So long 2010

As 2010 is coming to a close,  I wanted to remember some things that happened in my life this past year.  Some things I would rather forget.....but some, I am happy to remember.  Here are some of them. 
 

 In January, I got over my fear of yeast and made homemade cinnamon rolls from the Pioneer Woman Cookbook.  Oh were these good. 

 In February, we got to try our our new snow blower.....a lot. 

 In March we took a trip to Cincinnati to see some very dear friends of ours.  The big kids and the little one had so much fun in the pool together. 

 

 In April, we went home to Illinois and saw my daddy transform himself into the Easter Bunny once again.  Doesn't he look so good in pink? 

 

 In May we celebrated Mother's Day with my girls.  We had a wonderful day of church, McDonald's and a beautiful butterfly bush for my garden.

 Last day of middle school for my girl in June.  She had just sang the National Anthem with these girls and there was so much excitement in the air.  These girls are some of her favorites.

 This one was a tough one....July brought my daughters permit and driving school!  She really does a good job but it is still hard for the mama!

 August was a good month for sewing pretty things.  I started two quilts and made several other gifts for friends and myself.  I also began using my new sewing machine which was very good. 

 

 September took us to the beach one more time before summer was over.  I really miss that warm sand and lovely sound of the waves hitting the shore.

 October brought more fun pictures of my kitty.  He loves to look out the screen door in my kitchen and watch what is going on outside.  The ladybugs on the screen door would taunt him.  I had many laughs watching him try to get them....with no luck.

  

 November my daughter participated in the schools Cabaret.  It was a fantastic evening of watching the talent the kids have at her high school.  The voices.....my....were they good.

 

 And December brought us to the Christmas tree farm to pick out just the right one.  We found her.  And had a fun time together as a family to boot.

So long 2010....Hello 2011.....wonder what it will have in store for me?  I am praying for God's Abundant Blessings, His Sweet Grace and His Perfect Will on my life and yours.  Happy New Year friends!

Christmas Recap

Finally got the pictures uploaded from Christmas.  Looking back on them makes me realize we had even more fun than I remembered!  Don't photos do that to us?  Take us back to the time they were taken and those emotions come back as well.  They sure do for me.

 Our real Michigan tree.  She smells so good.

 Gingerbread house Taylor made all by herself...well....Nanny helped a little.

 Cookies and eggnog by the "fire" ready for Santa to come devour.  They still wanted to put them out this year.  There are two plates.  One for our kids and my sister brought hers with them so they could do their tradition up here with us. 

My Santa socking that I have had since my first Christmas when I was 7 months old.  I would say this is an antique.  :)

 Santa's footprints he left us by the tree.  Another tradition my sissy and I continued since we were little girls and our daddy did it for us.

 Simon and his toys Alison gave to him.  He isn't very happy here because my sister brought her BIG doggie up here and Simon is not fond of him at all.

 Sophie and her rawhide chewie.  She really enjoyed this!

 One of the sweetest little dolls my youngest daughter asked for.  I love her button eyes!  It was fun buying a doll for her.  I know very soon the toy buying for Christmas will end....

 And lastly, there was a little bit of this going on as well.  Just "resting their eyes" we were told.  :)

My Cup Runneth Over

Christmas 2010 came and went. It was good.  I was reminded of last Christmas and how different this year was for me.  I had a couple new friends drop by and bring us goodies and gifts for me.  We had family drive up here from Illinois to spend the holiday with us. It was so nice to worship The Lord with my family together again at our Christmas Eve service.  Something simple to most, but not to me anymore.   Even though the flu bug invaded my home and took charge for awhile, it was still good.  I am so thankful for friends and family.  God sure knew what He was doing when He made both.  While telling my sister how thankful I was for my new friends, I about burst into tears.  Her words were this...."Your cup runneth over."  She is so right.

Merry Christmas To You

Just wanted to stop by and wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  :) 

Snug As Bugs

 Last night the girls and I found ourselves piled into my bed.  We were all squeaky clean from our baths and decided a holly jolly movie was in order.  We watched Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus.  It was a really cute movie.  I loved the animation in it.  My sister told me it has been on TV lately and Macy's is using it as their theme this year.  I can see why!  It was nice having some "girl time."  I am so thankful that they still want to do this with their mama.

 

This fellow also enjoys some comfy time with mama in the fluffy bed to.  

Yummy Recipe

I have been making this recipe for the past three years or so.  It is very good and very easy.  That is just the kind of recipe I like!  You can also use this for every season M & M candy comes out in fun colors for the different holidays.  This is a yummy treat and it is also nice to give out around the holidays for some Fa La La.  And, it just might go really well with your afternoon coffee.  Just saying.  :)

Vanilla Snack Mix

2 12 oz pkgs vanilla chocolate chips
5 cups Cheerios
5 cups Corn Chex
10 oz small pretzels (loops or sticks)
2 cups peanuts or cashews (optional)
1 large bag M & M candy 

Melt 2 packages vanilla chips with 3 tsp vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl for two minutes.  Stir frequently while melting.  Stir chocolate until smooth.
Dump in very large bowl all dry ingredients.
Pour melted chips over cereal mixture.  Toss to coat.  Spread on waxed paper to cool.  Break apart after cooling and store in a sealed container.  

