really home now...

until feburary, when we will travel to texas for a friends wedding. my extended family will be traveling here for the holiday. so we really do get to stay home. i love being home. the solitude. the quiet. the trees. the rain. the fire in the wood burning stove. the peace. the calm. the list could go on. a friend was asking me how i like living out of town and small town living in general, being that the closest town and the zip code we live it is considered small. it got me thinking how big it is compared to where i grew up....small mid western town: population 600. our small town now has about a population of 2,000. pretty big in comparison. never thought i would say that i love small town living, but i do. i have such a greater appreciation for where i grew up now than when i was actually growing up.....i couldn't wait to get out of there then. now, how sweet it was and thoughts of my children growing up as i did dance like sugar plum fairies around in my head. they aren't growing up in a small mid western town, and i don't really care to move there if we really get down to all the details of it, but i am thankful that they have the opportunity to grow up in a semi small town, out in the woods, surrounded by people and a community who love them. now mentioning sugar plum fairies makes me think of this holiday, so let me share a bit of what has been made....actually this isn't just a bit, this is it. our traditions are different and those i will share another day (maybe). for now, the only gifts we have going are for a small gift exchange that will take place christmas eve....the gifts had to be either $5 and under or handmade. we did both.

phoenix wanted to give a monkey to the cousin whose name she chose
ocean, elli and i all decided to make a mixed cd of some of our favorite songs
i also made a cowl to give