gifted

{All photos above from December 2010}

One holiday tradition that we share in our family is the sewing of matching flannel pajama pants for all of the nieces and nephews.

The kids, all nine of them, have great anticipation for the moment on Christmas Eve when they get to open and wear their new PJs.  It is one of their most loved gifts.

But the real gift, I believe, is the day spent actually making the pajamas.  It is the single day each year that my sisters, mother, father and I spend uninterrupted time together.  Just the five of us.

Early in the morning, we converge on Nonnie and Poppy's house and then spend hours measuring, cutting, remeasuring, pinning and sewing pants after pajama pants.  Sewing machines whirring.  This is best accomplished while telling stories, listening to Christmas music, sharing thoughts and lots and lots of laughter.  Some, doubled-over, cross-your-legs, tear-inducing laughter.

Of course all of that creating is punctuated with breaks for meals, all prepared by my Dad whose job that day is to keep us well fed.  And we are well-fed indeed. 

What a gift it is to be together, just the five of us, as we were 20 years ago before each starting our own families.

Sharing grace. 

Sharing meals. 

Sharing ourselves to each other. 

Sharing laughter until we are crying.

Gifted indeed.


While I can't show you photos from our sewing day this year lest I ruin the surprise for my nieces and nephews who are regular readers, I can share some pajamas from Christmases-past.

{2006}  This was our second or third year making pjs and we had to get creative when we couldn't find enough yardage of the same fabric.  These still are one of the favorites!

{2007} The one and only year we did different fabrics for different kids.  They insisted on all matching after that!

{2009} Did I mention the kids also do a talent show on Christmas Eve?  Here are cousins singing.

{2010} Last year we managed to make 17 pairs in one day and surprised the adults with pajama pants too!

this moment {growing}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

what you find...

...when you take a very quick look to see if Soulemama has posted yet today.

And somehow (oh how!) you spend a bit more time on blogs than intended.

It really sounded like playing to me!

does this count?

I get my hair cut about once a year.  Whether it needs it or not.  Except for a quite unfortunate "mom cut" after my oldest was born, I've basically had the same, one-length, hair since college.

That particular length has varied over these past, ahem, twenty years.  Sometimes a short bob, sometimes halfway down my back.  But always all one length.  Generally predictable, my hair.

My annual cut is basically a trim to even things up.  I am not too fussy.  I also don't fuss much with my hair each day, usually putting in a couple messy pigtails or, more recently, two braids.


But last week, I was definitely due for a good hair cut.  My hair had grown quite long and almost unmanageable.  So I assured my stylist that she definitely should take some length off.

And sure, I am not opposed to some layers to lighten up the weight.

My only stipulation was I still wanted to be able to do two little pig tails in the back.  After all, pig-tailed is one of the first descriptors of me on my blog.

I agreed when she suggested right around my shoulders.  Yeah, that sounds good.

Well...it seems to be a bit alot shorter than that.  With quite a few more layers than imagined.  I am honestly not sure how I am going to style this every day.  Maybe a call to the Muppets' stylist would help.

But, I still can get in two pigtails.  Phew.

this moment {holiday marshmallows}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

grateful for

:: The whole family of birds outside of our window.
:: Making banana bread with little hands.
:: The lovely snow-covered boulevard I frequently travel that becomes dream-like all winter long.
:: Having constant companions in Spiderman and a ballerina.  (Who insists on only the tutu.)
:: Sharpened colored pencils.
:: An organic art gallery on my kitchen cupboard of Munchkin's emerging talents.
:: A handful of alligators.
:: These spunky little leaves on our dogwood tree.  The very last leaves on that tree.  Their might, strength, and determination are inspiring me during my recent moments of change when I am just hanging on.

I hope today is bringing you much for which you are grateful.

this moment {bliss}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

playground at dusk

"Kids, get in the car, now."  I say at 5:00 pm, knowing the daylight is already fading, but afraid if we stay inside one minute longer that my patience will fade faster.

So with just a few moments of dusk left to call ours, we headed to the playground. 

They ran.

They climbed.

