The Christmas Ships Came Sailing In

On the night before Christmas Eve, we avoided the traffic and shopping frenzy, and ventured down to the closest beach, Matthews Beach on Lake Washington. To our surprise we heard rockin' Christmas tunes from a parade of ships & boats, coming our way!








We waved to the ships, decked in Christmas lights, as they anchored near the beach.






The main ship carried a small group of Christmas Carolers singing a capella to the folks outlining the shore. Beautiful songs, beautiful voices...


The Christmas Ship "parade" makes its rounds, singing to the small masses huddled near bonfires along Lake Washington's shoreline. Matthews Beach appeared to be the first on their tour. Now, they head southwest towards their final rendezvous at GasWorks Park on Lake Union.













We have been blessed with mild weather for Christmas. Blue skies at sunset make for gorgeous winter backdrops! Happy Daddy & Baby Big Boy!








I am in love with this picture enhanced by Instagram.
It is my newest obsession. I cropped, changed the lighting, and added a border to this one.













Mommy & Graham...
I absolutely adore this little guy.
Winter Willow
I find the exposed trunks & branches stunning this time of year.
Another Instagram, but no lighting change. Gorgeous evening sky...

Merry Christmas from Chris, Graham, & me.
We wish you a restful and rejuvenating holiday season.
xoxo,
Suzanne

Mini Christmas Home Tour

This Christmas I am keeping the decorations around here simple and sparse. I didn't plan it this way, it just seems to be evolving or UNevolving, and I'm satisfied knowing it will be less "work" in the future putting it all away. I feel a little sorry for all the decorations in my "tubs" in the attic that won't be celebrating their brief time of glory this year, but perhaps next year will be their year to shine!

Graham is delighted with the tree! Last year he was barely sitting up on his own. We have a whole new ball game this year! And it is a real ball game...

See how entranced he is by the silver ball? He thinks I put those on the tree for him to grab and throw. He has a great arm. I've already glued one of these. They are cheapies from Ikea, but I love them. They make it on the tree every year.

He is also fascinated by the lights. He twisted one of the bulbs until it no longer lights. Oh well, if he keeps at it, we will have a reason to get a "live" tree next year;)

I love this mermaid! I have always loved mermaids and pretended to be one in our swimming pool and the ocean as a child. I found her in Seal Beach, California while visiting Mimi & PopPop last year. Her shiny teal tail unexpectedly coordinates with those Ikea ornaments I showed you earlier:)

This is one of my favorites from a few years ago. I love snowmen, too! It is one of the few delicate ornaments on the tree this year, as there is little room at the top of the tree away from curious hands. I also added flowers to my tree this year! My mom put poinsettas on her friend Sandy's tree, and it sounded like a good idea. It IS! I am loving it!

Here is the white bunch of Poinsettas. They are only a dollar a bundle at Dollar Tree. I think I "need" more;) Also, the red bird ornament reminds me of home. The cardinal is the Ohio state bird. It reminds me of my family back there, especially my Mamaw. She loved feeding the red birds.

One of Chris's guitars. I wanted to buy him one each year. We currently have two. I know he wishes I were giving him REAL guitars each year, but he was happy to unwrap these ornaments and hang them on the tree. This is a Fender Stratocaster. Are you impressed by my guitar knowledge? It rubs off on you. Just ask Graham. The bonus to this tiny guitar collection is it takes up less space than his real guitar collection;)

Here is Graham's favorite..."Boat!" I bought this years ago when I used to take the ferry back and forth from my home on the Olympic Peninsula to Seattle. I had no idea how much it would please my little guy, and am so glad I bought it! I often find this on the floor mixed in with the Hot Wheels and trains.

One of my favorite things about decorating the tree are the associated memories with each ornament. This lovely satin star was a gift from family friends Emma and Ariel. They got it for me on a mother/daughter trip to Washington D.C. Not only do I love stars, but I love thinking of them when I see this on the tree.

And then there are ornaments like these! Made by our family friend and neighbor from Seminole, Florida. June Stephenson made these for us, and they have hung on our family tree for decades! I have the best memories of my childhood growing up in that neighborhood with such loving and familiar people. I think June would be pleased to know how her crafty gifts have withstood the years and reminded me of childhood love and joy all throughout them.

I hang a set of three words in silver: Love, Joy, and Peace. I certainly wish this for everyone!

(I have Scour Off brain...I want to shine this ornament now that I see it here! LOL)

And the top of the tree:) Angels & Sun! Celebrating the spirit of hope, compassion, gentleness, and the return of the light!

