Roots and Branches

Snow fun!

We got some seriously awesome snow, last week!  So we've been outside enjoying it.  Making snowmen, snowshoeing, sledding, the works.  Winter is so much more enjoyable when you actually go out and play in it.  I was able to find snowshoes for the kids, at a great after-Christmas deal, and they've been having a lot of fun prancing around outside in them.  We took the Boy out for real snowshoeing yesterday, while the Girl was at a friend's house.  He was so cute and loved it so, so much.  We've been watching videos of kids skiing on the internet, so he kept trying to ski down the hill with his snowshoes.  Faceplants ensued and lots of giggles.  I think I know what winter sport he wants to learn next...

 

 

 

 

 

 

:: Mama-made hat in action! ::

 

 

 

 

We also took the kids ice skating for their very first time.  I hadn't been in a while, so I didn't dare risk my wobbly feet on my camera!  But they were so very cute, and we'll be sure to go again.  This time with some photos.

This afternoon, we're off for some tubing and sledding!  It should be a blast.  Happy Monday, everyone!

getting outside

At some point during the winter, I get tired of being inside all of the time.  Previously, I've just dealt with it and tried to romanticize it a bit.  But for some reason this particular winter, I just don't want it anymore.  I want to be outside enjoying the fresh, crisp air, basking in the winter sunlight.  This craving has lead to me to do just that:  get outside.  I've owned snowshoes for a few years, but for one reason or another never managed to actually use them.  But this year, I've changed that!  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next on the list is cross country skiing.  Maybe too ambitious?  Oh well, might as well dive in head first, right?

New Year's Fun

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable celebration of the new year!  Here is our day (and night) in photos.

 

 

 

:: Here kitty, kitty, kitty! ::

:: Our sweet kitten we've adopted.  She is so calm and cuddly. ::

 

::  Warming hands at the drum circle.  So much fun! ::

::  New Year's Day - walking down the path to the hot springs. ::

 

::  Yes, that would be me covered in black clay.  Sometimes you just have to make mud pies.  Try it - it's liberating.  ::

 

 

 

Happy 2010 to all of you!  I hope this year brings abundant happiness!

moments from the last few days

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

our days

Lately, our days have been consumed with making, creating traditions, being extra tired (that would be me), and trying to enjoy and slow down (while getting key things made!).  I'm so happy that this year we succeeded at either making most everything or buying it from someone else who made it.  I can hardly wait to see the little people faces when they see the love that has been created for them.  I am definitely sold on simple, handmade holidays.  I've been reading a lot on simple family holidays, and I'm really convinced that it is the right thing for our family. 

Here's a few glimpses at the fun we've been having.  Tonight, it's gnome gingerbread cookie making time and then more crafting for me after the littles are sleeping.  I hope everyone else is having a wonderful season.  This one has been really fulfilling for me, and I think for the small people as well. 

 

 

::  A little friend I made one night.  I'm excited to see what my boy thinks... ::

::  A little snow...  wish it would dump on us!  I'm so ready to be snowed in for a few days.  ::

:: candlelight dinner to help everyone settle down and get ready for the quiet of evening ::

:: beeswax ornament idea from gardenmama ::

 

holiday crafting

 

:: recipe from Gardenmama::

 

:: Inspired by these ::

:: the Boyfriend Hat ::

::  yummy lavender ::

 

I'm so inspired this year by what all the other mamas are making!  Can you tell?

 

St. Lucia Day

Yesterday was St. Lucia Day and oh boy, did we have some fun!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We made Saffron buns (called Lussekatter), using this recipe.  They were so good!  I added powdered sugar to the top, which I thought was really delish (The Girl wasn't quite as excited, which I thought was odd). 

We watched a few different Swedish Sankta Lucia renditions.  Loved this one, this one, and this one.  That last one is just so adorable.  We also have been reading this book, and LOVE it!

For those of you who celebrated the Festival of the Light - hope it was a really great celebration!

rainbow hat

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little mama-made goodness.  He likes it.  :)

Snow, Sinterklaas, and a hat

 

Here is the hat, all finished.  I love this yarn so much, but I lost the tag soon after purchasing it, so have no idea who it is made by.  It's 100% soft wool and handpainted, but other than that I'm not really sure.  It's so beautiful, though.  I will definitely be hunting for more.  And the verdict?  She loves the hat.

We went to our local Christmas tree festival this weekend, and my boy made a beeline for the super hero trees.  Plopped himself down with this superman guy and said, "Mom!  Picture!"  Yeah, okay cute boy.  Cheesey smile and all. 

Also, this weekend was St. Nicholas day.  We called it Sinterklaas day, because of my love for all things Dutch, but it's essentially the same thing.  My girl was super excited about it and got shoes out for everyone. 

She chopped the pears, poured the glass of milk, and loaded up the shoes with apples (for Sinterklaas's horses).  I failed to grab photos of them the next morning (something to do with me staying up really late and them waking up at some ungodly early hour), but St. Nick brought them some new seasonal story books that I'll be sure and include here soon.  It was really fun and we'll definitely repeat this festival again next year!

And.... it snowed!  A whole lot.  It is so beautiful and I'm anticipating the moment when boatloads of snow will start dumping down again.  The more snow, the merrier in my winter book. 

 

I've been knitting like crazy the last few days.  I'll share a bit of what I've been making really soon.

Keep warm!!

 

getting out the holidays

 

 

Thought I would share more of our tree-getting fun.  On Saturday, we went up the mountain to go find the perfect Christmas tree. It was so beautiful, sunny, cold, and so so quiet. We tromped around in the snow, from tree to tree, analyzing each ones qualities, trying to decide which one wanted to go home with us. I have to admit, I think we kept looking, because we were enjoying wandering around so much. The kids were enjoying the environment just as much. It was so amazingly beautiful. At one point, when the little people were done with cold and walking, we started asking the woodland fairies and gnomes to help us find our tree. I think it helped, because we went home with the sweetest, most beautiful Christmas tree ever.

 

 

 

Kissing the trees, because she was so sad that one was going to be cut down.  What a sweet kid.

 

The kids remembered all of their snow gear, except for their gloves.  Papa and I forgot them, too.  So we shared ours with them.  Apparently they got a big kick out of the size difference.

 

 

 

 

Knitting a hat for my girl (notice she keeps "borrowing" mine).  It's finished now, and I'll share in another post.

 

Hope your holiday perparations are a whole lot of fun!