Today just kind of flew by in a we-are-doing-a-lot-of-lazy-nothingness kind of way.
We are still on vacation but we missed calling our favorite (now!)
6-year old cousin/niece!
Aunt Bean is still mad at herself over here. So sorry, Ella.

Hope you had a great day Sass-er-Ella! I just know SIX is going to be great!

Happy Birthday. We love you.
Uncle, J., Aunt Bean, Em & Ad

Wishing you all a blessed and happy Christmas and much love and hugs in the New Year!

xoxo,
J, C, E & A

Ahem. So how have you been? – Says this girl sheepishly as brushes off the crafting dust from her hands. I know! We have not fallen into the Pacific over here, it has just been a wee little bit hectic and I’ve been incredibly preoccupied with trying to get Christmas going around here and finishing up all the boutique goodies at the same time.

I can happily report that we are just about done on all fronts. The boutique orders are almost filled, Christmas gifts that had to travel over state lines were sent out today, Christmas cards are out, *other* gifts have been purchased for the girls, we are in the homestretch. Vacation is so close I can taste it. But before we go into hibernation – I owe you all a little update and some videos!

Em’s piano recital from a few weeks ago.

Song #1:

Em’s Instrument Recital 11/30/12 – part 1 from carrie voris on Vimeo.

and Song #2. Angels We Have Heard On High – my favorite that she is learning as a Christmas present to me. Awww…

Em’s Instrument Recital 11/30/12 – part 2 from carrie voris on Vimeo.

Both girls are busy prepping for the Christmas pageant next week. Addie is a barn cat (because you know they had those in the nativity scene!) and she has one line. Em is a king this year and sings a solo part in the king’s song. We are all very excited for the premiere. Which reminds me that I think I have a few costumes that need to be mended. No rest for the exhausted.

It IS still Tuesday, but I can’t believe how far behind I am over here. I owe you all kinds of stuff, we have been moving and shaking and Birdie #2 and I are up to our earlobes in orders from our boutique…so we have been crafting like crazy, but I haven’t had a free moment to show you all what we’ve been up to.

I do however want to share this little goodie. Especially since we have delivered to all of our neighbors and teachers already, so it is safe to share!

Behold…holiday lanterns, wait for it…personalized with etching!

We were going to do Merry Christmas, then decided if we did house numbers, they could clear out the holiday extras when Christmas was over and use it year-round!

Another one we did for Greta and her monastery.

Oops, looks like this one didn’t get a ribbon yet. The lanterns are from Ikea, we etched on one side, stuck a candle and some holiday greenery. Done! And so far they have been a huge hit.

In other news, my face is healing incredibly well! As soon as the black eye fades, I think most people who didn’t know I had it done will not even be able to see the incision. I’m apparently a super-healer. Woo hoo! Thanks for all of your wishes and good thoughts. (And dinner! I’m looking at you Diane!) Love you all.

I PROMISE, so promise – to be back soon with all the happenings around here. Just need to finish up a few more orders so we can start on OUR Christmas!

December kind of snuck right up on us, as it always does. I have the last few thankfuls from last week that I didn’t get up because honestly…last week knocked me flat on my butt.

About three…four weeks ago the dermatologist called and confirmed that the tiny little bump I had on the side of my nose was in fact, skin cancer. It was the “not so bad, if you have to have skin cancer” kind – basal cell carcinoma. The nurse reassured me that it was a simple out-patient procedure and I did my best to not make a big deal out of the whole thing. In my mind, the bigger the deal…the more scary it actually was, so I chose to just make it “just another day.”

Unfortunately, it was not “just another day.” Anyone who knows me knows that I really don’t do well with needles, blood and that sort of thing. The procedure was a little more than I had anticipated and left me feeling a little off my game for the rest of the week.

But they got all of the cancer. I’m left with 10 (incredibly itchy!) stitches, a bruised eye, and half of my face is all swollen and icky, but they got all of the cancer. And for that I’m most thankful along with some of the other “little” things from last week…

Day 26: I’m thankful the girls are heavy sleepers so I can tiptoe in each night and give them kisses and snap photos without waking them up. I love that they still want to sleep together even though they have their own rooms.

Day 27: I’m thankful for Christmas music and my sweet Em who is learning to play my favorite Christmas carol as her gift to me. (Angels We Have Heard On High – And I’ll post her Instrument Recital video soon!)

Day 28: I’m thankful we live in a fun town where on any given random Wednesday you can be following a Rose Parade float down the street!

Day 29: Thankful today for this amazing man. I know I’ve used him (several times) already this month, but today I’m thankful that he forced me to see that I can’t do it all on my own, as much as I’d like to. Sometimes you just gotta ask for and accept a little help. Thank you J. for making me realize it – for helping me even when I think I don’t need it – and helping me raise our very empathetic daughters who are so sweet when they know Mama is down. I love you all.

Day 30: I’m thankful for our very busy life. As insane as our schedule makes me most days – I’m thankful that we have such a rich and full life filled with loving family and friends. (And I’m also thankful for rainy days in California. Makes it feel a little more holiday-ish around here going into first week of December! Yipes.)

And that concludes our Thankful November. We do indeed have so much to be thankful for.

I promise I’ll be back this week with some Crafty Tuesday and other fun happenings. This week. It is all gonna happen this week.