Awww, Bear Bear...our sweet kitty who rose to the top of the totem pole with the passing of her sister Star, her brother Ting, and her sister/mother Annabelle. She only tasted the top ranking only to be demoted to the bottom of the heap by Graham, hence the perturbed look that is common to her face these days. At least I put out the Christmas pillows for her to lay on;)

Do you see that little pillow back there? I love it! So cute! I found this at a thrift store. It has a deer and a snowman, two of my favorite things! I am realizing I have a lot of favorite things, just writing this post! Let's see, snowmen, deer, mermaids, stars...and to think I wanted to start a collection of salt & pepper shakers. (I still kinda do...is that wrong?)

The only lighted "house" that has made it out so far, the country church. I love this, too. Chris suggested I turn our "spare" bedroom into a lighted village. He loves to tease me about my little lighted house obsession. I don't have THAT many. Let's see, dance studio, log cabin, winery, theatre, beach cottage, and church. I think I will get him the pizza parlor and the collection will be complete;)

That pretty much concludes my holiday home tour! Easy, peasy...just need to unearth the stockings. Hoping to dig out my tree collection. Geez, how did I end up with so many collections??? It must be my Taurean nature.

As you can see, Graham's tree obsession is in full force day and night, as he is in his PJ's here. And I am on guard, defending my petite tree and all of its inhabitants, my precious little reminders of loved ones and the light on which I depend!

Merry Christmas to You! Yay for Winter Solstice! Wishing you the very best of the holidays!

Love,

Suzanne

Do You Believe in Santa?

It's that time of year when the elves are shining Santa's boots and the reindeer are playing their games in preparation for for their big night! Mrs. Claus is probably busy making cookies. And the snowmen are decorating the forest trees.

What?
Don't tell me you're too old to believe in Santa. You mean, you gave up the myth decades ago?
Okay, I get it. You're too cool to believe in Santa...no?

Actually, there is a lot of talk (or emails circulating) in the parenting group I belong to about parents perpetuating the Santa "lie". Yes, some people feel they were lied to about Santa when they were kids, and were devastated when they learned the truth.

Our families and culture have created a fantastic story surrounding Santa and the North Pole. My mind easily conjures up colorfully cold visuals complete with lots of snow and icy winds warmed by Santa's fluffy red cloak, soft white beard, and rosy pink cheeks. The elves are alive in my mind, actively and lovingly, handmaking toys. Even Rudolph lives in all his glory of turning his "non-conformity" into a powerful light.

I see how it could be a big disappointment for a child to learn that these things only exist in our minds. But I don't remember holding it against my parents, other adults and big kids, and society at large, for forcing this belief on me. On the contrary, I WANTED to believe.

Imagination is key to a fulfilling life, not to mention the fuel for new ideas and innovations. Children's books herald talking trains and cars with friendly faces. Fairies, dragons, and unicorns alight our fantasies. Beavers, otters, and dogs are best pals. Why is it so different with Santa?

Some parents are telling their kids that Santa is pretend, and that we are playing a game, in order to save them the future disappointment.

I read one father's thoughts and I agree with this: that children should be allowed to believe and negotiate the Santa "myth", as well as any other myths, tales, hypotheses, or opinions, themselves. That a lot of learning happens through the experience of believing in Santa.

He shows that children actually WANT to believe. They begin asking questions like "How does he make it to every kid's house in only one night?" and "How do the reindeer fly?" They are testing the story and its magic, can these things really be true? But if we ask them, "What do you think?", their answers often will show that they are still holding onto the magic and their belief.

As they get older, they begin looking for clues. They notice Santa and Mommy have similar handwriting or the wrapping paper used for gifts from Santa was stored in the attic. The questions become more detective-like.

It reminds me of watching an engaging movie for the first time with someone who has already seen it. As suspense builds, I start asking questions like, "Is she going to live?", "Those people are actually ghosts, right?", and "He's the one who did it, isn't he?" I start fishing for clues, but I don't REALLY want to know the answers. I would actually feel disappointment if someone spoiled the story for me.

Eventually we all grow to the age where reasoning begins to surpass our imagination. We run down the stairs in the middle of Christmas Eve night hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa, but see Mom putting the old typewriter under the tree. Or we sneak out of our rooms and catch Dad eating the cookies and drinking the milk. Or we exclaim proudly, "I figured it out! I was 'looking for my book in your bedroom' and came across a receipt from Toys 'R' Us for the Hot Wheel race track that Santa brought me..."

Hopefully, it isn't a big kid who is the spoiler. It seems some folks hold a residual grudge for that. I don't believe anyone should spoil someone's dreams or beliefs. (Leaving clues may be another topic.)

Dreaming and believing are a valuable skill throughout our lives. One must believe in both the possible and the IMpossible while reaching for goals, because once the belief is gone, many dreams die with it. So, as Journey sang, "Don't Stop Believing!"

And I'll ask you one more time, Do you believe in Santa?