.::still blinking::.

I forgot to talk about the star on the top of my tree. When jj and I were first newly weds and had nothing but a Christmas tree and lots of hot, hot love, I made the star out of desperation. I needed something to top the tree, but was fairly unwilling to spend the money for a once a year tree topper decoration.

This lovely is made of a toilet paper roll, construction paper and tin foil. I was a little embarrassed by the ragged rawness of it then. Now however, we have the money and I could get a new fangled glowing with the reverence of the world tree topper, but I am a little fond of this one. I find myself repairing it every year. It reminds me of our first Christmas together, and the tree I knocked over on myself twice while trying to water it. But mostly of our humble beginnings together, when less still made us happy and we were glad to have each other.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

This is my tree. I love Christmas and decorating. I wish things had been a little less hectic this year, hopefully I will learn to relax next year. There is a resolution.

We had a lovely Christmas. The 23rd we had a progressive dinner with my family. We drove around to each of my siblings homes and had a course of dinner. It was fun to see how everyone had decorated. Later that evening we went back to my mom's house and opened our Christmas gifts for each other. She spoils us, especially Gentry. He got a blinking Spiderman hoodie that he will not take off.

The next morning we went to my cousins Megan's house for her annual Christmas Eve Birthday Brunch. I remember when she was born 17 Christmas Eve's ago. I remember thinking that because her mom was in the hospital her sisters would get to have Christmas at my house. I was ecstatic. Unfortunately some moms are super moms and theirs came home and pulled Christmas together, really an amazing feat. I remember her though, a day old and lying on the couch as we all screamed through her house with new Christmas goodies.

After the brunch we headed to Logan where we spent the rest of the week. We came home this morning. It was a lovely holiday with jj's family. They spoil us. We got lots of nice gifts and ate lots of tasty food, all day everyday. My starvation diet is not working at all. Dang it. It is hard to starve when chocolate and sweet potatoes are calling. They also let jj and I take naps, that is a treat I get so rarely these days. I love a warm nap, or just reading a book. It is nice to have just a few minutes to myself.

Merry Christmas. I hope yours was lovely as well.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

It is snowing where I am. I love looking at it. Gentry loves talking about it.

And...

I cannot get this out of my head.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

Labels: Christmas, One Day

:: rosemary on my table with a new table runner made by a friend :: two frogs made for my tree (gentry loves them too) :: if you would like some leave a comment with your email and I will send them to you, I cannot remember where I found them ::

:: these cookies ::

:: this beautiful blog + this one as well ::

:: this minimal + beautiful Christmas :: this funky cool Nativity ::

:: potty training going well + ring around a little pink bum ::

Labels: Christmas, I love, One Day

:: super natural cooking ::
:: everyday food subscription ::

:: the polar express ::
:: the night before christmas :: this one would be especially nice::

:: gift card option uno ::
:: gift card option dos ::

Labels: Christmas, One Day

I made several of these ornaments this year for my Christmas tree and maybe some for yours as well. I think they are so delicate and pretty looking. Like pretty snowballs made from only the most beautiful snow flakes.

If you would like to make some go here.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

g - Mom, Dad is married to Giselle.
m - Oh. Who am I married to than?
g - You are married to me.


m - Gentry, we are going to go and see Santa at the gym (community center) tonight!
g - Oh! is he exercising?


On the day of mass expulsion when my mom came over.
m - Gentry, who is at the door?
g - SANTA!


m - This is Mary and Baby Jesus and his dad Joseph.
g - No, this is Mary and Baby Joseph and his dad Joseph Smith.


g - Mom, I am a big guy with little hands. Can you open the dvd for me?


g- Dad, you are my bestest friend.
He then laid his head on jj's shoulder.

Labels: Christmas, One Day, Squishy

Wouldn't this make the most incredible Christmas present?

Um, yes.

Because my ovaries could be in full on menopausal shrivel and I could see him and they would burst into full bloom once again.

You may get the towels here.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

My Grandma Katherine gave me this doll when I was a baby. She also gave one to my cousin Cassie and they look like us; mine with dark hair, hers with blond. In our infinite toddler wisdom we named them, mine is Mary Mine and Cassie's is Ann Santa.

They are Madam Alexander dolls and I am sure in their prime they were beautiful. Mine used to cry when I tipped her on her tummy those days are long gone. Her fingernails are now etched with blue marker or pen from some random time when I tried to gussy her up. Her legs are coming unstitched and her hair is in a constant state of rats nest. She is mine and always has been. She is my fancy doll and has quite the wardrobe to prove it, with overalls with hand stitching and lots of little dresses from many Christmas' of my childhood. She is an heirloom to me and reminds me of my family and childhood.

Mary is posing here with a doll quilt I made for my niece Lilly for Christmas. I am terribly proud of it and so excited to give it away to a cute little girl.

Labels: Christmas, One Day, The Circus

Here we are in full holiday attire to help you welcome in the Christmas Season.

