Christmas Let-Down

I always feel a little sad when Christmas is over... I wish it could stay the week before Christmas forever.

I want to keep my tree and the lights up...

I want to bake some more goodies with the kids...

I want to watch the anticipation on the children's faces...

I want to crank up the Christmas music a while longer...

Of course, time goes on and the day passes by. I suppose if it was Christmas every day it wouldn't be as special...

But can it be CHRISTmas every day? Is it possible to carry those feelings through out the year?

Can I keep my home cozy and decorated for each season? YES

Can I bake with my kids more often? YES

Can I enjoy the childlike expressions of my kids each day? YES

Can I turn on some music that directs me to Him and sing along? YES

So in a way I can have Christmas throughout the year.... I'm the one that can treasure it in my heart and allow those feelings of joy to spill out to my family.

I can celebrate the miraculous birth of my Savior, Jesus, each and every day!!

It's good to be back here at my blog... It's been awhile!! We've had a very nice Christmas celebration with our families.

I got a new camera for Christmas, yeah!! so I'll be trying out some things with that and posting pictures soon.

I love you all, and appreciate all my friends, whether I've known you personally for a long time. Or we've become friends over this silly little thing we call a computer!

Have a wonderful "Christmas Let-down" Season!

Holiday Sweets

I've been baking like crazy today!! I hadn't planned on taking a bunch of goodies to my Mom's for Christmas but my little sister (love ya, Jordan!) specifically requested that I bring "treats".

So here is the line-up:

Sugar & Spice Biscotti

Gingerbread Boys

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Chocolate Pretzel Bark

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Fudge

I'll share a couple of the recipes.

SUGAR & SPICE BISCOTTI (picture above)

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

2 cup flour

1/4 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

For topping: 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 tbsp cinnamon

Combine sugar and oil. Stir in eggs and vanilla; set aside. Combine dry ingredients. Gradually add into wet mixture; mix well.

Line baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with no-stick spray. Spoon dough onto prepared baking sheet. Form into a 10" x 3" log.

Combine sugar and cinnamon for topping and sprinkle over the dough log.

Bake at 350 for about 30-35 minutes until the center is firm. Cool for 15 minutes. Cut crosswise into 1/2" slices. Place cut side down on baking sheets. Bake at 325 for about 15 minutes until brown around the edges and dry; flip over halfway through baking time to brown evenly.

Let cool. At this point I melted some white baking chips and added a couple drops of peppermint extract to it. Then drizzled over the cooled biscotti.

CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN BREAD

2 1/4 cup flour

2 cups sugar

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp EACH of salt, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cloves

2 eggs

1 cup pumpkin puree

1/2 cup oil

1 cup dried cranberries (optional)

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves. Combine eggs, pumpkin and oil; stir into dry ingredients until moistened. Fold in cranberries and chocolate chips.

Transfer to 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for about 1 hour until a knife comes out clean when inserted. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans.

Our "Homemade" Tree

My favorite time of day is early in the morning when I'm the only one up. The house is still quiet and peaceful. I can sit and drink my coffee and read my Bible devotion and I feel totally at calm.
This morning I was sitting here looking at the Christmas tree all lit up and thinking how beautiful it is.
As I gazed at the decorations adorning the branches I began to wonder if other families have some of the same ornaments on their tree. Those precious little handmade trinkets created by the children. I would not want a tree covered in store bought ornaments with a "theme" or a tree that doesn't provoke memories and laughter each year when the kids open the ornament box. It's a big deal in our home... decorating the tree. One by one the ornaments arise out of our red and green tote. And one by one we talk and reminisce about which child made it or what grade they were in.
Probably 90% of our decorations are homemade. And....

I LOVE IT!!!


Paper snowflakes and hand painted glass balls.

The cutest little angel you've ever seen!

The woven ribbon wreath that Ryan thinks is horrible but of course Mom adores it.

The sparkly beaded tree made of safety pins.

