Christmas cookie tradition

For as long as I can remember my sisters and I would make sugar cookies for the holidays and decorate them with frosting. My mom would always let us use her decorating tips and we would have at least 5 to 6 colors to use on the cookies. This year is the first year I am doing it with my daughter. We made the dough before nap and let it chill while she was sleeping. Then I heard footsteps heading my way with a voice yelling out "we can roll the cookies now!" So off we went to roll out the dough and cut out our Christmas cookie shapes. My younger sister Allison was helping us too and when it came to rolling out the dough Ruby always insisted on having her help, not mama. Once we baked all the cookies we were ready for the frosting. Ruby chose 3 colors: blue, green, and red! I can remember when I was little, for my last cookie I would mix all the colors together and had the cookie piled high with frosting...that was the first one I ate:) It is so special to share this tradition with my daughter now and to see what kind of ideas and creative things she comes up with to make it her own.

Later we played a game of "I Spy" with the ornaments on the Christmas tree. I was very impressed with how fast Ruby found the ornaments! She is one smart girl! To end our little festivities for the day we watched "The Snowman." Such a classic holiday film for children that had Ruby completely sucked in.



Aunt Allison and Ruby rolling out the dough!



Getting ready to frost!

Shepherd snuggling up in his Christmas blanket made by grandma Becky

I spy with my little eye something red and white with stripes...

Expect the unexpected

I was about to post an update on our lives last week but got so overwhelmed with all that happened! Here is the quick update. We got a house, then it fell through, went to the urgent care and E.R. at Children’s Hospital 3 TIMES within 4 DAYs, participated in toys for tats at Liberty Tattoo in Seattle (our friends shop), and viewed 3 other houses that were all flops. We have been home for the weekend to see the Christmas pageant that Jeremy’s mom put together at church, and then we pack up again to head to my mom’s then my dad’s for the holidays. With all of this craziness going on around us we have managed to continue to take one step at a time and enjoy our time together. I also made sure to bring the advent calendar with us while we were in Seattle so Ruby still had a chance to enjoy the little surprises in each pocket. 

 

Poor sweet girl, She got an outer eye infection that made her eye swollen shut. She was quite the trooper though and had a really good attitude through it all, until it came to all the doctors constantly staring at her eye.

Since there was so much going on Ruby's advent calendar didn't get touch for a few days. Which meant she got to open 3 pockets in one day! She was pretty exited to get the mickey mouse card game and of course the M&M's!

Both Jeremy and I got traditional rose tattoos, except mine was pretty easy to get whereas his was on his neck.

Hopefully this week will be a bit calmer and relaxing...

Day 3: Advent calendar

Our Day told through pictures

new blog name...

The most amazing news traveled through my phone this morning from my hardworking husband...He now has a permanent position at mallet inc. that can comfortably provide for our family! Our time in Yakima has been the most eye opening experience we've had as a family and has definitely reminded us how to completely lean on God and trust Him through the struggles we've gone through. I am so grateful and thankful for my husband. He has made continuous sacrifices to provide for our family. And now we can finally see a bit of light at the end of this tunnel. No more driving two and a half hours to see each other for the weekend...hence the possibility of needing to change my blog name. What do you think? The name does still have meaning because it was the reason why I started this blog. Now as our lives evolve and change, the blog will too, but we will still have the memory of this season in our lives that led me to start blogging. I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas!

Day 2 : advent calendar

We got through half the night with Ruby sleeping in her toddler bed! Yesterday at the grocery store I found a tinker bell night light for her room which helped... I think. Man, what that kid will do for tinkers and princess things.

        Anyway, the rush to the advent calendar was not immediate this morning. After breakfast she finally realized that she hadn't looked in a pocket yet. So we went through our routine of finding the date and today she got pez candy to put in her hello kitty dispenser. I love that simple things like one pack of pez can satisfy a two year old. I am sure I could have gotten away with even a picture of pez...well, maybe not. Candy is pretty desirable at that age.

         

Day 1 : Advent Calendar



world market advent calendar



Last night while Ruby was at grape juice club at the church, Shepherd and I went to Michael's craft store to buy some trinkets and candy for the advent calendar. I rushed home just in time to fit each little gift in the pockets. As I was filling each one my excitement grew in anticipating for the time when Ruby will get to see it. Growing up we got the individual calendars from the grocery store that where filled with chocolate.

The numbers on them were usually scattered like I did on my calendar. Since Ruby hasn't quite learned her number recognition yet I thought of using number flashcards so she has to match the number I give her to one that is on the calendar! What a way to sneak in some learning while she is receiving gifts!! I also am going to read her a bible verse to her each morning before she opens the pocket so by the 25th of December she might have it memorized.

                    

This morning the first words out of Ruby's mouth were, "lets go see what is in my pocket!" I gave her the number one to look for and it took her a little while to find it, but sure enough she did. In the number one pocket was a candy cane and minnie mouse tattoos. We spent the rest of the morning putting those tattoos all over her:) Tune in tomorrow to see what she gets next!

DIY advent part 2

Well, I finished! I made it my goal to take every opportunity today to work on the advent calendar and it payed off. To find the first part of this DIY click here

       The next step in making the calendar is to sew your squares on your canvas. Again, I made 5 rows and 5 columns. Once you have your squares sewn on, you can go ahead and hem your canvas around the perimeter of the calendar. I used red thread to give a little hint of some Christmas color.

Finally I cut out 2 inch squares for the numbers and attached them on the pockets with paper clips.I like the idea of being able to switch where the numbers go each year. This is where you can get pretty creative. There are so many ways to print, paint, or draw the numbers. I love the idea of using mini cloths pins to attach the numbers too. 

