Cookie Exchange Party: Haiku Poetry

We’re cleaning up from a great afternoon and evening. A John Hughes themed cookie exchange, complete with best theme, best decorated, best tasting, best cookie overall and best haiku. There was an amazing display of creativity. I loved it: Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Ferris Bueller, Mr. Mom… The party is always a good way to help bring out more Christmas spirit, but this year, it was especially good since my family had another death in the family this past week. There were moments this week when I’d be fine, but then while preparing for our party, the smallest thing would remind me of my uncle (he loved parties and threw great ones, too) and I’d start crying. *sigh* I’m better now, really.

I promise to have a link to pictures soon, but for now here are our some haikus from our poetry wall.

Butter and some sugar.
Don’t forget choc’late. And then
Tasty bits of joy.
(A.O.)

Mrs. Fields is my friend.
We go way back, to my youth.
I don’t care what kind!
(S.S.)

Delicious cookies
Look so good to eat today
The cookie crumbles
(A.T. and J.T.)

A celebration
Winter cookies and close friends
My perfect evening
(E.T.)

Uncle Buck would be proud
Baking duties thrust on us
Must use everything!
(D.M. and Y.H.)

Pretty pink panties
Day off in windy city
We miss you John Hughes
(S.C. and M.S.)

cold milk fills my glass
warm chocolate chips and walnuts;
a cookie fixes everything!
(A.C. and S.R.)

John Candy outdoors
Bald bear knocked him on the floor
Too bad there weren’t S’MORES!
(J.M.)

Oh Ferris Bueller
I wish I had lived like you
Taking Ferraris
(J.H.)

Reconciliation, Glass Blowing and Friends

What a nice weekend. We celebrated Abby’s First Reconciliation at our church. The big celebration will be in April with First Holy Communion.

At Church with Abby

Ollie and Grandpa

Then we visited our friend and glass artist, Robert Fritz. Bob (sitting) and Eastman used to work together, but now, Bob is a retired high school art teacher, and he can do what he loves. Bob hosts a holiday open house at his studio and home to showcase his work as well as other artists. We’re fortunate to have a few pieces by Bob; one was commissioned by Eastman for Christmas right before Abby was born. Talk about an emotion-evoking gift! Breathtaking work, really. Check out Bob’s gallery on his website. The highlight of the day is learning a little about pulling or blowing glass and being able to pull our own cane ornaments. We must have at least a dozen now.

Robert Fritz Freeblown Glass Holiday Open House

Eastman pulling latticino glass ornament

Pulling Hot Glass

Julie's turn to work with hot glass

Looking a little wonky?!

Bored Kids at Holiday Glass Blowing Open House

Bob's Assistant grinding glassGreg Colombe pottery

We were excited to see Greg Colombe again and his beautiful pottery work (he’s in the background in the red shirt). He’s doubled his color palate just by adding porcelain to his materials. We have a stoneware pillar candle holder and lidded jar. This year we bought a soap dish with the most amazing glaze, and Abby and Ollie both came home with the prettiest magnets our refrigerator will see. You just might fall in love with Greg’s work if you go to his site and check out his gallery.

So, to continue the “visiting friends” theme of the day… we ventured a little further and met with some long time friends, one I haven’t seen since high school! I don’t know who had more fun, the kids or the grown-ups?

Kids TableOld Friends coming together

I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend to help me get out of my winter doldrum funkiness. I’m so blessed with amazing friends and family.

Christmas Card Display idea

Christmas Card Display Idea

Maybe you tape cards to the back of the door. Maybe you string them up along the top of the wall, or maybe line the cards up along your fireplace mantle. Here is a fun way to display your holiday greeting cards if you want to try something new.

Supplies: 2 x 4 ceiling tile, fabric, ribbon, light duty staple gun, picture screw hooks, heavy twine or rope, push pins

Make sure you have enough fabric to cover your board. Place your fabric on the floor, right side down, and then the ceiling tile, also right side down. Wrap the fabric around the edges, and staple to the board. Turn right side up, and place ribbon horizontally and vertically to make board look like a present. I also stapled these to the board.  On the back side, I screwed hooks into the board a few inches in from the edges and then strung twine through them to create a hanger. I loved how it turned out last year.

Christmas Card Display Idea

Christmas 2008 Card Gallery

Christmas Banner Idea

This is one of my favorite projects to come home with Abby. She was a mere four-years old when she made this, and I hang this up every year.

Preschool Christmas Project

Supplies:

canvas or burlap material (approx. 15″ x 19″), red and green tempera paint, sponge brushes (optional), permanent marker, dowel rod (3/16″ x 18″), hot glue gun or craft glue, 1/4″ ribbon (20″ to 21″)

Take your child’s hand and paint it green or dip in green paint that has been poured onto a paper plate. Stamp six handprints in a pyramid form, reloading paint on the hand as needed. Then have your child dip or paint one finger with red paint and “dot” the top of the third finger of each handprint. Let dry. Draw a little tree base and add your artist’s name and year, too.

After your banner is dry, place the dowel rod at the top of the banner and fold over the top 1/2″ inch (or whatever is appropriate) so that the dowel rod is within a “casing”. Using a hot glue gun or craft glue, glue down the canvas to secure the casing. If using craft glue, you may want to use clips or clamps to hold down the canvas as it’s drying. Tie your ribbon to the dowel rod on both ends, hang and enjoy!

Christmas Thoughts

Front Porch with Christmas Lights

Thank you everyone for the kind words, thoughts and prayers as my family is dealing with the loss of my aunt. Another relative is very ill, so my parents and brother flew out earlier this week to California to be with our family. It’s been a stressful and teary two weeks, but I still want to make this a special Christmas for my kids, my family. I’m usually so happy and excited to get our home ready for the holidays, for guests, to celebrate… but I’m “blah” right now. Even Christmas songs on the radio aren’t getting me in the mood as they usually do. I mean, I’m still doing stuff. Just with a bit of a heavy heart – I set out to decorate our home (Father-in-law strung the lights outside), started addressing the Christmas cards, got some cookie dough in the refrigerator.

Christmas Tree at Night

I think in a little time I’ll find the Christmas spirit…

Kids under the Christmas Tree

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving Kids 2009

Lots to be thankful for this year… my husband, my children… but this second half has been a hard one for my side of the family which makes Thanksgiving more bittersweet. There are both physical and emotional problems that some are enduring, but this week my family lost our oldest aunt, my dad’s oldest sister, Tess. I haven’t seen her for three years since she moved from Chicago to the Philippines, but she has been a big part of my growing years. I thought about her often after her move, and now, I believe she is in a better place without physical pain, without worries.

My dad’s three other sisters are in the Philippines now, making arrangements, while a few families are here in Chicago making the most of this Thanksgiving by coming together for dinner at our home. We give thanks for those here and abroad who have touched our lives in so many ways…

Thanksgiving pumpkin cupcakes

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