Amber's 9th Birthday

Today we celebrated Amber's 9th birthday. I can't believe she is nine! Yesterday she was learning to walk and using sign language because she couldn't talk yet. Now she's a non-stop chatter box.

Grandma Val and Grandpa John always give the kids a subscription to a magazine. Amber is now getting a new magazine, American Girl. The first issue arrived a couple days ago, just in time for her birthday! Inside there's a great article about dogs.

Grandma Val and Grandpa John also sent a cute little teapot. Amber likes to have tea with mommy, so now she has something in which to brew her favorite tea ... candy cane!

All the boys wanted to get her a Webkinz, but we limited it to two, a baby penguin and the Daisy Tortoise. I also indulged her by getting her the Schnauzer (below). It's the Webkinz for the month of January.

This is the sweater I am making her. But I ran into a few problems with the pattern, which put me behind and now the sweater is not completed. So, I gave her the book (signed by the author) and the sweater as it is right now, and now I can complete it without having to work late at night when she can't see it. The book was written by local author Debbie Macomber and the yarn purchased at her yarn shop, A Good Yarn Shop. The book is called "The Terribly Horribly Wonderful Sweater my Grandmother Made."

I also made her this little sweater/bolero for her Bitty Twin doll.

This is the doll cake she requested, vanilla with chocolate frosting. The rest was up to me. Daryn made a chocolate ganache and it was quite bitter/cloying. All the kids liked it. Perhaps I'm losing my desire for chocolate (one could only hope). Daryn reduced some raspberries and sugar yesterday so we could tint icing white. So, I made a plain vanilla icing today and then colored it pink by putting in the raspberry reduction (which was very much like jam, minus the seeds). It had a wonderful delicate taste and was the perfect shade of pink. It's not my best efforts, but it was a yummy cake nonetheless. Amber and her two friends, as well as the rest of us, enjoyed and finished half of it. Doesn't go far with 8 people!

Merry Christmas!

Traditionally the kids get to open one gift on Christmas Eve. Additionally, it's always something homemade, like a set of pjs, etc. This year they are all in a sewing class and made their own nightshirts (only Ethan hadn't finished his, and Ian just doesn't have his on in this photo). At any rate, these are the pants I made for them. I sneaked into their scraps and took pieces of their remaining cloth to individualize each pair.
The rest of these photos are out of order, but I don't think it really matters. Daryn was away for the first part of December, but found this cute hat for Amber while he was in Japan. It's a bit big, but she loves it.Grandma Val made Amber a knitting bag from a place mat and sent an assortment of knitting accessories as well. She felt like she hit the jackpot!Grandma and Grandpa also sent the kids new bathrobes. The kids have exclaimed they are comfy, cozy, and quite warm!I was making a crocheted market bag for Mom and my sister, Jo, and Daryn saw me working on one of them one evening and said it was something he could really use because he goes to the commissary frequently while at work to get stuff for lunch. He would rather have something reusable than the plastic bags he ends up with each trip. So, while he was in Japan, I found some cotton yarn I thought he'd like, and made one for him, too!
These are the socks I made Daryn. I was working on these in July when we made our trip to and from Idaho!
These are the socks I made for Ian (left) and Evyn (right). They are supposed to be mismatched. They are called Dobby Socks. In Harry Potter, the house elf, Dobby, made socks for Harry. One had a snitch and the other had broomsticks. I had intended on all three boys getting a pair, but I ran out of time!
Ethan, however, ended up with my first ever pair of socks made at the same time on one needle. I used self-patterning yarn. I'm not sure if he was thrilled, but they sure fit his feet well. He's also wearing the hat I made for him.
Evyn FINALLY got his quilt. Boy, this was a difficult project for me. My sister is the Quilting Queen in our family. This quilt took me 3 years (maybe 4?) to complete. I probably should have tied it more (in the center of the squares) but I just couldn't get myself to do it. I finally bit the bullet and sewed scraps together to make the binding and after sewing it on one side, hand-stitched it on the other side in hidden stitch. It was an emotional morning for both of us. He was so happy to get it, and I was so glad to give it to him!
Grandma Val sent Ian a knitting needle case as well and he was so glad to have it. I think this was once Mom's, which makes it even more special.
Mom also sent me a scarf she got when they had taken a trip to Italy. I love the color. I guess some would call it champagne; it looks like a bronze/gold to me. It went beautifully with the two turtlenecks she sent as well.
Grandma Judy got the kids "Life: Twists and Turns." She has it at home and is excited to come and visit and play with them here! The only down side is that it's only for 4 players, so we all have to take turns playing. It's fun! You don't know who's winning until the last play and the electronic device tells you!
Grandma Val and Grandpa John (Mom and Dad) visited in September and had an outdoor game called Ladderball. Everyone had so much fun playing it, that they bought another one and left it here for the kids for Christmas. We're all excited to get out and play it again!
Grandma and Grandpa also sent the boys mess kits for camping. They were so thrilled with these gifts.
Like I said, these are out of order. Here are the kids with their stockings.
These woven stockings are handmade and numbered. They were sent by my sister, Jo. She said that in the years ahead, she will send things that can go in them.

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."