Holidays

Well, we're on our way to New Jersey to spend Christmas with Doug's family. We are all very excited and looking forward to a much needed time of talk, laughter, and relaxation. My holiday handbag orders are all done, the presents are packed (not wrapped though, I'm not that organized!), and our luggage is stuffed full. We're probably bringing along a lot of unnecessary items since I had two little helpers today, and I'm sure I'll find a few surprises as I unzip compartments. :-)

As we head off, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. My hope is that you get to spend time with loved ones, eat lots of sweet and yummy foods, and create special memories.

Celebrate the season~

Dancing

Camille had her first dance recital several nights ago. I seriously think I was more nervous than she was. Let me take you back in time for a minute. . .

See, I bombed as a parent months ago when Camille went on the stage for her very first time in vacation bible school. She had sung the songs all week ~ everywhere we went, the music followed us. She had every word memorized and was so excited to sing it on the stage for the parents. But when the moment came, she froze. I saw the lip tremble and knew it was all over. Sure enough, crying and screaming soon followed. Instead of being compassionate and understanding, I found myself frustrated and mad. Mad because I knew she could do this, mad because I knew she only had one opportunity to sing the songs with her group and she was missing it, mad because I knew she would be disappointed, and mad because I had wanted to videotape it for Doug since he couldn't be there. Well, I'm constantly learning as I'm going along this parenting journey. Now I know differently, now I know what could possibly happen, and now I know that it is not the end of the world. I have to remind myself to look at the situation through a four-year-old's eyes.

So, roll forward to this past week. I was biting my nails waiting for Camille's group to go on the stage. I heard the beginning of "Silent Night" and found myself afraid to look. But I did anyway, and Camille was fine. Totally fine. She did the entire dance and every step, trying to keep her toes just right and her arms in the correct position. I couldn't be more proud of her, not because she knew all the steps, but because she gave it her all and conquered her fear.

The first thing she said to me afterwards was, "I want to do it again. Can I go on the stage again?"

She is the absolute best~

New Find

I recently found a local, independent yarn shop just down the road from our house. You'd think I was a kid in a candy store. The funny thing is that it took me almost three years to make this great discovery, and it happened by noticing a small ad in the local newspaper.

This yarn shop is on a woman's sheep farm and is called "The Fold". Not only does she spin & dye her own wool and teach classes, but she had bins and shelves stacked from floor to ceiling with yarn of all kinds. Bright, luxurious, soft, pillowy and so much more. I was in there for an hour until Doug and the kids had enough. I soon realized this was definitely a place I need to visit on my own when I can peruse at my own pace without being tugged on.

Here's one of the wool yarns I bought. It's so soft and almost spongy-like with varies of thickness. It was one of my most favorite yarns to work with and has beautiful muted colors throughout. This scarf is for sale in my Etsy shop, and I hope to add others when I have time (hopefully after the holiday rush).

Happy December 1st!