We've been far too busy getting festive around here to stop and write about it! Christmas is the only thing that could make me voluntarily triple my daily workload, I'll tell you that! Between continued demands at work and then the additions of making photo books, working on cards, baking cookies, shopping, wrapping, and attending festive events...well, there's been little time for sleep, much less writing, or anything else. I can't complain, though. These past three weeks have been full of lights and love, friends and family, snow and sunshine...
The day after Thanksgiving we got a jump start on the holidays with a visit to Glow. While the displays were not as grand and breathtaking as years past, we enjoyed lights and crafting in the warmth of one of our favorite places.
This is the best we're getting this year for a posed "tree shot" at Glow. My children seem to have lost both the ability to dress up for holidays and to pose for pictures. Good think I love them.
Also did a little more "rule breaking" and got out some Christmas decorations *gasp* before my birthday. Our Christmas village is magical this year, and has expanded to include suburbs on the sideboard. It may take over a whole room before long, and I am ok with that.
Our hearts were ready for Christmas but the weather in Cleveland was holding on to autumn. We closed out our weekend enjoying sunshine at the lake..
We also visited the "Holidays at the Hildebrandt" event for the first time. A friend of mine owns this great old warehouse and is gradually turning it into an arts and small business cooperative.
My family treated me well for my birthday this year. Special day breakfast from Nat to start my workday, and dinner and cake with the family for supper...
Not only did Nat spoil me with an Apple watch, he also got us a new Playstation just so we could play Katamari for my "game night" party...
Which was awesome. We had a terrific time sitting around our table, with all the leaves and extension in, laughing and gaming and carrying on for hours. We know some really great people.
Time to make some gifts at our friend's glass studio.
... and start the season with a West shore concert...
...and decorating the tree!
We also checked out "Wintertide at Gordon Square" for the first time. Super cute little festival. I could have stayed all day listening to the "opera and strings" performance in the Little Arcade, supplemented with looking in all the little shops we walked by. Our kids these days aren't the best companions at festivals, as they are too big to strap into conveyances and too young to appreciate much of anything, all at the same time...
They did enjoy a trolley ride, though. We can always count on Lolly the Trolley for a good time.
On our way home we helped Gram pick out and set up her live tree. It was nice to give the kids the experience of visiting the (very authentic) tree lot without actually having to deal with a live tree in our home.
A little moment from Sunday at church. Pastor Roger did the children's message and he had the children spellbound. So fun to watch.
Also Sunday: Skating at Wade Oval. The rink was snow-covered and rough and full of people, and Ivy managed to give herself blisters and we STILL had a lovely time. I will remember skating with my children holding my hand, singing along to Christmas music. They are so big but still so little, these children.
A shopping trip at Crocker park with my mom. They do a great job with lights there.
And, another treat-- Mix at the art museum with my honey and our friend Donna (who makes everything more fun!). Being able to leave our kiddos home alone has opened up a whole new world of good times with grownups! Balance in life is everything.
Two weeks out from Christmas and our neighborhood looks like this. A strange, late fall that seems to still be going on. We're going to have a leafy Christmas instead of a white one, I think. Not all bad when it means warm walks to the park, playtime on swings, and even occasional blue sky. Tradeoffs.
Our friend Sarah hosted a great Cookie Exchange party this pas weekend and now our house is full of baked goods. And if a house full of baked goods doesn't mean its Christmas, then I don't know what does.
These girls! Too big to handle, and such friends. Hiram friends, take two. I love them so much.
(Ivy is wearing Mcgonegal costume glasses, not her own. Though she is excited to get her own when it inevitably is time...)
Our friend Craig ended up holding court with all of the young men, talking gaming and sports as the boys inched closer and gazed up at him.
Our friends are adorable AND fun.
Will the baby-magnet.
And now-- let the week-before-Christmas wonder/insanity begin!
No comments:
Post a Comment