Out of this World Valentine's Day

The Perfect Photo Valentine

My cute friend, Ellen, just opened an etsy shop to sell her photocards. Aren't these Valentine cards the cutest? Ellen has a camera with her at all times (or so it seems to me!) and captures the spirit of New England like nobody else. Now I just need to recommend that she take a shot of some conversation hearts that are made right here in Boston at the New England Confectionery Company (NECCO!)

Wishes Come True

This morning when I arrived home from an event, Little Mr. greeted me with his grand idea--to make a lion out of candy. He described in detail what it would look like and how he would make it. After the Mr. and girls left for ballet, I agreed that we could try to make his wish come true. So, I girded my loins and we walked down the hill to the neighborhood store and collected the goodies to make the lion he imagined. While making the lion, he said, "Don't you think we could make a monkey too?" So we did. Although he loved the final product, I loved helping him through the process of making his dream a reality! Oh, and Little Debbie's oatmeal cookies worked so well for this project--the creamy filling worked wonders as the "glue!"

The Nativity

Happy New Year Cookies

A few years ago friends invited us to a family New Year's Eve party and asked us to bring a dessert. I wanted to bring something both entertaining and festive, and so the idea for our Happy New Year cookies was born. I brought the sugar cookies pre-baked and let the kids decorate their own set with frosting and sprinkles. They were a hit and have been requested by my kids every year since. I made a pattern for the numbers on pieces of a recycled cereal box and just traced around them in the dough with a sharp knife. I just free-handed these numbers, but you could make a pattern on Word and just enlarge the font to your liking. (The numbers here are about 6" high and 4" wide.) This little guy was especially interested in the numbers this year and how the combination of them indicated our new year. Oh, and eating his creations was pretty interesting too!

This year we ran out of time to make our gingerbread houses before Christmas. I felt guilty about that for a moment, and then said to myself, "Why not do that after Christmas?" So, when doing all my Christmas dinner shopping I picked up supplies for the houses and promptly packed them away. A few days after Christmas when all stocking treats were long consumed and boredom was just about to set in, I pulled out the supplies and created instant excitement! It was so nice to just relax, spend half the day and enjoy the process instead of worrying about the mess or other Christmas activities to rush off to. I highly recommend gingerbread house-making as the perfect after Christmas activity. Oh, and a cheap activity too. My grocery store was practically giving away the candy (everything pictured) on Christmas Eve for 25 cents a bag. Love it.

R & R in Vermont

We were lucky to spend Christmas through New Year's at our good friends' lovely home in Vermont. Our friends traveled to Canada for Christmas and generously offered to let us enjoy their home while they were gone. Despite schlepping our entire Christmas up and back, we had a great time! Sledding, baking, crafting, sewing, movie-watching, etc. made for a truly relaxing break. Oh, and here are my cuties with the stockings I made a few years ago. Did I ever mention that I love monograms?!!

Hoping all your Christmas wishes come true and that you have a very Happy New Year!

Christmas Dinner

Look who was trotting through our neighborhood today? Just as the Mr. and kids were shoveling out from our lovely snowstorm last night, who came trotting along through the neighborhood, but Mrs. Turkey?!! We heard rumors that wild turkeys live in our neighborhood, but it wasn't until today that we spotted one for ourselves. A wild turkey chase ensued as we tried to "shoot" a photo. Luckily for Mrs. Turkey, we'll be having ham for Christmas dinner!

Halloween Part 3: Tinkerbell's Debut

True to character, little Tinkerbell appeared on the scene with a bit of a pout on her face. Snow White tried to cheer her up and Superman attempted to save the day--to no avail. Luckily storytelling, a magic show and popcorn and cookies were on the horizon to turn that frown around. The light green skirt is from a failed attempt at a bridesmaid skirt for my brother's wedding. The dark green fabric is from the Boston Ballet's awesome costume shop stash sale a few years ago. Oh, and too bad you can only see a peek of the wings--they are my favorite part of the costume. I'll have to take a close up of them sometime. Sparkly pipe cleaners were used to give the wings flight!

Halloween Part 2: It's a Bird, it's a plane . . .

It's Superman! He can climb lightposts with a single bound! The Little Mr. was thrilled beyond belief when we ran across these "muscles" in the giveaway pile at our local Family Network. Let's just say the superpowers were definitely included! He wore the costume to accompany his sisters to ballet in the city and got several shouts from passersby (some even across the street!), "Hey, look! There's Superman!" Lucky for him, it was even a windy day (helpful with our special effects), complete with fallen branches to heroically move from the sidewalk.

