These Days...

Over here, we're

~wrapping Christmas presents as quickly as they come in. The stack in the back of my closet gives me such a thrill, I can't help but peek at it each time I pass by the room.


~listening to Christmas music all day long. Today's selection? Handel's Messiah.


~working on getting the house thoroughly cleaned for a party to be hosted Friday night.


~trying to keep on top of my two load minimum of daily laundry, thinking toward packing a family of 7 for a trip next week.


~dancing around the dining room turned ballroom when Mama took down the table to make room for more people.


~feeling oddly peaceful for being this close to Christmas. No rushing. No stress. Its marvelous.


~looking forward to family coming into town and the next week or so of gatherings and celebrations with those we love so dearly.


In light of so very much doing, I'll be bowing out of this space for a few days. 


May your Christmas season be filled abundantly with love, reflecting that of the One who IS love and who's feet touched earth in a radical act of devotion to YOU.

Gift

After a few super busy weeks, I took a couple hours today to just hold my little Peter.  He went from giggly to quietly awake to sweetly slumbering to awake again, comfortably held close to my heart.  As I watched his tiny chest rise and fall, his gentle sighs in dreamland, I couldn't shake the thought -

Its just too much.  I don't deserve this.  This perfect moment suspended in time, silk soft baby skin, sweet breath in and out.  Its pure gift.

This Christmas, I've been given everything I could ever have wanted - and so very much more.

A Little Bit of Chocolate

Last weekend my cousin threw a baby shower and asked me to bring along a dessert to help out.  I was glad that she mentioned that something chocolate might be good, because chocolate I can do...rather well.

I've been making brownies since I was a young teen - first for my family, and then for friends and cute boys.  My sister and I probably baked at least one batch a week, not to mention for Mom's annual Christmas Eve party.  My mom kept our cupboards stocked with supplies and everyone seemed to appreciate the a fresh pan of brownies pulled from the oven.

Because of my long history of baking and adoring brownies, I have the recipe, um, memorized.  Yes.  So when I remembered very last minute that I needed to make a batch, I mixed some up in no time (at midnight, no less.).  You can, too.  Just follow along!

"Jentzen Brownies"  (only called that because we made them so very often growing up!)

4 oz unsweetened baking chocolate squares
2/3 C plus 2 TBS butter
2 C sugar
4 eggs
1 t vanilla
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
1 1/4 C flour

In a microwave safe mixing bowl, melt butter and chocolate squares (you may have to mix then wave, mix then wave). Add sugar and then beat in eggs.  Add vanilla.  Mix in baking powder, salt and flour.  Pour batter into 9x13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Allow to cool completely.

Icing:
1/4 C butter
2 C powdered sugar
2T Milk
1 t vanilla extract (or try peppermint for Christmas!)

Ice brownies.  Allow to harden slightly (put it in the fridge to speed this up)

Glaze:
2 TB Butter
1.5 squares baking chocolate

Pour glaze over iced brownies and use a spatula to carefully cover completely.  Place in fridge to cool/harden topping completely.

Cut up and serve!

And His Name Shall Be Called...

"...Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

We don't really "do" Santa Claus, but it can be hard to avoid.  While admiring the tree the other night, I teasingly asked Jonah (2) where the presents were.

"Don't worry, Mom," he said.  "Santa will bring them in a few days."

It seems that watching "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" and singing "Santa Claus is Coming To Town" has rubbed off on him a bit.  I resolved a-new to be sure to keep Jesus at the center of our celebrating.

So we read a bit out of Isaiah, discussed the many names of Jesus, and made this little craft.  Not a big deal by any stretch, but when I look at my tree and all of those names hanging there,  I'm just filled with hope and awe at it all - tiny babe fulfilling very big prophecies on that night so long ago.

If you'd like to craft along, this is what we did!

"Jesus Nametags"

You'll Need:
scissors,
felt (we used wool, but you don't need to),
a hole punch,
glue stick,
ribbon/yarn/string,
this template printed out.

1.) Print out your template and cut out the tags.  We used regular printer paper, but cardstock would probably hold up better.

2.) Glue tags on felt, cut out with 1/4 inch margin.

3.) Punch one hole through both layers.

4.) Thread yarn through hole and tie, forming a loop.

Alternatives: We hung our name tags on our Christmas tree, but you could put them anywhere - in a garland on your mantel, hung on a branch for a centerpiece, or dangling from a chandelier.  I'd love to do these with gold lettering, but for this quick craft for my little ones, black ink worked just fine.

This craft is perfect for little ones 3 and up, with help from Mom.

Handmade Holiday

The Christmas ballet has passed.  Do you know what that means?  Why, its time to hunker down, dig in and wholeheartedly succumb to Christmassing!

In this home, that means quite a little bit of making.  I had hoped to get my nephew's sweater  done this weekend (more on that later), but keeping a baby quiet backstage required more than just a little of my attention. Planning on finishing that up this week and also making a list of make-ables that I'd like to get to this weekend.  A little less of the knitting variety, a little more of the quick, easy and giftable type.  Feel free to join in!

These wreath ornaments from Martha Stewart look like a great activity for little people.  Hoping to find some buttons tomorrow during a visit to the fabric shop!


This granola from Rhythm of the Home looks delicious and is a perfect consumable gift for friends in your life!


What's not to love about homemade nutella?  I might just have to keep this gift for myself...


There are a lot of good sales on flannel right now, so how about making a nice thick stack of cloth wipes?  


Homemade baby/toddler legwarmers are a cinch with this Flickr tutorial.  Super quick and easy to get a nice little stash going!


What are YOU working on these days?  Happy Making!