I got a little help from my mom today and holed up to work on Handmade Holidays. So lots of creating in my neck of the woods, but nothing I can share yet. I'm sharing Marlowe's creativity from yesterday. I had Ellis and Paints and Handmade Holiday action going yesterday, so I put a couple of drops of liquid watercolor into a bowl of water for M, and he had so much mixing and pouring, basically his two favorite activities.

Ellis had his winter program at school yesterday. Each class did a presentation based on the universal theme "things that move." One class had a "wheels on the bus" thing, another "how animals move", and Ellis's class, well, they "got down, D-O-W-N!!!" They each got to show us their moves. It was hysterical. I had tears rolling down my face.

I did manage to snag my little snowflake for a picture afterwards. I'll try to post a video on Flickr or FB later. It was just so funny!!

Taking apart a candy cane Joe-joe.

Ellis needs a scarf. I'm happy to oblige. Especially when there's this yummy wool to be had.

Mental Health

This paper chain was brought to you by Ikea and their fabulous double-sided wrapping paper. I love Swedish Christmas.

I sure am glad I ventured forth to get the boys new coats on Thursday, because our walk to school on Friday was COLD!! When we got home from school in the afternoon, I brought chairs to sit around my kitchen table and made hot cocoa for Ellis and me. No one needs to teach a child to drink hot cocoa from a spoon. They just know.

So today I had an unavoidable trip to the mall. The coat I had ordered Ellis online came yesterday, and it was too small. The weather is taking a turn for the very cold, and I couldn't face walking him to school in the morning just wearing his same ol' fleece, so I went into the store to exchange it. And found a coat for Marlowe, too. So, Winter, bring it on!

Ellis was all excited that Santa was there. Since there wasn't much of a line, I said he could go say "hi." But, holy moly, I was NOT buying a picture. (I think mostly E and M saw that kids were getting free candy canes. And I think they'd sit on the Grinch's lap if he were passing out free candy.) I'm beginning to think that Ellis might think Santa is a real person. I mean, we sort of joke around about Santa and Christmas and all. And we never imply that Santa brings presents. I think we think Santa is so hilarious, but maybe we better more careful about explaining that it's just a big ol' game of pretend.

The mall today wasn't crowded, but going there by myself with two wiggly boys had its difficult moments. I think it's been since April since I've been in a mall, so it's hard to remember. I have no desire to go back. I hate malls and strollers and strollers in malls. Ugh.

This evening, I finally found the box with my Christmas CDs and movies in it. We dug out The Snowman and watched it before bed. It never loses the magic. I cry every time.

I hadn't intended to use this for today's DPP, but coming up dry in other respects. I just love this picture so much. I was addressing Christmas cards at the dining room table, and Ellis was just drawing. He made all these faces and told me that they were "happy," "sad," "angry." There's even some spare mouths at the bottom. He's into square people lately, hence the square heads. A recent family portrait had us all in rectangular body shapes. i love this!

This was going to be my December Photo Project picture of the day. All nice and serene, eh? It doesn't happen much or for very long. When it does happen, it's a result of great effort upon my part, for the duration.

It's so cute, I just had to share.

Later in the day, though, this preempeted all warm fuzzies.

I didn't hear a crash, just Ellis ran to the kitchen and signed to me TREE FALL DOWN. And I was like, "huh?" (He said it so matter-of-factly, that I couldn't figure which tree he had been talking about.) And Chris looked over and said, "marlowe." That's all one really needs to say. Marlowe was intently playing with the ornaments. He had just pulled the little Starbucks ornament off and was saying, "hot, hot, hot..." Yes, Marlowe, coffee is hot. It would be Marlowe that would pull a Christmas tree down, one that was already zip tied into the stand and duct taped to the table. And it would be Ellis that was immensely concerned that I did not rush to the immediate intervention of Marlowe as I paused to snap this picture.