Saturday, January 1, 2011

The last day of the year

Today turned out pleasantly warm and even a bit sunny... So we spent lots of time outside playing together. The boys brought out some of the new toys we made them for Christmas and had a great time playing and practicing with their new things!

Claire enjoying the sunshine on New Year's Eve!

 Practicing with the whips I made for them for Christmas. They were really easy to make and best of all they really crack! I made one for each boy.


Matthew trying to get his whip to wrap around their zip line so he can swing on it "Like Indiana Jones!"

  
Sir Matthew with his new sword and shield. Rodrigo helped me make these... they turned out beautifully! (My only complaint is that with very rough play the cross guards are breaking off... next time we make them I'll choose a harder wood that should help prevent breaking along the grain of the wood at the cross guards. These are made of pine. But the boys love them, and that is the important part! )

Sir Ethan showing off his sword and shield too! 
 




His sister's brave protector!


Claire was fascinated with the remnants of Christmas day's now melted snow fort.



Ethan helping prepare for our family's New Year's Eve "party".
My kids are so much fun and so easy to make happy! I just make a bunch of fun finger foods, use special glasses, light a few extra candles and have some nice jazz music playing in the background and they call it a party! I have memories of many such parties from my own childhood. I know these simple family celebrations are things that they will always remember. That makes me happy!
Getting the table ready for our party...
My beautiful handmade Christmas Present... This table and a wonderfully long bench made to match just for me by my loving husband! I had been wanting a bigger table for years, but especially since our family was really outgrowing our other small table. We filled it completely and there was no room for any guests or (hopefully) future family members! So my sweety made this table for me! These pictures don't do it justice... it is really gorgeous! I am so happy with how it turned out, and now we have room for lots of people!!!

Claire playing with a music box that Grandma got her for Christmas. 

The boys goofing off...


Happy New Year! We have so much to be thankful for. This past year was filled with many blessings and wonderful memories for our little family. We pray that this coming year is filled with many blessings as well! There are so many new and exciting things that we are looking forward to in 2011... I can't wait to share them with you all! I pray that God places a special blessing in each of your lives and draws you closer to him through out the coming year!

5 comments:

  1. Happy new year to you too! I love the designs on the shields.

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  2. Hello, I saw the pictures of your boy's with their toy swords and shields you made and I think they're amazing!
    Do you sell them? My youngest son (who's a big Narnia fan) has a birthday coming up in December and I've been googling a good place to order a wooden toy and shield for him and on for his older brother as well. Please let me know if you have a online shop I could purchace them with. Thank - Mary e House. Le_noir_rabbit@yahoo.com

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for asking Mary! However right this minute we are anxiously awaiting the (any day now!) birth of our second baby girl! I normally would be happy to re-make any toy for a blog reader who was interested in getting one for her own child/children. But right now I must focus (my very limited) energies on getting ready to give birth and helping this new little one transition into our family! Thanks again for asking! Hugs~Rachel

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  3. I was just wondering how you attached the hand and arm band onto the shield?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Michelle! We used nylon webbing from a craft store (it's similar to the stuff dog leashes are made of, very strong!) and we used short screws with very large flat heads to hook on the webbing onto the back of the shields for the hand and arm bands. Hope that helps!

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