Friday, December 19, 2014

Emma Turns 1! 12/19

Little Miss Emma.  This sweet girl turns ONE today!




For such a tiny little bundle of fur, she is both sweet and fierce.  She loves to be held, to the point that I joke about getting a baby carrier for her!  Emma loves getting a fresh marrow bone and will gnaw on it endlessly.  She is territorial about it too.  If one of the other dogs comes near her bone she puffs up and barks her head off.  She may be a little neurotic about her stuff but she is just precious. 

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Gingerbread Wars 2014 12/15

Last night, candy was thrown down and war declared.  The epic battle of Gingerbread Wars 2014 was fought.

On the left we have Team Baby Ruth and on the right Team Milky Way.



Team Baby Ruth 

Team Milky Way 

A poll was taken via Instagram and it was declared that Team Milky Way was the winner!  Team Milky Way was Father/Daughter team Joe & Gianna.  Gianna was ecstatic to claim bragging rights for the year after losing out last year.  Joe is an undefeated winner.

Next year?  Everyone gets their own house!




Saturday, December 13, 2014

12-13-14

Today is the last day we will see a consecutive date like this for a long time (I say that since I don't remember what the date is of the next one! LOL!!)

We started the day with sleepover hangovers cured with donuts for the kids.  Donuts cure most things.

                 

The rest of our day was spent running around to a variety of places.  Should've done something important, but hey donuts were involved so it was celebrated well. LOL!

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Flour Has Been Flying

There's been an insane amount of flour and sugar going around my kitchen these past few days.  Was thinking about cutting back on the variety of cookies but when your kids make special requests, you give in.

Wasn't going to make the Peanut Butter Blossoms this year but Marissa requested them.


Been on the hunt for a soft, non-iced, sugar cookie recipe that's Marissa approved.  She said these were ok, but didn't meet her expectations.  For the record, everyone else in the family approved of them.  She's just a stinker.


White chocolate macadamia nut cookies with coconut is a favorite of Joe's.


Another of Joe's favorite are honey sand balls.  Lots of steps to these, not that they're hard to make, just tedious.  They usually get made just once a year.


Another cookie that I cut back on but still make a lot are the Spritz.  My least favorite cookie.


Another favorite of mine are the walnut tarts.  These are beyond good!  Perfect with a cup of coffee.


The all time favorite chocolate chip, that we can never get enough of.


It's been a lot of hours in the kitchen but time well spent, especially when the girls help.






Sunday, December 7, 2014

Time To Bake The Cookies

The halls have been decked and that means it's time to bake the cookies.

My counter is all set.  A few ingredients change with the variety of cookie I'm baking but this makes things easy.


Chocolate chip cookies are first up.  Made extra dough for the freezer too.  These are my favorite.  If I could only bake one kind of cookie from now on--this would be it.


Let the flour FLY!!



Thursday, December 4, 2014

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Taking a break from the odds and ends left that need to be decorated, and I'm sitting on the couch, taking in the tree.

Just admiring the glow.


I need to remind myself to stop and take it in before it's over.

Soak in the magic of Christmas.  

Monday, December 1, 2014

December Is Here

This is a sign of happiness for me. I an addicted to Christmas ornaments.

The bad part is unwrapping them from all those tiny boxes.  Takes forever!!

I tend to group them in themes on the tree.  Cinderella and Lady and the Tramp have the largest areas on the tree next to Mickey and the gang of course!


I dream of having multiple trees around the house, all themed differently.  Princess, Lady & the Tramp, etc.  Not to mention all the non-Disney ornaments!!  Those are on their own tree for the second year in a row.  One day I'll get the forest I dream of! ;)