Love,
The Robinson + Spiderman

Go here to watch us dance.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

I have not dared say this before, but it has been Christmas time at my house for a week. I had to get the tree up and I am so happy I did. You all should come and see. I will great you with warm wassail and ginger cookies.

I love Christmas. Not the gift giving, or the stressing about what to get people. But the spirit it brings. I look forward to it all year, and my house feels so much more cozy with a tree up in it. Like it was built for Christmas trees and fun memories to be had.

My mom has been giving me Christmas decorations since I was a little girl. My grandma Katherine used to as well. She has been gone 13 years. I remember her Christmas tree from when I was a child. They always fastened it to the wall with fishing wire so the grandkids would not tip it over. She also had iconic 50s decorations. I wish I had one to hang on my tree. There were the plastic tear drops with winter and religious scenes. I also remember my Aunt Adele's tree. She used to have the candles with the bubbling liquid, such iconic old school decorations. I would love to have that kind of thing on my tree to remind me of my childhood. As it is, I have the things that people have given me. Ruby slippers. A little porcelain doll. And I have started my own collection of ornaments. I buy one every year to remind us of the year. This year is the year of Spiderman, and I found one that I will proudly display it from now until Gentry wants it for his tree.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

For the first time in our lives we did Christmas at our own house, and the verdict you ask? I loved it. I don't know why we did not do it sooner, wait, yes I do. It is because I have never dared cook a Christmas breakfast myself. I did it this year and it was beautiful and delicious. Blessed are the quiche makers. That is what Papasan says. I made this for jj's family last Christmas and our family this year. We also had sticky buns that were drowned in butter and brown sugar (one of my favorite foods).

jj and I exchanged a few gifts, but going to Hawaii in November was our present for every event this past year. Gentry got a fishing pole, a panda bear, and another little bear. The bears must be with him at all times and we need to change their diapers occasionally and change their clothes also. I am thinking about making them some bear clothing, but mostly just thinking since I don't know how to do that sort of thing. He also got a little bear chair that must travel with us everywhere. It is a car seat for his bears. He has turned into quite the little mother.

On Christmas Eve we went to my mothers, she had a lasagna dinner and we just played and ran around until it was nearly bed time. We then went home and opened our new pajamas and read the Christmas story from a binder book that jj's mom helped us make.


Gentry got some great loot, so did jj and I from our family and friends. We are very thankful to you all. I am very excited about the pan with holes in it for french bread loaves. SO EXCITED!

The day after Christmas we went up to Logan where jj's parents live, we spent two days there. While we were there my little boy started cuddling with me. He has never been a cuddly boy and I loved it. I did not dare move in case he remembered that cuddling is not his thing and he better get the heck out of there. I wanted to close my eyes and stay this way forever.

We had a great Christmas.

Also, you may be wondering about my mom's "boyfriend," or not. He got my mom some nice presents, that was never something my dad could do. He always depended on me to choose stuff for him to buy. I was impressed that he had paid enough attention to her to understand who she was and what she likes. Also, I would rather hang round Mark than my dad. Mark complements my cooking, that may be all that I ever get from him but it is more than I ever got from my dad. And it is enough just to be noticed.

Labels: Christmas, Intake, One Day, The Circus

We have all had apples dipped in caramel. Have you ever had a green apple dipped in caramel, dipped in white chocolate, rolled in cinnamon sugar? Oh my heavens, it is so good. I have a major sweet tooth for a little bit of tart and a whole lot of sweet. These delectable pieces of heaven are from Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory. The nearest one to me is Trolley Square or the Gateway.

One of jj's co-workers got it for him for Christmas, bless her heart. Doesn't eating sin make you feel a little better if there is a bit of healthy in center?

Labels: Christmas, Intake, One Day

With Christmas fast approaching I have suddenly started to think that I do not have any Christmas Eve traditions, except for opening pajamas.

As a child we used to go over to my Aunt Julie's home and celebrate with my dad's side of the family. We would have dinner and sing songs and run around until we absolutely needed to get home so that we could make sure that Santa would not miss our house. But now there are so many of my cousins and their kids that it is just not really possible, and I don't want to be in charge of the massive event.

When I was 10ish my cousin Megan was born on Christmas Eve and that started the tradition of a brunch. We still do that, although I cannot remember the last time that we went. We may go this year if it does not overlap church. It is lame to miss family events for church, but I am playing the flute in sacrament meeting. I like to do that and I don't want to miss it.

Now as an adult with my own family, I don't have any Christmas Eve traditions. We have family activities on Christmas. I am wondering what I should do. I don't really want to start a dinner with my siblings because we do one the next day, and we have not done one before. I am thinking about starting a dinner with people that don't have family close by, except that I don't want to ask what people are doing on Christmas Eve. I wish I just knew of someone that also felt a little outcast to play with. Most people have family traditions, and I am jealous. I just need to get something going and then I will not need to worry about it any longer. What do you guys do on Christmas Eve? I don't even know where to start.

Labels: Christmas, One Day

Making a book for relatives for Christmas. Cute.

Labels: Christmas, One Day