Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
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We are all (almost) snuggled up in bed, we have the stocking hung by the chimney / fireplace with care.... we are ready for St. Nick / Santa to visit!It's The Day Before The Night Before Christmas
When I was little we had the BEST Christmas record, it was by the Caroleers & there was a song called The Day Before The Night Before Christmas & I always sing the song on Christmas Eve
It's the day before the night before Christmas and I'm busy, busy, busy being good... on the day before the night before Christmas, I'm gonna do everything a good boy should... I'm making up a list about 10 pages long.. I'm on page 10 now & still going strong... on the day before the night before Christmas, I'm busy, busy, busy being good... (Hi- mom, Kim & Jenna, I know you are all singing it right now!)
In the mood for nostalgia, we took the trips to see the Vinton Lights tonight. The Vinton Lights are a huge Christmas display of lights and custom made decorations put to music by the Kershner family just outside the town of Vinton. They have been putting up the display for 43 years!! I have been going to see them since I was little & I was very excited to take the trips this year. They really didn't get it quite yet, they all stayed in their car seats & kind of looked at the awesome lights display- I enjoyed it. Next year they will love it!
Here are a few photos of getting ready to go "bye-bye" 
& a couple of the Lights. At the end of the display there is a giraffe "Shorty" to take donations, I used to love to "feed" the giraffe money when I was little.
& a couple of the Lights. At the end of the display there is a giraffe "Shorty" to take donations, I used to love to "feed" the giraffe money when I was little.
Friday, December 21, 2007
Christmas is almost here!
Are you ready for Christmas? I don't know about your household, but we are ready, but not ready for Christmas- if that makes any sense. I love Christmas, I love this time of year, I LOVE Christmas music (could honestly listen to it year round!) I love giving gifts & seeing the person's reaction. I love all the yummy goodies (but hate them come beginning of January, can you guess my New Year's Resolution?) But- there is still so much to do! I have lists all over the house with what I still need (or want) to get done. I don't have all the presents wrapped, heck I still have some that need to be put together! I need to make a few more dipped pretzels. I need to CLEAN my home!! We are supposed to have our first Christmas tomorrow, but the weather is looking yucky, but very Christmasy..... I'd take some more snow, but not on the days I have to travel- yes, I know I can be picky =)
ok- so, it's back to work! Maybe I can get a few things done before my babies (I mean toddlers!!) wake up.
Trip down memory lane......here is a picture of the trips last year at Christmas. My babies are growing up so fast (too fast!)
Are you ready for Christmas? I don't know about your household, but we are ready, but not ready for Christmas- if that makes any sense. I love Christmas, I love this time of year, I LOVE Christmas music (could honestly listen to it year round!) I love giving gifts & seeing the person's reaction. I love all the yummy goodies (but hate them come beginning of January, can you guess my New Year's Resolution?) But- there is still so much to do! I have lists all over the house with what I still need (or want) to get done. I don't have all the presents wrapped, heck I still have some that need to be put together! I need to make a few more dipped pretzels. I need to CLEAN my home!! We are supposed to have our first Christmas tomorrow, but the weather is looking yucky, but very Christmasy..... I'd take some more snow, but not on the days I have to travel- yes, I know I can be picky =)
ok- so, it's back to work! Maybe I can get a few things done before my babies (I mean toddlers!!) wake up.
Trip down memory lane......here is a picture of the trips last year at Christmas. My babies are growing up so fast (too fast!)
A visit to Santa
Last week we took the trips to see Santa at the mall. They did a great job!! I was very impressed, it always works out better if I assume the worst (like all 3 screaming!) then when that doesn't happen- it's a good night! Caitlen started to cry a bit, but somehow we got her to stop! No one is smiling (except Santa) but I think it's a great picture!
New chatter around our home...... we have a few "Santa" items around the house & the trips walk all over saying "Tanta, Tanta...Ho..Ho..Ho. Heck, any man with white hair, he doesn't even have to have a white beard & he is "Santa".... Poor Geppetto in our Pinocchio books is Santa... the Skipper to our bath time Tugboat is now Santa. We had the show "Duel" on last night & there was a gentleman w/ white hair & a white beard- the kiddos couldn't take their eyes off him- "Tanta" "Ho, Ho, Ho" it's just too cute!!
Last week we took the trips to see Santa at the mall. They did a great job!! I was very impressed, it always works out better if I assume the worst (like all 3 screaming!) then when that doesn't happen- it's a good night! Caitlen started to cry a bit, but somehow we got her to stop! No one is smiling (except Santa) but I think it's a great picture!
New chatter around our home...... we have a few "Santa" items around the house & the trips walk all over saying "Tanta, Tanta...Ho..Ho..Ho. Heck, any man with white hair, he doesn't even have to have a white beard & he is "Santa".... Poor Geppetto in our Pinocchio books is Santa... the Skipper to our bath time Tugboat is now Santa. We had the show "Duel" on last night & there was a gentleman w/ white hair & a white beard- the kiddos couldn't take their eyes off him- "Tanta" "Ho, Ho, Ho" it's just too cute!!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Christmas Baking
I love Christmas goodies- cookies, candy- oooohh, yummy!! I was planning on making some goodies this year & I was talking with a couple of friends (Michelle & Karla, my morning workout buddies... funny we were discussing baking while working out!) & we decided to get together & make some stuff- it's always more fun to do just about anything with friends!
