Gracious Rain

Have a glorious holiday!

Shhhh….

There’s a ton of whispering, and tip-toeing and hiding secret projects under blankets, going on around here, right about now.

To sneak a peak at the presents before the kids do–go to the Secrets tab and click your way in. Some of the surprises for this year are there. Some are not. I would have posted it long before now, but I was certain there was more time–weeks in fact. I was entirely unaware that it’s Christmas Eve…already. Wow.

Help me. How did that happen?

I’ll admit that this Christmas isn’t quite as “handmade” as I would have liked–but it isn’t for lack of trying. I’ve made a million hats and headbands and slippers in the last few months–I promise. My problem is that I find it impossible, really hard to  make something for my baby birds and not just hand it to them.

I can prove it…

The “Who-ville Hats” were supposed to be for Christmas.

The headbands were supposed to be for Christmas.

I’m a dreadful gift stasher.

I’m a wonderful “you-need-this-right-now”-er.

…sigh…

Then, Christmas comes.

We tried to make authentic “Sugar Plums” last year and aside from that fact that they tasted like little blobs of nutty fruitcake–yuck–they were an educational experience. So when I found some incredible ones at Mrs. Cavanaugh’s Candy, I was determined to hide them away. It would have been a lovely secret and delightful surprise for everyone.

But they were just so cute…

and I was over come with excitement…

so I showed the kids.

~sigh~

We are much better in this house at keeping secrets “collectively” anyway.

So the treat plates and neighbor surprises are perfect for us.

Ahhhh….Mock Turtles…

Christmas Hugs, Peppermint Bark and Milk Chocolate Fudge. The best kept secret about all these treats is how many of them actually end up at the neighbors…and how many will be spirited away…by

…the Bald Kid.  It’s always him.

Hee, hee.

Oh, Christmas…

Oh, Martha…