Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Christmas!

"Santa" handed out the presents:

Everyone was super excited!

Faith got another doll set.

Caleb received so many balls.

Jake was thrilled with his Nerf gun

and his Rescue Hero tower.

Caleb stole Jake's walkie talkie...but not for long.

Jake and Faith loved the play dough ice cream maker.

Faith was so excited to have a PINK Leapster.

She quickly showed Caleb how to use Jake's BLUE Leapster.

Jake was busy with his new cowboys and soldiers.

Faith was so excited to have a big girl bike and has made a track around our dining table.

Jake adores the new family Wii.

Caleb is excited about his potty chair...but doesn't realize what this is for.

Now you can guess what one of my goals will be for the New Year!

Happy 2010 - I'm off to visit my sister and family in Missouri! 

Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Eve

We spent the evening at grandparents' house.










It was so fun to be together!

Friday, December 18, 2009

I've been busy...a thread of family & traditions

This is my grandmother's recipe card:

She passed away in 1992 and I make her fudge recipe every year. 
It has never once turned out right...
mine is always rock-hard, like a sucker.

But I love reaching into her dear recipe box with hand-written and typed favories.

Perhaps I should ask my other Nana for her recipe...I've never tried to make hers...?

I'm so lucky to have her!


I got this cookie cutter tin as a wedding gift and it lets me continue the holiday tradition of sugar cookies that my own mother baked with us every year.

My mother is the coolest.

And she is going to be annoyed that I put this photo here!



Which star cutout is your favorite?

I think I like the traditional 5-point one, but also enjoy the flair of that fancy style!

Do you prefer the blue or green eyed bear?

I'm partial to blue eyes.  My husband has blue eyes.

Now that I'm a mother, my own children get to make cookies, too!

They love to roll out the dough and they LOVE to eat it!
Look, we're mixing in a bowl that belonged to my mother-in-law.

We also made gingerbread people:

I made these curly gingerbread girls in honor of my sister and I.

Isn't their hair fashionable?  Sister and I made gingerbread people together many Christmases.
This is from the last time we were together...too long!

Speaking of Sister, she has an AWESOME caramel corn recipe!

It's starts like this...

Yes, lots of butter & sugar!
To which you add...

more sugar!
It finishes in the oven as a mass of gooey goodness.


I've often heard it said that kitchens bring families together.  I'm so glad to be part of the traditions between all the precious women in our family.  Thank you!

Today I'm making corn flake wreaths...another carry-over from my days as a Hoffman!

Time to Party!

It has been a week of Christmas Parties!
Faith is showing me her preschool artwork:

Here is what the large gift reads -

This is what is inside - so dear!

Caleb and his Ms. Anne & Ms. Betty

Mrs. Betty has been here for years and was with Faith, too!

Jake had "Polar Express Day" and got to wear jammies to school.

Jake and teacher, Mrs. Clark


Playing with new toy soldiers, a gift from this boy:

The girl is Sydnie, our carpool mate.

We have my work party this Saturday night...I even hired a babysitter!

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