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.

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.