Merry Christmas!
Ok. It's official. I am currenly in holiday treat mode and snuggling on the couch with babies mode. I love the holidays, and I hope you enjoying this time too! I'll be back in 2010, but I want to wish you the Merriest of Christmases!
Much love,
sarah jane
Have you seen this flittering around internet land? I have, and it's my motto as of late. Even with the holidays.
I have been off the internet little bit folks, like maybe you have with all that's going on with the holidays! I have to apologize for the lack of posts here, but we've been in a bit of a transition. All in a week, we sold our car, bought a mini-van, had our 9th anniversary (same day as Nie) and made an offer on a house. Oh, and not to mention Christmas and traveling and and the seasonal cold going around our house. Oh boy....that's enough to want to end the year and start and new one! We are broke and exhausted...but very happy to be moving again and making new changes. We are grateful!
We are still in the last stages of finding out about getting into a house, but I can't tell you how good it feels to be looking forward to that. I don't mention lots of personal things here on the blog, but we've been waiting to move into a permanent location for over a year now, and I'm really looking forward to settling in to a place we know we'll be in for a while! Not to mention the chance to decorate and really make a house a home. The itch to nest has been getting me for so long now...and I am ready! But it also means that this may be the second christmas in a row where we are moving just around the holidays. Yuck. I will vow right now to never do that again! What was I thinking?
So, this all brings be back here, to say sorry for the lack of interesting things going on. Things will get interesting....and soon:)
Have fun making merry. We are very much in the christmas spirit. Listening to this and enjoying smells from this.
Enjoy these next few days! I am loving the moments of explaining to my kids how Santa gets down a chimney. It's magic:)
Hope you are enjoying the last week before Christmas. We're keeping things simple this year, and I am loving it. Especially because it means more time is spent with these chubby cheeks. Happy Holidays everyone!
PS: remember...2 more days to order in the shop for Holiday arrival. Enjoy!
*Photo filtered with Eye Candy actions.
Last night I decided to tell the children a Christmas story every night until Christmas. Not from a book, just stories that I remember from my childhood, and in my own words.
I started to tell the story of the Gift of the Magi. Telling it aloud, in words that a 3 and 4 year old could understand brought tears to my eyes. What is the story about really? Two people who love each other so much, they are willing to give up their most prized possessions to purchase gifts for the other. This is one of my favorite stories because it illustrates so clearly that gift giving is really only a symbol for pure need we all have of wanting to make someone happy. Some one we love. Someone we care about. And at this season: sometimes it's people we don't even know.
I was introduced to Benson and Claire just a couple weeks ago, and as a mother of 3 children right around the same ages, I can't even begin to imagine the daily struggle their parents have to keep their children alive.
I can't really explain the story in my own words very well, so this is what the parents have to say:
Benson and Claire were born with a rare genetic disease in which their liver produces too much oxalate--called primary hyperoxaluria. Claire's condition has progressed much faster than Benson's. She has been on dialysis since she was 3 months old and is on dialysis 3 hours a day, 6 days a week. She is now on the waiting list to receive a combined kidney / liver transplant. It is expected Benson will eventually need similar transplants. Over $500,000 is needed for the procedure.
Making it to the hospital every morning with a 2 year old keeping her happy in the hospital for 3 hours takes creativity beyond what I could ever try to do. I witnessed my close friend try this kind of lifestyle with her toddler for 7 months, and it is so hard. Claire has lived in the hospital basically her whole life (2 years) and the family it trying to raise money to give her a transplant. You can watch a video here of what is takes to go through the process day in and day out. I am amazed at this strong mother and her brave children.
There is a silent auction today (December 10-12) and I am auctioning off a$50 gift certificate to the shop. Come and offer what you can, and help this sweet family. I know there are so many people to help this Christmas season, so if anything, you can offer your prayers.
Click here to see more of their story.
Click here for the auction.
Hello Friends!
Sorry for all of you who subscribe to my newsletter....this is the second time you'll be hearing this. But I had to let you know!
Prints are priced down now through Christmas! They will be on sale up until the holiday, but remember to check the shop for shipping dates to get there for the holidays.
Oh, and those popcorn balls turned out great. I wish I could fit them in your packages. I might just have to post the recipe soon.
Happy shopping!
xo
sarah jane
PS: PLEASE come visit the silent auction with a gift certificate to the shop here.
It has been snowing here. A lot. And I love it! The entry way (our kitchen) is muddy from snow boots, getting out the door with 3 kids and all the gear is going to take some major skills that I don't have yet, and I almost got stuck in my driveway just trying to get the mail. But hazzah! This winter wonderland is really getting me in the mood for christmas.
And keeping in line with the Christmas Spirit, here is the LAST promotional for the year in online Sarah Jane land:
20% off all prints through Christmas (prices are already marked down)
and a yummy giveaway on Bloesem Kids
I'm off now to make some carmel popcorn balls. Here's to hoping they actually get out to the neighbors like I planned...homemade-gooey-warm-and-soft carmel popcorn is on my top 10 "I would be happy dying from this" list. Happy Christmas!
Christmas on a shoe-string: we're on a budget this Christmas, as I am sure many people are. We are desperately trying to get into a house and I can't think of a better reason to be "tight." But we are still decorating and making Christmas things. Last week, we made this banner for oh, about .25 cents. But besides how easy it was to make, it is super functional and fun to double as an advent calendar. I cut out 25 triangles , strung them together with yarn, and stuck a sticky label on the back with a christmas task. Tonight, the task is "make wassail." Tomorrow, it's "Dance like snowflakes." This is a wonderful month. And the ceiling is looking festive: and the simplicity is inspiring me to be even more frugal and grateful for what we do have this year. What are you doing for DIY decor?
Ella started eating rice cereal (which is comedy at it's best) and on the box, I saw her twin. Little Baby Gerber. If I were a die-hard, I would have tried a bit harder to get Ella's mouth to open a bit more. But this is basically why I can't get enough of her cuteness. It's too much sometimes...we all go a little nuts over her. This morning it was her coos, yesterday it was her cheeks, and the day before, it was her awesome thighs. The loving never ends. And truthfully, I am just glad we already have a portrait of Ella...completely free of artist fees:) Ya, Ya. It's on a cardboard box, but we're on a budget these days.