Halloween Part 1

Sometimes I feel like the worst mother ever. Like when I offer to make my kids Halloween costumes and then don't even get them made in time for Halloween. This has happened more than one year--ugh! The one costume that got done in time for the ward trunk-or-treat was the gypsy. The red wig threw everyone for a loop. The other three costumes may look familiar as they have been worn anywhere from one to five Halloweens before. I offered to do facepainting during the party and my first customer was this cute little cowboy. I think that little mustache totally made the oh, so last minute costume. Stay tuned for Halloween Part 2, where I just might have completed one more costume! Luckily the Halloween events around here take place over a few weeks, so if the costumes don't get done for one event, there's always the next one.

Pretty 'n Purple

Wow. I haven't posted in a long time! We are still here--still having fun, just too busy to post! Not too long ago we discovered a newly redesigned favorite park near the Boston Ballet. My kids love the playground, but what I love is the gorgeous garden design. See the weeping willow in the background? And the purple flowers (anyone know what they are?) and the wrought iron fence? Perfect. I just sit and daydream that I am in some wonderful European city surrounded by a romantic garden park. I've even fooled myself a few times. Oh, and doesn't this cutie look pretty framed in purple and green? One of the few times lately she hasn't shied away from the camera.

I know I'm getting old, but . . .

So, this morning when Twin #2 woke up I happened to be sweeping the floor (a strange thing to be doing at 6 a.m.!). She paused for a moment and then asked, "Mommy, when you were little--like when Joseph Smith was alive, did they have dust pans back then?" I answered that yes, I thought they did have dust pans, waaaay back then when I was little (in 1840 something!ha!). Way to make me feel really old, my love!  Interesting how the concept of history and "a long time ago" is anything that happened more than 7 years ago!

Hurray for Half-Days!

The girls had a half day of school so we celebrated this gorgeous September day by going to the Drumlin Farm. Boy was it fun! Horses, pigs, cows, sheep, goats, chickens. The whole shibang. Highlights included "riding" on the old tractor, a photo display of "how baby cows are born," and seeing wild turkeys. It made me realize how urban my kids have become. Though I didn't grow up on a farm, my grandparents had orchards with farm animals that we visited every summer. I wish now that I had enjoyed (or even been interested!) in farm life back then. So, I took a picture of the make and model of the tractor, just for my Grandpa Buswell. Don't you think a few solid hours of picking peaches, cherries or apples would do these hooligans some good?!

A Last Hurrah for Summer!

With the school year fast approaching we were so delighted when our "Vermont Cousins" called out of the blue, said they were headed to the beach and invited us to meet them there. We left dinner and bedtime routine behind and zoomed to the beach. I must say that early evening is my favorite time to visit the beach--no blazing sun, no obnoxious crowds, only warm water and the whole beach all to ourselves. Perfect. Isn't this a great shot The Mr. took of the kids on the lifeguard tower?

Finally, A Solution!

Why didn't I think of this sooner?! The perfect (if not only!) way to keep the Little Mr. absolutely still for more than two minutes! Too bad they don't allow beaches inside churches.

One of My Very Favorite Things

One of my very favorite things about the Boston area is the Lowell Folk Festival, usually held the last weekend in July. It's at the top of my list because it combines several of my loves: history (held in the midst of the historic Lowell Cotton Mills), food (the festival invites ethnic groups from all over the area to sell food) and folk music (we saw Irish, Brazilian and Greek groups). It's all outdoors, it's free, it's kid-friendly and it's totally awesome. Highlights from this year included a commuter train ride to Lowell, a boat ride down the main canal in the city (canals were used to power the cotton mills), a trolley ride from one end of the festival to the other, and the Brazilian Capoeira group (amazing and incredible is an understatement). Oh, and on our way to the festival we discovered Danas Fruit & Confectionery, an early 20th Century establishment complete with tin ceilings, an ancient cash register and an old-fashioned ice cream and candy counter. Have I sold you on it yet? I mean it-- you should really, really come from far and near to attend this fabulous event.

Drumroll, please. . .

Ladies and Gentlemen,

before your eyes is the first real quilt I've ever sewn. Yes, I've bound the edges of fabric before, but never pieced and machine quilted before. It was so much fun! I relied heavily on Denyse Schmidt Quilts book for tips on binding, machine quilting, etc. The back of the quilt was totally inspired by Denyse's use of off-center and slightly wonky lines. My favorite part of the whole process was definitely the binding. I love having a reason to just sit on the couch! Thank goodness the quilt was very small--a gift for our newest neighbor, Baby Benjamin.

"Out of Town"

We've been "out of town" for a month now as we've shuttled the oldest to full-day violin camp in the South End. With a great excuse to hang out in Boston, we've had such a fun time exploring old and new favorites. But, boy oh boy am I ready to just stay home for a few days. It's exhausting being a commuter with 4 kids in tow!