mama urchin

We’re a lucky lazy bunch over here. Papa is off of work on plant shutdown even though there hasn’t been a plant in years and we’re all enjoying our Christmas goodies. Santa must read your blogs because you all certainly helped with the gift selections this year.

First we had two beautiful backpacks made by Melissa:

I’m not sure how she got them done with all those babies but I remember from when Tristan was an infant, sometimes you just have to get something finished — it can be anything, really — and I’m guessing these backpacks might have been one of those things. Santa added a few books to them before leaving them under the tree. Katie got more Bob books for her collection and Tristan got My Friends and Sparkle and Spin as recommended by Martha.

Then there was this:

The ornament was made by Melissa — she has a few left — and is gorgeous. Santa also found a matryoshka necklace in MoonstruckMo’s etsy shop. The charm is hinged to reveal a small matryoshka inside. At the bottom of that package Santa gave Katie a real, live matryoshka. She has three of them now so a real, live collection has started. Papa’s been commissioned to put up a shelf.

My sister gave Katie a flower press and a few golden guides — trees, weeds, and wildflowers — as recommended by Stef. The guides are really good and inexpensive as well. Stef indirectly inspired another gift too. Tristan got an explorer pack. He is very into the idea of exploring and Santa went with the idea and gave him a kid-sized camelbak with a compass, thermometer, head lamp, whistle, and binoculars. I’ll have to get a photo of him wearing it because it is just unbearably cute. The other night he had Stefan and I pretending we were pumas so he could watch us through his binoculars.

So Santa did well this year even if (s)he was a little harried at the last minute. Thanks to all those elves who helped out, you sure made the urchins’ Christmas.