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Christmas // 2014

Christmas 2014, in the spirit of this past year, was lovely. Despite the lack of snow, and Christmas in March-like weather, my parents and sister came together with us on the farm to make it a special one indeed. The kids are at such perfect ages for this holiday, making the whole experience all the more joyful.

We sang carols (in our living room). Decorated a gingerbread barn replica of our own (despite some structural integrity issues). Set a festive table. Consumed champagne and dark n’stormies. Cooked bouef bourginon and reveled in its perfection. Read many a Christmas story. Eagerly anticipated Santa’s arrival. Made popcorn garlands. Celebrated new toys and fun. Indulged in new toys and fun. Ventured to the movies. Purchased a mini van (hey yo! We’ve reached a whole new level of parenting with this addition). Piled all seven of us into said minivan and went on an adventure.  Snuggled with furry pups on the couch. Lounged by the wood stove. Risked burning down the house with rooms filled only with candlelight. And generally, delighted in the spirit of the season.

I was under the weather, and Courtland and Sunny both fell to the green boogers, feverish temps, and icky cough as my family departed Saturday afternoon. We spent the rest of the day lying in bed, watching movies and generally recovering from the fun of the previous four days. On Sunday, James and I worked like trojans, dismantling Christmas, rearranging the house, and packing for a trip south to visit his family. We’ll be ringing in the New Year in South Carolina. Here’s wishing you peace in these final days of 2014.

52/52

“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Sunny: The final portrait of 2014. She’s grown light years these past 12 months, from my preschooler to my Kindergartner. Recently, in particular, she’s felt very grown up.

Kaki:  We all delight in her antics and the way she approaches and reflects on the world. She is so dang endearing.

More details about The 52 Project here. To view all the portraits in the series visit here.

Happy Everything

Happy happy everything to all. And to all, a good night.

xoxo The Critters of Cartwheel Farm

Cards courtesy of Minted

The stockings were hung…

Glimpses from around the house this time of year…

Wishing all who celebrate a very peaceful and joyous Christmas Eve. We’ll be baking cookies and constructing a gingerbread house modeled after our barn (last year, we did our house!). Love and light. xo Ash

^^Reading her Frozen Christmas story to her sister, because, sweet lordy, she can read! Still blows my mind.^^

^^Wood stove is always cranking and assorted boots and mittens and outerwear is always drying nearby. ^^

^^Our wooden tree showcasing our collection of Walker Christopher yearly ornaments and Swarovski Crystal yearly ornaments. Thanks to James’ generous grandparents and aunt.^^

^^The girls’ stockings, not only hand stitched by James’ mom, but with custom canvases specific to our family and our histories. She worked with an artist to create each canvas, and then stitched and assembled the stockings. They are amazing works of art and precious heirlooms, indeed.^^

^^Hanna snoozing by the tree…^^

^^Beautiful angel atop our tree. I remember her from my childhood.^^

^^A basket of holiday cards. Such a wonderful time of year for snail mail. And I am dying over that card of my friend’s daughter with a tree strapped to her toy car!^^

^^Snow globes are everything. Sunny received a “Snow Scene” themed one as her congratulations gift post-Nutcracker performance.^^

^^Note me and Kimmy age 1 and 3 circa 1986 in our Christmas finest.^^

^^Sunny is really into puzzles, and was fortunate to receive a Christmas puzzle from Sweden courtesy of sweet Maja and Lars. She can do the whole 100 pieces by herself. Guys! It’s like she doesn’t even need us silly grown-ups anymore!^^

^^The girls’ great-grandmother gifted us this bear Christmas tree a few year’s back and during Sunday’s craft-bonanza, Sunny gave it a facelift with her pom pom garland.^^

Herpes of the Arts and Crafts World

Yeah, I’m referencing a STI in the midst of the holiday season, because, yes, we’ll be finding glitter in every nook and cranny of our house for years to come thanks to this weekend’s craftastic happenings.

Sunny made rainbow versions of this ol’ DIY project. All that’s required is an old paper towel roll, some glue, and some glitter (and the peace to let your house be forever coated in sparkle) and you’ve got yourself some super affordable, cute ornaments.you can check Stop Sharpening your Knives for information about art.

I created the original post shortly after Courtland was born when Sunny was two and in no way capable of doing the project herself. She merely watched on for moral support. Now, three years later, it’s astounding to see her handle this project with limited adult supervision. And the results were pretty darn great, and so very Sunny. To know more visit smart-ak .

Cowls

While I’ve been knitting away, my talented friends have been similarly engaged. The girls were ecstatic to open these cozy cowl hoods made with love by my gal Ann Mae (Here is 2013’s Christmas creations and 2012’s). Sunny’s in her signature rainbow, and Kaki’s in her favorite purples and blues. Courtland is particularly enamored of hers and was quite the hit at the grocery store the other day while rocking her new look.

I am so fortunate to have such a talented tribe of women in my life. And my girls are particularly fortunate to so often be on the receiving end of these talents.

Pattern for the Canyon Cowl here. 

Gladdy, The Nursemaid

Courtland has acquired a hideous cough that has kept us up three night’s running. She unfortunately seems prone to extreme respiratory illness (last January through February were the pits. Remember Nebulizer Nation?) We’ve got humidifiers running constantly – it’s like a full on tropical rainforest in our bedroom – and inhalers are at the ready. She has to sleep with one of us because she is awake for so much of the night and reduced to vomit by the extremity of the cough. James and I are trying to tag in and tag out and keep each other functioning and spirits high despite the onslaught of sleep deprivation. I feel so sad for her. It’s an awful thing to witness, so I can only imagine how it feels.

Here’s hoping that she’ll be on the mend by Christmas. And in the meantime, sweet Gladdy is playing a remarkable role as nursemaid.

Elias’ Sweater

FGM Dellie made my Sunday with an email filled with pictures of Elias rocking his Michigan-inspired cardigan. I love this pattern and have made it a number of times now. It’s a top down knit, seamless, and selecting buttons for it is always such fun. I went with these farm-animal themed buttons again thanks to Danforth Pewter (an aptly VT-based company).

It looks like there’s room for him to grow, so I hope that I’ll get to see him wearing it in person one day. Thanks, Dells!

Details on my Ravelry project here.

51/52

“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014.”

Modeled after last year’s 51st week.

Sunny: Sami #1

Kaki:  Sami #2

More details about The 52 Project here. To view all the portraits in the series visit here.

Sami People

2014’s version of this. Sadly, both girls will likely have outgrown these coats by next year, so we are squeezing every last festive drop out of them.

One final weekend of baking and knitting and shopping and prepping before the main event. We’ll be cozied up in VT with my family. And despite the forecast of rain, I’m dreaming of the white stuff.