Christmas Eve

A picture of the Fam. Everyone looks so serious, except for Nikki. Obviously not drinking enough sangria at this point.

Caeden and Grandpa. There are not enough words to describe how much Caeden loves him. He talks about him everyday and when he is here ... well, Mommy and Daddy do not exist. Their bond is special, strong, and what every parents hopes for when they have children to "present" to their own parents.

Papa and Claire "dancing" to Christmas music. I could have watched them all night.

Daddy & Claire.

Donna and Nikki. So much fun to hang out with these two. The best is when Mom's cheek's get all red ... from what, you might wonder.
Family secret. :)

What am I going to do when she moves to Texas? Someone need to tell her that I moved all the way from Kansas to be near her. She can't go!!!

Sweet Claire's Christmas outfit from Mimi. The dress is SILK. It was the prettiest thing she has ever worn. I want to get a shadow box to display it every Christmas.

Mimi & Claire

Christmas Eve was everything it should be. Special. Loud. Funny. Sentimental. Full of Family.

We went to an early church service (kid friendly) where Caeden's teacher spoke. He loved that.
The powerpoint slides (with the lyrics) were hit and miss, but what do you expect for the first service of the night? I was just grateful that it was okay that my child could lay on the pew, look around, and not get dirty looks. Perfect!

Afterwards, everyone came back to our house for dinner. We started with wine, beer, and sangria and ended with honey baked ham, cheddar corn chowder, salads, and lots of cookies, fudge, and other sweets.

Wayne made a special toast with our last bottle of Cain Five (1995!!). He toasted to both of our grandmothers that we lost this year. Grandma Lyons and Grandma Goldie. They were a lot alike and are missed so much. Wayne's tribute was beautiful, and there wasn't a dry eye by the time he was done.

After Mom & Co. left, we opened presents. Wayne's side of the family has always opened gifts on Christmas Eve, leaving an empty spot for Santa to sneek in for Christmas morning. While all the gifts were wonderful, one that will stand out forever is Claire's new quilt that Donna (Grandma) made for her. She used my hospital gown that I delivered her in, and also the prettiest green, white, and pink materials to create Claire's quilt. We will cherish it forever (and I will post pictures one of these days).

Even though Claire had no idea what was going on, it was such a special Christmas to have two children to share it with. I feel blessed beyond measure.

If you are still reading, thanks for being such a trooper! More tomorrow ...

Later That Day ...

Lindsay with the Bear

Nikki making the famous beef stew.

Caeden taking each and every packing peanut (from the box that Crystal sent) downstairs to create the biggest mess ever. Oh well, I hardly ever go down there. :)

Grandma lovin' on Claire.

Dave and Donna arrived on the 23rd and immediately the house was full of life. So many conversations going, so much laughter, everyone coming and going ... it was wonderful! We all caught up on the latest happenings, drank wine, ate too much, and just enjoyed each other. It was a perfect start to the rest of the week.

Christmas Recap {Take 1}

Nikki & John drinking Winter Sangria.
{So fabulous. See end of post for recipe}

Uncle John & Caeden



We started off Christmas Week waiting for Wayne's sister, Nikki and her fiance, John, to arrive from Los Angeles. Caeden was so excited that he didn't know what to do with himself. As soon as Uncle John arrived, Caeden claimed him as his new BFF. Aunt Nik is always a favorite, but there is just something about two guys talking "Monster Truck" that a girl just can't compete with.

Anyway, on morning 2 of their arrival, an accident occured.
Caeden was sitting on the kitchen table talking to me when he announces he is going to sit on a chair. "Good idea, Buddy," I say.
The next second he is on the floor, face down, and not moving.

I rushed to pick him up and turn him over and found blood gushing from his chin. When he opened his mouth to cry and to ask for Tiny (his blanket), his mouth was full of blood. I just about died.

