Merry Christmas Morning

I want to send you pictures of our blessed Christmas Day!

It looks like Toys R Us threw up all over the living room. We are being overtaken by sharks, Buzz Lightyear, Cars, chocolates, pirates, pajamas, pillows, craft supplies, games, socks, Bioncile, Kid'nex, Magnetix, blankets, a big o'le mixer, an XBOX and outrageous fun.

Thanks, Santa and ALL your little helpers. (The little specks in the napkin are pieces of green glitter... Santa's pixie dust!)

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Just a few days before Christmas Rudolph was spotted traipsing through the preschool with his red-nosed teacher extraordinaire...

The Saga of the XBox...

My Dad bought the boys an XBox for Christmas. Ooh-la-la you should have heard the excitement! Till it wouldn't work. Ptttttttttt. Nothing more disappointing than Christmas morning disappointment, eh?

The Day after Christmas Chris took the XBox back to the store and came home with a frown and a promise that they would call when they had another one in stock. Hmmmmm. Could be a week. Mmmmmmm. Grumble. Grumble.

Around dinner time they called. Yes! Chris packed all three boys into the car and went to the game store since I was out walking with my walking buddy. (He wanted it so badly he went by himself WITH the three children...) They bring the second XBox home, hook it up and moan. It doesn't work either! Can you believe it!?

I call my friend Susan and she and her family come over to share their working XBox and any assistance. Yup, our second XBox doesn't work, but they lend us their XBox for the night (yippee) and hubby is back out to the store.

He comes back with a third XBox (they had another one in stock) and wonder of wonders it works. Oh, yeah, I forgot to tell you there was a roach in the box, but he took care of that...

A bit of Chrismas...

I saw this over at Kerri's blog, http://livingwithalabradoodle.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-blog.html, and thought I'd give it a whirl!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Mostly wrapping paper under the tree. I think there is something so satisfying about RIPPING off the wrapping paper to reveal a surprise. Gift bags are so handy, however, so I do use them occasionally.

2. Real tree or artificial? Artificial. Our first Christmas my dh and I spent the whole Christmas decoration budget on a fabulous tree from Canadian Tire. It is full and huge and that first year it sported only 17 ornaments.

3. When do you put up the tree? Growing up we only decorated for Christmas after my mother's birthday, December 12th. Now we put it up early in the month before the schedule gets too busy that we can't enjoy the "atmosphere".

4. When do you take the tree down? January 6th is Epiphany and the tree HAS to be up until then.

5. Do you like eggnog? Absolutely! I also like to make eggnogg milkshakes.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember the Christmas my brother and I got bikes. In our family we opened gifts right after Santa left (or my parents finished wrapping...) so in the middle of the night my brother and I were riding our new bikes around the neighborhood.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Several. My favorite one is the Willow Creek one given to me by my sil.

8. Hardest person to buy for? My dh.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My boys? But, then again, they can be tough to buy for, as well.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I don't really have a worst Christmas gift ever, but I did win the award for worst Easter basket ever. In college, my mom mailed my Easter basket to me... complete with dyed Easter egg!

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail... and they turned out so cute this year!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? I'm not trying to sound hard and heartless, but I really don't care for any Christmas movies other than funny ones like Christmas with the Cranks or Christmas Vacation. I'm already overworked and stressed and it doesn't take more than a few minutes of an emotionally abused reindeer or a crippled donkey at the manger to turn me to a puddle of tears.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I find "it".

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don't think so...You didn't like what I sent?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cookies!

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Colored, dh's choice.

17. Favorite Christmas song? You mean you are going to make me choose? Breath of Heaven by Amy Grant is beautiful.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We used to travel. One year we would go to dh's parents'
and then the next year we would make it to my parents'. Now that dh is a pastor we really can't leave until after Christmas, if we travel...

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? *scratching brain* Does it count that I can say all the Commandments?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star. Kinda looks like white stained glass.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning. My dh thought that opening gifts on Christmas Eve in the middle of the night was bizarre. (He's just jealous that I got my presents before him...)

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? The gazillion people shopping while I'm shopping.

23. What I love most about Christmas? Decorations and cookies!

Deck the Halls...

Okay, boys. You have to help me! We've invited all the people from BooMama’s site to see our Christmas decorations. Let's get busy; they'll be here any minute!

A, bring me your favorite musical toy. Did Dad replace those batteries yet?

D, are all the creches ready? Did you put the wooden one on the coffee table? Can you bring all the guys for the Fisher Price set and put them under the tree? Let's put that Willow Creek one up on the entertainment center, okay?

S, will you put all the books back in the Christmas book bin?

