using new gifts

Daddy taking a rest after Church
Michael playing Little Leage World Series baseball on the wii

Emily working on her quilling project

Michael playing with his new matchbox car road/city and his Speed Racer cars.

Emily playing her pajama party game for the wii

Here are some pictures of the kids enjoying their new Christmas gifts. That is one thing they have not ever been able to do - just spend time around the house over break using their new things as much as they wanted. They have enjoyed that thouroughly.

Merry Christmas

Michael opening his gifts - I guess we went a little overboard this year...
Emily after opening her gifts - her favorites were her Vera Bradley purse and walet as well as the Vera Bradley messanger bag. She was very surprised about them!!!

Christmas Eve at Church.

We celebrated Christmas here at home in a quiet way. We went to 5:00 & 7:00 Christmas eve services, and then came home, ate a quick dinner of velveeta & sausage "pizzas" on rye bread, and then let the kids open their presents from Uncle Will and Aunt Elaine. Then it was off to bed - the kids fell asleep very good - but Doug and I had a hard time sleeping. Since this was the first Christmas morning the kids ever had at home, they did not realize that most kids get up early, early, early. Emily got up around 7:30 and went into the family room and turned on the TV. She did not wake up Michael or get us up. She just went about her usual routine. We got Michael up at around 7:45 and then went to open presents. After opening presents, we ate breakfast, got dressed and headed off for Church.

When we arrived home from Church the kids played with their new toys and crafts as I made lunch. We had baked ham, mashed sweet potatoes, corn, cranberries and apple crisp for dessert. Then we spent the afternoon using gifts. Emily worked on some quilling - a paper curling set she got while Michael used his new wii games and played with his cars. We had ham & potato soup for dinner, and just spent the day hanging out around the house.

It was a quiet Christmas with just the 4 of us. Have not ever had one of those during our marriage. Really missed being with family, but will get together with mom, dad, Gene, Holly, Andrew, & Noah for New Years.

play date

Emily and Michael are both having friends over today. Emily is having her friend Abblie over, while Michael is having Josh over. Before they both arrived - we stopped at the grocery store and bought a few things and we made a stop at Goodwill. Unloading two big boxes of stuff - as well as loading the trunk with some things that are going to school for the preschool room - makes for a good feeling. Next week I will hit the family room :) It needs it almost as much as Emily's room did.

cleaning out

Yesterday I cleaned Michael's room from top to bottom. We cleaned off every shelf, bed & closet. I had 1 box to donate to Goodwill and three bags of trash. Not bad, we started around 9 and finished by lunch.
Today was the tough one. I hit Emily's room. I started about 10:30 as I had to take Boo to the vet to get his annual shots. We finished around 5:00 - 1 box to be donated and 8 bags of trash later. Yes, I said 8.
To reward them for some hard work, tomorrow both of them get to have a friend over. Hopefully they will not ruin all their hard work. It was fun to see them say, "OH, I didn't even know I had that" a few times, or "I was wondering where that was."

Carols by Candlelight

Thursday night was our school's annual program. This year they did a program entitled" Carols by Candlelight". It was all carols and singing that ended with the school children and their families around the flagpole - which was lined with luminaries and had a manger in the middle - singing Christmas carols. It was a great night - Emily sang, played handbells, and played her flute. Michael sang and played his clarinet. I thank the Lord for the gift of music. What a great way to share the gift of a Savior, born one Christmas night.

Christmas Program

On Sunday the Sunday School had their Christmas program. Michael sang in the chorus - they needed his voice. Emily was Mary, and had to act out the Christmas story, as it was read. The other 5th & 6th graders were other characters. We only had 2 kings - good thing that We Three Kings of Orient Are was not part of the program. :)

Sleepover

Friday night Emily had a sleepover with 3 friends. she has three good friends that she gets together with to have "S Club" meetings. Abbie had a basketball game, so we loaded up to watch the girls basketball team play in our tournament - they won!!! Then, all 4 girls were together. They iced cookies, decorated bell ornaments, watched Charlie Brown's Christmas & Roudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, talked, had a devotion, and just had fun together. They actually settled down around 12:00 - so we did get some sleep. Doug was snoring, so while I went to bed around 11:30 - I did not get to sleep until around 1:00. We ended the sleep over by going to help at the cookie wrap at church. They were assembling 40 boxes of cookies for the shut-ins and the Church staff. The girls helped fill the boxes. It was great to see them working side by side with the older ladies - and a few of us younger ladies. What a blessing Emily has - some good Christian friends who love one another and try to do what is right. :) I praise theLord for this influence on her.

cookie exchange

Next Saturday we were invited to a cookie exchange. Emily, Michael and I spent some time this afternoon making some cookies. I chose some new recipes - to try something new. All three recipes were very good - and will be ones I use again. Thought I would share them. It is always fun to make new goodies this time of the year.

Cream Cheese Cookies
1 c butter
3 oz cream cheese
1 c sugar
1 egg yolk
2 1/2 c flour
1 tsp vanilla
candied cherries

Cream butter & cream cheese. Slowly add sugar, beating until fluffy. Beat in egg yolk. Add flour and vanilla. Mix well. Chill for 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Gently press cherry into each cookie. Bake at 325 for 12 - 17 minutes (I baked at 375 for 10 minutes, as I had other cookies going that used 375).


Candy Cane Cookies
1 c. shortening
1 c powdered sugar
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour

Mix all ingredients together, except four and salt. Add flour and salt. Mix again. Divide dough in half. Add 1/2 tsp of red food coloring to 1/2 the dough. Roll 1 teaspoon of each dough in hand until it is round. Dough should be formed abou the diameter of a pencil. Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 9 minutes at 375. I took a "snake" or red dough and a "snake" of white dough and twisted them together and made a "peppermint stick".

Chocolate Crinkles
4 eggs
1 3/4 c. sugar
4 ounces unsweetened chocolate, melted
1/2 c. cooking oil
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
powdered sugar

In a large bowl beat eggs, sugar, chocolate, oil, baking powder, and vanilla with an electric mixer until combined. Gradually beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Cover the dough and chill for 2 hours or until dough is easy to handle. Preheat oven to 375. Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls into powdered sugar to coat generously. Place balls 1 inch apart on cookie sheet. Bake for 8 - 10 minutes or until edges are set and tops are dry. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool. If desired, put additional powdered sugar on top of the cookies.

sick

Please say an extra prayer for Michael. He came to my room after school and said he was tired, cold and his head hurt. I felt his forehead and it felt a little warm, so I thought I should take his temperature. It was 101.5 and kept going - yikes! So - he is now at home in bed under 3 blankets sleeping to his MP3 player. Pray that it is nothing too serious - and that he gets over it quickly - and that nobody else gets it. Thanks!