The Last Christmas Carol

Well, another Christmas has passed, and Elinore was sorry to see it go. She has really enjoyed the whole season (singing carols, turning on the lights of the Christmas tree, making her gifts, visiting loved ones,...). We have had a lot of fun. But here we are on the other side. We had a very successful "make all our own gifts" Christmas again. We continue to learn the value of starting well ahead of the holiday (Kevin had to spend an evening working in the arctic garage and I had to show Elinore her quilt quite unfinished - hopefully in another week...). The thing Elinore was most excited to do all month was give her gifts. She made a shirt for Tobin and a shirt for Kevin (as well as some ornaments for her grandparents and great-grandparents), and couldn't wait to give them. I am so proud of her; she kept the secrets of what they were all the way to the end!! That is a very hard thing for a three year old.

The photo I've posted here is a ballerina sweater that I knit for Elinore when she was a baby. It was a 6-12 mo. size, but always looked kind of bulky/not right on her. She found it in her closet a couple weeks ago and put it on, and it looks really cute! Who would've guessed it would fit just right now. Of course, she loves that it is a "ballerina sweater".
Tobin is such a little dude. He is full of smiles and giggles and boyish growling sounds. His motor skills just amaze me. I can show him how to do something, and see him watching and figuring it out. Within a few minutes he can do it himself. He learned to clap today. And for a minute I thought he was going to start crawling. He moved a little on his hands and knees and then sat right up and clapped for himself. It was so cute to see him all proud. This boy will be a handful though. Every time I turn around his grabby little hands are into something! And he isn't even crawling yet!!