Lately

Reading: The fascinating Snowflower and the secret fan Lisa See

Celebrating: A fifth birthday! With Lego, Octonauts and friends and cake at the park.

Admiring: Parsley flowers from the veggie patch.

Making: New pieces for the upcoming French Market.

Noticing: How quickly the days are being counted off our advent.

Treasuring: Our handmade Christmas decorations - who can help but feel a little sentimental at this time of year?

Sharing: In the children's amazement at the baby and Mama birds

Grateful: Everyday for my beautiful family - and loving this darling portrait Cohen drew of us

Growing: My first ever hydrangea blooms! After loosing two hydrangea plants and watching this little shrub not flower for two years, I had all but given up hope.

Excited: By the flutters and somersaults I've been feeling in quiet moment this past week, as the little one reaches 16 weeks.

I'm of a mind to potter lately. Be it the warm weather, the second trimester, or the time of the year. I am content to spend my days at home with small forays into the outside world. Making and pottering, making and pottering. I'm determined to go slow and not get caught up in the hectic pace this season offers. So far, so good.

Are things winding down or gearing up for you?

Christmas Craft - Ornaments

In keeping with my decision to create a loving, memorable, handmade, but simple Christmas this year, while taking the pressure off my pregnant self, this ornament kit from the variety shop sneakily came home with us. Right under the children's noses. I had every intention of putting them away until after the first of December. I even hid them in the linen closet. But I can not be trusted with craft supplies. I make promises to myself about knitting, sewing and wool too, then quite often break them...

I revealed the little project to two delighted children, as a reward for good behavior. Cohen was especially impressed, while Emerson was just as happy to paint herself, as per usual. Why not? She seemed quite pleased with them when they were finished though, and kept dragging a chair over to the kitchen to look at them while they dried.

I think they are just beautiful, even if it felt like cheating to buy the whole project in one box. I'll be writing their names and the year on the back, and hope to be hanging them from the Christmas tree for many years to come. 

$3 well spent I think.

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Don't forget to enter the Handmade Christmas Giveaway!

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You might also like to check out -
DIY gifts for guys
Air-dry clay ornament tutorial
Embroidered Napkin Tutorial
Christmas Decoration Tutorials