Laowai

Ooooh – aren’t these great. And the big wagon holds two kids. If I had a million dollars…

 
 

The holidays arrived in a big way for us over the last few days. First we went to the Christmas market on Saturday. Then we got our Christmas tree and decorated it on Sunday. Our tree is about the same height as Bea -just the right size for us at the moment. This is the first year Bea has helped to decorate. I told her we have to be very careful with the tree because some ornaments can break. And I said if she wanted to touch the ornaments to use one finger. So now she has to periodically go over to the tree and touch each ornament – with just one finger of course.

This morning we woke up to a couple inches of snow – our snow first of the season. Bea was so excited she had to sit by the window to eat her breakfast.

We went out right after breakfast to play in the snow. She is so much more into it this year. She can handle her little shovel well and she wanted to make footprints all over. And to those of you who were disturbed at her lack of snow boots last year. You’ll notice her boots that she is so excited to wear. And don’t be disturbed by the bare hands – it wasn’t very cold out and we did manage to get them on eventually – see the third photo.

I’m going to wrap some Christmas gifts now. Hope you’re feeling the excitement of the holidays too!

Well this will probably be the last time we go to the Chicago Christmas market for a long time. Hopefully we can see some of the European ones in the coming years. We perused all the colorful ornaments and trinkets. We stuffed ourselves with brats and potatoes (they taste so much better when you eat them out in the cold). We gazed at the huge Christmas tree that is strangely dwarfed by the buildings around it. We breathed in the sugary smell of german pastries and those candied warm nuts that they sell in little paper cones. And Brian got to have a mug of hot spiced wine (too bad – none for me this year). Good fun!

I made this kitschy craft after seeing it on Martha Stewart yesterday. It’s a christmas tree made by folding up an old magazine.

Then these ladies finally got stitched and stuffed. I think they are very merry – don’t you.

We might even go out and get a little tree this weekend. Woo hooooo!

The bumps are a hilly sculptural section of grass in Dow Gardens. Lots of fun for running back and fourth.

 
 
 
 

The Swiss do whatever it takes to make your vacation perfect.

winter wonderland from swissmiss on Vimeo.

The swiss do everything to make their guests’ stay in Switzerland absolutely perfect. Lately, they do even more than you would expect: Their Mountain Cleaners make sure you can always enjoy the view of clean mountains. Do you have what it takes to be a Mountain Cleaner?

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3925824&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

Mountain Cleaners from swissmiss on Vimeo.

– Thankful for the sweet moments – like watching Bea sleep

– Thankful for the adventures on my horizon

– Thankful for being lucky enough to experience pregnancy again

– Thankful for a husband who rubs feet, cooks dinner, makes me laugh and is a great Daddy

– Thankful for the internet because of all its inspiration – how did we get along without it?

– Thankful for smiling, healthy, loving family!

Foggy camera lens in the Dow Gardens Conservatory

Flower arranging team

Sweet, sweet after Thanksgiving nap – while mom and Jennifer do dishes

One more little Thanksgiving craft that I had to share. Found at The Toymaker (via Wee Wonderfuls). I just love the simple style of these little pilgrims and indians. Bea colored and glued her set and then she had fun lining them up around the house. Get your own here.