Countdown Til' ...

This year I stamped our Monograms onto tags and tied them on the kids' Christmas tree (upstairs, by their bedrooms).

Their tree is my favorite. I started decorating one for Caeden and haven't stopped. All the ornaments are red, white, and green. I have tons of pictures hanging from frames (found a Pottery Barn Kids). I always pick up more after the holidays for the next year ...

It is precious to look at the tree and see how big Caeden has gotten ...

And how our family keeps growing ...

Subject Change:

Caeden is trying hard to wrap his head around time and dates. He'll say, "I liked the spagetti we had last year for dinner." -- Meaning, last night.

Or, "Grandpa and Grandma will be here in 10 months?" -- Meaning, days.

So, today I printed off a blank December calendar that we are going to decorate when he gets home from school that we can mark off each day - to help him with today, tomorrow, next week, etc. Not sure why I didn't think of that before...

Off to Caeden's Christmas party ... I hope the kids like the candy cane reindeer and don't eat me alive. :)

Lazy Sunday

We discovered window markers at Micheal's Craft Store today ...

Tried to stay warm by drinking lots of coffee (me), tea (Wayne), & taking baths (Caeden).

How many monster trucks does it take to coerce little boy into the bath?

13.

Tonight the low is 0 degrees (but it is -2 right now??) and tomorrow the high is 23. I think winter is finally here.

Oh! We watched Dark Knight last night with surround sound. It was fabulous - both the movie and the sound. I'll say it again, thank you Wayne!!

Saturday Night Surfing

The kids are in bed ... Wayne is getting our speakers hooked up and figured out (yay!). A movie in surround sound is BETTER than going to a movie (imo). The general public drive me crazy. Crazy with their cell phones that have screens brighter than my flash light. Crazy with their chomping of popcorn. CHOMP CHOMP CHOMP. Crazy with wrappers unwrapping contraband candy that they snuck in (there is a reason all the of candy sold at the movie theater is in boxes, people.).

So.

The surround sound thing at home is huge for me. Thank you, Wayne. My tech-savvy husband will get a free pass from tearing my house apart as he installed the speakers. I be lovin' you, honey!

Anyway, so while all of this is going on, I am surfing the web, looking for things to buy that I know I won't. Look at this dress. LOVE this dress from Boden.

And then I came across this site: 10 Pieces Every Mom Needs in Their Wardrobe.
How sad is it that I have only 25% of that list???! Apparently, I need to stop buying Baby Lulu clothing for Claire and pony up for some decent clothes for myself. That little girl out grows million dollar outfits weekly.

Then I went here -- A Dinner Party Blog and found a recipe for some yummy parmesan-black pepper popcorn. YUM! I think I will make a batch when family comes to town.

Then, I went to Karen Russell's website to inquire on photography classes. I signed up, only to learn I am #325 on the waiting list. Nice. I'll be sure to hold my breath for that.

Off to find something to eat. Wouldn't it be nice to live in NYC and be able to have anything you wanted delivered? I love how everything is casually take-out (not just greasy Chinese food, you know?).

Craft Time

I am in charge of the preschool Christmas craft on Monday and decided on candy cane reindeer. Easy for 3 year olds. Maybe I will have them make one of the gang, and one of Rudolph with his red nose.

This is the craft I would really like to do (mini versions in mason jars):But it's too hard for little fingers. Maybe next year! Found the idea on Martha's website, of course.

Day 12: Mom baking her Almond Cherry Bread.

What a Difference a Year Makes

Here is Caeden - a year to the day we were making the exact cookies. I cannot believe how much he has changed. Wow.

Look Who is Sitting Up

Claire is 6 1/2 months and has decided it is time to see the world from another vantage point.

She can sit long enough for me to take a few pictures, but then I am diving to catch her as she starts to wobble. No babies were harmed in the creation of these pictures, I promise.

This one is so sweet because Caeden was sitting beside her (with a large booger that he refused to wipe from his nose - hence, not in the picture) and sneaked in to grab her hand.
"Look Mommy, I love baby Claire."
Awww, should have snapped that picture with him, booger and all.


Day 11: Caeden and Wayne playing on Christmas Morning

Treat Idea

I totally stole this idea from here: Stacy

Caeden will be taking them to his Preschool class on Friday (Christian school).

