January

This is what January is looking like, birthdays and cheeriness, busy handwork inside, cold cold cold, dark, wintery and stillness on the outside, nature in deep hibernation . And so anothe year goes.
                               Malawi's birthday table

Happy January, happy monday 

I knew you would be four

Someday, deep down, I knew you would be four.

I knew you would be four ,when you carried your plate and fork to the kitchen without being asked.

I knew you would be four when you told me you wanted "coowl pants" on, and never really let me choose your outfits again.

I knew you would be four when you walked confidently into school without holding my hand one morning.

I knew you would be four when I overheard you singing your brother's rap songs from your carseat, back there.

I knew you would be four when you proclaimed one night: enough kisses mom!  (and my heart sank just a little) :(

I knew you would be four when your once deliciously chubby little legs grew strong and firm.

I knew you would be four when while unsteadily riding our bikes together over the ice one night, you told me "you're ok mom" "you're fine, don't worry!" and comforted me.

I knew you would four when you woke up this morning and I told you "its your 4th birthday today!" and you answered:
"no , its not really yet, maybe tomorrow" perhaps appeasing  me for begging  you to never ever, actually turn one year older EVER AGAIN.

I knew you were four, when you woke up tonight in a full tantrum, needing me: your mama, and I let you cry, before settling you on my lap to tell you a story about a bunny in springtime, inhaling your sweet hair, and tucking you back to sleep...waiting for your next milestone, in this blessed journey we have shared together.


                                                             Happy 4th Malawi Emanuer

Gifties and other things

 There is our tree, donning about half the ornaments as other years, due to its spindly little constitution.
I love it.
I love that most of the ornaments are handmade by me or the children, too :)

we made snowmen out of socks and rice, they loved it so much

our advent wreath and ginger bread house.

they made the xmas cards this year too, those little balls are their little finger tips, dipped in paint.

I unwittingly nearly killed this spider plant so many times over the summer, but here it still is, thriving

These are my last minute, 

super inspired and ridiculously labor intensive xmas gifts of 2015:

little hanging succulent planters made of coiled rope, with nylon thread, leather, suede, copper, jute and tiny pompoms and tassels. 

(Hopefully they will be up for sale soon too :)

my photographer's helper

he loves a freshly spread bed in a sunny room

Happy monday 

For the love of mustard

I love this color, i love all shades of brown, especially on my childrens skin, I love yellow, 

and mustard is the perfect combination of both.

I bought this gorgeous wool and decided to make mister M a new winter hat, practicing a new stitch, the bobble or puff stitch. It requires LOTS of time and patience, and LOTS of yarn.

Worth all the trouble,

We love it