We started a couple weeks ago with a "Cookie Night" over at Michelle's- besides making quite a mess....
We made, Sugar Cookies, my personal favorite, but can take a long time, the making of the dough, chilling the dough, cutting out the cookies, baking them & then you still have to frost them!-- That is when it is much more fun to make them with friends & a couple bottles of wine! We also made Monster Cookies, Peanut Butter cookies w/ Reese's Peanut Butter cups (not sure the actual name for those cookies) & Chocolate Chip Cookies. 
Then we got together the next day to frost- we only ended up frosting 1/2 the cookies the first day. About a week later we got together again & frosted the remaining Sugar Cookies- that is quite a feat! We did make it a little bit of a competition- we each made our own Sugar Cookies and after they were all done & decorated we had a tasting contest. For Michelle's sugar cookies, she relied on her personal favorite- Betty Crocker (yes, the package where I think you add just water), Karla made cut out Sugar Cookies & I tried a new recipe Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. And the winner was.............. Karla!!!! We decided to just make one kind of sugar cookie next year & divide up. It's hard to have 3 different kinds going, taking them out of the oven & trying to remember who's was who's.
Then last weekend we got together at Karla's house to make some Christmas candy- we were mixing & dipping....& dipping.... & dipping for I think close to 8 hours!!! We made Wreaths (similar to krispie treats) dipped pretzels, dipped Ritz w/ peanut butter, cake balls (white & chocolate)- this was my first year for cake balls & I highly recommend them- yummy! Oreo balls, peanut butter Bon Bons... humm, I think that might be it. It was a lot of dipping- I think everything except the wreaths were dipped in almond bark! I forgot to take pictures, I did take a quick one towards the end, but some of the candy had already been boxed up. 
I then divided the candy & cookies up- handed a few goodie boxes out to my neighbors, got the goodie trays ready for Christmas at my mom's & Christmas at Sharon's and we have some to nibble on around the house this week...ooooo, so, yummy!
A big THANK YOU to Michelle & Karla for getting together with me to do some Christmas baking, I know some of the days were longer than we thought & at times our backs & feet hurt, but it was fun & I really hope we do it again next year!
I love Christmas goodies- cookies, candy- oooohh, yummy!! I was planning on making some goodies this year & I was talking with a couple of friends (Michelle & Karla, my morning workout buddies... funny we were discussing baking while working out!) & we decided to get together & make some stuff- it's always more fun to do just about anything with friends!
We started a couple weeks ago with a "Cookie Night" over at Michelle's- besides making quite a mess....
We made, Sugar Cookies, my personal favorite, but can take a long time, the making of the dough, chilling the dough, cutting out the cookies, baking them & then you still have to frost them!-- That is when it is much more fun to make them with friends & a couple bottles of wine! We also made Monster Cookies, Peanut Butter cookies w/ Reese's Peanut Butter cups (not sure the actual name for those cookies) & Chocolate Chip Cookies. Then we got together the next day to frost- we only ended up frosting 1/2 the cookies the first day. About a week later we got together again & frosted the remaining Sugar Cookies- that is quite a feat! We did make it a little bit of a competition- we each made our own Sugar Cookies and after they were all done & decorated we had a tasting contest. For Michelle's sugar cookies, she relied on her personal favorite- Betty Crocker (yes, the package where I think you add just water), Karla made cut out Sugar Cookies & I tried a new recipe Sour Cream Sugar Cookies. And the winner was.............. Karla!!!! We decided to just make one kind of sugar cookie next year & divide up. It's hard to have 3 different kinds going, taking them out of the oven & trying to remember who's was who's.Then last weekend we got together at Karla's house to make some Christmas candy- we were mixing & dipping....& dipping.... & dipping for I think close to 8 hours!!! We made Wreaths (similar to krispie treats) dipped pretzels, dipped Ritz w/ peanut butter, cake balls (white & chocolate)- this was my first year for cake balls & I highly recommend them- yummy! Oreo balls, peanut butter Bon Bons... humm, I think that might be it. It was a lot of dipping- I think everything except the wreaths were dipped in almond bark! I forgot to take pictures, I did take a quick one towards the end, but some of the candy had already been boxed up. I then divided the candy & cookies up- handed a few goodie boxes out to my neighbors, got the goodie trays ready for Christmas at my mom's & Christmas at Sharon's and we have some to nibble on around the house this week...ooooo, so, yummy!A big THANK YOU to Michelle & Karla for getting together with me to do some Christmas baking, I know some of the days were longer than we thought & at times our backs & feet hurt, but it was fun & I really hope we do it again next year!
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