Friday, December 31, 2010

Grateful...

for my many blessings in 2010....and eager




to see what is in store for us in this New Year!

Peace, health and love to each of you as we begin a fresh New Year!

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry....

Christmas from our hearts to yours!


Thursday, December 23, 2010

So this is....

Christmas

And what have you done
Another year over
And a new one just begun....

Well... as for us...we have not done too much during this first week of winter break.  Colds and sinus infections have spoiled some of our fun plans...but here is a bit of what we have been doing....





Just a few more presents to be wrapped....and we should be ready for Mr. C and his reindeer:)

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

WHOOSH!

Last week Pappou offered us tickets to the KU game at the Sprint Center.  S and J were really excited that we told them we were going to get to watch the Jayhawks play!  So when Sophia came down with Croup on Thursday night, missing school on Friday, we thought we might have to change our plans.....When we told Sophia we may not be able to go...she was HEARTBROKEN.  Sooo... we  did our best to nurse her back to her healthy self and we bundled both the kids up (of course the weather took a turn for the worst that day...bringing frigid temps, blowing wind, and some snow!!) and headed downtown.  Our seats were tremendous...and the kids had a ball!!!! I was amazed at how intent they were at watching the game....well, Sophia at least!  She clapped and cheered...and was excited to show off her red and blue nails..(don't worry....I took the polish off before school on Monday!)  Joseph was excellent too....he loved to look for Big and Little Jay on the court and was fascinated by the "Beak Em Hawks" visors the people behind us were wearing!!!


There was a family sitting next to us with a little boy a little older than Joseph.  The father was showing him how we say "WHOOSH" when our players would shoot free throws.  Joseph immediately picked up on it....(always wanting to do what the big kids are doing) and began throwing his arms up in the air yelling WHOOSH everytime a shot was fired...only he didn't quite get the hang of it....Instead of bringing his arms down... he would raise his arms up and bring them smack down on top of his head!  It was soo funny!!!




Thanks Pappou for the tickets....I'm pretty sure we already have some future Jayhawks on our hands!!!

On another note...only TEN days left until Christmas....I...am....almost....in.....panic....mode!! Still so much to do....in so little time..... How did this month slip away from me??? Missy's last day of school this semester is Friday.....She is halfway through first grade....I must be dreaming!!!   She is growing up before my eyes....reading Magic Tree House books, learning about graphs, contractions, possessives, addition and subtraction. Her Yiayia and I talk often about how comfortable she is at school...and how much she LOVES school.  Her eagerness each and every day thrills me!!! She is such an independent little girl....I am sooo proud of her for being her own person.  She is so grown up....yet still so innocent.  I am always excited to have her home with me...and of course J will be ecstatic to have his playmate home full time!!!

Over the last few weeks, we have tried to fit in a few fun "Christmasy"classics...."Santa Claus is Coming to Town," and "Rudolph" of course.  We also took a drive to see one of our favorite holiday light displays one night this week.  If you live in our area and haven't yet checked out The Ultimate Tree....DO IT!  It is so worth it....and the kids will love to watch the lights move to the beat of the music!!!  Here is Joseph watching it from our car (cell phone picture...sorry for the blur!!!)


Sooo...you all can probably imagine....that one of my most favorite activities during the holidays is baking holiday cookies.....  My sister reminded me the other day...that I need to take time to let the kids "really" make cookies with me....that means...letting them dig into the frosting, get dirty and eat their own creations.  Between orders and teacher plates, etc... I haven't had time just to make cookies for fun until this afternoon.  We changed up our thumbprint recipe...left out the nuts (at the request of Sophia)
and made some "nutless" thumbprints and filled them with lots of red and green frosting....mixed of course by my two little chefs.  I think Sophia will have red fingers for a week (just like her mama).  And well the majority of Joseph's frosting went straight in his mouth:) The cookies weren't the prettiest...but they sure were yummy and fun to make!!!





When I was cleaning up....I snapped a picture of them dancing to one of our favorite soundtracks..."Corrina, Corrina!"


We talked tonight at the dinner table about how we can not believe Joseph is going to be THREE in less than a month.  I joked with Sophia about the day that I remember her (clear as day) telling me..."I wish we could send him back....he cries ALL the time!"  She laughed when I reminded her of this.  And we told Joseph....when you were a baby...you cried a lot, huh?  His response..."No.. I not a baby... I a big boy!!!!"Hard to believe it's been close to three years....but sorry little buddy...You are still MY baby!!!

