What we've been up to...

Dear Diary:

It's been a while since I last wrote, so sorry. I thought I'd put up some photos of what we've been up to lately. Watching the Olympic Gold medal hockey game between Canada and the US (You guys did a great job!) The kids wanted medals so I made some for them, unfortunately I didn't have gold foil, but they didn't care. Liam built a fairy house outside his window, we went on the longest drive ever to eat ice cream and yesterday I spent a fabulous day in Victoria with the kids for my birthday. I love you lots. I can't wait to see you again soon.

if ever there was a gift...

You are it. I mean it. The older I get, the less I care about presents and the more I care about the gifts that I already have. Gifts like your friendship, this amazing sisterhood that you and I have. I really love you. I hope you had a great day with your family. Merry Christmas friend.

Thank you soul sister...

Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooooooo much dear friend. Your package couldn't have been any more amazing. We had so much fun opening it. (I don't usually wait to open the gifts we get in the mail, we rip them right open!!!) Jack loves his book, we read it before bed and played the little game. It is so sweet. Isa loves the cookies, she was pretending to eat the gingerbread ones. You should really sell them on Etsy, Catherine, they are so adorable. They are beautiful and I can feel your love when I look at them. And the little containers they were in! Do you know that Zena's gypsy tea is made here in Ojai? I have met the woman and she is really great.
So thank you so much for everything. I can not wait to dip that luscious brush in paint and dive into an incredible painting. Everything about that package was so fabulous, the book looks really intriguing- I have been in need of a good book lately.

My package to you guys is not as well put together- I was really wishing that I could have put more things in there for you. I was feeling a little bad b/c your package to us was so beautiful. Really, everything about it was marvelous. From the bag you made for Isa's food to the granola! It was really special and I was in heaven opening it.

Thank you so much for bringing such beauty to my life. Your friendship is more than I could have ever hoped for. You are an amazing friend and you are always close in my heart, even if we are not close in miles. Geography means nothing. Thank you for your love and sweet thoughtfulness. I hope you get my package soon.

How are you doing otherwise? I loved your last post. We have made window stars. So fun. By the way, it was 78 degrees today, hot. I was pissed. Too warm for christmas time. I really wish we had snow here now, so does Jack.
xxoo Love you.

Christmas ideas

Dear Diary:

I wanted to share with you some lovely ideas of things you can do with your family to bring some meaning and less spending back into this season. I've been thinking a lot lately about Christmas in my father's or grandparents age in Europe. They didn't have Santa Claus or stocking stuffers or door crashers or Black Friday (I still think that is a weird name for a shopping day).

They had traditions, special food, music, family, special linens, little treats, a Christmas tree that wasn't put up until Christmas Eve and a feast to celebrate the season on Christmas day. What happened to all of that? I have been asking myself.


Well, last year, we began to take back the Christmas season for what it really is and focus more on special celebrations, handmade gifts, little treats like roasted chestnuts over the fire and putting less emphasis on Christmas presents and more on the "Child of Light." So here are some things that we do in our home that are making this time really special and not so expensive.

1. We celebrate Advent or the coming of the Light. If you are not inclined to celebrate Christ's birthday, this is also the time of solstice, or the coming of the light. Beginning on the 1st Sunday of Advent (we are now on the 3rd, but it's never too late), we set up an advent wreath with 4 candles.

The first Sunday is to celebrate the mineral kingdom. So you would put out seashells, special stones and a couple of gnomes since they are the ones working in the elemental places of the earth.

The second Sunday is the plant kingdom. So you would put out a special plant or start putting your greenery on the wreath.

The third is the animal kingdom. Bring out the animals for the stable or make something to go on the wreath. In Liam's school, a special animal comes to visit. Last year it was a cow, this year a puppy. Maybe go to a petting zoo or a farm to celebrate.

The fourth Sunday of course is the people or the child of light. You can make a little child to put in your stable or for the centre of the wreath. Children don't care about religion so much, but they do resonate with a special child arriving.

Some other ideas that we love:

1. Attend a Waldorf Christmas Fair. It doesn't look like the School in Santa Barbara had one, which is so odd to me, but maybe they will next year? This is such a special event in our school.

2. Make some window stars (as shown above). They bring so much light to the house and are so beautiful for the children to make. You will have a few coming your way in the mail, Liam wanted to make one for Jack and Isa.

3. Celebrate St. Nicholas Day

4. Make your gifts. Some of my favorites are:

-fort building kit which included home made giant bean bags, old sheets and play clips
-King or Queen cape for dress up
-A jar of dried flowers, lavender, shiny stars, pebbles for making "potions"
-knitting a small blanket for your daughter's baby or dish clothes for her kitchen

5. Go to a family service for Christmas eve. These are not so preachy, they are more just singing and a little play. They are usually only an hour long and happen around 5:00pm.

6. Find a few special books that you can read together during this season, or better yet, write a story for your children. We have a sweet one that was written by another parent, I'll send it to you.

It is so hard when we are bombarded with X-Mas hoopla only for everything to go 50% off the day after. It is such a feeling of let down, but it doesn't have to be. I know money is tight, we're with you sister, but a few of these ideas make such a difference for everyone.

I'd love to know what some of the things you to as a family are special. I love you so much.

p.s. My computer doesn't seem to want to download my pictures, so this window star isn't mine, but you will see it soon....

How was your weekend?

Oh, to have a weekend away. Sounds so amazing. I can't wait to hear about it...

Downward facing dog and other life poses...

Sorry I didn't ring this afternoon. The day got away from me and John is away for the next few days... But I wanted to send some pictures of our life throughout the past week- over my dad's visit and halloween. I will write more when I am feeling eloquent and creative, at this moment I am not. I just want to crawl into bed, eat cake and read. Unfortunately, we have no cake.

wish you were here

Dear Diary:

It is really beautiful here. The leaves are all changing, the air is crisp, the tights and skirts are cozy and the fire is good company. I took the kids out the other day for a walk and took this really funny picture of them. It speaks so much to who they are. My son the naturalist, always looking at the plants, trees, leaves (he calls them the fall lanterns), so calmed by nature, it's really powerful for him. My daughter, who also loves to be outside, who inside is turning into a bit of a fashionista. She had just taken her hat off while she was walking towards me, she looks like she belongs in a catalog, carefree and happy on an autumn day. I would never to that to her, but it's pretty funny to see them from the other side of the lens. We went home and had tea and cookies, I love, love, love this time of year. What is it like in your neck of the woods or beach I should say?