... Thoughts on our adventures ...

... Thoughts on our adventures ...
... sharing our thoughts on our adventures ...

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Oh Christmas Tree ...


This year the kids have had so much fun decorating & redecorating the Christmas tree...
I can't bring myself to take it down!
We might just leave it up til Valentine's Day.
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Culinary Tour

Here is a culinary tour of the holidays for the "Phoodie's" out there
(a.k.a. people who love food & recipes!)
On Christmas Eve we had cinnamon waffles for breakfast
made in our circus waffle maker.
This is an elephant and a lion ... can you see it?
Christmas Day we had fresh fruit (blackberries, raspberries, bananas, & pears).
I also made Pinch-Me-Cake (a.k.a. monkey bread, pecan bread, or pull apart bread)!
It looks nice here, but due to a slight overestimation regarding the melted butter
the Pinch-Me-Cake immediately fell apart on the plate.
It tasted wonderful, but it should more appropriately been named
Fall Apart Bread! Oh, well! It tasted delicious!

We always have something different for Christmas dinner.
We've had ham, duck, goose, ribs, steak, etc.
This year Grammie baked a variety of quiches.
We had salmon & dill, spinach& bacon, spinach & ham,
and possibly some others that I can't remember.
They were all delicious!


We also had traditional Southern ambrosia salad
which is made with oranges, grapefruits, pineapple, cherries, & coconut.

I did not get a picture of them ... but Aunt Allene also made
flour-less chocolate cupcakes with dark chocolate ganache for
Uncle Carey's birthday, and they were absolutely divine!
-
It was a bit of a challenge this year being on Weight Watchers during the holidays,
but I managed to stick to my points plan for the most part!
I am very excited because I have now officially lost 45 pounds!
Merry Christmas to me! :-)

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Gift Wrap :-)

One of the traditions we enjoy is making our own wrapping paper.
Last year we cute shapes out of potatoes and used them to stamp plain paper.
This year Benjamin & Ada used my scrap-booking stamps & punch outs.
Ada also enjoyed using sparkling stickers!
Then we used ribbons to finish them up.

We had so much fun ...
and Benjamin went kind of crazy with the stamping! :-)
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Daddy also decorated Mommy's present,
and I'm so sad that I didn't get a picture of it!
He spelled out "Kate" in sparkle stickers - it was very cute!

We only used items that we already had leftover in our house,
so this craft project cost nothing, but was lots of fun!
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Another Attempt at a Family Picture ...

Merry Christmas!

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Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas Highlights & Thank You's

Christmas baking with Aunt Allene!

"a long winter's nap"

Where is Benjamin?

Hiding under the table ... so that he can play with his new train
from Grandma & Super Papak
... without interruptions from his big sister!
Sometimes, you have to get creative when you just don't want to share!

Fondue Crew

Attempt at a Family Picture

Ada's doctor kit & personalized lab coat made by Grammie!
Thank you Grammie & Gramps!
Benjamin also loves his tool set & puzzles!

very happy couple

These sparkle markers & coloring books were a huge hit!

Ada loved them too!
Thanks Cousin Patrick for a great gift!

Fun stickers from the big bag of stuff Aunt Allene put together!
Thank you Aunt Allene -
we plan on taking the bag you made on our next long car trip!

Ada absolutely loved her strawberry shortcake club house
from Aunt Joy, Uncle Joel, Caleb, Anya, & Daniel!
Thank you so much!

They also sent Benjamin's "Little People" bus which he absolutely loved!
... notice the loss of pants ... that's Benjamin! :-)
Thank you so much!
-
We also love the gifts from Uncle Michael & Aunt Rachel that we opened earlier!
Ada plays with her doll clothes every day,
& Benjamin makes sound effects for all of the tractors in his book!
-
Aunt Ginny usually buys us a family zoo membership for Christmas.
Since we are getting ready to move this year,
she gave us money to make several trips the Baku Zoo!
Thank you, Aunt Ginny!
-
Both kids also have some Christmas money from Oompak!
We will have to find a good way to spend it!
Thank you Oompak!
-
Beyond all the gifts, this Christmas was wonderful because
we celebrated the best gift, the birth of our Savior,
and we shared the joy that He brings with those we love!
Merry Christmas!

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Christmas Eve Highlights 2011

On Christmas Eve in the morning ...
we skyped Grandma & Super Papak!
And we got to open the presents they sent for us!
Thank you for the "Little People" Ferris wheel & train!
We played with them all day!
And thank you for the matching dresses for me & my dolly!

I LOVE them!
I cried when I had to take them off for bedtime!

Christmas Eve we enjoyed a combination of traditions ...


We had fondue for dinner ... mmm!

followed by Jesus Birthday Cake ...

Aunt Allene made a red & green (cherry & pistachio) checkered cake!

Benjamin enjoyed some of the cherry!


Then we had a family talent show ... I think there is a video of this that will be posted later!
And then we had a treasure hunt for coins!

I was thrilled to fill up my piggy bank!

It was an absolutely wonderful day ...
filled with toddler/baby giggles & precious memories!
Merry Christmas!
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Monday, December 19, 2011

Making a List ... Updated Again

This week we made the Rocky Road Fudge & a second batch of Oreo truffles this week which we took to our neighbors. We also whipped up some Snickerdoodles (cinnamon cookies) and Ginger Snaps which were not on the list because I needed something quick to take to a party.
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I think we are going to wait until more relatives get here to make the Magi's Jewels & Christmas Mice. They are kind of fun to make with a group. We'll bake the Yule Log for Christmas Day and the Apple Pie for New Year's. Our Christmas baking has been so much fun this year!
I love doing it with my cute little baker side-kick!

So far we have also made Gingerbread Cookies ...
& Pumpkin Bars

& Hugs & Kisses
& today ...
White/Dark Chocolate Bark
& Oreo Truffles
We wrapped up some to give away with little photo tags that say
"from the kitchen of Kate & Ada Marie"
Merry Christmas!

Christmas Outfits!

They make the most adorable children's clothes!
But, you don't have to take my word for it ...
see for yourself!










Thanks Michelle!
I love them!
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