Joy to you.

You won't be with us this holiday. Can you see my sad face? I always want you home for the holidays (mom's are funny like that), but since I can't have you here, I'm sending the joy to you.

This is what I would have sent you had it been done in time. I'll save it in a very good place.

May your day be full of peace and joy. I love you Honey.

The extent of my handmades.

I didn't make a lot of the gifts for this year. It just didn't fit with how I wanted to spend my days leading up to the holidays. Just a few and I'm thrilled with the results.

Sketch kits for the Littles for Christmas Eve.

Cashmere mittens for my niece. A special request from her.

A letter satchel for my nephew. He'll be overseas for a year and I wanted him to have something handmade from the heart to hold cards and letters.

Simple, easy, and lots of time for me to relax and enjoy this most wonderful of days. I feel good!

Handmade Love.

When I began scrapbooking years ago, I was adamant, "I will not make cards!"

Ha...silly me.

I love making cards.

Totally C.A.S.E. from my local scrapbook store. She didn't mind. I bought my supplies from her. You can't tell but some of the Christmas trees are popped up.

Simply. Easy. Fun.

Just what these holidays called for.

I love these kids!

Their mom was feeling a little taken-for-granted lately. (She's been filling some tough shoes and playing both Mommy and Daddy.)

We went shopping to get her some special somethings. Somethings just for her.

She's gonna love her Somethings.

Always learning.

My sister and I visited a pottery studio during Art Prize and K mentioned that she would really like to learn how to make pottery.

As it happens, the proprietor teaches classes.

We signed up.

...and we've learned.

Simple techniques that we've had so much fun learning. I'm eager to see what they look like after glazing.

The real Santa

She asked to see his ears.

He was a bit taken aback.

She said if he was one of Santa's helper elves his ears would be pointy.

He showed her his ears. They were not pointy. She was so excited that he was the real Santa.

So she posed with him and Mrs. Claus.

A 'Little' Sporting Tradition

Great Grandpa was very involved in local hockey.

Grandpa and his brothers grew up playing hockey.

Daddy and his brothers grew up playing hockey. They still play.

Now he plays as well. A fourth generation continuing the legend.



Good thing she loves hockey because she'll spend many hours at the rink as well. Is it a time commitment? Yes, huge, but it's what we do. It's what we love. This makes me giddy.

Get Your Joy On

We've been seriously lacking in snow and it's been interfering with my holiday spirit.

Normally it sweeps over me naturally.

This year I had to go looking for it.

That's better. Nothing like a little Holly Jolly adventure to get my joy on. I love downtown in the winter, anytime really, but especially in the winter. So pretty.

The Delightful Miss M

She asked me what I was doing.

I said I was knitting.

She said she wanted to learn.

She had my undivided attention.

The following week I bought needles just for her, I made plans to keep her for the weekend and the two of us raided the box of gifted yarn that is stored upstairs. Then, with her sitting on my lap, we proceeded to learn to knit. It wasn't long before she had the technique down and was knitting on her own.

This makes me incredibly happy. I love watching her little fingers work the yarn.