Thank goodness I have three fantastic helper bees who agree that the packaging and the delivery are equally as fun as the making and the giving parts of gifts. One of our Advent gifts was a pile of white fabric squares bundled with some fabric markers. The boys insisting we make an ornament to adorn each package that left the house (the ornaments are much like the simple Stuffed Art from my book - you can find the instructions in an excerpt here. Just add a length of ribbon at the top for hanging).
And then there was the baking. Who knew that when you start making holiday cookies before Thanksgiving, it is quite likely to be tired of making them by the end of December? Hmnn. Small bread loaves to the rescue. Banana Pecan, Pumpkin and Chocolate Chip, and Sweet Potato Cranberry. Yum, yum.
And then the wrapping of our gift. Yes, "gift' the singular. I had this little revelation in September to make something really special, and then kind of multiply it by everyone on our list. Vague - I know. I'll share it with you next week when more of them are in the right hands. But I will say that it made my holiday stress a little bit lighter, the kids had such joy in the making, and - I think - the recipients were pleased. Ah...
And finally, the delivery on Solstice Day. Warm cocoa, some 'fancy delivery clothes' (Ezra's thing) and signage (Calvin's thing), and a family drive around town to scatter packages at the doorstep of friends and family. My little ones had such fun playing Solstice Elves, as they dubbed themselves.
And I dare say, they were the cutest little Solstice Elves I've ever seen.