Reintroducing the toddler bed!

Last night I set up Ruby’s toddler bed  because she has been sleeping in the queen bed the past week so I thought I’d try to keep up the change…it took about 6 trips back into her room telling her that it was night time and not awake time. I held her in my arms, as she laid her head on my shoulder, and we sang one of her favorites as of  lately, Amazing Grace. I closed my eyes in that moment, thinking of how much she has grown and how I used to rock her to sleep when she was Shepherds age. Nothing is better than your child sleeping so peacefully in your arms knowing that they find comfort there. I am so thankful that I can continue to make those memories with her and with her younger brother too.  Oh, by the way, she ended up sleeping in my bed :)

Now my next goal is to get that advent calendar finished in time for December! I think I need to work on my time management skills when I decide to post a tutorial…

We are so blessed!

Home again. We arrived safely back in Yakima yesterday. I am not going to lie, I was secretly hoping that the pass was going to be dumped on by snow so we could spend more time with Jeremy, but no such luck. God had other plans I suppose. As we got closer to home, Ruby was talking all about her pretty books that she is going to read, her many dresses that she is going to wear, and the long list of food she is going to cook in her kitchen. I can tell she missed being home. Right when we walked in the door she rushed right back to her room to do just those things, while I unpacked our entire luggage and got lunch made. It makes me so thankful to have a house to come to where she feels comfortable, but I also ache because it is not where Jeremy is. This long distance living is taking its toll on me. This whole experience has further engrained in me that my home is where Jeremy and my kids are, not a material home that will one day be gone. So if that is all four of us crashing in a guest bedroom at my sister-in laws house than great!  As long as we are together it feels like home, it feels safe, it is where we belong.

                Thanksgiving was quite the event this year for me! I have never made a thing for this holiday before, and this year I dappled in just about every dish that was devoured on the table. Thanks to my sister- in law who usually makes all the food for the day, I got to contribute and help her through-out Thanksgiving. It was such a fun time to share with her and see our relationship grow as we are scrambling around trying to get everything chopped, blended, basted, mashed, and baked! One thing I did make myself was bacon cheddar deviled eggs for an appetizer and with dessert Tom and Jerry’s to drink for the adults! Delicious! I cannot express how meaningful this holiday was for me this year. Being thankful for my husband and family has a whole new meaning to me this year; from my mother-in law continuing to be there for me while Jeremy is away, to my sister-in law and her husband opening up their home for our family. Without them I am not sure I would be able to be as strong as I am right now, two and a half hours away from my love.

 

colds bring cuddles

Normally I have a two year old running circles around me, tugging at my shirt, and squeezing in as much activities and play time as she can before naptime. Today, I am fortunate enough to have my day be full of cuddles and snuggles. Unfortunately it has come with a price. Ruby is under the weather. All morning she has asked to lay with me on the couch and snuggle. The most excitement we've encountered today is our mad dashes to the bathroom in hopes we make it there in time! In these moments I pray for her health and soak up every minute that I have her in my arms. Get well my Ruby, I love you and I am so thankful that I get to take care of you in your times of need.

2-week vacation

Sorry that this next post is not the second half of my DIY advent calendar...but I still haven't had a chance to sew it. I know all you mommy's out there understand that one. I promise it will be done before December 1st, I hope! Yesterday I got the pleasure to follow my husband, with the kids in tow, to Seattle! We are going to stay at my sister-in laws house for two weeks so we can be together as a family for the holiday...and for our 4 year anniversary. Yep, 4 years on November 17th! From our first date walking around greenlake, to traveling back and forth from Yakima to Seattle, I have loved every bit of it and am thankful that we get to continue on creating a life together.

          I have been working on a few handmade gifts for him too and can't wait to show them to you! It usually is a bit harder for me to think of handmade things for him, but I was swarmed with ideas this year and I think I am going save some for Christmas presents.

DIY Advent calendar

Yesterday, to my amazement, the kids were napping at the same time so I was able to do some crafts with no interuptions. As I looked at the supplies I already had on hand, I found a great christmas craft to do with some left over burlap and canvas. I decided to make an advent calendar. December cannot come soon enough! Now, I wasn't able to finish it yet, but here is what I have accomplished so far.

tools you will need: sewing machine
                             rotar cutter/scissors

                             thread

                             fabric - 30in.x30in. for background (canvas)

                                         25-4in. squares (burlap)
                             needles

1. First I cut out my squares. You can make them any size you want, depending on what you want to put in the pockets.I want to be able to put either little notes or single pieces of candy/toys in them, so I decided on a 4 inch square.

 

2. After you have all of your squares cut out (25 total), you need to measure and cut out the background for your advent calendar. I am using canvas because it is thick and sturdy enough to hold the burlap and support whatever weight I put in the pockets. I layed out my squares on the canvas and left a 2inch border, so my total dimensions for the background were 30in x 30in. You also could arrange your pockets in any shape you want like a christmas tree. I kept it simple and stuck with 5 rows and 5 columns.

3. Now you are ready to pin down your squares. Again, I left myself a 2inch border, and then began pinning the squares in 5 rows, 5 columns. I also pinned the square in a 4in x 3 1/2in section so my pocket won't lay flat after I sew it.That will give me more options to what I can fit inside it.

4. Here is my last step before the kids woke up. I got all of the pockets pinned in their place,an inch apart,and now ready to sew. Now you'll have to wait until I get another chance to work on this to show you the rest. Hopefully that will be sooner than later !!!