***first a quick random item: sometimes when I sit down to my laptop at my desk (which also doubles as my sewing table) I look under the table, feeling with my foot for the sewing machine pedal--as if I need to use it, in order to make my laptop work....odd, I know.**
Well, we've returned from the holidays feeling about as stuffed and satisfied as these little cheeks are with fluffy, white marshmallows. The girls never recovered in time from their colds, and in all reality were probably at their worst while we were away. But we still managed to leave with the full, satisfied feeling after a good weekend with family.
Emma quietly summed up our car ride to my mom's house in her notebook:
"Daddy crying because he can't find a place to get a cup of coffee."
(it made for a high-stress first hour of our roadtrip)
"Daddy happy because he finally found a cup of coffee at the gas station."
(But a very BAD cup of coffee.)
Meanwhile she also left this note for us when we got home.
For those of you who need a translation (like her own mother did)--the sign says, "BUY GOLDFISH". I guessed it was a stove and a fish, but silly me, ha!--it's a cash register and a goldfish! Isn't it funny how even her images for the two words are drawn backwards-with the cash register (buy) on the right, and the fish (goldfish) on the left--just like we all discussed at the end of this post.
She's been hounding us about this for weeks, and I imagine Santa will get involved.
The background of this picture is part of my next project. But instead of writing a giant post today, I'll save that for tomorrow.
Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and you're joyously looking forward to the holidays ahead. I'm feeling very inspired by yesterday's Pay-It-Forward show on Oprah and a short little snippet I read in a magazine about a women who sewed tote bags and filled them with toiletries for women in her local homeless shelter. Yesterday was the first time I have made it through an entire oprah show in a long time. I couldn't peel myself away from all the inspiring acts of generousity. Then a quick trip to target this morning brought all of that consumer-driven, spending-overload smack in my face. I really want to find a way to bring that spirit of giving, generosity, and love into our holiday, especially for my children.
Ditto for me on the Oprah thing. I think part of it had to do with being pregnant-- the hormonal thing, but I wanted to cry at every one. If you can think of any "craft blogger pay-it-forward thing" let me know-- I'm in...
Posted by: Courtney | 28 November 2006 at 03:43 PM
Welcome back! I feel the pain about the coffee. It's quite necessary on roadtrips.
I happened to see Oprah, too, even though I never watch it. My husband came home with info about adopting a family for Christmas, so that coincided well!
Posted by: amy h | 29 November 2006 at 12:01 AM
Yesterday was the first full Oprah I've watched in a while too. It was very inspiring. I need to give more, and pay it forward.
Posted by: Rachael | 29 November 2006 at 03:26 AM
Kids tend to have an inbuilt generosity and giving spirit.Just let them use it.It's amazing what ideas of their own they can come up with and it doesn't have to be just in the holiday season.Every year my girls and some friends chose a local charity and 'do things' to raise money.Making cakes and cards ,even rose water!,washing cars etc.It doesn't always mount up to alot but it teaches them so much.
Posted by: Kristy | 29 November 2006 at 06:01 AM
heehee.. I even look for the pedal under my desk in the office (as in.. at work). I love the "shoppinglist" - how can you resist buying a goldfish after that? :)
Posted by: cecilie | 29 November 2006 at 08:12 AM
I haven't watch Oprah in a LONG time, sounds like I missed a good show. The school my kids go to are adopting families in need. Each classroom gets a family and instead of a small gift exchange amongest the kids, we will be donating to the family. I think it's a wonderful idea they came up with. Love emmas fish And hope everyone is feeling better!
Posted by: Gina | 29 November 2006 at 10:01 AM
I might have to check out what Oprah was doing on that show, sounds inspiring. We now have 3 fish and they are very fulfilling, low maintenance pets, she will love it if Santa brings her one.
Hope all are much better!
Posted by: Blair | 29 November 2006 at 10:11 AM
we just adopted three foster children for christmas and even though i know eliot will wig out when we send away the presents he picks out, i think it will be a good experience for him and a start for good things to come.
Posted by: hannah | 29 November 2006 at 10:28 AM
What a great idea about the tote bags. You have such a good heart, I remember a post you did a long time ago about your family visiting an elderly home. I want our family to be like that, to always remember to think of the poor and needy.
Posted by: Heather | 29 November 2006 at 12:10 PM
ugh- I am trying to avoid all big stores...(thanks online shopping).
obviously it is inevitable, but I like to imagine the world without companies hounding me for my $. glad to know people are doing "good" out there!
Posted by: carol | 29 November 2006 at 01:43 PM
Those pictures are hysterical. I'm glad Daddy went back to having two eyes after the coffee.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | 29 November 2006 at 05:17 PM
I love those drawings!
Posted by: The Weekend Warrior | 30 November 2006 at 06:02 AM
Cool! I figured out the buy goldfish by myself...I guess it helps when I have a 7 yr old that wants a fish this Christmas too though.
Posted by: Melissa | 30 November 2006 at 11:25 AM
love the drawings-and i have so cried about not being able to find a decent cup of coffee in the fresno airpot-i about died!
i saw a few mintues of that show-very good!
Posted by: abby | 30 November 2006 at 01:49 PM
i am feeling the same way....wanting to just forgo the store bought stuffs for the kids this year and give it away. my kids are so young..they wont miss a thing! i am really trying to strike a balance now... while they are young...so as not to set up a pattern of expectations that surround our holidays for years to come.
Posted by: stephanie | 14 November 2008 at 08:37 AM