Is This Thing On??

Okay. It has been months since I posted anything on my blog. I'm sorry loyal blog readers. I must admit that I spend the majority of my computer time doing work with the kids or on Facebook.
I've wandered over to my blog this weekend to see if there is a Christmas Tour of Homes. And there is! And nothing gets ya in the mood to blog like a little look around the blog world to spy on Christmas decorations. I've got to find my camera and take a few pics! Look for me soon...

Happy Birthday, Jesus

Nothin' says, "Happy Birthday, Jesus!" more than a ton of Legos, a bunch of Nerf guns and a few remote controlled cars! I hope your Christmas was blessed!

Come on in!

Boys! Hurry up and let's get the house ready for all the bloggers on the Christmas Tour of Homes. I'll need your muscles! Okay, bring the Lego Advent calendar into the hallway. Set it up next to the Advent banner and our little nativity scene from Grandma. Who is going to open the little window? Okay. Now that Dad has the tree in the stand, how 'bout some Decorating Super Heroes? While you guys do that I am going to put my little Santa on the piano.

I'm going to look for the tree skirt while you get the new train going, Sam.

The tree skirt is under the tree and I put a little snowflake ribbon on the tree. I think the tree is ready! Aaron, will you set up the kids' nativity scene in the living room?

Here is the North Pole scene for you to put up, Dave and Sam.

Hey, kinda looks like Santa and the Baby Jesus were neighbors...

Sam, I brought this new Playmobile nativity from my classroom. Will you put it on the lamp table in the living room?

Aaron, will you add these cards to the card holder? Here are a few new signs to hang.
Aaron, when you are done with that book please put it in the Christmas book bin.

Dave, put the Christmas stuffed animals in the basket.

Sam, let's find a place to put your Jesus candy cane. And how 'bout Aaron putting the wreath on the door? Everybody outta the dining room... breakables!
We're going to need some treats on that new Santa plate, Dave.

Our guests might enjoy a chocolate cupcake with chocolate ganache and white chocolate cream cheese peppermint frosting. Okay, I think we are ready. Honey, will you turn on the outside lights? Let's welcome our guests. Smile, boys!

Merry Christmas, Friends.
May the love of Christ warm your hearts

this Christmas and all year!

Christmas Tours Past...

Christmas 2007

Christmas 2008

Post-Christmas 2008

Christmas Tour of Homes

The boys are busy decorating for Christmas. Come back later and I'll show you around!

Decorating...

This is the way we clean the house,
Clean the house, clean the house.
This is the way we clean the house,
So we can decorate for Christmas!

Post Christmas Tour 2008: Bring Your Hazmat Suit

Just a few days ago many of us delighted in spending hours peering through the blog windows of bloggers everywhere. It was great fun to sneak a peek at a bit of their Christmas decorations and preparations along the trails of Boomama's Christmas Tour of Homes 2008.

Many of you stopped by my place and left lovely comments and directions to share in your tour. I thoroughly enjoyed my visits to so many blogs. (And I am still sneaking in a new visit or two. There are over 1000 blogs linked to the tour!)

But, now Christmas is over. Christ is still in my heart, but I look like an elf caught in the sleigh's headlights! You wouldn't believe the mess!

Well, in the interest of keeping it real, and gathering the help of many hands, I bring you the Post Christmas Tour 2008. Swig the last of the egg nog, don you now your hazmat apparel, and as we like to say around here, "Hold onto your buckets!"Climb over the wrapping and packaging bits, avoid stepping on stray Legos, and take a look at the Christmas tree. It still looks festive, but gone are all the prettily wrapped packages. The toys and games were squirreled away faster than a pirate's buried treasure.

I know you can't see the pile up of cat hairs and dust gorillas, but would you mind vacuuming?

Well, now, don't go sucking up the markers and toys under there and watch out for the nativity scene. Let's get a space ship for those extra visitors!

And, as long as we are clearing up stables and removing the riffraff from Bethlehem's hotel district, let's get the Bionicle out from under Joseph's feet. No wonder the angel was telling them to Fear Not!

Since we are in the family room, I'm going to need a few properly trained people to fix the "Laundry Situation." Oh, my word. A few days of merriment and the washer and dryer are going to need to be kick started!! (Don't mind the green gun in the laundry basket. There must have been a " drive-by staining!!")