Kaycie's handprint Santa. And next to that is a clay boy made by Kyle.

And every tree needs toilet paper roll angels!!

Pipe cleaners... almost as great as duct tape.

I love picture ornaments.

You have to have a nativity made of craft sticks.

A beautiful angel made by Ken's grandma the year we were married.

Hand print and footprint angel.

And a cute little foam gingerbread boy.

I will always treasure these sweet reminders of my kids and Christmas's as they are growing up. My Christmas tree is more than just a tree, it's memories and precious moments.

Sorry about the fuzzy pictures. My camera is very picky about lighting situations!!

The Cure for Cabin Fever

What do ya do when the kids are getting cabin fever? We are all getting a little stir-crazy after 5 days being stuck at home.

The snow was great... we spent alot of time outside. But now it's ICY and SUPER COLD!!! Ten minutes is about the limit to be outside and even then you can hardly stand up without slipping and sliding.

So after time on the playstation and watching TV, I said," That's it. Come up with something else to do for awhile!!"

IDEA #1: TWISTER

That's quite a pose there, Kaycie!

Even Lindsey joined in... I don't think she understand that you have to put your hands on the big circles... ha ha! Notice the orange shorts. She had to have shorts on just like big sis. They came down to her ankles!

Yikes... someone's gonna fall!

She's moved on to better things... a Strawberry Shortcake coloring book.

IDEA #2: LET THE BABY ENTERTAIN YOU

The kids were playing in the bedroom and I heard hysterical laughter. This is what I found... Lindsey was making them all laugh by putting 2 binkies in her mouth and making silly faces.

IDEA#3: MAKE CANDY

We make this candy every year... very, very easy!

Break up pretzels and mix into melted chocolate. Spread on waxed paper and put in frig to set up. Then just break into bite size chunks and store in a sealed container in the frig. This time we added some Heath baking bits into it, I also made a batch using butterscotch chips. Whatever you have on hand... use your imagination!

This is a batch waiting to harden up in the frig. We also make it using white chips and broken peppermint candies. But in the rush to get grocery shopping done before the ice storm hit, I forgot the white baking chips. Oh well!

IDEA #4: PLAYDOUGH & DRAWING

Just when I thought things were going to get crazy around here again, the neighbor lady called. She wanted to know if the kids would like some playdough and other things that her teenage son doesn't need anymore. Are you kidding!!? Just in time!!!

She loved the playdough... but not the same way the other kids do. Let's just say "Thank God it's non-toxic!!"

The neighbors also sent over a huge drawing book with drawing paper and a stack of tracing paper. Perfect!

Kaycie closed her eyes just as I shot this pic... but look at her drawing. Can you see the lemur on a branch?

What does your family do to cure cabin fever? I'd like more ideas... please!!!

Christmas To-do List

Kaycie, Christmas 2003

This is what an average Christmas to-do list consists of (well, my list looks like this):

-bake candy and cookies

-make Christmas cards & of course mail them

-shop for gifts

-wrap the gifts

-attend kids Christmas programs

-decorate the house

-get the tree

-go to Christmas parties

-do crafts with the kids

Does yours have the same things on it?

Ryan, Kyle and Kaycie: Christmas 2004

During my morning devotion today, (http://www.proverbs31devotions.blogspot.com/ ) the author started out with this question: Are you ready for the Holidays?

Then she went into how when people ask that they just want to know if your Christmas to-do list is checked off.

She's right. That's what I mean when I ask that question. But what should it mean?

Kyle with his new bike: Christmas 2005

This is Van Walton's thought:

"I wonder, if Jesus were making a holiday preparations list, what would He include? What if those who were there on Christ's birthday could advise us on getting ready for Christmas? What would be on their list?

JOSEPH might recommend we listen closely to the voice of God to prepare.

MARY may suggest we ponder the miracles of heaven.

Perhaps the ANGELS would propose we sing about the King.

