This chandelier ornament was a gift from my most wonderful friend Nicolle. It's one of my current favorites on my tree (which of course is only decorated from the middle on up...Thanks Aisy!). Behind it is an old favorite from my oldest and dearest friend Marisa. It's a Bloomingdale's ornament from our days living in NYC. The two off to the right are new aquisitions with lots of old memories. They are from Pete's Grandparents' Tree.
There are so many favorites I can't list them here! And that's just my tree, I'm talking about. Don't let me near my parents' tree! I get misty eyed looking at half of them, and get so excited when I find a new one that I've never seen before. I had to laugh, when I was home helping my Mom decorate her tree. It seemed like every time I picked an ornament up and exclaimed "I love this one! Where did you get it?" She'd say "Charlene."
My Mom's friend Charlene is a fathful Sugar Hiccups reader and also knows her way around a Christmas ornament! She made another one of the favorites on my tree, wonderful little spider ornament based on a German Christmas legend.
Thanks to Charlene, Cynthia, John, and so many of the other people who read and comment regularly. Glad to hear the libations at the Gilded Otter were good John. There are so many places I love in New Paltz! The Harvest Cafe where I had my rehearsal dinner and baby shower and Bacchus where I've had many a good meal and good conversation with good people over the years. Much like my love for ornaments, I coud go on and on when it comes to fun things to do in the Hudson Valley. Not surprisingly, most of them include food and drinks. Of course there's also the Gilded Otter, where the only thing better than the beer is the view of the Shawangunks. It's a good thing I've got a little cold and have confined myself to tea for the time being...otherwise I think I might need a beer.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Monday, December 17, 2007
Holiday Hugs!
Can't write for long...there is so much to do! But I didn't want to miss my chance to post this adorable picture for all to see. Last week, I took a quick trip home to New Paltz. I had several orders of business to take care of during my visit, but topping my list was seeing my friend Cynthia, who won't be home when we're back in the Hudson Valley for Christmas next week.
As I mentioned in my last post, I love Christmas. And for me Christmas would not be complete without a visit to Cyn's. Besides having one of the most beautiful trees, her home always exudes such a cozy feeling of comfort and joy! We exchanged presents, drank tea and ate some fresh baked banana chocolate chip muffins. Pretty much the same thing we've done every holiday season since we were 16, only with way more interruptions.
I was joking with my Dad that Cynthia and I usually only get to talk about 1-3 things when we visit these days! Note to Cyn: we are going OUT to lunch or to the tea room on one of my next trips. The men can stay with the kids and we can get a few more hours of chatting in!
Still, the interruptions are of the best variety. Leah needs Max to show her the family zoo (lizard, snake, rabbit, fish...). Somebody needs hot cocoa, or marshmallows, or muffins, or milk. Everyone wants to go outside and play in the snow (thank goodness Cynthia stockpiles winter clothing...she's like a regular LL Bean!). And of course we had to stop and grab our cameras when Leah and Beckett decided to ham it up for us in front of the Christmas tree!!
You might remember Leah and Beckett back in their baby days. I loved them then, but it's even more exciting to see them now...playing together, talking, and even hugging. We had a great time, as always, visiting with Cynthia and her boys. It was a snowday and school was closed, so we got to see everyone except Rhett. No worries, we'll catch him next time when he and Pete will be signed up for babysitting duty.
Happy holidays everyone, I promise to post a bit more before 2007 runs out!
As I mentioned in my last post, I love Christmas. And for me Christmas would not be complete without a visit to Cyn's. Besides having one of the most beautiful trees, her home always exudes such a cozy feeling of comfort and joy! We exchanged presents, drank tea and ate some fresh baked banana chocolate chip muffins. Pretty much the same thing we've done every holiday season since we were 16, only with way more interruptions.
I was joking with my Dad that Cynthia and I usually only get to talk about 1-3 things when we visit these days! Note to Cyn: we are going OUT to lunch or to the tea room on one of my next trips. The men can stay with the kids and we can get a few more hours of chatting in!
Still, the interruptions are of the best variety. Leah needs Max to show her the family zoo (lizard, snake, rabbit, fish...). Somebody needs hot cocoa, or marshmallows, or muffins, or milk. Everyone wants to go outside and play in the snow (thank goodness Cynthia stockpiles winter clothing...she's like a regular LL Bean!). And of course we had to stop and grab our cameras when Leah and Beckett decided to ham it up for us in front of the Christmas tree!!
You might remember Leah and Beckett back in their baby days. I loved them then, but it's even more exciting to see them now...playing together, talking, and even hugging. We had a great time, as always, visiting with Cynthia and her boys. It was a snowday and school was closed, so we got to see everyone except Rhett. No worries, we'll catch him next time when he and Pete will be signed up for babysitting duty.
Happy holidays everyone, I promise to post a bit more before 2007 runs out!
Monday, December 03, 2007
Mommy, do you think Santa could bring us some more time for Christmas?
Thankfully, my kids are not yet so insightful that they are asking me such questions. This is a good thing, as it means I've got a few more years to work out my schedule and priorities before they truly start to notice that there are certain times of the year (OK maybe it's more often than not) when I am a whirlwind of activity, busy, busy, busy, so much going on, and maybe even getting a little cranky because of it.
