Happy Birthday Boo! Seven times around the sun girl....

She been round the sun seven times!
Our Boxing day baby.
We took her to London. It was the first time she's been to the city since she was a tiny babe.
She was so excited to go underground on the tube trains! We found our way to the Natural History museum first where she went ice skating on the open air rink.
She did really well inching along the edges till she picked up a little confidence and speed. Daddy was the one holding onto her hand to keep vertical. Though of course it was for her benefit really ;) Well that's what she believed I think till he fell on his behind and without delay brought her down to join him :)
A quick fish and chip lunch was followed by a couple of carousel rides while I queued for the the dinosaur exhibition at the museum.
Boo has been fascinated by dinosaurs for ages now. She was enthralled by the exhibit, especially the moving dinosaur and the huge Diplodocus at the front of the museum.
At about 4 pm we made it over to Covent Garden and watched some street performers and pottered around the market before having a pizza dinner close to the Royal Opera House.
The big present of the day were some tickets to see the ballet.
Boo was all dressed up in her pink dress, white bolero, silver shoes and tiara like any proper ballerina would :)
Once the ballet begun time went by so fast. It was as if we were transported to another magical world. Boo was enchanted.
We made it home for 1:30 am!
Boo was carried to bed half asleep by Daddy, not to rise again till 10 am the next day!
Unheard of for our early bird Boo.
She has been talking about her special day ever since. It will stay in our memory forever too.

Thankful so thankful for this sparkly eyed dinosaur loving ballerina princess girl.

A perfect end to a beautiful year!

A Waldorf Doll for Boo

A snug winter bonnet and cardigan is finished after lots of busy knitting hours late last night.

Merry Christmas everyone.

xx

Last minute festive preparation...

Making a new friend for someones special Saint Stephen's day birthday!

Shhhh, don't tell....

Hopefully she will also have a snug knitted bonnet to keep her warm in the snow by Boxing day too.

We've been curling up regularly with a favourite Christmas picture book...

Or two...

Making last minute Homemade felt star ornaments swaddling them cosy in in tissue paper blankets to give as little gifts.

Emmy has added a welcome burst of colour upon the window with these beautiful, easy to follow, waldorf window star patterns.

A worthy way to while away an afternoon!

Of course with the frosty weather we have been making more beautiful ice lanterns!

But where is the chocolate? For surely, there always has to be a drop of chocolate somewhere at Christmas time.

Why here it is.

These are absolutely yummy and so easy to make!

Christmas Florentines from this lovely, simple recipe...

Enjoy

xx

We light our lamps.... We wait expectant

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

A slow transformation is happening. From the dark womb of winter. A light begins to shine.

A star within begins to glow warm. Eyes are raised. Seeking signs. The path slowly illuminates beneath our feet. We are beginning our journey to Bethlehem from here. This snow laced ground. The terra firma of our souls.

Unraveling, unveiling as blossoming sepals. Us becoming.

Growing into the shape of the journey itself...

Soon there will be a celebration of new life. New hope!

A new covenant.

A new promise.

And with this new light, this new sight we shall see jewels abundant. Shining deep!

Embedded.

Within the clay of everyday life.

Grace imprinted details. His face etched upon every surface.

Every soul...

We light our lamps...

And wait expectant...

"At least in part, what God does to us while we wait is as important as what it is we are waiting for."

John Ortberg

Simple Winter Joys and a Simple Winter Salad Recipe

 
The perfect Winter Salad.

One small red cabbage shredded.

4 good sized carrots grated.

3 sharp green apples grated.

1 large red onion finely sliced.

1 beetroot chopped

A little salt and pepper.

A squeeze of lemon.

A glug of olive oil.

A splash of balsamic vinegar.

Late afternoon light. Sepia spilled beauty.

Winter inspiration. Frosted petals. Icy snowflake flowers, Glass buttons.

Three embroidery rings and a handful of scraps.

= a morning of quiet concentration for three small girls.

Salt Painted Christmas Cards

We love to make our own Christmas cards. This is one of the best craft "recipes" we've found so far.

The girls had so much fun making these Christmas cards using the salt paint technique borrowed from this lovely post. Thanking Elizabeth for the link!

It was especially enjoyable because it was the kind of craft that kids of all ages can enjoy.

With four girls aged between 3 and 12 this is always a bonus!

To make the cards we first covered our pieces of watercolour paper in glue stick glue.

Then we sprinkled on a layer of salt.

Next we "dripped" slightly diluted food colouring into our paper to create the beautiful crystallized paint effect... (this was the most fun part)

It was quite mesmerizing watching the colour seep through the salt crystals.

Once dry we cut our paintings into star and Christmas tree shapes...

Before sticking them onto blank cards.

We finished decorating them with seed beads and sequins.

A lovely, creative, and thrifty way to spend an afternoon!

Shared with No Time for Flash Cards

{This Moment}

Joining Soulemama today for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.