Enjoy!

Christmas Concert

Last night was the girls Christmas Choral Concert. 

 

 The entire chorus was lined up on each side of the auditorium singing Silent Night with the candles burning.  You can only see half of the kids and their candles in my picture.  It looked so magical!

The high school orchestra also played last night.  Hearing those cellos and violins playing along with the kids voices.....oh my goodness was it lovely.  Nothing like a choral concert to get you in the mood for Christmas.  A nice bit of relaxing in an oh-so-wonderful season.

Birthday's Galore

December is the month for birthday's of three people I love.  First my hubby's birthday.  We celebrated his special day in great style.  Last year he could not make it home from a work trip due to the snow.  This year he was lucky and did not spend it stranded in an airport.  

 We always decorate with birthday banners and balloons to make it festive.  After all....birthday's are a big deal!  :)

We also have a tradition where the birthday person gets to pick their menu for the special day.  As usual...he picks fried chicken, mashed potatoes and corn.  Dessert is ALWAYS a coconut cream pie.  My mom usually makes it.  This year, we were in Michigan and she is in Illinois.  So, what is a wife to do?  Learn how to make coconut cream pie!  And so I did.

 Next, I traveled back to Illinois to spend the day celebrating two of my most dearest friends birthday's.  I had been praying for no snow so I could get home.  I made it safe and sound.  We had a lovely breakfast together to celebrate these special gals.  We drank coffee and laughed and drank more coffee and ate and laughed.  We set up Kim's and my sissy fancy-smanchy cameras and turned the timer on so we could get a group shot.  We were happy with the way this one turned out.  Friends.  We are a group of women who have walked all sorts of roads in our lives.  We are all walking towards the same goal though....to be Godly women, good people, good mothers, good friends.

With a little bit of goofy thrown in for good measure.  Hey...who says old ladies can't rock?  (Our kids are so going to be embarrassed with these pictures!)

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like......

 Christmas!  The tree the girls picked out at the tree farm.  They did it all by themselves.  It is a good tree.  Very fragrant. 

 I bought some cute lights for $2.50 at Target and hung them on my headboard.  I smiled tonight when I walked in and their soft glow welcomed me into the room.  I still have plastic totes in the basement full of Christmas decorations waiting to be put out.  Only the tree and the outside stuff is done right now.  I have been to busy being an elf and getting gift shopping finished.  Only one more person and I am officially done.  Then comes the wrapping.  It is tradition for me to wrap while watching It's A Wonderful Life.  I have to get it all wrapped before the last scene of the movie.  When all the people from the town come in and bring money to help George because Old Man Potter stole his money, I bawl EVERY SINGLE TIME! 

What is your favorite Christmas movie?

Snow

Woke up this morning singing this song.....because it is falling from the sky right now!  Very pretty!!

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen.....

 Our little home town in Illinois found themselves in a State Playoff Game the Friday after Thanksgiving.  My husband and oldest daughter decided to go to the game where the temperature was somewhere around freezing the entire time of the game.  My youngest daughter and I were much to smart for that.  So, we decided to go freeze at the Reindeer Ranch instead. 

 As soon as you walk into the area where they are, they come right up to the fence to see you.  They also know that there is food involved when the people come in.  We learned that they love graham crackers.

 But, we also found out they really really really love oats.  They just gobbled them up right out of our hands.

It was a very cold and windy day at the reindeer ranch.  But, I learned that even 12 year old daughters who don't "believe" anymore....still get excited about seeing and feeding the beautiful reindeer. 

Noodle Making 102 (plus some other stuff)

 Last year, my mama taught me how to make noodles.  Lets just say...it was not pretty.  But, being the first born daughter, I had to get it right.  So, this year we called it Noodle Making 102.  It went a whole lot better.  Yippee for me! 

 I was taught not to play with the dough to much.  Make small batches because it was easier to work with.

 Use plenty of flour so they don't stick together.

 A wooden cutting board works best with my mama's noodle cutter.  Can you see me using it?  My cousin gave it to my mother years ago.  I would say it is an antique.  It works great! Mom said I was ready to try it on my own next year. 

 And here they are all ready to be gobbled up.  Which, they were.  :)

 

Some of our little decorations we placed on the tables.

 My sissy and I in our aprons.  My mother told us we had turned into our Grandma Mac!

 Daddy and his girls...

 Our butter for the tables.  My mother found these cute little turkey's made out of butter.  At some point, the turkey on the kids table had the butter knife stuck in his back and the head was gone.  Hummmm.....kids!

And lastly, the two youngest kids looking at the Black Friday ads in the paper being silly.  There was a whole lot of silliness going on that day and a whole lot of fun.