Family Pictures

While having uncle Jeremy here, I was able to get him to take some family pictures of us. We haven't had any taken since Annalyse was 2! So the other day we were able to get some. Thanks Uncle Jeremy!!!

I think this one is my favorite.
My face is so fat!!!


SO cute, Very very cute! My three little goobers!

Me and my Hubby, were both sucking it in!! Ha ha! :)

Almost 11 years!!!!
WOW!

And its been wonderful!

T'was the night before christmas

And all through the house, not a creature was stirring , not even the scorpions. The children are are all snug in there beds, and I'm pretty sure visions of super hero's and Webkins are dancing in their heads.

The Stockings were hung from the only place mom could think to hang them.(we don't have a fireplace)
The table is all set for a great Christmas Feast!

And cookies for Santa with a cute little note.

Were wishing ya'll a Merry Christmas and to all a good night!

Cara's Confections

Bustin it out in the kitchen today!

My friend calls this "White Trash Mix" So I guess this would be Christmas Trash Mix!

Super easy, it's just 2 cups chex, 1 bag pop corn, 2 cups pretzels and a handful of M&M's. Then you melt a package of white candy coating, poor it all over it , mix it up and spread it out to dry.

5 Minute Fudge, Love this stuff!

One can Sweetened condensed milk, 24 oz. chocolate chips, teaspoon vanilla. Heat the milk in a saucepan, add the vanilla. When milk is real warm add the chocolate chips and stir until all melted. Scoop into little muffin papers or you could put it all in a pan and cut it up later.
For the love of my life, I made him some of his favorite cookies, his cookie jar has been empty for a long time :( Sorry honey! It's full now !

Monkey bread for Annalyse class Party tomorrow, they have to bring some food that is a tradition. I have made cinnamon rolls or monkey bread every Christmas morning since she was a baby. This was before it went in the oven :)

Chocolate Pecan Biscotti, I know the picture says walnut, but it's wrong, there pecans. It was supposed to be hazelnuts but I didn't have any so I used pecans. I actually made these at the beginning of the week , I don't want you all to get the wrong idea thinking I made these today to! I'll post the recipe later.

All packaged up and ready to give out!!

Time for a nap!

Santas Sewing work shop

I got ALL of my shopping done yesterday so I was able to finish up the sewing projects I wanted to do for the kids.

Can't catch me...... I'm the gingerbread man! I don't know if I saw these somewhere or I just made it up, but there fleece stuffed gingerbread man, so cute! Zander LOVES him. I wanted to give it to them on Christmas Eve but he was sitting there watching me sew this morning. I don't know if you can see the book but its gingerbread baby instead of the man one, I love the original and had to get this one, silly cute story

This one is Zanders, he wanted him to have a nose, he also wanted to me to put hair on Annalyses! But I told him they don't have hair, then he was okay with it! I made these to go with there Christmas PJ's.

An Ugly tag doll I made for Madden J. I don't know why I didn't cut him out a gingerbread man, I guess I will do his later since he is getting this guy.

And! There Christmas PJ's! (I know there out of order!) On Christmas Eve I will take a picture of them in them! Do you get the whole " Who" thing? We're Horton's get it?

I was going to name this post :steroids are great, but decided against it. I had a sinus infection/tonsillitis and went to the Dr. on Saturday, he gave me some antibiotics and some steroids to reduce the swelling. I had never had steroids, man there great! I was feeling a whole lot better the next day! I usually don't take very much medicine, so when I do it really works! It as given me energy to finish up shopping and sewing!!! Whoo Hooo! Now I am on to baking and getting ready for Jeremy to come! Yea! Uncle Jeremy is coming for Christmas! The kids and I are SO excited. Oh and tons of wrapping! Haven't tackled that one yet!

Christmas Q&A

A Christmas Getting-To-Know-You...

