Wrapping Up

The new year is nearly here and the Christmas knits for 2015 are already cast on. One of them is even finished! This is going to be a good year, I can feel it. Christmas was lovely; family, friends, food, knitting, lights, trees, it was perfect.

My youngest brother puts the train under the tree every Chrstmas- Michael loved it.

My sister finally got to hold the wee one- she was thrilled! Michael was fighting a nap, but I think they will be good buddies :)

If Only I Were an Elf

I love to knit. I love Christmas. I especially love these two things together. Every year I tell myself, "this is it. This is the year that everyone on the list gets something knitted". I have stopped saying "this is the year everyone gets exactly what I planned to knit for them". And every year, I find myself sort of  annoyed becuase I can't seem to get my crap together and have one perfect Christmas where everything is done exactly the way I want. But this year, I have decided to stop trying.

I don't mean that I'm going to stop trying to make it special, just not perfect. It won't be the end of the world if the gingerbread stars don't get baked, the knitting isn't finished and the house looks like a bomb went off. It will be okay.

I have decided to just enjoy the season as it happens. Here are a few things I've been enjoying:

Michael's first Christmas tree

Alex cutting down the tree

This was intended to be a Christmas present for Michael, but with at the rate he's growing, it may not fit by then...

Michael's first trip to the Grotto's Festival of Lights

The tree is trimmed, the presents are wrapped :)

Closer...

Christmas is around the corner. If you haven't purchased a gift for the Knitter in your life, I offer up the following ideas. They will save you time in guessing, and possibly, your life, as some of these can be given without having to brave the chaos that is the mall this time of year.

1) Time. If there is anything that a Knitter wants more of, it's time. If your Knitter has children, pets, or a spouse, offer to give them a day off to frequent their favorite coffee clatch (sock or sweater in hand), or to visit a new yarn shop. If you are feeling especially generous and full of the Christmas Spirit, offer to give them a weekend of Knitting Without Distraction.

2) Yarn. Lots of it. People tend to think that too much yarn is a bad thing. Not for Knitters. We love the stuff and lets face it, there are far worse things we coud be collecting (like bottlecaps or roadkill)

3) Needles. If the Knitter in your life tends to lose things (car keys, children, etc), then perhaps you should consider investing in a pair (or twelve) of your knitters favorite needles. This can be done according to size, shape, color or material.

4) Moth Repellant. Moths are a big threat against the knitting. Give a package of moth balls, or lavendar sachets to your knitter, and I can gaurentee that you will have a lovely Christmas season. Cedar chests are also a lovely gift option, but if you are short on cash and/or space, cedar blocks would also be acceptable.

I hope these ideas will get you inspired if you still have some shopping for the knitter in your life. I wish you luck and a very happy Christmas.