We took a trip to the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco.  It was a foggy day in the city so we bundled up and enjoyed the quiet serenity of the garden.  The crowds didn't deter from that.  I think my favorite part was the racked gravel garden that resembled waves in a lake or the ocean.  I don't think I had been there since I was a teenager.  Nate had never been there.  Just to note he was studying Japanese in the car on the way up.  I let Eli have free reign with the camera and this is the garden from his perspective.  I love seeing what he sees.   We then traveled to Chinatown in the city where we took in all the sights and sounds.  Emily found a bargain on a doily to hang up her earrings like Emma.  Then on to  a night at Ian's and a visit with our aunt and uncle.  A good little getaway.

Presents Handmade

Here are some pictures of a few of the handmade gifts we exchanged this year.  I love all the work that goes on behind closed doors.  Emily made this lovely lavender lotion for me and lip balm.  I came home from running errands the other day and the kitchen sink had an oily shine and smelled of luscious lavender.  She made journals for her brothers.  She also made candles and a hat.  Eli gave stars to some relatives to hang in the window.  He also did a few collages, put them in frames we had around and had them wrapped and ready to go stored under his desk.  I made cozy pajama pants for everybody.   I got wonderful poems and a photo album.  Also, we got our delicious jam and plum butter.  All that thoughtfulness makes giving a little sweeter.

Eli's View

 

In the all the excitement Eli decided he wanted to take a few pictures of his own.  From his perspective.  I love these.  He put a lot of effort into his note to Santa.  Not really asking for anything but just "no chocolate please."  Santa obliged.  Then he wanted it to look really authentic so he took it in the backyard and torched the edges a little  He also used a very fancy script which I'm not sure where he got it.  Santa even got hot chocolate this year with a candy cane.  Eli left one off the tree just for that purpose.   There was a lot of magic a foot.

Kitchen Salon

Eli really needed a haircut.  As much as I liked his long hair he wanted it cut and Grandma definitely prefers it a little shorter.  I called my friend who always does our hair but she was booked so I thought the next best thing would be a trim by your brother.  And she said, if need be, she could squeeze us in to her packed schedule at the shop to rectify it.  But we didn't need that.  It turned out fine.  I trimmed a few stray hairs the next day but it looked great.  Just what Eli wanted.  Bangs but not Bieber bangs.  Sort of longer in the back but not quite a mullet.  And I must say both the hairstylist and recipient look
quite proud.

Treats Galore

Today a friend came over and we baked and baked. So there would be enough for gifts for teachers and cousins.  We made my traditional gingerbread.  I usually use the recipe from Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett but couldn't seem to find it so this year I used the recipe from maya*made.  I also decorate these with the daycare so they have some to take home.  I made Nate's favorite nut bars from my mom's recipe so there would be a fresh batch when Nate comes home tomorrow.  We also made alfajores with this delicious dulce de leche in the middle.  The tassies on the bottom are just that ..... tassies.  Delicious with a flour and cream cheese crust.  I also made a chocolate variety. 
Yum, yum. 

Advent Simplify

I was reading Maya*made a while ago and saw the idea for making an advent calendar with things to do to celebrate the season.  We didn't replace our regular advent calendar but definitely added to it.  Inside each of these pieces of paper is a little note telling us what to do that day.  I have loved how these simple things make us sit right down and be together.  And I made them simple and strategically put them on days that we could manage them.  However, when Emily opened up "make ornaments" it threw me off a bit because I had forgotten about that one. I was determined to use things we had.  Eli got a cardboard box and made a decorated tree.  Emily and I made some Jingle Bell Flowers out of egg cartons.  We worked on all the steps together.  It took a while to hang them just right but we did.  I'll be sure to add a picture of them.  The directions are from The Crafty Crow.    

   Also, on the list was to make gingerbread houses.  They didn't want to make a beautiful house at the craft fair so we had these instead.  They  also brought a lot of excitement.  I think our best addition this year was the color coated sunflower seeds.

Atta Girl

Emily  bought these earnings with  her friend at  the mall.  I got a good laugh at them and told her she can wear them but not to school.  I think they would be hazardous there.  So far, she's agreed and her ears are in tack.  That beautiful nail job is called umbray.  Or something like that. Yeah.  Winter colors that fade into each other.  Topped with a sparkle finish.  I don't think, even at that age, I was ever that girly.  I love that rose ring on her finger.  I bought that for her on her 9th birthday and she still wears it.

I think I found  a new respect for Emily this past weekend.  We have a very small bathroom that we all share.  Emily's bottles and gels were filling up the small counter and the back of the toilet.  The only two surfaces that are available in there.  Well, she is a girl who likes to primp.  She needs more room.  So she took it upon herself to move her spa into the back bathroom.  In order to do that she wanted it cleaned so she spent hours in there cleaning.  She made that bathroom sparkle.  She had her hair up and her music blasting and she made it shine.  It truly sparkles.  As she was doing that images of Rosy the Riveter came to mind.  I thought of sayings like, "When there's a will there's a way."  (And when there's not, there's certainly not.)  She also cleaned the top of her desk and dresser.  Without me even asking.  That is truly amazing.  The next night we went grocery shopping and she gladly carried in numerous bags of groceries.  I wanted to make note of these.  I'm trying to meet her on her hike.  To meet her on her mountain.  She plowed through Twilight.  I'm plowing through Twlight.  She's plowing through New Moon.  I may plow through New Moon.  I paint my nails sometimes.  I raid her jewelry and make up when I go out.  I ask her opinion of my shirt and jeans.  I hug her when she glares at me.  She is my mighty girl!   

Northern Coast

We drove to the Northern Coast.  Way up and out on the Peninsula.  Out by dairy farms and grazing cows and nursing calves and small deer.  The sun shone brillantly and we stayed until the fog rolled in.  Loving the fresh air and warm sunshine, the roar of the ocean and blowing of the light house horn. 

The next day we found ourselves exploring another part of the coast.  We hiked up through a woodland area and as we came out to the sea we found a sturdy rope swing on a huge eucalyptus tree.  After much urging from the rope swing owners some of us gave it a try.  Seemingly swinging out over the Pacific Ocean.  Lovely.  We continued on to spend the day on a long stretch of beach where we watched the sun change colors and the shadows stretch long and we raced the light heading back out of there. 

Urban Forests

Here is a beautiful spot I have found myself in during work hours two different times lately, which has been great.  I went on a field trip with school and got a day out.  So refreshing and really seems like what the classroom really should be-learning  about ecosystems and what we can do as humans to help maintain them.  Then I found myself there again when that beautiful golden fall light was spreading its way across the landscape.  We had just gotten home and were cozy with snack and the marble track when I forced them all to charge out again.  Much to their dismay.  And of course, once we were there they wanted to explore every tree and trail.  And they didn't want to leave.