Deck the halls

We've had a fun and busy December so far. Last weekend we went to the Festival of the Trees up here. The kids loved it, even though none of them wanted to see Santa.  Landon, because he is too old...sniff...Danica because she saw a friend and was embarrassed (too old)...sniff again....and Amity was just plain shy.  She was trying to talk herself into it the whole time, but just couldn't get up close enough to actually talk to him.  The trees were beautiful, and it was for our school district, which is a great cause.  We finished up our Christmas cards on Saturday, YEA! and I finished up my shopping on Friday.  I am done!  Yesterday me and Amity cooked some yummy peppermint brownies to kick off the baking season. Since it was so cold outside, I needed to turn on my oven to warm the house up right.  I am feeling I will need to make friends with my treadmill again in January. ha ha There is a lot of snow on the ground, and it is defiantly feeling a lot like Christmas around here!

Trim up the Tree!

Nothing says Christmas like Christmas trees and lights. We got our trees up, and I love having the lights shine at night when it gets so dark so early. We all love taking out the ornaments remembering where we got each one.  I let my kids pick one out each year and we date it.  Also, whenever we go on a family trip we buy an ornament and date it. It is a fun tradition that I did when I was growing up.

I usually put up around twelve trees.  Gasp....but I toned it WAY down this year and only did the two inside trees.  I like it, and had more fun focusing on the two trees. We made the peppermints and candy canes out of wood last year, and I love having the big chunky ornaments on the tree. The kids love it because it looks like the Santa tree.  Last year we had a tree disaster when my big tree fell down all done and decorated...hopefully they will both stay upright this year!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We had a great Thanksgiving weekend. Lots of great food and fun with family! I love Thanksgiving weekend, it is the kick-off to my favorite month...December. We spent the week getting lights up and trees decorated.  The kids all get excited when I start taking out the Christmas decorations.  The girl's love helping decorate the trees. One of our favorite traditions is the Christmas fireworks.  We can see them from our front yard, so we run outside right as they start which keeps us from getting too cold. Yea It's December!  Let the festivities begin!

Danica was so excited last week to tell me that she won the reflections contest at her school in her grade division.  She loves art, and was very proud of this picture.  Her picture is going on to district, and she is plenty excited about that.  Good job Danica!

Snow much Fun!

Saturday was a snow day here for us. The girl's were so excited to have some snow to play in. I don't know if I am quite ready for winter...but I guess I have no choice in the matter.  We spent most of the day switching the girl's rooms.  Danica wanted a more "grown up room."  Since Amity's room was a little more grown up than hers, it worked well to just switch them instead of repainting everything. I am almost done, and can't wait to post some pictures of the changes. The girl's love their "new" rooms, so everyone is happy.

Since it was snowing outside, it put me in a Christmas mood! I thought I would post a fun and WAY easy craft I did last year.  I needed a few more ornaments for my tree, and found these glass balls at Hobby Lobby. I opened the top and filled some with shredded paper.  For the others I cut strips of scrapbook paper and rolled them tight. I stuffed them inside the balls and let them unwind naturally.  Then I found some rub on decals at the scrapbook store.  So fun, easy, and inexpensive.

In the Kitchen

I was recently organizing my photos into a new program, and I couldn't help looking at the pictures I've taken since I've moved into the house five and a half years ago.  I still remember the sound of the steamer getting off all the blue wallpaper that was around my main level of the home.  I never want to hear that sound again! I painted the cabinets the first time, then did a whole gut job for the final project.  I love my kitchen and I love to cook. The perfect combo!
I have recently discovered the perfect delicious, easy fall desert.  Buy some pumpkin icecream and either make...or buy at costco some soft gingersnap cookies.  You could make icecream sandwiches with them, or I just like to dip my cookies in the icecream.  I thought I would share the perfect recipe for my soft gingersnaps.

1 cube softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 egg
cream together
then add
2 1/4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ginger
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
Mix together, roll in balls, then roll in granulated sugar. Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes.

Pre- Winter Fun

We had a great weekend this past weekend.  We started a little early and went Christmas shopping on Friday. I am well on my way. Yea! On Saturday we spent the day working on the yard. The girl's had so much fun playing in the leaves.  (Gotta love Danica's hair). We got everything cleaned up and put away, and even made a trip to the dump. Now we are ready for snow.....ummmm...almost.
I couldn't resist starting my Christmas crafts.  I made a Christmas advent calendar for the kids to use this year.  I took a metal cookie sheet and sprayed it cream.  Then I had some vynil lettering I stuck on it.  I need to make the magnets now for it.  I hope my kids have fun with it this year.  It was the perfect, easy, fast kind of craft I love.  Only two more weeks til I can break out the Christmas decorations.  Can't hardly wait!

Danica's Baptism

Saturday was Danica's Baptism. We had such a nice day. She was so excited to get baptized, and we were very proud of the decision she made.  We had a lot of family and friends come, and enjoyed spending such a special day with them.  I hope she always remembers this day and the way she felt during her baptism. It is always bitter sweet watching my kids grow up. I love that they get to experience new things, but time goes by so fast.  Congratulations Danica!