Merry Noel

I love, love, love the carol Noel this time of year. Even more so since March 17th, 2008. Because that is when we gave our baby girl Norah, Grandpa Leon's name backwards. But I have loved "Noel" since childhood. That is when, usually on Christmas eve, we turned our hymnals upside down and quietly sang "Lee-ee on, lee-ee on . . .". We turned the refrigerator Noel magnet upside down whenever someone (probably Mom) fixed it. My parents rearranged our "N O E L" stocking holders on the mantle when they were here for the holidays before Norah was born. I once took a picture of Noel in lights backwards, only it was frontwards for us (I think we were on the wrong side of the fence.) Only now, it will always be someone's name, backwards or not!

Simon has Grandpa Lussow's name.

Norah has Grandpa Wien's name.

And I love that, having a boy and a girl.

But Noel, has become even more special and lovely this Christmas.

Norah sings it, loves it, and calls it her song. Another recent conversation:

N: Mommy, is that my song?

Me: Yes, it is Noel.

N: Is it Simon's Noel song too?

Me: No, Simon does not have the name Noel.

N: Where is Simon's Norman song?

Me: Simon does not have a Norman song.

Merry, merry Noel to you!

Grandma's Recipes

Thank God that Simon is at school and Norah is at the sitter. I am trying to read a few recipes of my Grandma's from a few sources. While all very similar, still a difficult task. Plus, Grandma made perfection, and while hoping for close, I am fully expecting a non-success. But here is to hoping!

Peppernuts and Zwiebach here we come!

My favorite line? (It's in the parentesis.)

Add 2 C. heavy cream and 1 C. milk. (I use 3 cups cream).

Of course Grandma would use 3 cups of heavy cream!

I am sure that Grandma could never have envisioned that her granddaughter would be using a computer and the internet to bake her goodies!

The Christmas Story, kids version

One of our Advent devotion activities was to have the kids tell us the Christmas story, and write it down every year. Although the story won't change each year, how they tell it will change as they grow up. I need to find a small notebook for this purpose.

Simon's story went like this:

"Baby Jesus was born. 9 weeks. Actually 9 months. Mary was baking and Joseph was working. A shephards saw a group of shining angels. The shephards and wise men went to see Jesus asleep in the manger. Mary had a baby who got born. We were born once. Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem, because there was no room at the inn."

Norah's version:

"A donkey. Mary was riding him. Joseph was holding the donkey. The rabbits, the stable.

Question of "Why?" was asked:

Because baby Jesus needed to sleep.

Question of "Who came to visit baby Jesus?" was asked:

The little cow, Belchior, his cat". (Our Nativity book names the wise men as Caspar, Melchior, and Belthazar.)

I love the part how Mary was baking and Joseph was working!

Handmade Christmas

Cow hat - done, wrapped, given, received, opened, and loved.

Cow scarf - done, wrapped, given, received, opened, and loved.

You know a gift is loved when it is worn and not removed from the moment of opening. It was so cute, and I will post a pic.

Two accessory scarves knitted, done, ready to wrap, and give to the sitters. Each was a one skein yarn scarf of 12 stitches straight knitted. Made with that thin yarn with the "stringy fringe". While not difficult, I started one on the weekend and the other I started on Monday. I worked on it last night after bell choir rehearsal and grocery shopping. Finished this morning. Whew, stitches are freshly completed. Will be given today.

Three cotton crocheted dishcloths made and placed in an angel decoration, wrapped with a kitchen towel. Given to school teacher today, preschool teachers tomorrow. I made those on Thanksgiving. Glad to have 3 made, was hoping for a few more.

Three clutch/pouches made. Two given to nieces, one for my own lil' miss. Two created awhile ago. The last one made last Saturday to be given on the same day.

Crocheted Tic Tac Toe, ready to get wrapped. For my lil' guy.

ALL THAT IS LEFT TO MAKE are dinosaur mittens. I am giving up on my knitted dinosaur fingerless mittens. Forget knitting in the round with 3 needles. At least for now, with only a few days left with lots to do. I found this, and will make my own pattern. Very cute, may add orange spikes. Jo-Ann came through with a great fleece selection that cost less then 3 bucks for 1/4 yard of green, 1/8 yard of white, and 1/8 yard of orange. For all of the certified teachers out there, be sure to sign up for your 15% discount card at Jo-Ann's. I use it often.

