Christmas revisited

Christmas started off this year with the kids and I delivering tins of goodies to neighbors and friends
Once we had done that I allowed the kids to decorate the tree on their own this year, it was one less job for me and something they really enjoyed doing, so what if some of the branches were bare and some were completely laden down, I did however make sure a couple of my favorites were on there
Ben and Reagan couldn't wait to get their new pj's on,on Christmas Eve, who knew something so simple could turn into such a well loved tradition

Victoria didn't want to get left out and so hobbled out to the living room for the first time since her surgery to get her PJ pic taken too, as you can tell she was in a whole world of hurt.

She managed to hobble out again Christmas day and spent a good part of the day in the big green chair

Due to Victoria's surgery we didn't travel anywhere for Christmas and so Marc invited a couple of 'Orphan' families over for Christmas dinner, Reagan loves to set a pretty table and so I left the table setting down to her, she got minimal help from me, she did a pretty good job huh ?
The kids table

We served up the usual traditional turkey dinner and I made an awesome chocolate mousse cake for dessert

The kids received the gifts they really wanted, a guitar and microphone for Reagan, a snare drum for Ben and money that was spent on a new cell phone for Victoria, us adults did ok too, a much requested drill for Marc, in fact he asked so many people he ended up with 2, LOL and cozy UGG slippers for me.
All in all it was a good day and we all felt very blessed, I hope that you all enjoyed a day as full of good cheer as we did.
Now onto the New Year, anyone else looking forward to getting back to normal again next week ? ;-)

So what do you do when life hands you stress ?

Maybe you do the same as me and ignore all that needs doing and go into heavy duty baking mode.
Up until this year I've never been known as the neighbor who dons a Santa hat and goes door to door delivering cookies, this year I'm that neighbor.
Victoria has some major knee surgery happening tomorrow just in time for Christmas, all week I've been stressing over cleaning the house, finishing up the Christmas shopping, wrapping gifts, mailing out cards and getting the downstairs ready for her, she'll have to 'live' in our den for a couple of weeks and wondering how she's going to do, between not being able to get around very well and being doped up on pain meds it could be interesting.
So what do I do instead ? I go into freak out mode and don't know which way to turn first and that's where wonderful husband comes to the rescue, for me to decompress from the insanity he took me away for a very mini break to a wonderful hotel about 1hr from here and it was fantabulous, whilst I was gone the house cleaning got taken care of, all 3 kids pitched in and cleaned from top to bottom, what an awesome surprise it was to see it all done when I walked in the door yesterday afternoon.
This morning I gritted my teeth and took off fighting the hoards of shoppers and I believe I finished up my shopping, if I haven't whatever was missed the recipient is getting cold hard cash, I'm done shopping and sewing for a while.
When I got home I knew there was a ton more to do around here, but nope couldn't handle so I baked and made up goodie tins and bags filled w/ Swedish cookies, peppermint bark and cookie bark and bags of homemade marshmallows for neighbors. Some will be oh so happy and some will think I've tainted them with poison, but that's all the fun of the holidays right ? Doing the unexpected.

Sooo I am going to sign off now for what will probably be about a week and tend to the needs around here, celebrate Christmas, visit with friends and spend some quality family time with the folks I love.

I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and holiday season, if you don't celebrate Christmas then have a wonderful time celebrating just being you and enjoy the wonderful people around you.

Much love and see you in 2009. oxoxxo
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SHE CAME HOME ;-)

Little Miss Kitty cat just came home after a week on the lamb, no idea where she went or what she got up to in the last week, she's now pacing and meowing wanting to go back out again, I don't think so. I have to admit though I'm watching her like a hawk, she's a temperamental cat and one that shows her distaste by peeing on everything,with everything going on right now, I really don't have the time or patience for anyone or thing acting out... just ask my kids and husband *OOPS*

Oh where oh where could our little cat be ?

Oh where, oh where has she gone ?

Wednesday Ben's cat decided she needed to go air her lungs for a while and so as soon as I opened the sliding door for the dog she took off too. Usually she just hangs out in the back yard with the dog, hops the fence, checks out the front yard, hops the fence into the back yard again and then comes up to the back door meowing to be let in, but not this time, she's been gone ever since and now I'm worried and sad.
The weather here has been horrid, the rains came in Wednesday night and didn't let up until last night, today has been cold and blustery, tonight is just frigid and she's nowhere to be seen.
I'm hoping she ran in somewhere to get out of the rain and got locked in for a day and that tomorrow she'll be let out and come home.
Ben and Reagan haven't noticed her missing yet, thank God Victoria's cat has been sleeping w/ Ben the last couple of nights. Ben is a cat person and loves to snuggle w/ a cat at night, I just hope Sox comes home before he notices, she's his friend and hangs out with him in the big green chair while he reads, he'll be devastated if she never comes home and I don't want to have to be the one to tell either of the little kids that she's gone missing, especially with Christmas just around the corner.

If you believe in the power of prayer, would you send one up to the Big Guy for us and ask him to return Sox home safely ?

We love her and it'll be a sad christmas without her.

Need a quick and easy Christmas treat ?

Then look no further. I have the perfect recipe for you, and the best part is it takes no time to make and if you are in a pinch for time you can go shower while it's setting, no hanging around waiting for the timer and then waiting for cookies to cool.
My friend Tracey made this for our Moms cookie swap last week and I think everyone agreed how yummy it was, too good not to share, that's for sure.

CHRISTMAS COOKIE BARK
----------------------

1 12oz bag of milk chocolate chips

1 12oz bag of white chocolate chips

15 Oreo cookies


1) Break up the Oreo cookies

2) Melt the chocolate chips in 2 seperate bowls

3) Add 1/2 the crushed cookies to the melted milk chocolate and stir together add the other 1/2 to the melted white chocolate and stir together

4)Spread the melted chocolate over wax paper layed on a cookie sheet, with a knife or a spoon swirl the 2 together.

5) Place in a refrigerator for 20 mins or until set

6) Break the bark into pieces and ENJOY !!

See how simple that is ? No more slaving in the kitchen for hours baking cookies ... gotta love that ;-)

To all you pattern makers out there

Please tell me why you don't make patterns for tween / teen boys.
I just sat and cut out PJ patterns for the girls and Marc and then it was time to cut out Bens and no can do, the patterns don't go up to his size.
The Father / son patterns are apparently only designed for boys up to 8, after that, maybe they're too cool for PJs and remain that way until their waist hits 34inches ?? My mind is fuddled I don't get it. Even while looking in the pattern books at the fabric store I was only seeing patterns for boys going up to a 27 inch waist, now maybe I'll luck out and when I measure Ben tomorrow I'll see that Ben is in fact only a size 8 in Butterick, Simplicity and McCalls terms, afterall their size 5 girls swamp Reagan and she's a size 6 in manufactued clothing sizes.

Ah well, off to bed, it's super late, it's windy and stormy outside and my lights are flickering inside so I think it's time for bed before I get left in total darkness.

Somebody caught this Gingerbread Man

Looking around for projects to do while I am sitting down watching TV I came across this poor half eaten Gingerbread Man ornament and fell in love with him, he looks to be saying "Oh my"
If you would like to try your hand at making one too go check out this site, where a tutorial has been graciously posted for your enjoyment.

I'd have hung mine on the Christmas tree to show you, but alas ours is still up in the attic and it's too rainy to take pics of him on the Christmas trees outside.

Come back tomorrow, I'll have the yummiest Christmas cookie recipe ready for you.