The SHEPHERDS may gently guide us to follow their acts of worship.

Possibly the WISE MEN would teach us to give Jesus our most valuable gifts.

The INNKEEPER may suggest hospitality; open your heart and home.

And JESUS' list would likely encourage us to be a light on the hill pointing the way for others to know Him."

Christmas card picture: 2006

This really made me stop to think a bit. I know I strive to do all these things and of course there is nothing wrong with the original list. But it does come down to where my heart is in the whole process of "getting ready for Christmas".

Something I'm going to ponder for awhile and make it a point to include God's Christmas preparation items along with my list. As the kids and I are making crafts or baking, we can talk about that special Christmas when Jesus was born. We can sing carols declaring His birth. And at dinner prayer we can thank Him for this lovely time of year spent with family reflecting on His most gracious gift to us.

Lindsey: Christmas 2007

"What matters is not your outer appearance.. but your inner disposition." I Peter 3:1

Sugar Cookies

I'm always on the search for a great sugar cookie recipe... I don't really like the ones with cream of tartar... it leaves a funny aftertaste. I found this recipe in a cookbook that I bought recently. I hope you like these as much as we do...


3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg
1/2 cup milk

Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and nutmeg together. Set aside.
With a mixer, cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla until fluffy.
Add the egg and mix well.
Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk until a soft dough forms.
Wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350. Roll out dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thickness.. Cut into whatever shapes you want.
Place on lightly sprayed cookie sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes until the edges begin to get golden brown.
Decorate with frosting and sprinkles.
Have fun!!!!

Our Wintry Day

We got up this morning to about 3 inches of snow. So pretty and peaceful!Lindsey and I were the first ones up... the other kids slept in a little because they stayed up late and watched a Christmas movie. She was very interested in the snow outside the door but then when I reached out and grabbed a handful to show her, she wanted nothing to do with it!

This picture turned out a little blurry, but I thought it was pretty the way the lights reflected off her face as she touched some ornaments.

After everyone was up and breakfast was done, we bundled and went out for some snow fun!

WARNING: Picture with some gross-out factor ahead.
















Sorry about this one... I just couldn't help myself! She is going to LOVE this one when she's about 14! This is what happens when you have a 1 1/2 year old. She falls down in snow , starts crying, and the cold air just makes things flow! Oh so precious!!! ha ha


OK, more pleasant pictures are on the way...










Kyle, Kaycie and I took a walk up an old logging road that goes up the hill next to our house. I took soooo many pictures... everything was just beautiful. I'll share the best of the best with you.

We talked about how God didn't have to give us such a pretty earth to live on. But He did... and we are so thankful for that!

Everything was created by Him and for Him...



Of course, pictures can't even come close to doing justice to the beauty of the forest covered with snow. I think there is something about experiencing it with all your senses that makes it so great!


The sun was just starting to peek out through the snow clouds.

This afternoon we've baked some sugar cookies. A new recipe and it's a good one!! I'll share it in the next post.

I hope everyone is staying warm and safe. We are looking forward to more snow time as it's coming down like crazy again!!!

Cutting the Tree

My Dad has a small tree farm... very simple and mostly unmanicured. We braved the cold, rotten weather today and headed over there to pick out our Christmas tree.

Grandpa pulled out the heavy-duty equipment to get the job done! Lindsey was not too sure about the noisy chainsaw.

Baby, it's cold outside!!

This picture makes me laugh... Ken is wearing one of the kids' stocking hats. Kyle is literally hanging Lindsey. And I'm not really sure what Grandpa and Kaycie were up to back there!

Oh, it's family... and we love em!

Ken's dragging the tree back to the truck. He only had a little time before he needed to get back to work, thus the safety vest.

We got to the house and Grandma had hot cocoa mugs ready for everyone. And the fire was blazing away... it feels so nice to warm up to a wood stove!

Now I can hardly wait to get our odd little tree decorated with pretty lights and homemade ornaments!