Is It Back to School Already?

The past 3 weeks have gone by much faster than I thought they would! Rivendell Academy starts back up on Monday, and I haven't even looked at my lesson plans. I'm a bit behind on my to do list since I have been sick this week. =(

Just thought I would do a quick recap of all our Christmas fun. The kids have been very occupied with all of their new toys, much to my satisfaction!!

Here we are on Christmas Eve. It is tradition for us to eat tacos, read about the birth of Jesus Christ, sing a few Christmas songs, and then open presents from out-of-town family. We used to go light-looking as well, but this year we did that on a previous night. It made for a not-so-rushed Christmas Eve.

Shiloh and Lincoln want to "help" Daddy play the guitar.

Mullin was thrilled to open a bunch of new Harry Potter characters from The Order of the Phoenix.

Shiloh loves her new Pet Shop pal!

I love that moment on Christmas morning when all is silent and the glowing tree is surrounded by presents just waiting to be opened!

The kids know that all of those presents are from us. They know that the magical, modernized Santa is just pretend. I had planned to do a whole post on just that but didn't get around to it. Maybe next year?

Shiloh finally got the Care bear she'd been talking about all month--Grumpy!! She now has quite a collection. She loves them to pieces!

Mullin had a Star Wars Christmas. New ships, new men--he is all set to have some new battles!



Lincoln wanted all army stuff, so he is pretty excited about the jet he just opened!!

Later we went to my Mom's for a yummy Christmas brunch. Unbelievably, I forgot my camera!

Hope every one's Christmas was as wonderful as ours!!

Merry Christmas Everybody!

Worst Christmas Songs of All Time

To view the 5 worst Christmas songs of all time go here. Enjoy!!!

Baking With Mom

Last Saturday my mom and I slaved in the kitchen from 7:30-4:30 to bring forth many, yummy, Christmas goodies! Here I am making our traditional Prize Sugar Cookies, and I am holding up 2 very sentimental cookie cutters--they used to be my grandma's. And the apron I am wearing was given to me by my mom after my grandma passed away over 2 years ago. This apron is also very special to me because my mom made it for her mother when she was about 14.
















Thanks, Mom for taking the time to bake with me. We really missed not having my sister or my sister-in-law there this year!
















While filling the kitchen with sweet smells, we listened to Christmas music and talked about everything, of course. It was a cloudy, rainy, yet very, refreshingly cool day!















Just a photo of some of the fruits of our labor. I actually sent this plate to work with my husband. The only treat not pictured was the amazing toffee my mom made--I wasn't about to share any of that!! In fact, I ate the last piece today! YUM, YUM!

Just a little reminder--vote for my Holiday Cheer picture tomorrow!!! (Only if you think it is the best one, of course.) I could really use the prize $!

Holiday Cheer Photo Contest

Write From Karen is hosting a Holiday Cheer photo contest! Stop by her blog between 5pm central time on Dec. 14-8pm central time on Dec. 17 to vote for me!!!!

Choosing from the gazillions of Christmas photos we have was tough, but I finally settled on this one of my 2 precious boys taken back in 2005. I had several really cute ones picked out, especially one of my sweet, little girl, but this one just felt right for the moment.

Now, not then, it makes me laugh every time I look at it. Stockings are hung by the fire, Christmas tree is all aglow, gifts galore are piled beneath the tree--it truly is beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and this is the best they can give me. It is what I call one of those "Mom moments". All because I made them put on their Christmasy looking sweaters and pose together for the camera. By the looks of it, you would have thought the Grinch had paid us a visit! Yes, Mama was gettin' frustrated!

In a matter of moments it went from Holiday Cheer to Scrooge is Here. Again, I look at this picture, and a huge smile spreads across my face. It's one of those moments that I will never forget as long as I am here to celebrate Christmas!

I love you boys!

Christmas Past

Christmas 2003--First Christmas to have a digital camera. Look at how tiny our Memory tree is!! Now our Memory tree is bursting full at 7 and 1/2 ft. Have I mentioned how much we adore ornaments?? I love gazing at the tree and soaking up all of the memories!

Larry the Cucumber's Christmas Countdown

Well first of all, I guess there just aren't many Christmas bakers out there!! For me, the food, like decorating, presents, music, family get-togethers, etc. is all part of creating those wonderful, nostalgic feelings we love to experience at Christmas time! It is neat to hear how each unique family creates their own Christmas memories. Please feel free to add a recipe even though I will no longer have the Christmas Recipe Exchange at the top.

Now on to the real reason for this post: I recently posted about how we love to count down the days until Christmas starting on December 1st. I just found a new one--one the kids can do online. Go here to count down the days until Christmas with that wacky pickle (I mean cucumber) we have all come to love!

Christmas Recipe Exchange

Scroll down to see new posts. I will leave this one at the top for a while.

It is almost Christmas baking time again!

Although spending countless hours in the kitchen isn't exactly my favorite thing to do, I absolutely love baking up lots of holiday goodies. There are a few favorites that stay on the menu no matter what, but I try to make a few new things, too. So, I am asking all of you to submit your very favorite Christmas recipe by either leaving it in my comments section or by using Mr. Linky at the end of this post. I am really looking forward to getting some new recipes to try, so don't let me down!!