Which one of you brought the industrial cleaner and paint scrapers? Can you get the inch of cookie/soda/candy cane residue/crust off of the dining room table? Let's get that pretty centerpiece back up.

I don't' need to tell you that the dishes need washing, do I? Or that the trash needs to be taken out...

Alright. We may have things under control here.

Someone call the kids back from the beach.

Now, thank you so much for coming. Don't forget to take some LEFTOVERS from the fridge!! Where to next?

WFMW: Quick Christmas Cookies

Tonight my boys and I made a quick batch of a Christmas Cookie favorite we call, "Peppermint Wafers." I first had these a few years ago at a Christmas cookie swap and I instantly fell in love. I'm not usually wild about mint or no-bake cookies, but these are The Bomb. I promise. And your kids can help.

Obtain a package of Nabisco chocolate wafers. They are sold at the grocery store on the same shelf as the ice cream toppings. Now, don't even bother looking in the cookie aisle. They won't be there. I've included a pic, just incase you need more help locating the wafers.

While at the store grab a bag of white chocolate chips. (You couldn't read it if I made the print white, could you?)

You also need a few candy canes all smashed up. So, if you don't have any candy canes at home, get those while you are out and then smash them up with all your anger pent up while fighting the December traffic. (A hammer and a plastic bag make the smashing much more, well, neater.)

3 ingredients. That is it. You can do this!

Easy Peasy Directions:

Spread a bit of melted white chocolate (yes, you are going to have to melt the white chocolate) on a chocolate wafer. Sprinkle with smashed up candy cane bits. Let the white chocolate set and then share with the people you love the most.

Oh, pretty!

Quick Christmas Cookies work for me. Visit Shannon's blog for some more Works for Me Wednesday Tips.

And if you haven't stopped by my place for Boomama's Tour of Christmas Homes please come on in and I'll get you a handful of these cookies!

Christmas Tour 2008: Come on Over!

Boys! Get out of that tree! All the bloggers from BooMama's are coming over to see our Christmas decorations. Please help me get everything ready! A, start decorating the tree!

Ok. Light the Christmas tree. Woohoo!

D, go hide Jess Jingle so someone else can find him! Is the hot cocoa ready? Let's put out whipped cream and marshmallows. Candy Canes make perfect stir sticks.

S, Get out of the whipped cream! A, please go in the family room and put on my Faith Hill Christmas CD.

D, Thank you for putting the flame on that little Advent banner you made years ago in Mommy and Me Sunday School Class.

S, please get the Pastor's Party Mix ready for our guests to nibble.

I'll go turn on the little houses on the piano. Who put the toys from under the tree by the houses?
Boys, we'll finish the Peanuts puzzle later. Let's go get dressed!

Okay. We are just about ready! Dear, will you turn on the outside lights and invite everyone in?Merry Christmas, Friends.

May the love of Christ warm your hearts this Christmas and all year!

Yummy Hot Cocoa

1 (14 ounce) can of sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
6 1/2 cups milk

In a large pot, over medium heat, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, cocoa, vanilla, and salt. Whisk in the milk. Heat through, but do not boil. Top with marshmallows, whipped cream, or peppermint schnapps! Store any leftovers covered in the fridge. (Recipe doubles easily.)

Pastor's Party Mix

1 10 ounce package of mini twist pretzels
5 cups cinnamon Life cereal
5 cups Crispix
1 14 ounce bag of seasonal M&M's
2 cups salted peanuts
2 bags of Nestle white chocolate chips
1 tablespoon canola oil

Line your counter with waxed or parchmant paper. Use the biggest bowl (or pot) you own to stir together the pretzels, cereals, M's, and peanuts. In a separate, small bowl melt the white chocolate chips and canola oil in the microwave, until smooth.
Slowly pour the metled white chocolate over the cereal mixture and stir gently, but quickly. (I know... slowly pour, but quickly stir.) (This always seems to take more than 2 hands and just skip trying to use a spatula or spoon. Put your clean hands right on in there.)
Spread onto the papered counter and allow to cool. (I usually fuss with it a bit while it is warm. I try to stick the M&M's that never get any coating onto something already sticky. I break apart the really big blobs, but even if you do nothing, the stuff will be yummy.)
Store in an airtight container.