food, crochet, merriment
Hard to believe, I know, but these charming Fairy-folk were magically captured in the meadow one day, while romping…
and playing…
taking sweet calmness…
and wild animal behavior…
in flitting, gentle turns.
So, my dear friends–if you find yourself in the woods, or the forest, or the meadow, any time soon–and it seems to you, unusually quiet…
we know why.
I’ll give you a hint…
We…
have captured…
all
the
Sprites.
~More Than Memories Photography by Marta Smith
A few days before Christmas, our family waltzed on over to the Hale Center Theater to see the play “A Christmas Carol.” When I’m independently wealthy, I intend to take my family every year–as a new and glorious Christmas tradition. (Emily–look up, look up! April, Jacob–smile.)
Of course, we weren’t allowed to take pictures of the actual performance, still, it was all there and positively perfect!
There was the ghost of Christmas Past….sad, sad, sad—
the Ghost of Christmas Present…quite an eye opener—
and the creepy Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come. While this spooky dude was on the stage, Lyndi leaned over and whispered, “Expecto Patronum!”
We. Lost. It.
So, yeah–at the most solemn part of the whole show–weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth–and we’re completely engulfed in a preposterous, hysterical giggling fit.
Sheesh.
If we could only learn to behave.
Not holding my breath. (PHILLIP! For the millionth time—no sticking your tongue out in the family picture!)
~sigh~
Someday…someday…
Do you remember waking on Christmas morning before it was even light outside, and shaking with excitement as you saw the front room that had been transformed into a sparkling, positively magical place? Boy, I do.
It was so wonderful watching Chompy open her presents, and love them…
even the clothes! What a good sport of a baby.
Jillian could hardly believe the lovely gifts she received from her dearest friend Sarah–all the way from England!
The bald kid was thrilled with his Russian vocabulary book. Pretty sure that’s going to come in handy–real soon.
Then our April and the “second wave” arrived. Sounds like the name of a band–don’t you think?
The babies were sweet to take turns and tried very hard to wait patiently until their turn to open a present…
but they never understood why we would ask them to come open something else–when they were happily playing with what they already had. Perhaps next year, we’ll take things a bit slower and maybe take a full week or so to unwrap. Don’t know if anyone will agree with me, but wouldn’t a couple of presents every day be great fun–instead of all at once?
Ok, it’s true. We did have our share of meltdowns here and there, simply because…
we didn’t know that a toy drum would be the hit of the land…and there are three kids…and one drum.
Do the math.
But the day was, by farrrr—a mystical, magical thing, with enough squeals and giggling to add a hundred years to this grammy’s heart.
“All of the music All of the magic All of the family home here with me.”I do hope your Christmas was everything that brings you joy! Thanks for being with us!
I’m like a child about Christmas.
I still believe.
To me, the sparkle and the glitter are real,
and the gifts that I receive–
come from the heart.
The season is it’s own excuse for giving,
and I love
the generosity I feel.
The tree,
the ornaments,
the lights
are all for me.
It’s magic, and I feel it
every year.
Maybe that’s because
I still believe.
It’s funny–isn’t it–that these little ones don’t really question…
all the boxes and crates and tins that we carry in from wherever they’ve been hiding since last Christmas.
Do you think they wonder why this time of year we surround ourselves with sparkly stars, gingerbread, pine cones and tiny shepherds?
Or do you think, maybe…
that in their gentle angel hearts…
They already know?