Every Christmas, my siblings and I would look forward to decorating my mom's sugar cookie cut outs. I now know from experience that making these cookies is no easy task, but I am glad she put forth the effort year after year. It was a tradition passed down from her mom, and ever since I have been on my own, I have made these cookies every December as well. I even use the very same cookie cutters my grandmother used. Lots of great memories! Now my kids look forward to making these very same cookies.

Prize Sugar Cookies
1-1/2 c. sugar
1 cup butter
1 TBS vanilla
1 tsp salt
3 eggs
1/2 c. milk
4 c. all purpose flour
1 heaping tsp. baking powder
1 level tsp. baking soda, dissolved in a little water

Mix in large bowl, sugar, butter, eggs, milk, vanilla and baking soda. In small bowl, mix flour, baking powder and salt. Slowly add flour mixture to large bowl, stirring thoroughly until all flour mixture is added. Refrigerate at least 1 hour, overnight is better. Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake @ 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. ( I do not like mine very brown.) *When rolling out dough, you will need to add flour as needed to keep dough from sticking.*
Frost and decorate. Taste best with home made frosting, not store bought. We just use powdered sugar,butter, milk and vanilla.


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Several years ago a friend gave me a Christmas goodie bag filled with Oreo Cookie Balls. I was totally hooked just after one bite! They are so delicious, and I have made them every year since then. Everyone who tastes these delectable truffles just has to have the recipe--oh, and it's soooo easy! (The photo in upper left corner shows the Oreo Cookie Balls happily resting in a bowl of Christmas M&Ms) I bet Paula Deen's mouth would even say, "WOW!" to this recipe.

Oreo Cookie Balls
1 package regular oreo cookies, crushed
1 8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 lb. white bark candy coating, found in baking isle
chocolate jimmies, optional

Mix crushed cookies and softened cream cheese to form a stiff dough. Form into balls. With a fork, dip oreo balls into melted, white candy coating covering completely. Place on waxed paper and sprinkle with chocolate jimmies. Let dry at room temp.

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Another favorite I have enjoyed since I was a little girl! This is the best fudge ever!!


Fantasy Fudge
3 cups sugar
1-1/2 sticks butter
1 5 oz can evaporated milk (about 2/3 cup)
1 package chocolate chips or 12 squares semi sweet baking chocolate chopped
1-1/2 cups marshmallow crème
1 tsp vanilla
1cup walnuts chopped if desired

Heat sugar, butter and evap. milk to full rolling boil in heavy saucepan on med. Heat, stirring constantly. Boil on med. Heat until candy thermometer reaches 234 degrees, stirring constantly to prevent scorching, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat.
Stir in chocolate and marshmallow crème until melted, stir in vanilla and walnuts.
Spread immediately in foil-lined 9 inch square pan. Cool at room temp. at least 4 hours, cut into squares. Store in airtight container. (Fudge can even be stored in freezer.)

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Now it is time for you to send me your yummy Christmas recipes. If you're not familiar with using Mr. Linky, here's how it works. Post your recipe on your own blog. After that click on the time at the end of your post to get the exact URL of your recipe post. Copy that URL by right clicking. Come back to my blog, type in your name and include the name of your recipe, then type your URL in the correct box by right clicking your mouse and choosing paste. Then press enter. That should do it! Thanks!! This feature will enable lots of folks to read and hopefully make your recipe!!

**Make sure you link back to my post :)

Christmas Countdown

What kid doesn't love to count down the days until Christmas? I know I did and actually still do! Ever since I was a wee girl, I have made a Christmas chain. Every night before bed I would tear one chain off until Christmas Eve when there was only one left. I have now passed this tradition on to my kids. This year I had to add an extra color for Shiloh. It helps us all keep track of whose turn it is to tear off the chain each night!

About 5 or 6 years ago we started creating lasting memories with Adorenaments from Family Life. The set includes 12 ornaments with each one containing a story about a distinctive name of Jesus.

This year, a very generous lady at Mark's work gave our children a beautifully made Advent Calendar. So, now we can count down the days in 3 different ways!

Dreadfully Busy!

"Busy, busy, dreadfully busy.

You've no idea what I have to do.

Busy, busy, shockingly busy.

Much, much too busy for you!"

This is the Veggie Tales song that has been playing over and over in my mind like a broken record since Thanksgiving! (I have made the assumption that all of my readers know what a record is.) I have been busy decking our halls with Christmas decor, getting my kids back in home school mode after a 4 day weekend, wrapping and packing up presents that need to be mailed to what seems like a galaxy far, far away, cleaning and scrubbing, planning for Friday dinner guests, updating addresses for Christmas card mail outs, gathering up recipes for a baking day with my mom and sister, etc, etc... All good and fun things, well most of them anyway, but still all things taking up every precious moment of my time. Blog land had to be put on the back burner.

