Christmas at The Roost & in Bethlehem

"A merry Christmas to all!" from the holidazing inhabitants of The Roost on this December 25th.

Here we are wearing the new warm tops gifted by Grandma and Grandpa. Didn't Gloria pick out a fabulous sweater for Soren? (And he WILL wear it, probably until the polar bears turn brown.)

And here are the merry guests, the Testermans who traveled from afar: Jill from Portland, Ann & Bill from Anacortes. We're missing all the relatives we couldn't be with today!

Last night we attended our fellowship's Nativity pageant. It was Soren's first time "acting" in it, and he was assigned the role of a shepherd. (If he has been a girl, he would have been an angel. Strict gender segregation!)

As the narrator read the Christmas story, the children trouped in and took their positions around the manger. Soren's friend couldn't resist a wave to his parents.

Such earnest little worshippers! (Soren in mustard yellow, at left.)

We were amazed that Soren slept till 9 a.m. But he had hardly wiped the sleep from his eyes before he was reaching into his stocking. Santa had indeed been here in the night! He had nibbled at the cookies we'd left out for him, and drunk all the milk.

Papaw Bill eagerly awaits to see what surprises Soren pulls out of his stocking. P.S. This was his formerly favorite sweater, very Christmasy. I'm hoping to have him wear it for our family portrait to be featured in our year-end card.

Auntie Jill leans in close as the presents are unwrapped. A new box of watercolors, kiddie chopsticks, an origami wolf pack, felt acorn treasures, non-toxic food colorings--all good stuff for a 5-year-old Waldorf student.

Now, what's this beside the tree? (It wouldn't fit under.) It had Soren's name on it, and was wrapped in a sheet...

 

For a moment it was a horsie to ride...

And then its packing was cut free and a NEW MATTRESS uncoiled with a great bound! Now our basement bunkbed has a top mattress, MUCH better for climbing on. And Soren's surprise at the true nature of this gift was priceless. I don't think he had any idea.

We leave you with this impish grin from our little elfin boy. May your holidays be peaceful and happy. Thinking of you!

NOTE: Click on any image and then you might be able to view a slideshow of this blog's posts, depending on your browser. Ho ho ho!

Merry Men (& Maiden)

 The Merry Men of Sherwood Forest made Halloween a merry affair this year (well, except for the tantrum when the allowed candy-eating limit had been exceeded, but we'll write that off to holiday exhaustion).

Robin Hood and Little John were fierce warriors for justice. In Soren's words, "We steal from the rich and give to the poor." Yes, he's watched the Disney movie many a-time.

Yes, Soren was Robin Hood, in a costume we picked up our travels in Oregon, and Jeff was "Little" John. Mommy got to be Maid Marian, Robin Hood's lady love. Well, aren't mothers the inspiration for all sons' good works?

Aw, let me in for a kiss!

Soren lost his first tooth last week, and the gap is almost visible in this smile. It was a lower front tooth, and it gives him a disarmingly devilish grin.

And in case you didn't feel safe enough with Robin Hood patrolling our neighborhood, his friend was a ninja, so there were TWO swordsmen on the prowl.

No need to worry. Unless, of course, you're filthy rich...!

Building a kayak

We've been busy at The Roost! The featured ongoing project is a Pygmy kit double kayak that Jeff broke out of the box in mid-February and has been working diligently on twice a day.

This evening Soren joined Jeff in the garage to help "pull" the wires that temporarily hold the wood panels together in this "stitch-and-glue" technique. (Note the Pygmy single kayak on wall brackets that Jeff built in the late 1990s.)

After a month of working on the hull--it's already been fiberglassed--the boat has been flipped over and the deck is coming together. This simple yet beautiful kit was created by an acquaintance of ours, John Lockwood, right here in Port Townsend. The company website is www.pygmyboats.com, and has lots of beautiful pictures, many of them taken in and around PT.

Soren took his job with the pliers very seriously. I was shooting pix with the goal of a 2014 calendar page. What's the "S ' ing" word, you might wonder? Why, "stitch-and-gluing," of course!

Hey, Dad, is this still fun? I just want to take this thing for a paddle!