Basically you package up some red and green M&M's to give as gifts. Attach this poem:

Red is for Christ's Love and Green Eternal Life. But wait, before you eat ... turn each candy to reveal a special treat ... the 'M' becomes a 'W' ... an 'E' ... and then, the number '3.'

These candies tell the Christmas Story -- it's very plain to see.

The 'M' is for the Manger, where Baby Jesus slept that night.
The 'E' is for the East, where the star shone so bright.
'W' is the Wonder of Angels and the shepards that came.
And '3' is for the Wisemen bearing gifts to honor His name.

As you eat these candies and share them with your friends, remember the meaning of Christmas and the JOY that never ends.

Day 10: Playing in the snow

Ice Wreath

Now, for all of you living in balmy weather, this is an absurd idea (unless you hung it in your freezer ...).

BUT, for the rest of us, freezing never looked so good! I found the idea here.

There is no such thing as a Candy Cane Quota

I'm worried about our Christmas tree. It doesn't have enough candy on it.

"Hmmmm .... this tree is candy cane lacking."

Each branch needs at least 4 0r 5, no?


There. Perfect.

Cold and Flu Season

Caeden came home from school yesterday and promptly got sick all over the living room sofa. So, into the tub he went - I was a bit over-attentive, and getting on his nerves.

"Mom, I need you to leave."
"Why?"
"Just go cook something in the kitchen."

He was up in the night not feeling so hot, Claire was up (of course) and I so I am really glad we are snowed in today. No where to go. No reason to get dressed. And, hopefully, I can convince him to nap when Claire does so I can scrub the house with Clorox.

Day 9: Last year, Caeden *really* wanted this cement truck for Christmas. The look on his face when he upwrapped it was precious. Totally excited and thrilled. Genuine happiness that made us puff up with pride that we delivered on his big wish.

Another Monday ...

Wayne and Caeden were in SD all weekend, so Claire and I baked up a storm. We made Cherry Bread, and three different cookies:

Chewy Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies (The dough smelled awful, so I thought this cookie was going to be gross. Wrong. They are SO good. Cookie exchange good. Make. every. single. year. good. That Martha knows what she is doing!)

Pecan Praline Cookies (I think the frosting turned out too sweet)

Chewy Orange Almond Cookies (didn't add the anise to it; these are a holiday favorite around here. Soft and chewy, and the orange zest makes me think they belong in the health category of fruits, not cookies.)


And, the best part? I only tried the Gingerbread ones. The others all went into the freezer for Christmas. How is THAT for self-control?

In other news, Day 8 of the December countdown. This is Caeden getting off the Ferris Wheel after riding it all by himself.


It feels great to have Caeden home again. I picked him up from the airport this morning and he ran to me and wrapped his little arms and legs around me ... I could have breathed in his smell all morning. Now, we're home, and already reality has set it. The kitchen is full of crumbs, my bathtub full of toys and shaving cream, cartoons are on TV, and my heart rate is slightly elevated from running up and down the stairs trying to get Claire to sleep while keeping Caeden entertained. Yup, back to reality.

Santa Claus

Caeden was so excited to see Santa this year. He ran up to him and gave him a hug!
As soon as he got on his lap, he started talking about the silver monster truck that he wants (with an extra tire, please). Santa asked if there was anything else he wanted ...." Uh, no."

When Caeden got up to leave, he said, "Merry Christmas, Santa." That just about broke me! Such a sweetie - and so fun that he is at the age to get it - and believe in the magic of it all.

Can't really see the picture that well, but it's the stocking line up at Dave and Donna's house.

We made Cherry Almond Bread Today ...

I forgot to glaze the bread. Don't forget, it tastes better with it!

My cute measuring cups. You can find them here. Anthropologie has adorable measuring spoons, too.

My even cuter co-baker.

Day 6. That's my wonderful mother in law, Donna. Hi Mom!

Today I am baking away (Cherry Almond Bread, Chocolate Gingerbread Cookies, and Orange Almond Chewy Cookies) and trying to get Claire Bear on a schedule. She/we had another rough night last night. I counted 5 times up, and by 4 am I was SO GRUMPY. It's time for a change, but I feel like a first time Mom - totally unable to commit, so sure she is starving to death and NEEDS me every 1.5 hours. No, she isn't. No she doesn't ... right??

So, that's my Saturday. The house smells amazing but my little girl is upstairs trying to get to sleep on her own ... and neither of us are happy about that.

