A few of my favorite things

All of Zanders mans A huge remote control truck

Build a Bear Leopard

Dancing to he new mp3 player

There is so many more but these are the ones they really liked. I will do a couple more like Zanders guns he got. And maybe some of Annlyse's outfits she got.

You can be my Superman

The cape came out good and he didn't take it off all day!

Family and presents and food oh my!

The table Stuffing, ready to go ito the oven

Rolls, Cookies, hot chocolate stuff and icings to decorate the cookies

Appitizers and red cake

St. Lucia Day bread ( that was for school )

wow what a busy week! I wanted to do a cute email on Christmas but that didn't happen. We did have a nice Christmas though, the kids got lots of cool stuff and enjoyed playing with the cousins. We also had a really nice meal, the turkey I brined came out so tasty! I also have to post my pin Christmas present I got! Thanks Carlo it was perfect! So much to do!

Checking my list

Cheese ball, Check!
Everything today was made in this my second favorite tool, the Kitchen Aid is the first.

Peppermint Cool whip, Check! Just have to mix these together. Put back in container and freeze. (its ground up candy canes, sorry!)

Cranberry sauce,Check! cooked them until they popped and the blended them in the food processor.

Pie dough, Check!

Everything put in the freezer till next week. Check!

Crafting With My Girl

Annalyse and I finally got around to making these cute little candy ornaments. They came from the Martha Stewart kids Magazine a year or two ago. It is just Peppermint Candy's and red hots glued together. We also made a gingerbread man wreath but when we put the red hots on has buttons they melted into them (it wasn't gingerbread it was the cinnamon dough that hardens). So I had to throw it out. Maybe we will try again.

I am going to be prepping a bunch of things for Christmas dinner this week and putting into the freezer, like cookie dough, pie dough, cranberry sauce, cheese ball, and my be the rolls un-baked. If you want me to blog any of the recipes let me know.

We finally got pretty much all of our shopping done this weekend, it was a lot of fun shopping with the hubby who never goes shopping. I think he was really into it because Z is old enough to know whats going on, so he went a little overboard with the boy toys, I think he is excited to have his boys and do all the crazy things him and his 3 brothers did!

I think I will do some sewing today, Nursery yesterday did me in!

P.S. Please dont look at the mess in the background, or all of the handprints on the back door!

Gingerbread Cookies

4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg(or grated fresh
1/2 cup butter-room temp.
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups brown sugar
1/2 cup molasses
2 eggs

Combine the dry ingredients. Beat butter, shortening and sugar together until combined. Add molasses and eggs, mix just until combined. Slowly add dry ingredients 1/2 cup at a time.
Chill for two hours if you want to roll it out and cut shapes.
Or just scoop and roll in sugar. Bake 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until edges start to look dry.

Note: You can also add some chocolate chips to the batter.

Weather Out Side

(Sung to Let it Snow)

Oh the weather out side is yucky

its drizzling and sticky and mucky.

There's simply nothing better to do, then

let it sew let it sew it it sew!

This is what Zander did while I sewed away.
I made Annalyse two skirts, this one came out real cute, and in my favorite colors at the moment. I know it needs ironed.

This one is from some purple paisley I have had since I was 12.

I sewed yes sewed these little scratch books for the kids, they are so into drawing and writing, thought I could put them in there stocking. Sewing on paper is fun!

I would have kept going but I ran out of ideas of things to make, I am waiting for a little boy to go to sleep early so I can make his Superman cape!

Nothing much

I don't have much to blog about but I wanted to do a post. OH I forgot to take a picture of the candy cane cake that I made for Justin to take to work, dang it! I bet its all eaten now! I have the pan so I guess I will have to make another one, I also made some banana bread which is almost gone, I'll try to go snap a picture of it.
I haven't done much of anything this past week, including cleaning the house which is seriously getting on my nerves, it is just so cluttered I just want to get a big bag and throw everything away! I might just have someone come in and deep clean this mess!
I'm going to save up my outings this week so I can go out with Justin and finally get some Christmas shopping done, we are not going to get a ton of stuff for the kids, for 1 they don't need a whole bunch and 2 I am a little worried about all of the lead reports coming out, so A is going to get some clothes and girly things and Z will get a couple toys that hopefully didn't make or will make the list(I love homemade and wood toys so maybe I will stick to that!).
Anybody have any fun and exciting things going on for Christmas?
We are staying here and I am making a big meal and I think the family is coming over for it to, I cant wait! I didn't make Thanksgiving dinner so I have this urge to still make the big meal, I need to go big shopping in the big city this week! I might just have two outings this week! I just love to go grocery shopping! I hope they still have some good turkeys left, I like the organic or free range ones they are so much more juicy then the others. I am also going to brine it this year something I have never done but heard it comes out really good.
Well I have to wrap up my rantings about nothing, I have a hair apt. I am so excited! I haven't had it done in like 4 mo.! Hey about the same time I found out I was pregnant! Go figure!

Another Apron

This one is for the Pink Christmas Swap that I am a part of. I know its not pink but it doesn't have to be, the whole thing about Pink Christmas is that it is homemade.

I am going to have to make my self one! I just don't like any of the fabric at Wal-Mart and I haven't made it to the big town to get some cool stuff. And I better hurry cause pretty soon its not going to fit around my waist!

Candy Canes and Guns

Funny story about candy canes, I usually buy some to put on the tree and Zander picked out some Starburst ones. I thought they would be good, I'm not a big fan of real sweet sweets but they were for the kids. One morning I find Zander eating one while watching his morning cartoons, I took what was left away and let him finish what he had in his mouth. That evening I was changing his diaper and kind of freaked out at what I saw, his butt was blue! I was thinking of all the stuff it could be! And then I realized it was the blue candy cane he had eaten! They must put a ton of coloring in those things! Justin also had changed him earlier in the day and thought there was something wrong with him until I had told him that night. So we threw out all the candy canes! Sorry kids!

I snapped a picture after he was done eating his morning sugar dose. His mouth stayed blue pretty much all day. That should teach me to buy candy for my kids, I hate candy in the house, I don't even eat it! SO an Elf came and took all of the Halloween candy!

On to guns, Z has a obsession with guns right now. He will turn anything into a gun, I especial like it when he sees the #7 and says its a pew pew(you have to make the sound and that's how he says it!). If he cant find anything to use as a gun his fingers become pistols. He is getting quite good at making shooting sounds, Justin and I were just commenting on that on the way home from church yesterday. We were also wondering if was something to be proud of? He is perfecting using his voice right? And therefor wont have any speech problems right? I guess its another boy thing. He just gets so into it makes me laugh! I think Santa is bringing him a plastic riffle, we might just have our own little Christmas Story(you'll shoot your eye out!) ( Not really cause its a fake gun!) Boys! Aren't they fun! No more Disney Princess stuff were on to Superheros, guns and wrestling! And with another on the way its only going to get worse, and it doesn't help that dad is right there with them watching superman cartoons! (still love ya honey!)

Annalyse and are going to have to stick together and be way girly!