yarn along

here is a post of my latest knitting project and read in a yarn along hosted by ginny.  

this shot was taken in the car as i was riding into philipsburg with michael and ezra to the library.  i have still been reading the books from last week's post and thought i'd share with you ezra's favorite library book that we read over and over again.  i want to purchase this one to add to our library of lionni books.  he's very good at keeping his stories simple for children yet poignant enough for adults to also enjoy reading them.  there is always a great message - this one is about sharing.

on my needles is the last triangle to make a birthday banner for ezra shared graciously by christina on her blog.  i love all of her ideas and am truly inspired by her creativity.  she is amazing and if you haven't already you must check out her blog.  hope you are all happy knitting and reading inside!  

the end of 4th semester

fourth semester started with a hurricane and is ending with the beautiful trade winds blowing their soft breezes on us.  the sun is lower in the sky (even here in the tropics) and it is comfortably warm.  my heart is happy and mind unwinding as i have spent the last 24 hours as a family again with my husband done with his penultimate semester of basic science classes.  christmas is finally here!  

the night before michael's final exams, ezra and i went to a christmas dance performance in which our friend cat did an awesome crowd pleasing tap dance.  ezra told her afterwards several times in the car, "you are amazing!"  it was the first performance he's been to and i was proud of his ability to sit through 2 hours of dancing.  during intermission he said he wanted to dance and for me to watch him.  

we stopped by our favorite local christmas tree and ezra spotted this santa ornament under the tree.  moments later we met the woman who decorated the tree and she told ezra she put that santa there knowing that the children would see it.

after finals the celebration began.  our friends came over and ezra was happy to give hugs and nose kisses.  we took rahul to the airport today and ezra cried when he said goodbye.  he loves him so much.

we stopped for a group photo in front of the lobby christmas tree.

and then we drank and ate at our favorite indian restaurant until we were all too full to have anymore.  fourth semester was so busy, that we hadn't been to anand's since the beginning of the semester.

here is michael who i'm so proud of for working so hard.  i think he's proud of himself too as he should be.  it is wonderful to see him achieve his goals and gain more confidence.  he is an amazing man.

i completed the last christmas gift i had intended to make at the end of our meal.  one waits at least 20 minutes on the island for their bill once it's been asked for.  island time..

on the way home, ezra saw a shooting star through the open sunroof.  he then said to look for a wishing star.  he assured us all several times, "don't worry, you'll find one."  i love his outlook.  when i find that wishing star i am wishing for a lovely stay-cation with michael and our family coming to visit us for the holidays.  i think i needn't worry for that wish to come true!  wishing you all the warmth and love of the season!  

this moment

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.   inspired by soulemama

yarn along

on the needles are the second fingerless glove and a mason dixon wash cloth...  i've been revisiting "waldorf education - a family guide" to look at the articles on celebrations in december

a finished zebra for ezra to give his zebra loving friend bianca

have a look over at ginny's to see what other people are knitting and reading!

today on st. maarten

more yachts arrived in the bay

including this mega yacht

christmas decorations are on display in many places

and ezra got to ride on his carousel.

he took a spin with these two french girls -

after which he said, "i love those girls."

then we ran into his best girl bianca.  one of my favorite parts of island life is running into people you know quite often.  it really is a little island being only 37 square miles.

we watched another boat pull into porto cupecoy in the rain

and then they stomped through the puddles

by the best christmas tree in st. maarten!

today with daddy

today was a day with daddy.  he finished his fourth block exams of his fourth semester and has one week of school left until finals.  we usually spend the day together once every four weeks.  this has become our routine.  we anxiously await his return upon which he anxiously awaits his scores from the exams.  everything went exceedingly well and we had a spectacular day at fort louis, otherwise known as, ezra's castle, followed by a necessary stop at la patisserie on the way home.

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

with the sunsets coming earlier each evening, we have said goodnight to more suns from our kitchen together this year than ever before.  ezra is more aware this year on the month of his fourth birthday to note, "it's getting darker.  let's watch the sunset."  with the wispy clouds up above and the last warm glow of sunshine sinking into the cool blue ocean below, i now know the way a winter should look in the caribbean and i like it.  it looks like christmas is on its way outside as well as inside our home.

ezra has lovingly set up his little crèche by playmobil

i knit this santa set that is on display from a pattern in itty bitty toys.

our little tree is on the table as well as an advent wreath i was able to put together from a store i found on the island that has holiday decorations.  these last two christmases will hopefully be the last that we ever have a fake tree or wreath.  i want the smell of pine, the beauty and soul of truly bringing nature into the home.  i have never liked fake plants.  

but it was important to me to carry on the tradition of lighting the advent candles that my parents shared with me.  we are following the waldorf tradition of celebrating different aspects of the natural kingdom each week.  the first week is the mineral kingdom, then follow plants, animals, and finally humans.  

"the first light of advent is the light of stone.  

stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones."

words by rudolph steiner

i am grateful for the jar full of beautiful shells that we have collected on our many days at the beach.    

most of all i am grateful for being in a place to watch the sunset with michael and ezra every night whilst enjoying this wonderful season of light, love, creating, and giving.