We’re about to celebrate Christmas as a tiny family tonight, but I thought I’d hop on here and share the Tic-Tac-Toe board and pieces I made for Emily.

The board can double as a potholder in her play kitchen.

In fact, I kind of like it for myself and thought about stealing it. ;)

I also made this little soldier for Jacob at the last minute.  So last minute that I wrapped him up about 5 minutes ago.  I’ll have to take pictures later.

Merry Christmas!

1. nifty fifty in the am, 2. pinecone elves, 3. lamp, 4. Christmas in pastels, 5. Decking the halls is so much more fun when you have a friend!!, 6. Christmas ornament, 7. red in progress, 8. christmas game, 9. Sven-Anita & Agnes, 10. Stylist Anna Richardson, 11. number 13, 12. These are a few of my favorite Tins………, 13. Boopsie Pose Dolls!, 14. happy friday!!!, 15. Untitled, 16. Hoots holiday!, 17. Hero in a half shell…, 18. holiday flickr favorites, 19. Untitled, 20. IMG_8624, 21. playing, 22. stacked, 23. Untitled, 24. joy, 25. in the window, 26. Russas, 27. It’s Time!, 28. Simple Pleasures (10-12-09), 29. Elfin, 30. goods by atlantic treefox, 31. the guardian of the forest, 32. Gnome’s House Hand Bag, 33. mid-century modern furniture hoops, 34. Oldschool/retro toys, 35. rice dk aw09, 36. sofia’s room

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

Hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season!  I’m busy making gingerbread cookies, eggnog, and Christmas presents; watching Christmas specials on TV; building towers with Mega blocks; and dancing around the living room like Tinkerbell.  All of which I highly recommend.

I love Christmas time, but some years it really sneaks up on me.  So I’m repeating yesterday’s mantra.  Surely everything will get done.  The children will have presents to open.  Cookies will be eaten.  The earth will continue to turn.

Meanwhile, the tree is decorated!

EDIT: Our furnace was fixed yesterday.  And someone came to see our house!  It turned out to be a good day.  Good thing I didn’t panic. ;)

And according to Weather.com, it also feels like 15 degrees.

And our furnace broke this morning.

I’d like to add, “and drink some coffee so you don’t get hypothermia.”

1. made by my daughter francisca*, 2. home sweet home hoop, 3. new pattern!, 4. snowflake, 5. Untitled, 6. christmas tree skirt, 7. Postcards & gifts, 8. a string of little miracles…, 9. the simple handmade beauty of a clove orange, 10. sundown, 11. Untitled, 12. media wall, 13. bloco de notas Carro de flores 5, 14. Jug, 15. gleeful & bright in the studio…, 16. desk thursday… the mantlepiece, 17. wood (& wool) x-mas tree, 18. Untitled, 19. My Dorm, 20. Untitled, 21. cute goodies :), 22. Crocheted Teacups and Cake, 23. for L., 24. Knitted Cupcakes, 25. Untitled

Created with fd’s Flickr Toys

My birthday was Tuesday, and I am 29 now.  I think it may be a scarier age than 30.  It’s the end of something: my twenties.  A lot happened in this decade of my life.  I earned my college degree, got married, moved halfway across the US, had babies, started a blog, bought a house, started another blog, put a house on the market (any takers?), and all the while learned a myriad of homemaking skills.  I’ve been busy.  And yet.  And yet I feel compelled to make a list like Jordan Ferney’s 30 Things Before I’m 30.  And then when I turn 30, maybe I can just relax. ;)

I woke up sick on my birthday but felt better by the evening.  So Evan took me to the mall.  Where I felt like a 15 year old all over again.  I even shopped like one, spending most of my time at Forever 21 buying skinny jeans and leggings and then letting Evan put it on his card like we don’t share a bank account.  True story.

[Circa 1984: That’s me on the far right, having a joint birthday party with my sister and cousin.  I must have been turning 3 or 4, and that’s a Strawberry Shortcake strawberry shortcake birthday cake.  Love it.]

By Wednesday, I was feeling well enough to get my craft on.  So I made some pretty little plaques for the shop.

Happy Birthday to me! :)