Land o’ Sunshine

Hopefully Christmas was not only joyful, but relaxing and fun.   It was great here.   We watched Santa appear throughout the world on Norad Tracks Santa, went to mass, dinner at the local Chinese place, toured the local Christmas lights, and then back home for the annual Twas the Night Before Christmas read, goodies for Santa, and then bed.   Sunshine Brothers stayed in bed and didn’t reappear until almost 7:30!!!!   

Santa’s helpers (aka Sunshine Mom & Dad) assembled everything without injury or swearing (or at least not much).  

It seemed to take a long time to open all the gifts.   I remember ripping things open in about 10 minutes.  It was 45 min or maybe an hour to open everything under the tree.   Santa did well with his selections and there wasn’t much complaining about not getting the dinosaur kit they ”ordered”. 

 I got two knitting  books: 

I’m not sure about the sweater pattern book.  Sweaters seem so dedicated.   I don’t feel dedicated.   I am still trying to decide.   I don’t know that I have the urge to design a sweater.   I want it to look beautiful, not junky.   We’ll see what B&N has in their knitting section….   The library will be happy to know their copy of Knitting Vintage Socks can be checked out by someone else now.    Now if I could only get a sock to fit Sunshine Daddy!   They either end up TOO big or too small.   I did swatch this last time and still nothin!  

On to the Christmas knitting coup!   My first knitting project was a blue and white chunky 2X2 ribbed scarf for DH.  He picked the colors, I knit.   It wasn’t bad, but it was beginner to say the least.   You might remember I taught SIL how to knit.   Well I bought some Patons Classic in heathered grey for myself.   I cast on the Irish Hiking Scarf to knit along with her.  At some point, the scarf became Sunshine Daddy’s replacement scarf.   If he asked about it, I told him it was for me.  I tried it on myself, told him how much I loved it, you get the picture.   Well he was definately surprised Christmas morning when he opened the box and found the grey Irish Hiking Scarfs, not his other scarf. 

It was an awesome victory.  Not only was it a surprise, but he was surprised!    All in all, a wonderful day.  

I still have some Christmas money from my mother, so I might be visiting the LYS.   Anyone up for a trip???

How do mommy bloggers do it?    Housework, kids, and blogging almost everyday, even with the holidays looming?   I was introduced to crafty blogs today–like I need more blogs on the RSS feed!–via Rocks in My Dryer.   So now there is crafty goodness to make me feel like I am getting NOTHING done.   Check it out, there are even a few knitting goodies in there! 

Stay tuned for a Sunshine Fam holiday blog.   Designed to be the next “hottest” thing in holiday cards.    Yeh, right.  Anyway, we’ll see.   Maybe before New Year’s.  :) 

 We enjoyed some yummy hot cocoa with Homemade Marshmallows today–can’t wait to read the blogging about it ZigZag Mommy.   There was much discussion about their lack of roundness during dinner tonight.  Sunshine Brothers seemed envious of their pal for getting to enjoy ”A LOT” of marshmallows.    I loved the shape, like igloo blocks for your cocoa!    Thank you for our treat.   It makes me wish I had saved a couple of the 7 6 layer bars to go with it.   I did add it do my coffee and yummmmm.   Thanks again!!

2006 Christmas Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Egg Nog, most definately.  Even w/o the rum, but better with rum! 

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Santa most definately wraps presents, though during the wee hours of Christmas morn, I wish he didn’t! 

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?  White lights on house and tree.  Colored lights are fine, but to mix is a faux paux.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? nope. 

5. When do you put your decorations up? Before the kids it was the weekend after Thanksgiving.  After kids it is later in the month.  I gauge it by how often I think I will have to chase them out of the tree or away from the knick knacks.   This year, it will be after Sunshine sis’s b-day, though the lights and some inside decorations are up.   No tree till after the birthday girl has her day. 

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?  I think squash.  Boring, but yummy.   Oh I am sure there is something else, but nothing comes to mind right now.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child: Going to midnight mass and having the presents there when we returned.   They weren’t there and then they were.   I don’t remember waiting around for my dad or mom to come to the car…it was magic.   After all the “loot” was open, we had an awesome breakfast with eggs and bacon.  Usually we were cereal eaters, so a fancy breakfast was tons of fun, especially at 3 in the morning! 

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don’t remember.  Hmmm, I’ll have to think about that one. 

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?  We open one gift from family members on Christmas eve.  This is done AFTER mass. 

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?  I do all the prepping of the tree–warming branches, lights, etc–and then the kids can help with the non-fragile ornaments. 

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?  Love it, but only if I am not going anywhere. 

12. Can you ice skate?  No. 

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?  I got a stereo one year–double cassette player, radio, and turntable–and it was a total surprise.   My father told me it was a gift for my mother, boy what a sucker I was!  

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you?  Slowing down and spending time getting ready to really appreciate Jesus’ birth.   I think about Mary and the amazing woman/mother/wife she was.    

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? I love pecan pie.  

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?  Sunshine Daddy reading “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the kids, going out for Chinese for Christmas Eve dinner (after the children’s Mass), and driving around to look at the neighborhood Christmas lights. 

17. What tops your tree? Moravian star (mini-size)

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving?  Finding that perfect gift. 

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?  O Come Emmanuel.

20. Candy Canes… yuck or yum?  YUMMMMM.   Even stale ones are good.  They must be the traditional flavors though, no bubble gum or tropical punch. 

Thanks to Yarnsticks for the meme.   I am tagging anyone that reads (psst that’s you!).  

Ok, so that is said with a bit of sarcasm.    I do enjoy Advent and Christmas, however, decorating and really enjoying the season have taken on a new meaning with little ones.   It would be easier to control an octopus than the hands of the Sunshine Sis (who will turn 2 in a week).   They are quick, dangerous and EVERYWHERE!  

Sunshine Daddy is currently stringing lights on the house.   The goal is a gingerbread effect one of these days.   Inside we are slowly putting up decorations, writing letters (ok emails) to Santa, planning our cookie marathon session, and assorted other “crafty” things for the kids to clamor & constantly ask “if tomorrow is Christmas” patiently wait for Christmas.  

 Since we don’t have snow here, which is fine with me, we are making online snowflakes and watching the snow fall on the computer.   Popular Front  is the perfect place to waste spend some time creating unique snowflakes.  

In knitting news, I am working on another Irish Hiking Scarf and gloves.   Two projects at one time…the excitement is too much for you I’m sure.   In other knitting news, during Thanksgiving, I taught my SIL how to knit.   She did a GREAT job, learning.   It felt like de ja vu watching her learn how move the yarn.   Sunshine sis was very interested in the going ons, so maybe there is knitting in her future. 

Last, but not least, a Sunshiney picture of the “gang”.   It is our true selves.   Notice that Sunshine sis’s expression seems to say it all!