(We’re reading The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats – Brandt’s “read” gift this Christmas and a big hit!)

Where there is a play kitchen, there must also be play kitchen utensils and play food. Since we don’t have any extra money floating around right now (stay-at-home mom + husband in grad school = no cash), and since I did happen to have a lot of extra felt floating around from other projects, I decided to make felt food for B’s kitchen. I searched Etsy a bit for inspiration, looked at some Google images to figure out details on a few things, and then largely improvised. It was so. much. fun.

Here are the results:

They’re all made by hand using embroidery stitches I recently learned from this book. The carrot and hamburger bun took the most engineering. I overstuffed things a bit, because I think the stuffing will get compacted over time. I had a few more ideas, but I ran out of time to execute them. But with these felt pieces, some IKEA play cookware, and some play dishes and wooden and plastic play food given by grandparents and an aunt, Brandt’s kitchen is well-stocked!

2012 promises to have much in store, too. Blessings, challenges, and things we can’t anticipate. God’s grace in it all.

Happy New Year!

With all that anticipation, I thought disappointment might ensue. But it didn’t. We had a truly lovely Christmas weekend, with family and food and church (though we spent much of both Christmas Eve and Christmas morning services keeping an active little boy happily engaged at the back of the room in mostly quiet play).

After Brandt went to bed on Christmas Eve, we assembled our main gift for him – a play kitchen – and I felt quiet joy in that rite of passage. Infertility used to cast long shadows in this season of lights, but now we’re parents who assemble toys on the night before Christmas. Oh, blessing.

And next year, Lord willing, we get to do it all again with two children.

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

INGREDIENTS

For the pastry:

• 1 lb butter
• 4 cups flour
• 7/8 cup cold water

For the filling:

• 1 lb almond paste (This is sold in cans or tubes, usually found in the baking aisle. Our local grocer carries 8 oz cans, so I use two of those.)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs

Step 1

Cut the butter into the flour, like you’re making pie dough.

I just cut all 4(!) sticks of butter into really thin slices. Then I use my pastry blender–one of my favorite kitchen tools–to work it into the flour until the mixture consists of coarse crumbles. (You could also use two knives or pulse the flour and butter in a food processor.)

Add the water and work with your hands until the dough just comes together. Like all pastries, you want to avoid overworking the dough; use a light touch, so the dough is still a little crumbly.

Divide the dough into 6 equal parts. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate (for 1 hour or up to one day).

Step 2

Mix the almond paste, sugar, and eggs until well blended. Cover and chill (for 1 hour or up to one day).

Step 3

On a floured surface, roll out one piece of chilled dough to a 4″x15″ rectangle. Spread 1/6 of filling onto the dough, leaving a 1/2″ border.

Roll the dough lengthwise into a long stick; fold the ends over and press all seams gently to seal. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining dough pieces and filling. Brush each stick with milk and sprinkle sugar over the tops. (I usually do 3 sticks on one baking sheet, then prepare the other three while the first ones bake.)

Bake at 450 for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.

Let cool. Store at room temperature for a few days (wrapped in plastic), or in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze banket; wrap each stick individually in plastic or foil.

When you’re ready to serve, slice crosswise into 1-2″ pieces. Enjoy your Dutch treat. Or, as the Dutch would say, “Eet smakelijk!“

At Christmas-time last year, I took a picture of Brandt in profile. (I used the method described here and had Aaron hold Brandt up in front of our white curtains.) Then, I digitally edited that photo to make it a silhouette. I used Pixlr and followed these instructions. However, I didn’t have a steady enough hand with the lasso tool, so I ended up printing my silhouette, cutting it out (getting rid of some of my pixilated edges), and then scanning that cut-out. I opened the resulting digital image in a document (OpenOffice Draw, in my case), sized it to fit my frame (I created an oval outline as a guide), and added the text as word-art (so that I could curve it; I used a font called Henry Morgan Hand, which I downloaded for free here). When everything lined up correctly, I printed it onto photo paper, trimmed around the oval outline, and popped it into the frame.

The frame is a small oval one I found at Michaels a few months ago. It was silver-y with black and clear rhinestones; I spray-painted it red. Then I tied ribbon onto it in order to hang it on the tree.

I love how it turned out, and I’ve already bought a second oval frame (conveniently in a bright green) to make baby girl’s first Christmas ornament next year!

I took this shot at arm’s length, an attempt to inure him to the camera’s lure so that I could get down to the business of capturing him at play. (It didn’t work.) When I showed him the picture, he pushed some buttons and somehow managed to correct the lighting. So here’s our collaborative effort – photography by mama, editing by B!

Nine year ago today, we got married. I’m so glad I said, “I do,” because…

1. You work hard – at a job you don’t love – to provide for us. I get the joy of staying home with our son (and soon daughter!) because of your labors.
2. You regularly express appreciation for the work I do at home (because, yes, it’s a joy, but it also comes with its shares of troubles). Rarely do I make a meal, fold laundry, or add a cozy touch to our house without hearing you say, “Thanks.”
3. You make our family a priority – so much so that you’re diligently pursuing a career change that will allow you to spend more time with us.
4. You teach our son to explore, to pretend, to obey, and to love.
5. You’re already so tender with and protective of our little girl.
6. You’re handsome. And tall. And listen to my preferences about your appearance.
7. You’re learning to be handy around the house, even though it intimidates you, and you’re getting quicker and quicker at tackling projects and repairs I suggest.
8. You’re strong where I’m weak. You’re humble. You ask questions. You make small talk. You’re generous.
9. You love God, and you want us to love Him together.

Happy anniversary, my husband, my love!

Your adoring wife, Andrea