It's a lazy, gray Sunday in our parts -- complete with warm-up pants and a messy house. The last couple of weeks have been full but now we are settling in for a few days of calm before Christmas.
Last weekend we enjoyed our yearly venture to the Austin Waldforf School Winter Faire. Always inspiring!
We also went to a Christmas tree farm to cut our tree. Most of the trees had been chopped down, so we came home with a humble little left-over pine. We are giving her a good home!!
So, now the tree is decorated and lit and there are even gifts wrapped and tucked under it. Cups (too many, I'm certain) of hot cocoa have been savored.
Cookies have been baked and mostly given away to friends and neighbors.
And the fudge...well, that never really makes it out of the house.
The sun has been very shy these past few weeks. I'm missing my sun-drenched kitchen in the mornings.
My garden, however, is loving the damp, dreary weather void of freezing temperatures.
The girl is excited about the season. There's plenty of crafting and caroling and joie de vivre as well as a healthy dose of boundary testing. Per usual.
It's a beautiful time of the year, despite the craziness stirring in the air. I keep finding myself staring at her and noticing just how big she has gotten this past year. Tall, bright, and just more grown than the little one I knew a year ago. It all goes by so fast!
Tonight, a group of us are meeting to go carolling around the neighborhood. Tomorrow evening, we may join friends to walk an advent spiral. In between we'll be home, finishing up last minute to-do's, stringing popcorn and cranberries, simmering spices over the stove top, and just soaking in the quiet and stillness that settles in on the world at this time of the year.
I ran accross your blog last Friday while researching Montessori principles for my 8 month old daughter. I love how you have raised your daughter. I've enjoyed going through your archives of when Bea was younger. We're just beginning our Montessori journey, but I've appreciated all the ideas and inspiration.
Posted by: Lauren H. | December 22, 2014 at 09:54 AM
looks so peaceful and lovely. can I ask what Bea is using to decorate her cookies (the stick thing?!). I have been pondering how to do it without an icing bag.
Posted by: Rach | December 22, 2014 at 05:40 PM
Hi Rach. We don't have icing bags or tips either. Oddly enough, I handed her a (clean) paintbrush and that kept her busy for a long while and worked well. :)
Posted by: Nichole | December 22, 2014 at 08:43 PM
Thank you Lauren! Yes, I've been documenting our days for years now! I forget how much I have recorded on this blog! :) I'm glad the archives have come in handy for you! Enjoy this special time babyhood with your little one. It feels like both yesterday and so long ago that my own was that young and small.
Posted by: Nichole | December 22, 2014 at 08:46 PM
Caroling around the neighborhood sounds lovely. We get together with neighbors and sing carols each year, but it is inside at one of their homes. DId you make it to the advent spiral? We've (I've) had intentions of doing so each year but something (windy icy storms, last-minute visitors, etc.) have always seemed to come up and keep us from doing so.
I love these photos, Nichole. especially the ones of Be a looking at the ornaments and icing the cookies. We received your beautiful card in the mail a couple days ago- thank you.
xoxo
Posted by: amanda | December 28, 2014 at 09:28 PM
Perfect. Thank you.
Posted by: Rach | January 03, 2015 at 05:20 AM