It's hard knowing how much to really get into Christmas this year. How much to decorate, how much to pull out from the Christmas bins in time to turn around and pack it all up again. At this point, we're even contemplating a tree.

We'll be leaving yet another home this year. My usual day dreaming of hanging stockings and Christmas morning seem clouded with visions of boxes around every corner on that anticipated day.

But this is a good move; a very good move. A mile away, the same jogging route, a much larger space to make life easier for all of us. My mind hasn't thoroughly wrapped around the idea of another move, though. I'm sure it will hit right about the time that the Christmas holiday and its festivities pick up--"Oh right, I should be packing!"

After two moves already this year, you'd think we'd be good at it. Throw two babies in the mix and you've got the most memorable New Year's ever.

Grandma reading to eager grandchildren,

uncles taking in their niece,

Annabelle showing off her baby skin while eating from a spoon,

buff brothers holding chubby babes,

an expectant father lightening my load,

sharing my family with friends that feel like family,

and lots...

and lots of smiles.

Good conversation, laughs, abundance of food, and,

tryptophan.

So I didn't get to post anything from my Giving Guide last week. You can blame it on the two baby heavy-weights; they are sucking the life out of me with their lack of sleeping schedule. But they are so cute and chubby, I won't hold it against them.

Back to the Giving Guide, here's a fun gift for families with children, couples, newlyweds, college students, campfires, tailgating, etc. So I guess really anyone could use this that has a bottom to sit on.

I have one I keep in my car for trips to the park and such. They are indispensable.

So here's the easy version of the blanket. Find a durable fabric (home decor, corduroy, or the likes) for the back piece, and then a coordinating piece of fabric for the top layer. If you want to skip measuring (which I did with this particular blanket), find 60 inch wide fabric pieces at the store and just cut them length-wise based on how long you want the blanket.

Once you have both pieces of fabric cut, simple sew straight lines down the width of the blanket, about 9 inches to 12 inches apart. Now sew the edges together, less then 1/2 inch from the edge.

Once the two pieces of fabric are sewn together, pull out the bias tape. It should take about 2-3 packs of this awesome stuff. Fit the sewn edge into the folded bias tape, and go to town: sew the four sides together inside the bias tape.

I like using the zig zag stitch.

For corners, cut the bias tape flush to the blanket. Then start the bias tape again on the new side with the raw edge tucked in for a clean look.

When you've completed the blanket, sew a seam down about 3 feet of the remaining bias tape, fold in half, and sew that mid section (an inch worth) to the binding on the blanket. This will let you wrap the bias tape around once and close by tying it with a bow. First decide how you want the blanket folded to know where to place the binding ribbon.

I love this outdoor blanket because it doesn't require batting. It rolls up beautifully, too, which is my favorite aspect of the blanket.

Thanks, everyone, for encouraging the addiction... until June.

I think I've read Harry the Dirty Dog twenty times today. And caressed hot foreheads even more.

I never expected the quiet, serene atmosphere in my home these past days from illness. Life has slowed down almost to a complete halt while children abandon toys, running, and play for rest, closeness, and stories.

Although I dread sickness entering our fast-paced little world here, it forces me to sit on the couch much of the day and just be with my children, while life moves on without us.

I kinda like that for a change.

I've waited all week to do something with my new stash of fabric. Finally last night, once absolutely silent, I crept downstairs, pushed away piles of who knows what on my table, and began cutting, piecing, and sewing. There was lots of ripping and redoing. And I learned I need to sew over tissue paper.

My obsession? Vinyl. Finding a way to sew vinyl onto all of my favorite fabrics, that is. Vinyl--which takes rice cereal, lasagna, and wash after wash. I'm hooked. It also is a far superior approach to art aprons.... hmmmmm.... give me some time. I've got to find some more time. I think I may be on to something.


And speaking of vinyl siding, we found our next home.

Here' s week two of the holiday Giving Guide: happy creating!

Take these 574,862 bits and pieces of crayons,

Peel and cut into pea-size pieces,

arrange by color, or let your excited four year old sort them,

then put pieces in your molds- whether muffin tins (which make round crayons), or other metal molds you have, fill roughly an inch high or less.

We did some "assorted" ones and others were a particular color scheme. I broke out my new brioche tins, which, needless to say, haven't been used since I got them two birthdays ago.

Bake the muffin tin (or individual molds on a cookie sheet) on 170 degrees until the wax is melted down to liquid state, about 20-30 minutes or so. Pull them out to let them set a bit and then into the freezer to make it easier for them to pop out of the molds.

Resilient, gorgeous, colors in chunky crayon-form is the end result. Depending on how you hold the crayon when coloring delivers totally different colors on the paper. They're so colorful you'll wish you could eat them--at least Johanna tried.