The Christmas Report

The best part was that my parents drove all the way up here from Ojai to arrive in time for dinner, Christmas Day. My kids were looking forward to their visit more than presents. They actually said, “I can’t wait for it to be Christmas so Grammie and Papa will come!” They said this often.
I [...]

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Merry Christmas!

We’re a little excited, maybe.

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Jolly

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So Sarah

Sarah woke to find a rag bunny in her bed.
Her first thought: “Oh, wow! Naiah would love this!”
So she put it on Naiah’s pillow.
Sarah was a bit overjoyed when she learned the bunny was, in fact, hers.
She and Floppy have not been parted since.

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For No Good Reason

I started making rag dolls today. It probably was the result of finding out that the all-organic, cotton and wool teething doll I’d been planning to buy for Ella’s Christmas gift was unable to ship in time for Christmas. It probably also came out of having way too much snuggly flannel and all-natural cotton batting [...]

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Big Baby, Big Sister

Ella and Anna

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They’re Baaack!

The snow lulls you into a false sense of security. So white and innocent. So pillowy soft.

But hours later, you look out your kitchen window and find that you’re surrounded by pointiness! [insert theme from Psycho]

They sliced Jason’s hand during our first winter up here. Right through the glove.

Nobody could prove a thing.

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Ack!

Since we moved way up to the top of this hill, the snow has always arrived by late September (usually in copious amounts, too). This year, however, it’s December, and we’ve still had not a flake. Which was nice. WAS.
Let’s see. . . How many times can we fit the word “snow” into a five [...]

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Oh, Christmas Tree!

This year’s mostly finished tree:

Found at the thrift store:

Spiced apple ring:

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Nativity

We got a box of costumes yesterday.

It inspired a merry evening. (Ella was more merry when she wasn’t swaddled.)

And some cuteness.

I think we might have a new holiday tradition. At least until the teen years begin.

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