This Vintage Chica

writing thank yous

Sometimes I have more ideas in my brain than there is possibly time to complete. However, I know I'm not the only one out there with bigger plans than our hands can keep up with.

Fill-in-the-blank thank you notes for the boys is one of those ideas that have been on my mind for a full year now. Last year I had this idea as a way for the boys to practice their writing and continue the gratitude theme that is so precious to us during the Christmas holiday. Not to mention that I think thank you notes are becoming a lost art.  So this year, thank you notes were at the top of my list!

It was such a wonderful exercise in thankfulness.  The boys (and I) were really amazed at just how many gifts they had received from teachers, family and friends.  One of Ian's notes to his brother said this, "it was a great gift because you were the one who gave it to me and I love you." 

And now I am thinking I need to write a little thank you note of my own.

Dear Sweet Friends,

Thank you for the gift of friendship this past year. It was a great gift because it has meant so much to me. Everyone should be so blessed to have such an encouraging and supportive group of people around them. I never in a million years would have thought I would have found such a community through blogging.  And like Ian said, your gift was from your hearts and I love you all for it.

I excitedly look forward to the year ahead and what all adventures it will bring.

Much love to you all,

Eren

P.S.  A better peek at our full thank you note can be found here.  Feel free to use it as you may.

us time

Life can get so crazy and busy so quickly between partners.  Especially when one (or both) of you is in and out of town.  Add in the holidays and three little ones.  And without you even knowing it, you can find yourself at dinner one night, looking across that table and wondering who the heck this person is sitting next to you.  That is exacty where S and I have found ourselves the past several months.  And with very little time for "us time" we were both starting to feel the frustration of it all.

So one day this past week, with Abuelita Fia here to help with the boys, we took some time for us.  Almost a whole day.  The weather was cooperating, so we loaded up our bikes, bundled up, and headed for one of our most favorite places, Back Bay and False Cape.  We had the beach all to ourselves and since it was low tide we could bike for miles.  We did not see the wild horses, but saw a few feral hogs and lots of deer, racoon and fox tracks.  The dolphins treated us to a show just as we started to head back home with pockets full of beach treasure.

It continues to blow me away how medicinal the natural world is!  We had time to talk...really talk...about what the next few years may hold, about the boys' education, about how we can better meet each other's needs on a daily basis, about commonalities and differences.   And are now feeling much more grounded individually and also more connected to each other.  Aaaahhhh....bring on 2009 and whatever may come.  We're ready now...together.

before and after

Christmas: before and after, originally uploaded by eren | thisvintagechica.

We had a great Christmas complete with a huge breakfast including Oma's special Christmas rolls, presents that seemed to multiply as the morning went on and a very grounding meal with some wonderful folks at the JCOC Shelter.

Now to get my house back in order.

How was your holiday?

Sitting bull visits the manger

I don’t know about you, but between the Christmas programs, shopping, photos with Santa, baking and parties, the holidays can make you a bit crazy. My MIL is coming into town on Sunday and I am already mentally preparing myself to hand over complete control of my kitchen.

But as I sit here typing this message, I notice a few things that make me stop and smile. My refrigerator, clean and tidy a week ago, is now covered with construction paper reindeer and Santas with cotton ball beards. Our playmobil nativity set is in complete disarray and there is an Indian figure standing in for the missing shepherd. The tree is a little off centered after being decorated and redecorated thirteen million and one times. Our Christmas card holder is full of well wishes from good friends from all over the world. And the smell of banana bread for the neighbors is starting to migrate into the living room.

May you find time over the next few days to make a cup of coffee (or tea) and sit. Listen. Watch. Smell. Be aware. Open to the real sights and sounds of Christmas. And if something on your list hasn’t gotten done yet, don’t worry about it. Save it for next year.

Much love to you all,

From our familia to yours,

Feliz Navidad

knitting: like a hole in the head

 

I sure hope all of my good friends had hand knitted dish cloths on their wish lists this year. Ever since Laura made me those socks, I haven't been able to shake the wanting to learn to knit. I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head.  Nevertheless, here I am...knitting away, making piles and piles of dish cloths until I feel confident enough to take on something else.  But I have to say, I am just loving the simplicity and softness of what Im doing right now.  Maybe there will be socks in 2009.

its beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Sorry for the spiratic posts lately my friends.  We got back from our Thanksgiving visit to Texas and landed right in the middle of Christmas.  Yikes!  Two holiday parties, hosted at my house, and three Christmas programs later, I am able to come up for air.

Luckily I have the best husband in the world...really he is.  You don't mind if I brag on him for a moment do you?  When the boys and I arrived home from the airport, S had put the white lights up outside on the house, the Christmas tree was in and ready to be decorated and garland had been put in all the right places (the mantle, the stairs, etc).  The boys and I just had to decorate the tree and unpack the Christmas linens and dishes.  Its times like this, I sometimes forget he's a big tough military guy.  I love him.

So, now that the formal obligations are over and no one is depending on me for one thing or another, my body has decided it is time to get sick.  Oh yes...it is a sad day when the mama gets sick.  I had been fighting a sinus infection most of the Thanksgiving break, but now my headache is accompanied by fever, a soar throat and an ear infection.  Lucky me.

Yes, yes...lucky me.  Lucky that I have a wonderful husband who is so good at taking the boys so I can rest and get over this nastyness.  Lucky that I have a beautiful home, a warm fire and a full pantry.  Lucky to have friends to call to see if they can bring soup over tonight.  Yes, yes...lucky me.

back to the real world

sun, originally uploaded by eren | thisvintagechica.

Hello world! That's pretty much how I am feeling after being in Texas with family for the past several weeks- no internet, limited cell service and very little TV.  

Ahhhh....it was nice to unplug for awhile. A bit hard to get used to at first.  And now, is a bit of an adjustment getting back into the bigger, noiser world again.

We are settling back into our old routine of school, friends, church, activities. Unfortunately, I am having some problems posting from typepad. (This post is generated from flickr) So, just popping in quickly to say hello...and we are back...at least physically.

Right before we left the boys and I watched a few of the youtube.com videos of Andy Goldsworthy's art.  Thanks Amanda for the link.  Goldsworthy uses only the things he finds in nature to create breathtaking pieces. How amazingly stunning it all is. Last week my sister-in-law and I went out to see a movie and when we came back Wyatt had made this little sun out of sticks and fossils. He is gifted Im sure. Im calling expensive, presigious art schools as I type this.  

Hope all is well with each of you. Im looking forward to catching up on what you all have been up to.

Many blessings friends!