Needle-ss to say, I am tired. I can honestly add that I am crafted out. I really do not want to pick up another hook, needle, craft scissors, seam ripper, thread, yarn, or fabric. How are all my other crafters fairing?

And now, off to do some baking, and wrapping, and cleaning!

Treasuring and Pondering

Like all Mom's, Christmas is a busy time where we have our regularly scheduled events with the addition of creating magic. I love, love, love Christmas. I almost love the time before Christmas more than Christmas itself. I love giving gifts. I love thinking about the person and putting meaning into the gift. I recently talked about "layering" gifts with someone, where thought goes into the details of the gifts I give. I love making gifts and saying sweet prayers and thinking positive thoughts about the person who will receive the gift. I love wondering how they will use the gift and what they think upon opening.

So, for me to be behind in gift creation leaves me in a place of enjoyment, excitement, and good stress. I am in great shape in completing this and this for my niece at Eric's family's Christmas this coming Saturday. All hat pieces are created and just need to be attached and I have to finish the last 1/3 of the scarf. Of course that is the part that requires me to follow the chart for cow patches, but the end is in sight. I just have to decide if I will make the udder border or just a fringe end. My niece is artsy, 18, and wants the cow. I am thinking udders. I shall see.

Then, I need to figure out how to knit on double pointed needles, start and finish this project as it is quite desired by my little boy. Which means I must make it when his eyeballs are not near me. That means when he is in school on my days off (when I should be doing other things) or when I should be asleep. Then, that is it for handmade gifts. Simon is receiving a crocheted tic tac toe game, since he raved and loved the one he saw me send away to someone else. Norah is receiving that little clutch I displayed some time ago.

I remember my Mom collapsing with fatigue or having migraines on big important days, like Christmas. I think I now understand. Making magic is wonderful, but does take a toll on the energy bank!

I am most joyous about how much Simon and Norah enjoy our daily Advent devotions and prayers (we have several we must do). We have a little prayer box that is sought out each night. I KNOW the story of the birth of Jesus. But doing these devotions, I have found I have some questions. 1. How far is Nazareth from Bethlehem? and 2. What is the difference of being engaged, espoused, pledged to be married, or married, and which one was Mary and Joseph at the time of Jesus' birth? I also find myself treasuring and pondering in my heart.

My favorite is Luke, and my favorite verse of all:

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

I can only imagine what the little word "all" includes. I wonder how she treasured and pondered. She did not have a camera or writing materials readily available to record the event. Did her treasuring and pondering create a memory that lasted forever? Did she realize her gift to the world would last forever and ever and know that her story would be recorded in the greatest book of all?

From Norah's preschool Christmas program yesterday:

The Mother:

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head;

"To me be as it pleased God," she said.

"My soul shall laud and magnify God's holy name."

Most highly favored lady, Gloria!

The Father:

We sing our thanks for Joseph, the guardian of our Lord,

Who faithfully taught Jesus through craft and deed and word.

Grant wisdom, Lord, and patience to parents everywhere

Who guide and teach the children entrusted to their care.

No wonder God really, really, really loves the little children, and that He guides and protects the parents.

A recent conversation in the backseat b/w Simon and Norah:

S: There is a Christmas tree

N: It is an outside tree. Not a Christmas tree.

S: But it has lights and ornament.

N: It is NOT a Christmas tree.

S: Yes, it is a Christmas tree.

N: No it is not! It does not have a skirt!

Daytime Conversations

A car conversation I had with Norah today:

Me: What do you want to get Simon for Christmas?

Norah: dinosaur slippers.

Me: That's what he may want Santa to bring him in his stocking. What else do you think he will like?

Norah: a truck

Me: What kind?

Norah: blue and yellow

Me: What do you want to get Daddy for Christmas?

Norah: dinosaur slippers

Me: I am not sure he wants that. What do you think he will like?

Norah: a little house

Me: He already has a little house.

Norah: Where is it?

Me: Right there (and I point to our house as we drove by to go to Burlington on our errands) What do you think Daddy would like?

Norah: a car

Me: What else?

Norah: a bush

Me: I'm not so sure. Do you have another idea?

Norah: a firehydrant

Hmmmm . . . she said what she saw, out the car window, as we were driving.

I love the gift ideas for others that come before the idea of gift giving is truly developed!