Cookie Baking

So today we baked cookies with everyone here. Our favorite cookie in this family is my famous cut-outs. I used to make them for every holiday when the kids were little but now it's mostly just for Christmas. Elly gets so excited to cut them out and after about a dozen she's done. Next comes frosting them, this year El did so much better keeping the frosting fingers out of her mouth. She stuck with the frosting until they were all done, Grandpa thought she got a little carried away with the sprinkles, there's about a 1/2 inch of sprinkles striped down the center. Look at her face, she got that cute grin that gets her out of any trouble that she's in. The cookies on the table are only about half of them, lets just say it's a good thing we all help. Jesse decided him and Adam would start a production line and each person got a different job. The first person blobs on the frosting, next person smooths it out, next person decorates and then the last person puts it on the tray. Lynn and Sarah quit that production line as soon as the first blob was dropped.

For Christmas morning we have fresh baked (store bought frozen) cinnamon rolls so since Lynn and Shannon will not be waking up on Christmas morning in this house (first time... sniff, sniff) I decided to make cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning in their own homes and they could help. I found a homemade cinnamon roll recipe and just had to try them. These rolls are better than the frozen any day. I wasn't sure how to freeze the rolls before baking so we baked them all, the girls will either eat them all now or freeze them baked. I'll have to experiment with the freezing before next year.

Amici Benvenuti

Which means Welcome in Italian. (Goes with my Tuscan, Italian Theme just in case your wondering, I don't speak Italian excect for Wine, Lasagna, Spagetti and Pizza) My niece Shawna sells Uppercase Living and I finally decided on my first purchase. If your like me and just love this stuff, give her a call the book is jammed packed full of fun stuff for your house.

Your getting another sneak peak of my painted walls... your also seeing the blue painters tape that is still up, you gotta love progress.

Christmas Lights

Tonight we planned a date with Elly to take her to the Christmas light in a nearby town. They have transformed the zoo into a brilliant light show that is so worth the drive there. El hasn't ever been there so she was so excited to go. I picked her up from school and then we had to wait for it to get dark, that was the longest wait ever, then we had to wait for Adam to get off work since he wanted to join us, I think he came along for the steak supper at Applebees!! The zoo can either be a walk through or drive around, since it was bitter cold we decided to drive around first. El wanted to walk in the worst way, Grandpa and Adam told her no it was too cold. Me of course can't ever tell her no so I said when we get done driving around I'll walk through with you. She was so excited that Grandma and her were gonna walk on the lit paths. The drive only took like 7 minutes and when we drove back to the front so El and I could walk she says "Grandma, I'm tired do we HAVE to walk around?" It's amazing how she can be so excited one minute and sleeping within seconds. I told her no if she didn't want to we didn't have to. She said "good, I'm just gonna close my eyes for a minute" that was it she was out like a light. School just wears her out. We all enjoyed the lights and tried to guess the amount of extension cords they had to use. I took a couple pictures but without being able to stop the truck, due to cars behind us, this is what I got. Of course I photoshopped it into something I kinda really like.

More Dance Photos

Still going through dance photos... more of my favorites.

Walking Path

Do not go to where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause

One of my favorite things for winter are my smartwool socks. I bought 2 new pair this year and they are knee highs, I love them!! I did this type of picture a few years ago for Christmas (naked shower scene).... don't go getting all grossed out it was just my naked feet and legs with a towel dropped on the floor..... honest it's not as bad as it sounds.... John was totally dressed.... honest I had clothes on the top that you couldn't see......really it's still displayed in my bathroom for everyone to see..... even little kids have seen it..... now I'm embarrassed.....anyway..... so I thought I would try it again with my fun socks and the fire in the background. It reminds me of the song "I saw Mommy kissing Santa Clause".

Only 3 more SPT's..... yeah!! If I do the POTD in 2009 I certainly won't make a stupid rule about having a self portrait day.... you guys know enough about me already that I'm sure you didn't want to know. Especially after the naked shower scene....

Color Sneak Peek

I'm starting to get some of the walls painted and things put back together, long ways to go yet but it's getting there. Most of my walls match now or harmonize very well, I love them. There are still studs where the columns will go so the sneak peek isn't going to include the fun colors. When I look at this picture I noticed these wine labels look similar to the colors I'm using.... I must be doing something right and have I mentioned that I love it.