Paint your own pottery!

There are quite a few places near us here in Ohio where you can paint your own pottery:
You're Fired
Funke Fired Arts
Mad Potter (there are 2 of them that we've been to near us, here and here)
My sister gave us a gift tile (just like a gift card) to use a couple years ago.  It's a great gift, because YOU can create something unique.  These kind of open studios are all over the place...

 Olivia using the big mug she made...inside it's so pretty!

Breakfast this morning (cornflakes with almond milk and sliced banana on top) in Hannah's new bowl!

We took Hannah and Olivia to Starlight Pottery in Savannah, Georgia, when they were 2 and 4 years old and they painted these little mugs (which they use often):

And it's almost Christmas for us Russian Orthodox Christians who follow the old calendar!
We have church services this weekend, and then Nativity. 

(that beautiful picture of our NEW church with snow on trees was taken by a friend, Svetlana Pinkerton)

Celebrating Christmas for 24 days...

I know it is Christmas for many of you and wish you a joyous feast! Being an Orthodox Christian, we follow the Julian or "old calendar," which is 13 days from the Gregorian calendar most of the world follows (so today is actually December 12th). In 2100, there will be 14 days difference.

(photo taken: January 2008)

So...we observe Christmas for 24 days, starting on December 25th, celebrating with my in-laws, opening gifts, 12 days of Christmas then, January 7th is when we really celebrate the Nativity of Christ and break the fast, 12 days of joyful feasting follow!
My parents gave the girls each a Lands' End dress on St. Nicholas day, which was last week for us!
I thought this was so beautifully written by Elizabeth:
"On Sunday, old calendar, we remember St. Herman of Alaska and blessed Lucia, saint of Light. I don't think it is coincidental that they are celebrated near the darkest time of the year... at a time when those of us in the northern countries are longing, longing for a bit of light, they shine out with the uncreated Light of Christ. St. Herman has brought much comfort to me this winter as I have fought the depression that comes with darkness... it is as if I can see him in his frozen Alaskan cave, still, light and angelic music pouring forth. His presence in Alaska is very real.
St. Herman: http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/December/13-05.htm
St. Lucy: http://www.holytrinityorthodox.com/calendar/los/December/13-06.htm"