They were loud and boisterous and expended that pent-up energy.

We all breathed the cool, very cool, air.  The new winter hats and gloves keeping them quite warm.

And I realized that just being outside, racing the sun though we were, was the best twenty minutes of my day.

this moment {artist}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

the rules

There is nothing quite as pleasing as playing chess on a real wooden board, with real wooden pieces, weighted just so that they make a pleasing pleasant thunk as you move them about.

That is except playing Munchkin's version of chess.  With Munchkin's explaination of the rules.

~ You can move your guys to any spot on the board that you want, just as long as you make that thunking sound in each spot along the way.
~ When you feel like it, you can take another person's guy.  You can even take two at one time if you want.
~ You should move like-colored pieces close together and then they are considered "buddies."
~ If the horses are near each other, they need to be looking at each other since they have eyes.
~ You play until there is only one piece left on the board, any piece, and that determines the winner.
~ Sound effects when taking another player's piece are encouraged.

Truth be told I am a bit sketchy on the official rules of chess, and it has been years since I have played a game under those rules.  I am pretty apprehensive to play chess with Buddy, who received this board from Santa last Christmas.  I would surely be schooled in a few moves.

But this version, Munchkin's rules, I'll play any day.  And sometimes I might even win!

this moment {bedbugs, the cute kind}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a restful weekend!

little things

There is a reason they are called growing pains.  Since I am a "glass half full" kind of gal I tend to focus on the growing part of that phrase, and not the pains part.  However sometimes the pains simply can't be ignored.

Right now there are lots of growing pains as my family experiences so many transitions all at once.  Pains of uncertainty, self-doubt, fear of failure.  Pains that come from not getting the daily rhythm quite right most days, and still having mounds of laundry and even dirtier floors.  Somehow I thought being home more  meant more time to get some of these things done.

I know these pains are a natural part of this stretching of myself, and that they will eventually allow for the growth.  But I'm feeling impatient.  Oh, did I mention the pain of impatience?

So I've been concentrating on the little things.  Hoping that my recognizing and appreciating those little happinesses sprinkled throughout my day will give relief, a balm that soothes enough to know that the pains too shall pass.

The little things:
:: homemade hot mocha 
:: discovering a note from my son (of course I wrote back)
:: receiving the annual catalog from NOVA NATURAL, and finding a few minutes to soak in its wonderfulness
:: a sweet person made just for me, it was amazing to watch Munchkin's concentration and precise cutting
:: a peek of sun and blue sky
:: candles at dinner

Yes, concentrating on the little things.

i like {iPhone}

Even though most of the time I have my camera nearby, there are those moments I don't.  So I'm grateful that I usually have my iPhone at hand, just in case I see something I like.

I like that she chooses to wear this summer sundress almost everyday.  Lucky that I can ever get it washed.

I like silly hats and silly teeth and those silly kids of mine.

I like the long shadows of fall.

I like this warm neck wrap, knitted by my Mom.  She has made them in all kinds of wonderful colors and whips them up oh so fast.

I like smiling jack 'o lanterns.

I like the red Starbucks winter cups, they make me oh so happy.  (Even if they are a tad bit early.)

I like how these wires look against each other, the darkening sky and the rising moon.

What are you liking today?

this moment {pre-school spider}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are savoring this week!

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

letter to November

Dear November,

Welcome back to your place in the world.  We are so happy you have arrived for your annual visit!

I must say we are still reeling from the visit of your younger brother, October.  Usually a gentleman during his stay, this time he was a bit of a cad, bringing along his buddies rain and chill and gray.  Who quite overstayed their welcome.  And when he departed he took all of the color with him, diminished in its brilliance, worn out from his antics.

So November, I am hoping that you brought along with you the fall that is supposed to be.  Warm sunshine with long shadows.  Breezes enough for scarfs, but not quite coats.  Blue sky, darkening by dinner, urging us all the more outside for bikes and balls.  Air, fresh in its crispness and earthy in its own mysterious preparation for your elder December.

Welcome November.  Unpack.  Please, make yourself comfortable.
Fondly,
Claudine