Holiday season

Thank you family for wanting to share your love through special gifts. The lists below are ideas if you so choose but we welcome homemade, simple gifts from your heart and hands. 

:: For the kids ::
creative play :: small nesting water waves element
     Our children love to play in water and this would represent a fun element during their creative playing.
crafts :: kite paper, window crayons
     During the winter months, activities with lots of color bring cheer to our cold days and keep the mind active.
imitation play :: broom and dust pan (if found elsewhere, please no plastic) 
     The kids love to help Mommy and Daddy and cleaning up messes is a common activity around here. Countless times we have found them trying to sweep and mop the floors with limited success. These tools will help them have more success whether it is a real or a pretend mess. 
books :: All in a Day, Grandfather Twilight, Winter, Waldorf Kindergarten Snack book
      The first two books are much loved books that we have checked out from the library several times and just can't get enough of. The last two will be new but helpful as we nurture the kids with songs and stories, as well as, making special treats in the kitchen on baking days. Boy do they love to cook! 

 * We are so thankful for your love and desire to give fun gift to our kids. Please refrain from buying the battery-operated and/or plastic toys, for we are limiting certain types of toys for more creative play.*

:: For the Lady ::
Remember (journal) by Nikki McClure :: I love Nikki's papercut-art, it is truly stunning. 
Cocoa Butter Wafers (1 lb) from MountainRoseHerbs :: The winter is hard on my skin and I have a recipe for a delicious oil to lather on that smells like chocolate, how lovely is that!
Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon ::  Our diet is changing and I am needing wisdom. This book is highly recommended and has been on my wish list. 
Needle felting tools :: needles (2-pk) or sample kit,  and wool roving :: I have admired this fiber art for awhile. These items will allow me to get started and have a lot of fun. 


:: For the Gentleman ::
I received an early birthday present this year--an Orion 6" Dobsonian Reflector telescope! Astronomy's something I've been wanting to get into for several years now, just hadn't yet. Lynnette helped push me over the edge. Consequently, most of the items you see on this Christmas/birthday list are things I've discovered will be either helpful or absolutely essential to really learning how to use my scope to its fullest potential.

• either 1.25in. 2x Orion Shorty Barlow Lens (~$45) 
• or Orion 1.25-inch Basic Telescope Accessory Kit (~$100)
• Red LED Flashlight--can be cheap, just need something to read star charts w/o ruining night vision
• either The Observer's Sky Atlas: With 50 Star Charts Covering the Entire Sky by Erich Karkoschka
• or Sky & Telescope's Pocket Sky Atlas by Roger W. Sinnott
• IOGear Multimedia Keyboard with Laser Trackball and Scroll Wheel, 2.4GHz Wireless (~$50) or something similar, touchpads instead of trackballs, whathaveyou. This item's on the list because Lynnette and I will sometimes hook the laptop up to the television to watch online shows or whatnot, and it would be exceptionally convenient to be able to control the laptop from the couch (is this the epitome of laziness? you only think so because you probably watch television the conventional way--using the tv's own remote).

:: For the Home::

spices :: garlic powder, celtic sea salt, Italian seasoning, cumin, cinnamon

other cooking/baking items :: Coconut oil, aluminum-free baking powder, baking soda, instant yeast or active dry yeast, honey, molasses, arrowroot powder (cornstarch alternative for cooking and cosmetic use), old fashioned oats, plain popcorn kernels, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar

household goods :: toilet paper, cloth napkins, washing soda, borax, beeswax (for making candles), stainless steel scrub pad (link for image)
treats:: decaf coffee, chai tea, sleepytime tea, red rooibos tea, high percentage cocoa chocolate, goldfish