Stay strong, Val! -- I've taken to talking to myself...

Christmas Tidbits

Hot Chocolate upgraded with Christmas colored sprinkles and extra whipped cream.

A brand new addition to our stocking line up.

Pillows that are as uncomfortable as they look.

A favorite picture of Caeden's first Christmas. His shirt says, "Rudolph." His playgroup of boys (well, my playgroup of friends - the boys were pawns) were all different reindeer. We even had antlers to match. What a fun day that was!!

Tradition ... Flipbook of December Photos

A December Project

Last year I started making photo books to document the 31 days of December. There is always so much going on this time of year that I decided to make the book in November, then all I have to do is adhere the pictures in December. I made one again this year but thought I would post last year's since the photos are already in it. Days 1-5 are posted today because I am playing catch-up. :)
I got the idea here.

Basically, the book just stands up on end. When you flip to the new page, there is a corresponding photo to look at. You can click on any of the pictures for a larger view...

Front Cover

Page One - Caeden and his beloved wheelbarrow at Grandpa and Grandma's House

Page 2 - Making Tracks in the Snow


Page Three - Playing with Daddy in the Snow


Tongue in Cheek Page 4 : The Divide as our 'sledding hill'


Day 5 (which I still need to write on).

Day 6 coming tomorrow!

Cherry Almond Bread

Here you go, J!

This is the yummiest stuff ever. In fact, I might get to baking some right now ...
{and if I do, I'll post a picture. I don't know about you, but I never trust a recipe without a picture}

Cherry Almond Bread

1 C Butter
1 1/2 C Sugar
4 Eggs
1 C Milk
1 C Sour Cream
3 tsp. Almond Extract
4 C Flour
1 TBSP. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/2 C (I use 2 C) Halved Maraschino Cherries
1 C Chopped Almonds (toast first)

Glaze

2 C Powdered Sugar
2 tsp. Almond Extract
2 TBSP. Milk (or enough to make glaze drizzly)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter two 6-cup capacity bread loaf pans.

Cream butter & sugar for 3 minutes.

Add eggs (one at a time), add almond extract, milk, and sour cream.

Whisk flour, powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to cherries and almonds and incorporate into wet ingredients. Do not over-mix!

Bake 70 minutes. (Start checking bread at 55 minutes - your oven is probably different than mine...)

*Edited to Add:
I made the bread today. I had a chunk and couldn't help but think it was missing something ... the glaze, duh! I forgot to make the glaze.
Also, I don't have the gigantic loaf pans that this recipe calls for, so I used 3 normal sized loaf pans and baked them for 40 minutes.

Truck Mania (some pics for the grandparents)

This is what Caeden does all day. His monster trucks jump over cars.

Gotta make sure the man is sitting in the seat before he goes flying through the air.
SAFETY FIRST, people.

(That is a candy cane stain on his face. He "sampled" one from the tree. Thank goodness he knew enough to unwrap it first.)

Ourdoor Wonderland

Okay, the title is a bit dramatized, but I love our Christmas tree in the front yard. We keep the lights on all day and night just so I can catch a glimpse of them sparkling under the snow (we got snow yesterday and today - finally!)

I still need to get some pictures of our vintage - old school - colored lights on the house. They make me so happy!

What we do at 5 a.m. (this was supposed to be yesterday's post)

"E" and "D"

We practice our letters, of course.


Caeden's body clock is all out of whack. He wakes up at 5 a.m. and turns on all the lights in the house and *waits* for us to notice. How do I notice? The sound of Claire crying on the baby monitor tells me he has turned on her hall light, too. Usually his timing is perfect, as I have usually just gotten Claire back to sleep.

My eyes feel like sandpaper all day and I would give anything for some sleep. Yet, when the kids are both asleep at night, instead of heading for bed, I stay up. The peace and quiet is almost better than sleep (I feel like I am wasting time if I sleep when I could be reading, scrapbooking, talking to Wayne, etc.) Last night I went to bed right after Claire, but she got up twice before 10 p.m., at 12 a.m., 3:00 a.m, and then ... the lights are on at 5.

I don't say this to whine, just filling you in on why getting to the gym still hasn't happened. How in the world does a person lose weight without working out (puking is out of the question, thank you very much)?? Must. Get. Sleep. My favorite pair of jeans is still waiting for me in the closet. Ugh!
(Let's not bring up my baking marathon post from Tuesday, yes?)