of what to do. She made it through the night and we stood in line at her doctor’s office first thing in the morning. Along with everyone else with sick kids after thanksgiving. I’m so thankful for the doctors and nurses who work on holidays. They really are a selfless bunch.
After Bug was loaded up with an antibiotic and some breathing treatments she got better quick. So we spent the rest of the week really enjoying not having to go to school.
The girls and I worked on an advent calendar game that I made for Alphamom. It’s actually a pretty fun one so you should click over and print your own copy. We made little polymer clay figurines of snowmen and gnomes. Bug made a tree with blue bark and pink leaves that looks like some kind of raspberry bush. It was good to be crafting together.As Bug gets older it’s been more challenging to get her to craft with me. She still enjoys it but she doesn’t like being told what to do or how to pose for the camera. I can’t say I blame her. But because of her unwillingness I’m always looking for other kids to craft with me and then that makes her sad too because I’m giving all my attention to someone else. But them’s the breaks, right? Parenting is never easy and learning how to not be an only child is always going to be challenging. We’ve had some growing pains lately but I hope she looks back on these changes as good changes in the long run. I think she will.
In other news, I’m thinking of hosting a crafting/painting party. If anyone local is interested, email me and maybe we can set up a date!
AND!!! I finished my SAJ 2016 Calendar. I just need to get toner for the printer so I can print a copy and post some photos. Come back tomorrow (or the next day) for a calendar download! :)
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Fire Magic
The other night the kids talked us into having a s’mores outside. This is actually a really good idea because we are the outside fire experts. We have not one, but three barbecues. One is a classic gas-operated grill, another is an Weber that Payam has rigged into a standing fire pit and the third is this pot-bellied chiminea thing that we found discarded on the side of the road.
I know! What can I say, we like outside fires. It doesn’t get cold enough here very often for us to enjoy them but when it does we really, really do. Don’t worry though, all fires are well contained and not dangerous.
When Payam and I were first dating I kinda fell in love with him while sitting outside by his many fires, drinking wine and talking late into the night. It’s a sentimental thing for us now.
I’m not as big a fan of actual s’mores as I am to fires outside but it was fun thing for the kids. S’mores are just too super sweet for me even with dark chocolate. And what is the deal with graham crackers and chocolate and roasted marshmallows? The marshmallows never quite melt the chocolate enough and then it all crunches into a gooey mess in your hands. But I keep trying because they sound really good and fires outside are just so, sentimental!
We set up a little table with a bowl of marshmallows, some sprinkles, chocolate and graham crackers of course and some carmel dolce de leche I had sitting around from that brownie bar post I wrote a while back. I also had some pretzels on hand that I crunched up in a small bowl. They were my favorite. I love sweet and salty mixed up.
After the kids had their fill they ran off to play (Minecraft) and Payam and I stayed out to enjoy the fire a bit longer.
It was so nice, I even brought out my big camera and tried to capture some fire art.
It’s hard to capture but I think you get the idea.
It’s been really really nice to have some cold weather for a change. It almost feels like we’re having a real winter!
