my (d’s) christmas was spent partly in seattle and partly with my family in new jersey.

it was double the fun that way!

The weekend before Christmas was spent in Seattle, being cozy at home by Matilda and exchanging gifts with friends.   The girls all went out for our annual dinner to exchange and celebrate.  {i was so excited about giving my presents i could barely sleep the night before!}  We had much to be thankful for, much to celebrate!  You will all see this coming year how big 2010 will be for friends of ours!

{I have planned some posts for the new year that include some crafty how-tos for some of the things I made for family and friends.   It has been so hard to wait to share them, but I didn’t want to ruin any surprises!}

B and I also saw the Christmas Ships near our house.   We stood on the banks of the lake where luminairies glowed, and listened to the Northwest Girls choir sing while riding upon ships adored with lights.  It was like magic.

I then carefully packed my remaining gifts into my luggage and boarded a plane. {and all of them arrived still looking darling this year!}

I spent a week in NJ visiting with family and friends, having a white Christmas, seeing West Side Story in the City, baking some Molly chocolate chip cookies, playing board games I received.  It was quite delightful, yet busy.  {and i ate my weight in stuffed shells and sauce and rice balls and cheese, yumyum!}

My family now opens presents on Christmas Eve {i just know that Santa delivers to our house early as continued thanks for all those great cookies we fed him all those years…} 

and as usual, i got some very thoughtful, neat-o, spledid things.  {you might even see pictures, if i ever unpack} ….But, much like my Seattle Christmas, I simply love giving gifts.

I love how excited i feel, when I know what’s in that box, when I imagine what the recipient will do when they finally lay eyes upon it.

Because Christmas is all about reminding us, all of us, how great gifts are.  How one day, a long time ago, we all received a gift of far greater magnitude then we can even realize.  Because of that gift of love, we are called to GIVE to others.  Not just on Christmas, but though gifts all year long.

we wish you a very happy, content,  peaceful, cheery, fulfilling new year.

[can you tell i'm booored at work this week? boss is gone, phone isn't ringing, and while i should be working all i want to do is blog instead]

IT’S TIME FOR ROLLER DERBY!

For those of you who have been before or who went to see Whip It this fall, you know the zany crazy fun of a roller derby bout. Well, the Rat City Rollergirls are back for their 2010 season starting January 31st. I’m sure we’ll be organizing an outing so pencil it in. Roller Derby is SUPER fun.

Also, i think we should be CRAZY and go to this ‘away’ bout in Bremerton. I mean, the Wild West Showdown? How can you resist?

Make sure to get caught up on all the rules and regs so you can come prepared for a night of cheering and jeering All images from Rat City Rollergirls on Flickr

This was the view out the window on Christmas morning when we woke up to clear skies and fog over the water. So pretty! This was taken looking over Sinclair Inlet past Bremerton toward the Olympic Peninsula.

We had such a beautiful Christmas weekend with sunshine, clear skies, and lots of Vitamin D! Seeing the mountains rise over the fog so pink and pretty was a real reminder of the meaning of the day and the splendor of the Earth that was given to us.

Photo Credit: My dad!

Santa was really too, too good to me this year. I received several very thoughtful gifts and my craft docket is full until about 2014. However, for both D and I, the joy of Christmas lies in seeing people open the gifts we’ve spent time scouring for or making ourselves. Here are a few of the gifts I gave this year in hopes of inspiring you for gift giving in 2010:

Vintage 1890 Rhubarb Lithograph (via etsy seller Bananastrudel who carries many MANY amazing prints ranging from architecture to botanicals)

Hand dyed yarn from Juniper Moon Fiber Farm (their blog is awesome for cute pics of sheep, goats, and puppies)

Beautiful unglazed ceramic planter from Pigeon Toe Ceramics

Sweet Life in Paris (the perfect companion to Molly’s book)

POWER GRID. We are Serious game players around here, always on the lookout for the next late-night bout. I thought this game would be so fitting for Erik, my sailor man who just spent 2 years studying nuclear power. The best part is that Norfolk, his duty station, is on the power grid map, so when we’re playing without him we can put a little picture next to Norfolk and pretend he’s right here with us! Also, this game board is reversible, so its essentially 2 games in 1. score!

There were several other vintage and one-of-a-kind things that i of course forgot to take pictures of before i wrapped and gave away, but that gives you a good idea. D will be back with Part 2 and a lot more homemade gifties (she was QUITE the crafter this Christmas)

hope you are having a great day, filled with family and friends, cookies and cocoa, and smiles in exchange for presents!

both of us are out this weekend, visiting with family…

but, here is our photo with santa this year with some friends… taken the weekend we got Matilda….