12.26.2013

merry, happy...onward (and a felted play-mat success!)



like so many folks, we've spent much of the last several days holed up, eating sweets and other things while spending time with friends and family.  there was some Christmas caroling at a neighbor's (a professional pianist, she does it well) house with most of our immediate neighbors, a low key Christmas  eve that started with papa taking her on a little adventure so that I could finish her felted play mat,





and ended with Claire and I going (as we did last year) to the service at the Episcopal church in town.  they have a children's Christmas pageant which is quite adorable and they finish things off with a candlelit singing of Silent Night.  she did not want to blow out her candle.  we came home to papa making dinner and then we all bundled up on the couch to watch Rudolf.  cinnamon rolls all prepped for the following morning, we tucked in for the night.





we try, I try, to keep things simple and not terribly gift-oriented this time of year.  and still, as I put things under the tree for her... things I made, things I got free or next to free at swaps and thrift stores, things that are quite utilitarian (new pjs, her favorite watering can from the little homesteading and such supply store in Asheville, hairbands, toothbrushes...) I felt a little overwhelmed and wondered if it was still too much.  which isn't to say that I don't want her experiencing the joy and delight that so many of us knew as children on Christmas morning.  I just want her to know gratitude, and generosity, and to know in her little mind and body and heart that she already has all that she needs, and then some.

I think we're well on the way there, but this year, as she's almost four and the ways of the world are making themselves evident to her (whatever that means) I figure it's a good thing to be ever mindful of these things.  of our intentions as parents, as a family.  of how we want to raise our children, how I want to raise my child, and of the ripple effect of each little choice that is made.


of course along with mindfulness, we must leave plenty of room for fun (not that the two aren't entirely compatible).  always working towards striking that elusive balance between such things.  but still, can't go wrecking all the fun.  so today, as we've tidied up from the joys and delights of Christmas morning and chipped away at the laundry pile, the dishes, the leftover sweets...... we also got ourselves ready for a trip up north to see friends and family.  we leave in the morning, and there will no doubt be more sweets and more cheer and plentiful fun, fun, FUN.


6 comments:

  1. merry christmas! did you make the wagon? it is adorable :) love the photos and a chance to see how you celebrated :)

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    1. thanks, Karen! and no, I did not make the wagon- I found it on etsy after swooning over a similar one that Nichole (one comment down) had on pinterest. hope you and yours have had a lovely holiday season~

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  2. the play mat is incredible!! i hope it gets played with for hours and hours and years and years to come. i love the little wagon. i've had my eye out for one like that for bea. i struggle like you - of wanting to give - but of wanting her to appreciate and be grateful for what we do have. and that really, this stuff i give her, isn't what she really needs or wants in the grand scheme of things. so yeah, come christmas eve night, a few things were left in the corners of my closet shelves as there was already "enough" around the tree. maybe they'll get used as birthday gifts, or saved for next year. claire looks older. four is creeping into her...xo, nichole

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    1. oh thank you, thank you! I know I'll have to mend it a bit from time to time, but yes I do so hope it gets lots and lots of use. I found this little wagon after seeing the one from the same shop that you pinned on pinterest. (so, thanks for that ;) With Claire's birthday in just four short weeks (indeed four is creeping in) a few things from under the tree were stowed away here as well.
      xo from NC

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  3. love the playmat! and her covered wagon!!! *swoon* i need to know where to get one of those covered wagons.

    hope you're enjoying this week and wishing you all a very happy new year!

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    1. thank you, amanda. the covered wagon I found here: https://www.etsy.com/transaction/161507686?ref=fb2_tnx_title
      after seeing one very similar on Nichole's (^) pinterest board.

      we are home from our travels north and head back to work in a couple hours...... happy new year to you and yours!

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thanks for taking the time to read and comment~