Hey, Look! I found Jess Jingle, our little elf. I'm going to hide him for the next person to find and rehide.
D, where should we put that Rudolph?
Does anyone know where the Christmas tree skirt is for under the tree?


D, it is your job to update the Santa counter.

A, don't eat all the treats!! Oh, you are boxing them up for gifts? Alright. Can you put a few on a plate while I brew some gingerbread tea? Let's put out a few Rolo cookies and a couple of those chewy oatmeal cranberry toffee cookies. I'll have to get the recipes. Everyone keeps asking for the recipe for those!
S, You've got to help me put this new jingle bell wreath on the door.




Okay, okay! Look cute, guys. You were hard workers and I think I hear our guests coming up the walk!

Merry Christmas everyone! May God pour out His blessings onto you today and always!



Chewy Oatmeal Cranberry Toffee Cookies



1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

dash salt

1 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup dried cranberries

1 cup mini chocolate chips

1 cup toffee baking bits



Preheat oven to 350. Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in egg and vanilla. Beat in flour, baking soda and salt. With a wooden spoon, stir in the oats, dried cranberries, mini chocolate chips, and toffee baking bits.

Using a cookie scoop, place dough balls on a parchmant lined-pan. (They spread, so don't place the cookies too close together.) Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Allow cookies to cool for about 5 minutes on the pan and then move to cooling racks.

A Conversation with Santa...

On Saturday, in a moment of sheer madness, I loaded up the three boys and headed off to WalMart. We wandered the store eating candy, cookies and visiting with Santa. (And they took your pic with him for a donation! Don't even get me started about paying for a photo with the Big Guy...) On one of our last laps around the store D found a fancy schmancy Star Wars toothbrush that plays the Star Wars theme song. What a cool toothbrush! BUT! The toothbrush was 7 dollars and 58 cents.

I told D that for that price the toothbrush would be a "gift" and he could add it to his birthday list or he'd have to ask Santa for it. "Alright," he said, warding off a tantrum, "I'll ask Santa."

Well, several hours later just D and I were at the mall. Now, I love the mall Santa. We've seen him several times this year and for the Jolly Man he runs a bit to the dry, sarcastic side- a feature I love in my Santa. :)

We march past the signs advertising their photo packages that start at 15 Big Ones. D proceeds to the sit-on-my-knee-stage of the whole Santa Shtick. He mentions the toothbrush (after all, this was just an amendment to The List, so why bother with behaviour small talk) and Santa looks at me. The following conversation ensues:

Santa: A Star Wars toothbrush. That sounds interesting.

Me: Santa, it is a very cool toothbrush, but it is $7.58.

Santa: Well, dental hygiene is very important.

Me: Yes, it is, Santa, but $7.58?

Santa: The Mrs. Clause and I have had extensive dental work done and good dental hygiene is important.

Me: Dental hygiene is important. Last year you left the boys $4 toothbrushes in their stockings and I thought those were rather generous.

Santa: (pauses and nods) Can I give him a sucker?

Me: Why, yes you can because we are going to go home and brush our teeth with our $1 toothbrushes!!

The pic is really bad, isn't it? You can't see D's face and this isn't the cool mall Santa... just adds a bit of Christmas to the post. :)

WFMW: "Fix It Quick"

Are you having one of those days when you can't get the dinner on the table fast enough? Just looking for something to mix up the family menus? Still looking for ways to use up all that leftover turkey? How 'bout homemade turkey pot pie? And I promise it is quick and easy.

1 refrigerator pie crust (2 circles)

1 bag of frozen mixed veggies

2 T flour

leftover turkey or 1 can of chicken (But then you will have to call this a "chicken" pot pie)

1 can of turkey or chicken pot pie soup (made by Progresso or Campbell's)

Preheat oven to 425. Place the veggies in a colander and run hot water over them to thaw them. Place one circle of pie crust into a pie plate. Mix turkey, flour and pot pie soup. Add thawed veggies. Pour pot pie filling into the pie crust. Top with the second circle of crust and do all that fancy stuff to it, including cutting some slits to allow steam to escape. Bake for 30-35 minutes. (Watch those edges! You might have to wrap the pie edges in foil.) Serve with a salad or some fruit.

And if all else fails, call the Chef to come over. Chef Boyardee. ;)

Leave a comment and wander over to Shannon's for more Works for Me Wednesday quick recipes.

Need a Laugh?

Why wouldn't the lobster share his cake?
He was shellfish!

Photos!!

A few family photos taken while the relatives were here...

My older brother, my younger brother, me (the pretty one!), and my dad.

All 6 of my dad's grandkids at the zoo.

Thanks to the sitters who stayed with the kids so all 7 of the adults could go out for dinner. :)

My neices and I went to the store by ourselves. I got to go down the PINK aisle!!

More pictures to come...