Probably more than you ever needed or wanted to know, but it was fun to fill out!
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping paper, but I have started to use some bags for the hard shaped ones.
2. Real tree or Artificial? FAKE! Justin is not big on wasting money on a real tree, plus we all have allergy's.
3. When do you put up the tree? Right after Thanksgiving, but this year we did it before I left for Utah so we could enjoy it longer.
4. When do you take the tree down? After the new year some time.
5. Do you like eggnog? Yes! Love it!
6. Favorite gift received as a child? UM... Cant remember(sorry mom and dad!)
7. Hardest person to buy for? Justin, I can never surprise him!
8. Easiest person to buy for? The kids! And me!!! :)
9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, sad I know, I cant find one I like and then the real nice ones are REAL expensive.
10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Usually I do cards, I am doing New years cards this year, I just couldn't get to them with everything that has been going on, so if your wondering were it is , its coming after the new year!!!
11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Um, can't remember one, I love it when anyone gets me anything!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? November, but I try to start sewing projects earlier.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Who hasn't?
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? EVERYTHING!!!! Egg nog, hot chocolate, sugar cookies, goodies that a bake, sweat breads, Mmmmm I could go on.
16. Lights on the tree? White, I love white lights.
17. Favorite Christmas song? All of the classic ones.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? I have always stayed at home for Christmas, sad I know, one of these days I am going to be up in a cabin in Colorado with snow and a real tree.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Why yes I can!
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve, the rest in the morning.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Rude people.
23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I love the white lights and then I try to do something a little different every year, decoration wise.
24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Ham and turkey and all the fixins! Which I happen to be making this year.
25. What do you want for Christmas this year? I would really really really love an iphone :) , I already know the other stuff I'm gettin!

Christmas Crafts

Sprayed some tree branches silver and hung some ornaments on them.

Made candy cane trees, just glued some peppermint Candies on a foam cone. The kids helped by unwrapping the candies.
And sprayed a wicker wreath silver and put some little red ornaments on it. Justin doesn't really like it. I think it came out OK I think it might need a red bow or something, what do you think?

Crazy, Freaky, Stupid Texas Weather!

Here is a great example of the crazy Texas weather we have during the winter. Yesterday it was hot and muggy in the morning, got up to 80 degrees. And then that night it snows! Go figure! We don't stay cold we just get these cold fronts that blow through, so yesterday we had one come in real fast! Crazy Crazy Crazy! I can never tell how to dress Annalyse for school! I wish it would just stay cold for the winter and then turn warm in the spring, like normal seasons!!!!!!!

The kids were flipping out about seeing the snow this morning, even though its just a tiny bit of snow, its still snow!

To make you giggle :)

Ornament Loss count

# of ornaments that have broken so far - 4. I am either not going to put some up or find some nice rubber ones that bounce when the get knocked or played with .

Poncho

This is for Mama Shelley. Thank you thank you for the beautiful poncho! I love it!

Love Annalyse.

This is mom typing now, she got good use out of her new poncho last night, she fell and sprained her hand and so she was able to put it over her head instead of trying to put a jacket on, so thanks mom it came in real handy!!

Justin took her in to the Urgent care last night, we didn't know if it was broken or not, she couldn't move it all evening. But its not, thank goodness! Its just a sprain and she is already using it some this morning.

I'm Baaaaack!!!!!

Wow what a trip! I kind of had mixed feelings about going back up to Utah, the last time I was there I had to bury my sister, so not the happiest trip. And then the time before that I want up there us last thanksgiving, the last time that I saw my sister. I was excited but sad, excited that my brother was finally getting married, one more year and he would have been a menace to society! J/K R.J.! Love ya! And happy you found a sweet girl! And then I was sad because my sister would not be there. But it turned out to be a great 5 days there! This is going to be a very long post in pictures so get ready!!

First up, My brother and his girlfriend took me up to Park City to go shopping, thank you guys!

It was a lot of fun, found some stuff and we eat at a cute little sandwich shop.

