Wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving. -Khalil Gibran
I’ve been trying to keep this quote in my heart and my mind for the past few days.  I have been so grouchy in the mornings lately, especially since it’s so cold and dark in my house when The [...]

Here are the valentines The Boy and I made last Sunday while The Daddy Monkey and The Girl napped. It was a team effort, with Art Direction by The Boy.  Construction paper, glitter, and glue.  What could be better than that?
Wishing you a warm St. Valentine’s Day, filled with love and chocolate!

Wishing you and yours a very wonderful holiday!!
(See the Monkey Family cards of past here.)

Happy Winter Solstice to you!

The gingerbread house is done.

Cookie production is in full swing.

The last candle on our Advent wreath was lit tonight.
And the temperature is dropping, finally!
A wonderful, beautiful, cozy Sunday spent at home.

::the beautiful straw ornaments a friend brought back from Finland years ago.

::the winterland scene that is too high for little hands to reach.  Made up of felt trees, a piece of muslin, a string of lights, handmade snowmen, a thrifted deer, pine cone elves and our Advent calendar.

::the pine cone elves The Bird and I [...]

I made these for the kids’ Advent calendar.

A star for The Boy.

A heart for The Girl.

Hope you are having a lovely Thanksgiving weekend!
Although I’m aware that it’s a bit late to be sharing my recipe for cranberry sauce, you can really make this year-round, if you have cranberries in your freezer.  Now is the time to stock up!
This cranberry sauce is absolutely perfect, if I may say so myself. It [...]

I was so proud of myself for getting the Halloween costumes done with time to spare that I vowed then and there to have all of my Christmas preparations done early as well.  I set myself the goal to have all of my shopping, wrapping, mailing and crafting done by the end of November.  I [...]

I have been wanting to make Kirsten’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies for ages and what better excuse then Halloween Day?  So, I give you Rose’s version of the Tollipop Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies, written Kirsten style:
Since it is Halloween Day, Ask The Boy if he wants to make cookies with you while The Girl naps.
Realize [...]