Wayne and I are running around the house like crazy people, trying to get Caeden ready so we can get him to the hospital. We decide Wayne will go since I will probably cry more than Caeden. So, Wayne calls me from the hospital room to tell me that Caeden's lower tooth/teeth had gone all the way through his chin and he was going to need stitches. I kinda figured that part from the gushing blood, but it was still horrible to hear how badly he was hurt. Poor little buddy. :(

Come to find out, medicine has become quite refined. The numbing agent isn't a shot anymore, it's a gel pad that Caeden held onto his chin for 30 minutes. He didn't feel the stitches (3 inside and 3 outside) at all. How cool is that?

The Doc gave him a present to open when he got home for being so brave. It was a bear (that I haven't seen since ...)

Bear from the hospital.

Just got home - still wearing his hospital gown.

My little man a few days later. I think he looks adorably tough in this picture. I need to get him his own black stocking hat - it suits him, I think.

Grandpa and Grandma Koop flew in from Rapid that morning and we kicked off Christmas week with everyone together, plus the battle scar.

{Winter Sangria}

Slice 2 apples and 2 pears into small pieces. Soak in a bowl with 1 cup Apple Brandy for at least 30 minutes but up to 12 hours.

When ready to serve:

Mix apple/pear mixture with 1 bottle white wine.

Pour into glasses and top off with sparkling apple cider.

Why Photoshop Exists

Cathy is my favorite/pretend I know her/funniest person ever blogger.

Read today's post. I might have peed myself a little bit while reading it. A person that can narrate their life in this way is just genius.

Nik & John are headed to Boulder for the day. Caeden and Wayne are at the Pediatrician's office where Caeden is hooked up to a nebulizer. Poor little guy cannot kick his flu and it is just getting worse and worse. Hopefully this helps.

I hope to meet everyone in Boulder, but we'll see. For sure there will be pictures posted later today.

December Calendar Blitz Cont. Again (love how the title keeps getting longer and longer) ... !

My Seestor, Nikki.

In front of my Mom's tree ...

Grams & Lindsay

Me & Lindsay (5 months pregnant with Claire)

December Calendar Blitz Cont.

This is perhaps my favorite page. The green block says,
"Christmas is a necessity. There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we're here for something else besides ourselves."

The picture is of Grams and me.

Lovin the snow ...

It's hard to remember his hair that short...

December Calendar Blitz

You can't really see this picture very well ... but the story behind it is hilarious. This is a pic of my Uncle Les. Every year (except this one, unfortunately) we celebrate Christmas Day at Lynndee and Les' house in Belle Fourche, SD. So, last year, we're all eating a fabulous dinner and Les keeps getting up from the table and going into the bathroom. He does this 4 or 5 times before I wonder what in the world is going on ... so I follow him into the bathroom (door was open!) and there he was blow-drying his hair/neck. "Well, damn it, Val, I am trying to stay dry," he says to me. I guess he was a bit warm and used the blow dryer to dry the sweat off his neck. Catching him doing that with Lyndee's blowdryer was hilarious!

Making cookies last year. Yes, the tin cookie cutter on the page is real. Wish I could find more.

Ornaments on the tree ...

The red block says,
"Each day comes bearing it's own gifts.
Untie the ribbons."

The only thing on his list last year was a cement truck. This year it is a silver monster truck. That's it. I wonder when he'll figure out that he can ask for more? ;)

Christmas time at Wayne's parents' house.

Ready & Waiting

The house is clean. Cookies are baked ...

Caeden is ready to see Aunt Nikki & Uncle-in-Waiting John ...and is terribly concerned about when the airplane is going to arrive tonight.

"Today? Tonight? When it's dark? Is Daddy going to get them?"

Caeden is also asking for the ever popular and highly acclaimed Aunt Lindsay ... so you are on the spot for coming over Sunday, woman! :)

These adorable kids are ready.

Let the Holidays Begin!!

Candy Sleds/Santa Sleighs

I learned how to make these from my Mother-in-law, Donna. They are super easy, and when you attach a cute " to: from: " tag to them, they really cute-up a Christmas present.

Grab your glue gun.

Candy: Mini candy bars, Hershey Kisses, & Gum

Ta Da!

If I had been on my game, I would have glittered the gum packs silver...

