Christmas in review

Christmas Eve

Christmas Sunday

Christmas Sunday

John was showering -so MIA! I got to get him in some pictures!

Grandparents

I can't say enough about Grandparents. They are beyond amazing! Matthew and Izzie have 4 of the best. We just had Grandma and Papa Jaggi come and visit for Christmas and they spoiled and love our kids to death. Matthew wants to wrestle and Izzie wants Grandma to build with their new Lego's. They babysit, wipe bums, read, kiss and hug and that is in only 3 days! Thanks to all the Grandparents who put so much time into their grandchildren lives - it really pays off (for everyone!) And we miss you already!

Kids with Santa

Our ward Christmas party with Santa. Matthew asked for some superhero toys as Santa asks Izzie what she wants, she being shy doesn't say anything, then Matthew says, "Just give her something Princess, she likes that." Izzie nods and I laugh!

Books

It isn't to late to read a good Christmas story. I am not talking about 'The night before Christmas' or 'Polar Express' even though they are my favorite kids story books for this time of the year. I am talking, crying or weeping (that was more me), laughing and uplifting books.

AUTHOR-Donna VanLiere

TITLES-
The Christmas Hope
The Christmas Blessings
The Christmas Shoes

They are so good! And at COSTCO!!! or your local library.

Read them - read them and cry, love, and be uplifted!
I wrote about this last year too - just reminding all my friends and family.

My Mama's Fudge

(This fudge has peppermint Andes chopped with almond bark drizzled on top) YUM-O!!

This is my Mama's recipe for fudge, however to give me some glory I added the topping..hee hee! They were so fabulous! So fabulous that I made it for a Christmas party and for my class at church (Mia Maids) that I got so many requests for the recipe, that I had to post it.

Warning-Hard to only eat 1 piece. I probably ate half of my batch. Hello extra pounds to my rear end!

My Mama’s fudge

Ingredients:
1 can evaporated milk
4 ½ cups sugar
1 cup of butter
1 Tablespoons of vanilla extract
3 cups chocolate chips – I like half semi and milk chocolate
1 pkg of mini marshmallows

Directions:
Put chocolate chips and marshmallows in a LARGE bowl – the bigger the better. We are going to be stirring everything in this bowl! Put aside.
Butter a 9x13 dish. (I add buttered foil to my dish – no clean up and I can pull it out when I am done to cut it nicely.)
In a heavy pot add evaporated milk, sugar, and butter. On medium high heat bring to a rolling boil for 6 minutes (do not leave –or put on high heat) Stir continuously for the whole 6 minutes. Remove from heat, add vanilla extract-stir. Immediately add to the chocolate marshmallows mixture. Stir really well, it needs to be smooth! Pour into a buttered 9x13 dish. ***Put in fridge for at least 8 hours before cutting into it. Needs to be refrigerated.

***Can add toppings- chopped nuts, chopped heath bars, chopped Andes mints, anything your heart desires. Push into fudge softly. Melt almond bark (1 ½ squares) to spread with fork to decorate the top.

-Makes 5 lbs. without toppings!

December playing around

My kiddos had an evening when there was no snow on the cement and had to play -with their bikes and neighbors! It only lasted about 30 minutes, because it was so cold! But fun for them.

Our house - and our tiny light display. (We are renting- I am not going crazy with lights)

Warning potty talk.......

My girl has potty trained herself!!! I have tried and tried in the past and she just didn't want to do it. So I left it alone. This past Wednesday, she woke up and said she wanted to sit on the potty! So up she went on the potty and pooped! I was so surprised and then she kept telling me to go. Now on Monday(today- day 5), she potties, washes her hands and loves it. I am so amazed! If you told me one week ago if this was possible I would of laughed in your face!

This is her potty chart - pooping comes easier to her. But the pee pee is coming along well to. She will pee in her diaper at night and when we go to church she gets stage fright and will pee in her pull -up. I am not brave enough to go without something (pull-up or something) But at home no problems!! I took a huge package of diapers back to Costco and it was not a sad goodbye.

Christmas 2010

Izzie or my reindeer?



Piper as a reindeer..can you tell he hates it! HA!

His little sweater kills me!

Some of the decorations around the house

I love these little snowman candles

Mr. Snowman...wish I could sit like that.

Dancing Santa - one of the kids favorite.

Our stocking hanging on the fireplace..opps I mean stairs.

Our tree this year-the kids helped put up the decorations on the tree- some branches got 3 to 4 balls on it! To funny.

I love Christmas time!!!!