The Rutherford's: Has it really been that long? (Be warned: This is a looong post with many pictures LOL)

I can't believe how busy this past month has been. With all the preparations for Christmas, my dad being hospitalized and all kinds of surprises (good and bad) it's been a very quick month.

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve and I'm sorry to admit that I will be glad to see the end of an especially painful year. My sister in law was kind enough to point out that since we are getting older and everyone we know and are close to are getting older, the years are going to continue to hold more pain and loss. I love my sil but wow that is not a thought I relish :P

Now, don't get me wrong, it wasn't an all bad year. This year actually held a few wonderful surprises and gifts. My husband came home from Calgary and our marriage is ROCK strong...see my earlier posts if you're interested and not familiar with our past year Post 1 and Post 2 .

Simon's health issues all disappeared over time. There are no heart or lung problems to be found and he's a very healthy happy little boy.

Jay has started a new job with Lowes and while he still needs prayer for confidence in this new role in his life, he is enjoying being out of the elements.

Amy has started singing again and there is the sound of music in our house all the time now.

My dad who was hospitalized this past month came home healed. Praise God! Something so potentially dangerous just disappeared on the doctors and there is no medical explanation. I KNOW the explanation though!

Jay's oldest friend and our best man just had his first child, a daughter, and while the delivery did not go smoothly both mom and child are at home, healthy and happy as well.

Our church has a new Pastor and an awesome wife and kids came with him part and parcel. Amy and the eldest have struck up a friendship that has been an answer to prayer for us. As well, Simon and the youngest have developed a friendship that has been wonderful to watch grow. I am excited to see what the new year will bring in respect to these relationships.

Me, what can I say? I'm down 20lbs, feeling healthier and am migraine free (okay I did have one the other day, blame it on some junk I ate) now for 72 days.

Plus, we have been blessed this Christmas with incredible friends and family and for me a deepening of a friendship that I have been praying for.

Wow all that and I haven't even posted about Christmas yet.

Welcome to Our Christmas!

Christmas Day was lovely. Quiet family time. Just what the doctor ordered, but more about that later...

Christmas Eve on the other hand, lol, not so quiet but definitely family time. All my parents, brother's, sister's, spouses and children gathered at my brother and sis in laws for the afternoon and evening for FOOD, FUN, gifts and much laughter. It was a great time had by all but unfortunately my camera died just after getting there, so I have to wait on sil to email me some pics. Even my kid brother and his fiancee were able to make it with Isabella!

Update 6:04pm ~ My sil just sent me some pics from Christmas Eve

Isabella hugging the big bear we gave her :-)

Niece Emma with niece Isabella

Isabella's mom, Kathy and my brother (the chef) Rob

Chris, Dad, Emma and Isabella

Alex, Amy

Ethan, Simon and Amy

Thanks Chris!

Now that Christmas is over I can show some of the gifts that I had been working on for the past month or so.

First THE SOCKS! Some of you knew about the SOCKS! Oy, I love how these turned out but I will probably never, ever knit another pair of 17" socks in a time crunch again! My sister-in-law Chris, has earned her blue belt in KARATE and I am very proud of her, but this begs the question...what do you give a KARATE geek? (her description, not mine).

Socks of course, because she's been begging me for some and in KARATE belt colours.

The yarn was custom dyed for my by Ann-Marie, all in one skein. A huge undertaking that required me to knit a trial sock from toe to mid foot. Ann-Marie then frogged the sock and had to calculate the exact yardage required for each colour and then dye each part without allowing the colours to bleed into each other. She did a great job and I definitely will look at doing something similar in future (heehee).

The pattern used was a revamped Tidal Wave toe up sock and I used a shiny Merino Tencel.

Thanks so much Ann-Marie for all your help, Chris loved them :-)

I'm smiling here even though I'm suffering through SSS (second sock syndrome)

The finished product.

On display with karate belts.

The other knitting/crocheting projects this Christmas included a couple of beanie hats for Amy, which she ended up getting early to complement an outfit for our church Christmas dinner. I made a lovely little fluffy beanie for my 1 year old niece Isabella, but don't have a picture :-( to show for it.

Felted Slippers for Simon.

This is the pre-felting picture

These things are HUGE before felting. They'd fit Shrek!

The finished felted product. They are still a tad too big for him, so he has to wear socks with them. At least this way he will have them for longer as he grows into them.

I also pulled out my jewelery making supplies and made some wine charms for Chris, Cindy (sils) and my Dad and stepmom.

Swarovski Crystals for Dad & Lin

Precious Stone Chips for Chris

Swarovski Crystals for Cindy

Next on the agenda was homemade soap for all the women in my family (oops Lisa, I forgot to send yours with Anita, will get it to you somehow) :)

My very creative and talented friend Ann-Marie has taught me how to make soap now. I have to admit I have a craving to make more. This indeed can become very very addictive. I have plans to make more in the new year experimenting with shea butters, apricot butters and almond butters. Sounds almost good enough to eat eh?

So here are some pics of my first time making cold process soap at AM's place during one of our girls craft nights.

First a pic of my first mail order stash of coconut oil, castor oil and scented oils

AM & I going over our recipe (I want a soap recipe book toooooo!)

Measuring the ingredients.

My first batch of Maple Vanilla cold process soap :-)

Now, I'm making hot process soap at home!

Doesn't it look delicious?

Poured into the mold, now it looks like fudge (can you tell I'm on a diet and where my mind is these days?)

My first batch of hot process soap in a 'Christmas Eve' scent. Smells more like Dr. Pepper to me though.

More hot process soaps cut and curing

Finally after a few weeks the soaps are ready for gifting. The cold process soaps (on the right) are still here at home curing because they won't be ready for use until the 23rd of January.