December ~ a.k.a. the busiest month of my year

Even though it is the most hectic month, I'm so excited. Emma is right there with me. we are so excited about Christmas just around the corner. Hooray!

In no time at all it will be December. In fact in a day and a half it will be. I have noticed that the older I get the faster time flies, but this year has got to be the fastest one yet. I wonder what the next year will be like.

So here it comes, our families busiest month. it begins with the traditional Sisters' Camp Out where my sister rents a cabin and we all show up with the tastiest treats and music and warm clothes and bedding. we laugh and sing songs and some of us dance around. then we head over to the cemetery and sing to our mothers (Melanie was born of a different set of parents as the rest of us, but she is our sister all the same) ~ I forgot! Charity gets to come this year too! I am so very ready to have that night out. It's only one night away but it is extremely rejuvenating. then back home we go ready to be with our kids who drive us crazy and in essence drove us away for a night in the first place.

the following week we have two music programs at school immediately followed by Erica's then Timothy's birthdays.
I can't believe that I am old enough to have a daughter that is going to be 15 in just a couple of weeks! How did this happen?

the next week is busy because I will be making Christmas treats for Christmas day. I make all kinds of things and then must hide them so the kids and the husband don't eat them all. last year I went through three bags of pretzels for chocolate covered pretzels because Tim took one bag with him to work. not that I'm complaining. so this year I'm planning on at least one bag to wander off to work with him.
so then at the end of that week Emma has her music program at school.

which then brings up to Christmas week. I must finish all the treats and all the wrapping. I need to make sure the kids have shopped for the person they chose out of a hat. then on to Grandma's house Christmas Eve. we have a great time visiting and snacking and visiting more. when we get home the kids have to go to sleep as soon as possible because by then I'm beat and want to set out presents and go to sleep.

Christmas is our day... just ours. we sleep as long as the kids will allow and then we get up and quickly set out treats and open presents. then the kids play with their presents we play games and watch movies and nibble all day long, in our pajamas.
I can't wait!

more on the eagles

today when Tim got home from work, he was driving on to our road and saw an eagle swoop up and perch in our tree. I didn't get a picture because he/she had already left by the time I got outside. :(

but they are here and it is likely that we will get to see them more and more often

Yay!

more nature in our back yard

so it isn't exactly in our back yard, but it was about a block away from our back yard.

Alice gave me another call today. I think she is going to be my neighborhood bird watcher.
paraphrasing, she said there are two bald eagles in the tree by the lake out by the highway, they're just sitting there.

I really wish I had a better zoom lens on my camera, but I can't really complain because although a bit fuzzy around the edges, these are the best bird of prey pictures I've taken in the last couple of years.

they sat and looked at me for a couple of minutes. I snapped away but missed any pictures of them looking directly at me.
then a really noisy truck went by and they had decided that they had enough.
my lens isn't great for action focusing. ah well. I was glad for the opportunity to get this close.

just passing through

Alice called me this morning, on her way to our sister's house, to tell me that we have swans on our lake. (clicking on any of the pictures will allow you to see a bit larger picture)

there were hundreds of geese. I didn't count the swans, but I think there were seven.






we didn't stay out there long. I didn't want the boys out of the car running around a large body of water while I was looking through a camera lens. not a great idea.



Thanks for calling, Alice.

trick or treat picture and some other stuff

trick or treat. a couple days late, but here are the kids in their costumes.
Ronan kept his pig nose and ears on almost the whole trick or treating adventure. I count that as a success because in previous years with tiny kids and home made costumes they don't stay on very long. (like Connor and his toy box costume which lasted for only one house)

Connor and Emma used their costumes from last year. they didn't seem to feel gypped for having to re-use a costume and actually Emma insisted on using the dress again this year. I'm glad that they weren't upset about reusing because I honestly don't think I could have handled the tantrum that could have happened.

Timothy's costume is a car accident victim. I made fake blood and tore up an old sheet. that costume was totally free! in fact the only thing I spent any money on this year was Emma's sparkle make up and the glow sticks.

Erica is in my old Renaissance Festival dress. she is three things in one. first she is a pre raphaelite painting. second she is the lady of Shallot. and thirdly, she is Me from 16 years ago, complete with long flowing hair and very narrow waste. It's hard on me to see her wearing all my old clothes.
The Shawl she is wearing was something we whipped up in about three hours that morning. She needed something warm and I'm not about to part with my cloak so we improvised very last minute. it turned out pretty good and one of her friends at school asked if she would make one for her. Erica told her if she brings her some yarn in the colors she wants she will make one for her.




In other news... I'm working on some Christmas presents. I am finishing up Emma's blanket. I have 2 small squares to make and 6 small squares to sew on to the blankets edge. then I have to make some more flowers and butterflies and maybe a lady bug or two to sew onto the blanket.
I am almost done with that and I have a goal to have that finished before Thanksgiving.

I am also working on a project for Erica. I'm not sure if I should say anything about it just in case she ends up reading this. I'm really happy that I've been able to keep it a surprise so far. I think everyone else in the family knows I'm making this present for her and they have managed to keep it to themselves! and that's amazing because as recently as June these guys have blabbed about every present that they have known about. I may mention more about this soon. but I am hoping that this will be finished before December as well.
I kind of want to save those last few weeks for planning birthdays and Christmas treats.

I'm feeling really good at this point. I finished shopping for the little boys. as far as purchased Christmas presents I only have 4 left. the anxiety that I usually start to feel around this time of year is considerably less than, say, last year and the last 7 years.
the next thing to do is to find a moment or two alone so I can wrap the presents.