Okay....this Santa is off to wrap a present or two!:)

Thursday, December 9, 2010

The gingerbread tradition continues...

We decided to put a spin on our gingerbread project this year....
Typically we build some walls....add a roof...and go crazy decorating.  But this year... we decided to try something new....a Santa sleigh.

I found this idea for a Santa sleigh in Valerie Peterson's Cookie Craft cookbook last year....and just couldn't resist trying it out.  She designed the sleigh as a centerpiece to hold holiday treats.  And as I was reading again just the other day...she also gave the idea of using it as an Advent calendar.  You could fill the sleigh with tiny cookies...and then a lucky someone gets to pick and eat the day's cookie.  Wish I would have thought of that earlier...but definitely an idea I will use next year!!!

Before I post the picture... I have to give HUGE credit to the hubby....who actually did some "sawing" on my gingerbread sleigh sides in order to make this fit perfectly.  He is definitely the secret behind it's success!!!  Could    Not   Do   It    Without   Him!!!!  (And of course the tuna, green bean and spaghettio cans that we used while it was drying):)




And.... though...the inside is not huge.... I do already have it filled with some Christmas cookies.....to give to special visitors who drop by:)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Mini's


We always do a BIG gingerbread project each year in our house.  It works out kinda nice....I (being the baker), the hubby (being the builder) and the kids being the onlookers/frosting tasters.  Well, "our" project is almost complete.  As I type this... it is standing...propped between two green bean cans and sitting atop two tuna cans.  Hoping I can post pics tomorrow of the final project (without green bean cans, of course).

I decided it was also a necessity to have miniature gingerbread houses for S and J to decorate as well.  After all.. we all have to express our individuality somehow...right???? When I saw this idea on this site.... I was sold.  I rolled out the gingerbread scraps leftover from our big project and went to work cutting templates, cutting dough, baking and constructing.  Then I pulled out some fun sprinkles and candies and let the kids go to work!


Since these little guys are so incredibly small... (they can fit on the edge of your coffee mug)....we focused on the roofs.  I love what my two creative geniuses came up with.  I still have two more "naked" houses....one for B and myself...but now I think I might just have the kids do these as well!  They did such a good job.  J needed some help, of course....because he was a bit distracted by the opportunity to sample each candy, taste each sprinkle, and of course, lick the frosting.  Love how their little fingers are working in these pictures and love how Miss Sophia is so intent on her project:)






Sophia is so excited that mommy and daddy get to join her at school on Friday for gingerbread decorating in her classroom.  She should definitely be well prepared....with all the practice we've had at home this week:)  Happy Wednesday!

Monday, December 6, 2010

Tis the season

The countdown to Christmas was officially on at our house over a week ago....Sophia and Joseph have enjoyed tearing off their chains and hunting for our special elf every morning.  I, on the other hand, feel like my head is spinning...  So much to do...so little time.....Need.to.stop.and.smell.the.roses.  So.... here are some things that (when looking through my pics over the last few weeks) have helped me to remember the REASON we celebrate this time of year..

1.  Finding beauty in a simple decoration


2. Sitting on Santa's Lap



Sophia asked Santa for the Elizabeth American girl, Buzz Lightyear, and the Toy Story 3 DVD (to share with Joseph, of course!!)


Joseph asked for a Lightning McQueen Leap pad book, a BIG mixer truck and the pizza delivery truck from Toy Story 3.


(Another reason why I hate using the automatic setting on my camera....very bright flash!!!!)

3.  Building together.....Here are the pieces to our annual gingerbread project....only this year there will be a twist.....


I didn't get a picture of this part when we had green bean cans and spaghettios propped against it overnight....just to be safe....Hopefully the next post will unveil the final product!

 4.  Christmas cookies!!!  I LOVE to bake Christmas cookies....but sadly... I have only made a few Christmas designs so far....still have been trying to get caught up on Cookie Construction orders.





5.  And last but certainly not least..... a crowded mantle....and children in eager anticipation of the Magic to come on Christmas Day!



Wednesday, December 1, 2010