There was this dressed up Moose that we had to have our picture taken with, there was also some crazy people protesting fur, who scared my baby as we walked by, I have never seen a protest in my whole life(except on TV), it was intense!
Then Saturday night was the open house reception for my brother, my mom is big into open houses! This is the cake I made him, there is a big third layer under the flowers that you cant see. I don't know if it tasted good, I was to buy cutting it!


R.J.'s wife Allie and me, it looks like I cut my hair, but I didn't! Her colors were pink and silver if you couldn't tell.
Sorry, that should be the bride and me! I just upgraded to Picasa 3 and you can write on the pictures, which I have always wanted to do!

My mom and Dad. Wow! I do have a baby that looks like my side of the family! Madden looks like dad, don't you think?

R.J. Was Sooooo tired, he drove all night from AZ to get back for the 2nd reception.

My little BIG brother! Simon is huge! Crazy to think I changed his diapers and now he was helping me with my child! Thank you Simon! You were a big help holding that heavy child a lot!

I like to call this picture "And then there were three" There was six of us and now there are three.

This is all of my family on my moms side, cousins and there children. Grandma and Grandpa are in the middle there.

And my mom made Madden his blanket so I had to take a picture of him with it, I hate that there is to much flash, but his smile was to cute! also while I was there she made A a poncho and a stocking for Madden, crazy fast crocheting woman!!

Well there you have it! Good time had by all! And One of the best parts was coming home to moped floors and clean celling fans! Justin always has the house clean when I get home from a trip! He's awesome like that!

Good to be home, now I need to get cracking on Christmas! Good thing the shopping is done, now We can do the fun stuff, like BAKE!!!!!

Tag Blankets

Madden got a cute boy tag blanket! Its oh so warm to!

This is what you do with it!

Some of you were wondering what a tag blanket is. Well, some ingenuous person, probably a mom with children, decided to make a blanket with a bunch of tags around it(ribbon). because children like to suck on the tags on there toys and blankets. So there you have it.

Eazy peezy nice and cheezy

Cherry cream cheese strudel

And since we were making strudel, Z decided to dress like a German boy! He just would not put pants on, he wanted his shorts! Maybe to show off his new shoes.

All done! And yes it was good!

Cherry Cheese Danish Braid
Ingredients:
1 8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup cherry pie filling
1 tube Pillsbury Crescent Recipe Creations
3 tablespoons turbinado sugar
Method:
Heat oven to 375°F. Spray a baking sheet with a little non-stick cooking spray.
In small bowl, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Stir in vanilla extract and set aside.
Unroll dough onto baking sheet and press into 13x7-inch rectangle.
Spoon cream cheese mixture lengthwise down center third of the dough. Then, carefully spoon pie filling on top of the cream cheese.
On each long side of dough rectangle, make cuts about 1 inch apart from the outer edge up to the edge of the filling. Fold opposite strips of dough over filling and cross in center to form a braided appearance. Seal the ends so that the filling doesn't leak out. Sprinkle turbinado sugar over the top.
Bake 22-24 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet to cooling rack. Cool for about 15-20 minutes and dive in!

Craft night

Craft night was super fun! My sock dog looks a little retarded and nothing like the picture in the magazine, but hes cute!

Clam Chowder

This is my version that I kind of throw together, its quick and easy, like most of the stuff I make!

Chop up a small onion, saute in a little olive oil until tender and translucent. Chop up a large potato and add to the pot. Stir it a bit. Then add 3 small cans of chopped clams, water and all. Bring to a boil, turn to simmer, put a lid on it and let cook until the potato is tender, about 10-15 minutes depending on how big your potato chunks are. Once the potato is tender add two cups of milk and a sprinkling of pepper to taste, heat until hot . That's it! If you want to make it real rich and fattening you could use 1 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup cream(for those days you just don't care about calories!)

Justin LOVES this soup, I guess its a man kind of soup.