Just add a tag and adhere to your wrapped package. Kids love this stuff. :)

Stuff ...

These two ornaments are the most special I have on the tree. These are the very first that Caeden has made, and I think about years from now, when we're decorating the tree together, I can say, "Oh, Caeden! You made these when you were 3 years old. Your favorite part was putting salt on the candy cane..." Perhaps I'll even be teary-eyed as I say it.

What? He won't help me with the tree but instead will be attached to the newest version of today's Wii??

Well, I will still love pulling them out and thinking about his hands (which still have dimples on them) making his very first ornaments.

I am all geared up for next year's macaroni chain!

Speaking of Christmas, I came across some great tags (FREE!) for wrapping presents- just print and use. How cool is that?

And, look here for great Christmas craft ideas. I did the bottle cap magnets last year and they turned out great.

In other news, our home builder is on it's last leg. Last stump of a leg. They filed bankruptcy last month and it looks like they not make it through this economy.

Take a look at this: Too many liens on property

I wonder whether we will ever be able to move from this place. :(

Caeden's Christmas Concert

Very Far Right. Cream Sweater.


Our sweet little man. He didn't sing, not one tiny bit, but he looked adorable just sitting there. :)


Caeden looking at his friend, as his friend sang "One Little Angel."

The look on Caeden's face: "Really? You are going to sing this stuff?"


Proud as can be after it was all over.

Caeden and his buddy, T.

Caeden, Papa, Claire & Mimi.

As you can tell, Caeden had his Christmas Program this morning. It was his Preschool class, Young Pre-K, and Pre-K. They sang Christmas songs and even had some cute gestures to go along with them. Super cute. Mom said she was going to cry...so I peeked at her during the show, and there she was, crying ... right along with me. It was just so sweet to hear all those precious children singing their little hearts out. And Caeden, who doesn't like music or singing, sat there so patiently while it was all going on around him. It was funny to see (although I was secretly hoping he would sing just a little) that his personality doesn't change at school.

Now it is officially Christmas break. Caeden is off until January and we're busy getting ready for company. Nik and John will be here Saturday. Can't wait!!

Day 2 of Project Sugar Cookie

Caeden did it all ... mixed the colors ... spread the frosting on the cookies ... added some goodies on top ... and then dug in. :) What a fun morning!

Here is my recipe for frosting. I love almond extract, so that's what I use to flavor it, but if you don't, just use more vanilla extract. I love this recipe because the frosting stays shiny, but it "sets" nicely - while still leaving the inside soft. Perfection!

Favorite Icing for Sugar Cookies

2 C powered sugar, sifted
2 TBSP softened butter
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 tsp. almond extract
1 egg white (this is what makes it shiny)
1/4 C. milk

Combine egg and milk. Set aside.
Beat sugar, butter, and flavorings together.
Add small amount of milk mixture until icing is the consistency you like.
Tint with colors.

Sugar Cookies ... Kinda

Today was sugar cookie day. I really thought Caeden would love to use the cookie cutters. Uhhh, that would be false. What he did love, however, was using the cookie dough as construction material to make 1) hospital 2) cars 3) rocks for trucks to haul

Cookie cutter ... or something for the tractor to tackle?

Caeden stayed busy all morning with that pile of dough and flour. What a mess ... but what a happy little guy!


P.S. If you have ever wondered what would happen if you forgot to put sugar into the dough ... and then added it at the last minute. Not pretty, but tastes the same. Hopefully a big dollop of frosting will hide the flaws. The second batch, in which the sugar was remembered at the right step, look perfect!

Getting Caught up on the Days of December Album

I cannot get OVER how much Caeden has grown!

Here is my sister and my Grams at Aunt Lyndee's house last Christmas. Grams died right before Claire was born earlier this year. I still haven't written on this page (hence the blank, blue label) because I just can't bring myself to think about it. I miss her so much.

Last year's front door.

Subject Change:

Also, came across this site on Etsy: Elsie Rub Ons. The welcome home one is just awesome - I also love "x" marks the spot, too. These are vinyl, and peel on and off with ease. Super cute.