So glad to finally have all of our Christmas decorations up. The kids had a fun time trimming the Memory Tree. I love Christmas ornaments! Good thing, too, because several of our beloved family members give us each new ornaments every year! We all anxiously anticipate what they will be and can't wait to find a spot for them on the tree.

Mark and I also like to exchange ornaments with ourselves and the kids. From now on we will open up our ornaments from each other right before we decorate the tree,instead of waiting until Christmas, so we can enjoy them all month long! This year I gave Mark a Smore basketball player and a Starbucks mug. He gave me a jeweled cross. Mullin got a Smore baseball player, Lincoln a Smore soccer player, and Shiloh got three since she hardly has any ornaments to her name yet--Wish Bear, Strawberry Shortcake, and a Victorian baby buggy.

We all LOVE the ornament tradition!!!

For a more thorough post on our family's Christmas decorating weekend, see my husband's post.

Gingerbread Cutouts

My sister asked me for my gingerbread cookie recipe, so I decided to share with all of you.

Gingerbread Cutouts

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup dark corn syrup

1 tsp. each--ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vinegar

5 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

Red-hot candies

White icing if desired

*In a large saucepan, combine the butter, sugar, corn syrup and spices; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and cool to lukewarm. Stir in eggs and vinegar. Combine the flour and baking soda; stir into sugar mixture to form a soft dough. Chill for several hours. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to 1/4 in. thickness. Cut with a floured 2-1/2in. gingerbread man cookie cutter and place on greased baking sheets. Use red hots for eyes and buttons. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 min. Remove to wire racks to cool. Yield: about 6 dozen.

* I also like to use the tiny 1-1/2 in. gingerbread man cookie cutter. Every year My kids and I like to make gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and frosting. These little guys are the perfect size to use with these edible homes!

A couple of years ago we had a little gingerbread house-making party. Hard to see, but in one of those green bowls are a bunch of those tiny, homemade, gingerbread men. They are so cute!!

I hope they turn out for you, Brooke!

Christmas Decorating

Don't panic! It isn't December yet--still just the middle of November, but we are a little excited about putting up our decorations this year since we weren't able to at all last year. My mom has wonderful decorations, but it just isn't the same when they are not your own!! I usually like to wait until after Thanksgiving, but really, putting up decor a little at a time is a lot less stressful, at least for me anyway.
We even turned on some Christmas tunes, and Shiloh wanted to dance with Daddy. Oh that face--it's adorable!
Lincoln was in charge of putting on the very top part of the tree.
Daddy and Mullin check to see if the colored lights still work. Most of our white lights didn't. The ones that did, Mark decided to put on a tree outside.

Silly Shiloh. Lincoln calls her "Samanthaclaus". I have no idea why? She is cute whatever her name is, though!
Lincoln holds the chair still while Daddy strings the lights around our tree out front. Mullin helps with light hanging. What a team. Momma's inside giving Shiloh her bath.
That's it for now. Will post more as we continue the decorating process...

Shhh. All is calm. Christ has come.

He hasn't come to wage war on retailers. He hasn't come to battle Santa Claus or debate whether or not the fir tree is a pagan symbol. He hasn't come to argue with local governments over creches and menorahs in the public square.

The government, after all, is on His shoulders. He is ruler. He is Lord, and He has come to set his people free.

*Excerpt from Key Life article, "Come to the Quiet" by Nancy Kennedy.

Every now and then I need a gentle invitation to just relax, be still and focus on Him, especially during the holiday season when I am surrounded by nothing but hustle and bustle.

I am definitely no Scrooge. Although my hubby may disagree since I refuse to put our trees up and listen to Christmas music before Thanksgiving!! Personally, I absolutely LOVE the Christmas season: the decorating, baking, shopping, presents, music, lights, wrapping and anything and everything else that goes along with Christmas!! Sometimes, though, I can get so "wrapped up" in all of the external stuff, that the stress creeps in or as in my case crashes in like a huge tidal wave. It can be easy to lose sight of what all this celebrating is about. It is Christ and that is it. I have to remind myself that Christmas would still be Christmas without all of that other stuff, even though I really enjoy all of that other stuff.

Peace to you as we enter this Holy holiday season!

Mullins' Christmas Breakfast

Mullin and Lincoln were jazzed about spending the day with their cousins!! Breakfast was delicious. My first attempt at Monkey Bread was okay, but it just wasn't Grandma T's!!


I loved holding the twins--they are smiling now. So sweet!!

The passing of the presents! It was a house full, but all in all everyone behaved so well.





The cousins all played Pin The Nose on Rudolph.








Though we had a great time we missed our Tender Tennessee Christmas! Thank you so much to all of you who sent us Christmas cards. We really enjoyed looking at all of your pictures!

Our First Desert Christmas

Mullin and Lincoln were very excited about all of their Star Wars gifts!





Shiloh went nuts over her new Care Bear, Heartsong. She also seemed to like her new books. I had such fun picking them out. I think her favorite was the baby stroller, though. She pushes it all around the house and even gives her babies turns.



Mark is trying to give a Napoleon pose since he got Napoleon chapstick.




I will have to pose with my new stuff later. I was not going to pose without makeup