Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

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!




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! ;)




Sunday, January 5, 2014

Random Happenings

We're having a super cold snow day today.  The kids are happy they get to stay home.  I'm happy not to have to go out in this weather.


Gianna lost a tooth, making it the first of the year.


I got started packing up the Christmas decorations.  Usually I leave it up until the middle of the month but something got me motivated to start.  


Gianna likes how toasty warm the Christmas stockings are.  She's my little goofball, always looking for a laugh.


My sweet Riley seems to have hurt her eye.  She won't open it and I'm freaking out.  Taking her to the vet tomorrow.


Piper just wants to be loved.  Always.


Lots of randomness from these last few days but that's life around here.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Annual Benigno Family Christmas Party 2013

Another year, another annual family Christmas party. New babies, same crew, more or less.  It's rare when  ALL the cousins are around.  We have some in AZ and some in FL, too hard to have us all together every year.

This year it was hosted at my cousin Maria's house.  We all bring something to eat and the kids get to exchange Secret Santa gifts.


The girls are getting older and gone are toys.  Now they get make-up and gift cards to go shopping with.


My sister Marie, my cousin Maria and I with our paper crowns from our party crackers (I'm in blue).


The tween/teen girls.  


This wrapped up our Christmas festivities for the year.  We made plans to get together soon for more fun.  Family is love.

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Morning 2013

Christmas morning comes early, (as it does for any parent), but the girls know to pose before they get to open gifts.


        Once I get my pictures, they get to open presents.  It's a win win situation.

Of course afterwards it's complete chaos.  And I love it.


We thought the puppies would go nuts, eating all the wrapping paper, but they didn't.  They were actually really good.  Riley was the most curious, but she just curled up and hung out.
   
We changed things up a little and stayed home instead of heading up to my sister's house.  Just stayed home, had leftovers, and relaxed. We all had a wonderful Christmas.  

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve 2013

Christmas Eve is always celebrated at our house. In the hustle and bustle if getting ready, I was shocked when my sister texted me that they were driving through a snow storm to get to our house. We looked outside and didn't see snow. Thought they were messing with us.

Sure enough by the time they got here, they brought the snow with them.


So we did what comes naturally, eat! We serve dinner buffet style at our house. Nice and casual, and relaxing (for the most part!). 



Finally when we can't stand hearing "when can we open presents?" anymore, we make them pose together. 



The kids have a blast tearing through the wrapping paper. 



Me? I love finding "selfies" on their iPods that I can steal. LOL! 


Before the night is over, there is dessert and coffee. Christmas cookies for everyone!! 


No Christmas celebration is complete without the roasted chestnuts.


Zonko says goodbye from his usual spot, though this year, I couldn't stop singing "wrecking ball". 


When everyone leaves, the girls get in their Christmas pjs and get the cookies for Santa ready. 



Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night! 

Monday, December 23, 2013

Gianna's Holiday School Party

Got to spend time in Gianna's class today for their holiday party. I was feeling festive in my new Christmas top. 


The kids all wore their pjs to school and played games practically all day. Gianna had fun drinking hot cocoa and hanging out with her friends. 


Great way to kick off Christmas break! 

Saturday, December 21, 2013

New To The Tree 2013

Every year I can't help but add more ornaments to the Christmas tree.  This year was no exception and I totally justified it since we added a second tree.... Not that I don't have ornaments to spare but it makes it better in my head.

The theme of the ornaments vary from year to year.  This year the new ornaments were more Disney than anything else....and I'm perfectly OK with that!

On our trip in August, they had character inspired shoes. Hard to narrow down the pretty shoes, so I went with Classic Minnie.



In our house, we love Pirates of the Caribbean, so Captain Mickey was a no brainer.


Couldn't resist Figment either. Hard to believe he wasn't already on our tree!


Mickey and the castle are classic in every way.


I haven't been on the Disney store website in awhile and when I checked it out I found some good ones. This Aladdin one fell in my cart. 


So did Merida. Considering I didn't have any of her movie on the tree she was a must have! 


I thought Mike and Sulley were so cute! 


I have a thing for LILO and Stitch so this was perfect!!  


At some point I realized I didn't have any Rapunzel ornaments and I found this one at the Hallmark store. Looking at this picture she looks like Nicole Kidman a little....Botox maybe?? ;)


Had to have Donald...I mean the cup of coffee!! & his temper!! He's like my alter ego!! 


Thought I was done but on a trip to Michaels they had this cute baking owl. Baking and owls are some of my favorites things, so this had to come home with me. 


As always, seeing these on the tree make me happy. The ornaments have to have some meaning to me ( or us) in some way. Love seeing the trees full of memories!