Merry Christmas

May you all enjoy a blessed holiday weekend and remember the real meaning of CHRISTmas.

Merry Christmas!

Elves Bakery

This week has been spent in the kitchen preparing goodies. All that's left is decorating the sugar cookie cut outs, which we will do tomorrow.

My favorite sugar cookie recipe is one that my mom received at her bridal shower. It's the only one we used growing up and the only one I've used in my own home.

1 cup butter, softened

3 eggs

3 1/2 c. flour

1 tsp. soda

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cream of tartar

Cream butter. Add sugar gradually and beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating after each one.

Stir in vanilla. Sift dry ingredients together and add gradually to creamed mixture. Chill 3-4 hours or overnight. Roll on floured surface. Cut into desired shapes. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Decorate!

My icing is just powdered sugar mixed with a tiny bit of milk, until desired consistency. Rolling out the dough isn't complete without the rolling pin that my grandma gave to me on the first Christmas that I was married...it was the same one that her Grandma used and I will forever treasure it!


Gingerbread men from a recipe that my friend gave to me. I love me some gingerbread but it's been years since I've made it. I love these and think they will become a yearly tradition.

My baby boy used his artistic talents to decorate his cookies.

Those are probably the best of all!

Think Outside the Box

Remember the Plum District deal I told you about last month? The Kiwi Crate special which was a 3 month subscription for $27? I hesitated on the deal, never having heard of it and all, but since I had a credit on my Plum District account I decided to go ahead and purchase it as it sounded great for a homeschooling family.

I'm glad I did!

The kids received their first box in the mail yesterday. It included a little Christmas surprise which was a make it yourself calendar for 2012 and a neat multi-colored pencil. This will be one of Becca's school project...learning about months, days, and years all while having fun with a craft.

The box theme this month is space exploration. The projects are making a space mobile and a shooting rocket. It comes with everything you need (paint, paint brush, tape, and more!) and will be keeping the kids busy this week. The little leaflets that explain the craft also have questions and info for the kids about the theme.

What a neat idea! While I may not personally pay the full price for the kit ($19.95 a month), because you know me...I'm cheap!...I do love these little kits! I also think they would make a neat gift for your kids or grandkids.

Did anyone else grab this deal when I posted about it? If so, how do you like it?

This is not a sponsored or paid post...I just wanted to let you know how I like these kits!

Lack of Greetings

Six mail days left before Christmas. This is my haul of Christmas cards so far this year...

The amount seems to shrink each year. Not because my friends disown me and take me out of their address book, but rather because more and more people decide not to send cards every year. They blame it on the price of postage, lack of time, or more often then not, sites like Facebook that keep you in touch with family and friends all year long.

Christmas cards are falling to the wayside much like personal letters are. To me there are no replacements for either. There is nothing like a letter written to you by a friend and nothing like a stack of Christmas cards arriving in December with family photos, newlsetters, and notes. It is like the magic touch - holiday greetings and a warm hug wrapped up in one.

What is your take on Christmas cards? Do you send them? Do you like to receive them?

One Year

Exactly one year ago today I found the lump on Jacob's abdomen while helping him get dressed. Exactly one year ago today we heard the words "cancer". Exactly one year ago today our lives changed forever.

One year later I am thankful beyond belief that our little man is still with us, healthy and doing well. While my sweet boy was laying in a hospital bed over Christmas last year after a major surgery which cut him from side to side, a chest tube hanging out of him, and a morphine pump by his side, I almost couldn't bear to look into the future to see what the next year would bring.

My brave boy fought a battle that most grown men would tremble at and he did it with hope, fearlessness, and trust. He is my hero and I fall to my knees with relief that he is here to celebrate (really, really celebrate) Christmas with - the day that the Lord came to earth to save us all.

It's a reminder that life can change in an instant. That one day...one hour...one minute can be the difference of "before" and "after". It's a reminder to not live in fear (A life lived in fear is one only half lived) but rather to live each moment to the fullest. Full of family, friends, and most of all love and no regrets.

Busy in the Workshop

My family has suddenly morphed into busy little elves. The house has become a messy workshop and I am loving every one's creativity. Unfortunately, I can't show much of what we have been working on as it is for gifts. I'll post some photos after Christmas though!

My husband even got into the creative mood and built his first ever piece of furniture...a farmhouse toddler bed for Joe.

It's finished except for the top piece of the footboard (somehow we ended up one board short...but that will be an easy fix). I also have plans for painting it a fire engine red (though I am kind of digging the natural wood look) so I'll post photos when it's completely finished. The plans for this bed can be found at Ana White's awesome site. Next up I'm hoping for the queen size farmhouse bed!

I better get back to the workshop...there is only 10 days to Christmas, after all!

Dislike

Right now I really dislike:

the creepy crud that is going around our house. Only one child threw up but most everyone else feels nauseous and just not right.

the in between stage of short and long hair. It's too short to do anything with and too long to leave down. Grrrr.

the feeling of being behind on holiday baking, school, and housework. A panicky feeling builds when on is not on top of anything.

the fact that Christmas break will now be used for catching up.