I am a Christmas fanatic. I have always loved Christmas. I was the teenager who would get in my PJs—complete with warm, fluffy, big 80's style socks, and sip tea, cuddled on the couch or floor just staring at the tree. Sometimes I'd read books or write in a journal, but mostly it was just a cover for my geeky tree gazing. And that was just the before picture. After Christmas I'd do the same thing, but with the added benefit of presents. I'd sit under the tree and check out all of my awesome new stuff, over and over again.
I'm not all that different today. I still am a sucker for a pretty ornament. I use candy canes as stirrers for my cocoa, I still feel a flutter of excitement when we light our advent wreath each night or when I open one of those little doors on an advent calendar. Even in my TINY apartment in Chicago, I would get and decorate my TINY $40 Charlie Brown tree every year. And if I wasn't bad before, I am even worse now that I have kids! Every opportunity I can snag to dress the girls in a little Christmas outfit, I do. I DVR Christmas specials and make sure Leah gets hot cocoa when she comes in from playing in the snow.
I bake (or at least plan to bake) my traditional and totally international array of Christmas cookies. Pfeffernüsse from Germany (for Pete), Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti (for my Mom and my Mother in Law), Slovakian or Polish apricot-filled Kolachy (for me and my Dad...who thinks these cookies are even better as breakfast), Pepparkakor from Sweden (for Devon of course, and me too since I like to have a few when I'm drinking my glögg, and Spritz (the recipe I have says they're Norwegian, but who cares...every country loves BUTTER!).
Pete and I have even developed a tradition where our kids get to see Santa twice in the season...without ever having to go to the Mall! The first opportunity was over this past weekend at Pete's company Christmas party for employees' children. As you can see, Leah had a good time. Don't mind the surprised face, it's just there because I had to give her a different cue, something other than "smile." "Smile" just illicits a pained expression that says "Santa, you're stepping on my toe!" not "I'm so happy you're bringing me a trampoline!" which is pretty much what she said to the big guy.
Even though my attempts at an organized Christmas (yes....I go to that link and attempt yearly to follow the schedule!!!) are never very on target, we still manage to have fun. I long to be less busy, crazy and I'll admit it maybe even a little less stressed. And perhaps I'll get there one day. But for now, my main goal is to keep the holidays focused on the reason for the season and to maintain that sense of magic and excitement I always felt at Christmastime...as a child, teen, college student (remember those personalized Christmas cards I used to make Nic?!), single girl in the city, and now as a wife and Mom.
I may be crazy busy, but this stuff is important so I'll make you guys hold me accountable: I promise myself to spend at least one night this season cozy by the fire admiring my tree. I won't check email or write Christmas cards. I will chill out Christmas style. Got that people? Alright, it's been blogged so now I'll have to do it. Now if I could just find that time I was looking for....
I am a Christmas fanatic. I have always loved Christmas. I was the teenager who would get in my PJs—complete with warm, fluffy, big 80's style socks, and sip tea, cuddled on the couch or floor just staring at the tree. Sometimes I'd read books or write in a journal, but mostly it was just a cover for my geeky tree gazing. And that was just the before picture. After Christmas I'd do the same thing, but with the added benefit of presents. I'd sit under the tree and check out all of my awesome new stuff, over and over again.
I'm not all that different today. I still am a sucker for a pretty ornament. I use candy canes as stirrers for my cocoa, I still feel a flutter of excitement when we light our advent wreath each night or when I open one of those little doors on an advent calendar. Even in my TINY apartment in Chicago, I would get and decorate my TINY $40 Charlie Brown tree every year. And if I wasn't bad before, I am even worse now that I have kids! Every opportunity I can snag to dress the girls in a little Christmas outfit, I do. I DVR Christmas specials and make sure Leah gets hot cocoa when she comes in from playing in the snow.
I bake (or at least plan to bake) my traditional and totally international array of Christmas cookies. Pfeffernüsse from Germany (for Pete), Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti (for my Mom and my Mother in Law), Slovakian or Polish apricot-filled Kolachy (for me and my Dad...who thinks these cookies are even better as breakfast), Pepparkakor from Sweden (for Devon of course, and me too since I like to have a few when I'm drinking my glögg, and Spritz (the recipe I have says they're Norwegian, but who cares...every country loves BUTTER!).
Pete and I have even developed a tradition where our kids get to see Santa twice in the season...without ever having to go to the Mall! The first opportunity was over this past weekend at Pete's company Christmas party for employees' children. As you can see, Leah had a good time. Don't mind the surprised face, it's just there because I had to give her a different cue, something other than "smile." "Smile" just illicits a pained expression that says "Santa, you're stepping on my toe!" not "I'm so happy you're bringing me a trampoline!" which is pretty much what she said to the big guy.
Even though my attempts at an organized Christmas (yes....I go to that link and attempt yearly to follow the schedule!!!) are never very on target, we still manage to have fun. I long to be less busy, crazy and I'll admit it maybe even a little less stressed. And perhaps I'll get there one day. But for now, my main goal is to keep the holidays focused on the reason for the season and to maintain that sense of magic and excitement I always felt at Christmastime...as a child, teen, college student (remember those personalized Christmas cards I used to make Nic?!), single girl in the city, and now as a wife and Mom.
I may be crazy busy, but this stuff is important so I'll make you guys hold me accountable: I promise myself to spend at least one night this season cozy by the fire admiring my tree. I won't check email or write Christmas cards. I will chill out Christmas style. Got that people? Alright, it's been blogged so now I'll have to do it. Now if I could just find that time I was looking for....
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