Happy Winter Solstice everyone!

Isn't this garland with the dragonflies nice? It's from our local Ten Thousand Villages. I love it. It's "all year worthy" I do believe.

Deep breath. The dolls are done. almost. The gifts are purchased. The errands are finished. The bags are nearly packed. It's our year for Christmas in St. Louis and we're off this afternoon. It's time for rich food, sweets and more sweets, family ruckus, quiet time after the kids crash, gifts all around and love. I am READY.

I'll be taking a break from this site too, maybe until the new year has arrived and my head is cleared. (Just in time for the Kim Family Auction. Have you seen the wonderful things that have been donated? Wow. Save your Christmas pennies!) I'm sure I'll still be puttering around at Flickr, posting pictures of the kids and their cousins getting into trouble together.

Happy Holidays, friends. Warm and snuggly wishes to you and yours.

Posted by Alicia at 09:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (9)

This Santa and I seem to have similar expressions. Frazzled yet dazed. Totally fried.

The baby dolls are almost done, but still naked. As soon as I crank the dresses out, I'm calling it quits. I've scratched some of the list; I'm running out tonight to buy some little things instead. And I have a game to get ready for J's party at school tomorrow. Well, and there's something for my mom, but we're not doing gifts until New Year's Eve morning, so I'll have a day at the end of next week to finish that.

not long now... not long now...

Posted by Alicia at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)

One down, four to go.

This one is named Lanie. She's a birthday gift for one of our absolute favorite people in the world. See her dress here.

I've really got my work cut out for me this weekend, huh? Get it? Cut out... Ha! Ha ha ha ha ha...
Okay, okay. I'll go now.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!

Posted by Alicia at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)

Last night was a wonderful evening. Book Club friends, I adore you all.
Last night also became difficult- we were up with a crying baby for several hours.

So today I am tired, but I will try to focus.
Today I will have simple goals: take a shower, play with these kids, have patience.
I will also rethink baby's bedtime routine. She's having trouble.
Maybe tomorrow I'll shoot for something loftier, but not today.

Take care, friends. Shuffling in for more coffee now.

Posted by Alicia at 08:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)

A friend made a comment the other day. She said, "That N wants to make sure nobody forgets about her!" So incredibly true. But it also made me realize there is a little boy who lives here, who scrambles to keep himself heard above her wails of "No!" and "Mine!" He has his moments, but most of the time he's such a good boy. He loves trains and rockets. He's a great age; he's old enough to be really excited about learning and life, and yet not old enough to not be excited about these things. Do you know what I mean?

We had a date together Sunday. Lunch at the counter of Steak 'n Shake, his favorite restaurant, a stroll through the pet store, and then a movie. Not such a great movie, but a great afternoon with a great boy.

Posted by Alicia at 08:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)

I saw this in a Mary Engelbright book years ago, although I can't remember which one. Fast and sweet. Of course there's no way to use the whole bag of gumdrops, so there's plenty of extras to taste test. But be sure to keep them up high; they are very appealing to small dogs and humans.

P.S. Thank you so much for all of the sweet comments yesterday. I will make sure my mom sees every one.

Posted by Alicia at 07:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

We're "January" in The Faces of Breast Cancer 2007 calendar, produced by Shawnee Mission Medical Center, the hospital where my mom works. The photographs were generously taken by the talented Gloria Baker Feinstein. You can visit her weblog featuring photos from a recent trip to Africa here as well.

The scan of the photo doesn't do it justice, but it reads, "I am a wife, mother, grandmother, friend, nurse, teacher and active member of my community. I am a breast cancer survivor." My mom (the survivor) is in the middle, that's my sister and me on her sides, and all of our kids are on the swings.

I love my mom. We're awfully glad she's going to hang out with us for a long, long time.

Find more information on breast cancer here and here. Let's all take care of ourselves, ok?!

Posted by Alicia at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (18)

Meet Amelia, new companion for wee Annemarie.

She's even presnuggled.

Posted by Alicia at 09:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)

I know many of us have heavy hearts for those whose hearts have broken.

May Kati and the rest of James Kim's family and friends find their way past the "why's" and "if only's" to find some peace and warmth.

Posted by Alicia at 08:31 PM | Permalink

Hello!

I struggled (and I mean Struggled) through Friday alone with the kids, collapsing into a heap as soon as Brian got home. Several times during the day J said, "Mom, I think I want Daddy to come home now." I decided if I didn't feel better when I got up the next morning, I'd go to the doctor. Sure enough, after dragging myself up there Saturday, I had Strep Throat. I've never had it before and man, that's miserable. They gave me a prescription for the wonderful and magical gift of modern medicine, a "Z-Pack." By Sunday, I was once again functioning, with a migraine from all of the dehydration, but functioning.

And yesterday, I was myself- hollering at kiddos, sewing faces on baby dolls, decorating the house, but worrying terribly about a little family that I don't know. I have been slightly obsessed with this story. As soon as I heard they found Kati Kim and her children, I cried like a baby. I think it's just seems way too familiar. So many times we've been off on some camping adventure, with our little ones strapped in our wagon, on some winding highway, semi-lost, no cell phone service. We could be them. I desperately want this to have happy ending.

Please find him soon.

Posted by Alicia at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)

It works. And he's in little-boy-second-snow-day heaven.

Have a safe and wonderful weekend, my peeps.

Posted by Alicia at 03:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)