Gifts from my English swap partner

Last year I joined an online group called Ravelry and an even smaller subgroup called 2009 Christmas Swap. I was paired up with a wonderful woman named Jayne who has 3 small children and they live in Cheshire, England. We swapped for Christmas in July, one in October for Halloween, and then the big one for Christmas.

Here is what arrived for me today!

There are 6 little stockings with something in them and I've placed them on the tree. Two of them in the Hogwarts Gryffindor colors (Harry Potter!).

The next photo shows the wrapped packages intended for tomorrow morning (Christmas). Sadly, because it was wrapped in tissue, one had already burst open, but I have still set it under the tree and am trying to ignore what it is (but I can tell it's a black bear!). I love black bears!

The one shows the other goodies. The top left is a box with mulling spices. It says it's for wine, but it also mentions cider! Then there are two balls of some really beautiful sock wool ... I can't wait to make something from them all for myself! Next to those is a package of shortbread. I LOVE shortbread! Yummy! What a treat! You can see all the little stocking huddled together there, and a card. Under the stockings you can see a purplish leather bookmark from her area of England.

Edited: 12-26-09
I have now included the photos of the items that were wrapped and under the tree. A beautiful deep purple scarf, stitch markers that remind me of snowflakes, two soldier ornaments (already hung on the tree), and a TY Beanie Baby Black Bear.

Tesing loading video - Joule Escaping Confines

Nutcracker

This year we were blessed to be able to perform in another Nutcracker. Our new school, Just For Kicks, had been toying with doing this for a few years, and we are so glad they finally did it. It's lots of time, and hours on both the kids' and parents' parts (shuttling, etc.) ... but in my honest opinion, I wouldn't have it any other way. Nutcracker has become such a tradition with us, that I don't know what the Christmas season would be like without it.

This year Ian was so happy to be the Rat King, Evyn was the mouse prince/lead mouse or as the boys like to say, Ian's lead minion! Amber was a party girl (or cousin, depending on who is staging the production), and Ethan was Fritz. I was so happy to be Nanny. I like that so much more than just being a parent and standing out there. I felt I had a bit more to do. Wish I was a lot younger and could take dance lessons again ... but those days are in the past. I can tap, but ballet is a bit out of reach these days I think! (ha-ha!) I have to honestly say, though, I had the time of my life and I'd do it over and over again. Wish we could have more than two performances. Maybe next year?
Here are my lovelies again! They did a marvelous job. Ethan was as impish as he could possibly be, Amber was cute and adorable, Evyn was a feisty mouse and protected his King well by jumping in front of the cannon with a fabulous leap. Ian died admirably at the end of his battle with the Nutcracker.

Making Christmas Cookies

While the boys are at an invited Awanas event, Fur Traders, at Jackson Park, Amber and I are home with the Christmas lights turned on, music playing, and making Spritz cookies. These will go with us tonight for opening night of our Nutcracker. I'm the Nanny, and I thought I'd serve cookies, besides the champagne. The adults on stage said they were told they'd get champagne, not sure if that's true or not, but I have yet to have glasses and bottles to work with ... should be interesting!This is Amber decorating the Spritz we made this morning.

Various dance shots this year

The boys were all in the same Jazz class, which turned into a Hip Hop class. I was later told they were performing Street Jazz. So, who's to say? Anyway, their number was called "My Addidas" and they all wore Addidas t-shirts, shorts, and sneakers. Easy costume!
From the left: Evyn, Ethan, and Ian.

Ian and Evyn took the same ballet class with Mrs. Jennifer Branner. She was very strict, and although they didn't like it at first, they are SO glad we switched school and have her as a teacher now. This is Evyn with his partner, Jade, during their ballet number, "Radetsky March."

Ethan was in a different ballet class, but with a former teacher from our old school. He was the only boy in the class. Their number was "River Flows In You."

Amber and her jazz class friends did a really cute number to "Wonder Woman." This is the remarkable balance pose they did mid-way through the dance. Amber is the only one not resting her foot on someone! What muscle control!

Amber also had Mrs. Jennifer Branner for ballet, and then we found out Mrs. Branner was combining the older class with the younger class. The dance was beautiful. They all learned their parts during different classes and only came together a few times to combine the dance ... perfectly choreographed. Amber is in the middle in blue.

Amber's fabulous leap at the end of "Wonder Woman." Sadly the photo doesn't do her justice, but I have to show it anyway. Look at the height of her leap!

Ian and his partner, Paige, during their ballet number "Radetsky March."

Evyn's remarkable shoulder balance during "My Addidas." Each boy showcased a move.

Ethan and Amber were in the same tap class. Ethan, again, is the only boy. Amber is on the far right. They really enjoyed dancing with canes and top hats. The number was "Fabulous Feet."

Ian and Evyn were in tap together and the only two boys. Their number was "Respect." Very well choreographed by the owner of the studio, and their teacher, Tanya Bleil.

Lastly, Amber was asked to be on the Select Dance Team to represent the dance studio. They got to perform at the Festival of Trees, an annual fund-raising event for the children's hospital. Amber is in the back row, arms in the air and big smile. They are also going to perform at Winterfest in Seattle on Dec. 28. This is a jazz number to Miley Cyrus' "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree."

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving preparations. Pecan pie ...


Whole wheat rolls ...
The 25-pound turkey ...
Drumsticks ...
Dueling drumsticks ...
More dueling drumsticks ...
The actual feast ...
The wing ...
Loading up dinner plates ...
Dessert ... apple, pecan, and pumpkin!

The leftovers were amazing!

Shuntbumping with HSKS 9

So, as you may or may not know, I am a member of an online group called Ravelry. Within this group of lots of other groups of which one can become a part. I joined one called HSKS (Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap). I joined for the Summer Camp session, as well as Ian. We had a lot of fun during HSKS 8, and so we joined up for HSKS 9. Instead of Summer Camp, we are on Quidditch teams. If you are familiar with J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, you will know about Quidditch. At any rate, Ian and I are on the same Quidditch team, Pride of Portree.

We also participated in Shuntbumping. What is Shuntbumping? Well, here is what was written about that on our heading for our group:

"In the days before Quidditch became the most popular of broom games, the game of Shuntbumps was popular in Devon, England. This ancient sport was a crude form of jousting, the aim being to knock all other players off their brooms, the winner being the last person remaining on their broom.

"We will be resurrecting this ancient pre-curser to Quidditch by having our own Shuntbumps knockout competition in HSKS 9. Each week we will have a Shuntbumps contest in which pairs of players compete to finish a knit or crochet project assigned by the Shuntbumping Co-ordinators. The winner of each pairing will be the first to POST A PICTURE of their finished item within this Shuntbumps arena. Winners go on to the next week's contest and losers are knocked out. The overall winners will be the last surviving Shuntbumper in each league (knit/crochet) once all others are knocked out.

"Completed projects can either be donated to SPEW, local charities, or used as holiday gifts for friends and relatives. And of course the overall Shuntbumps winners will receive a prize."

So, without further ado, I present to you, my Round 1 completion of the Wizardly Incognito Hat. I won my first round.

Sadly, I had a two-hour late start for Round 2. My own fault. I misread the time zone starting time ... I read EDT instead of PDT. So, instead of knitting, I was out with Ethan and Amber looking for final elements for his costume. Oh well, things like this happen. On the upside, it's just as well, as next week we'll be having our Harry Potter Halloween Party and I don't want to have to be knitting instead of doing the party. So, it all works out in the end!

These are the Easy Fingerless Mitts.