Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas!

Are you ready? I had every intention on being on "top of things" this year. Didn't happen. I was going to wrap presents as I bought them, and have our Christmas cards sent out a couple of weeks ago. I also wanted to make a number of homemade gifts - this didn't happen. All of this was to be part of my plan of "simplifying Christmas".

After a hard week at school, I picked up my daughters and headed to the grocery store. I knew I was stressed, but I didn't know how it impacted my family. A nice grandmotherly type woman was behind us in the checkout and she asked my girls if they were ready for Christmas. My five year old replies, "We are ready for Christmas, but our Mommy isn't!" Where did they get this from?

Well here is my "sermon". Enjoy Christmas! Think about the baby Jesus being born in Bethlehem (without all the comforts, lights, gift giving, etc.). Jesus truly is the reason and the greatest gift!! So slow down, play a game with your family, listen to the Christmas music, enjoy the beauty of the decorations, and quiet your hearts for the Christ Child.

Merry Christmas to all!!

FOOD

There are many times that I think I should just have a food blog! Many of my posts deal with food (or should I say goodies) and I have found myself reading blogs about food! Is this an obsession or what?! Some of my favorite blogs include: 4 Reluctant Entertainers, The Simple Wife, My Messy Thrilling Life and The Pioneer Woman Cooks. Check them out sometime.

I mentioned that I was making fudge in the last post for my Cookie Exchange. It turned out great and we had a nice group of women, for the gathering. In addition, I have a variety of eight dozen cookies - need to pace myself for the holidays. Do you know the average person gains 10 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years?

Well, my cookie exchange also inlcuded a brunch, since breakfast food is my favorite and I just love those easy overnight breakfast casseroles. Things were going fairly smoothlythis morning until I turned on my oven. The kitchen started to smell - that really bad smell, that happens when food has boiled over into your oven and you didn't clean it up. Well, I opened up the windows (it was in the 20's outside and snowing), turned on the exhaust and started burning the yummy smelling candles. I got the odor under control and got my casseroles baked. Then, after the cookie exchange, I decided it was time to clean the oven (thanks to self cleaning ovens!!). At this point, I was glad I was the only one in the house - there was so much smoke! This time I opened up the front door in addition to the windows. I don't want to see what our heating bill is going to be next month. Well, I should have a clean oven after this. All this to say, from the advice of my friend, "don't you have the really big oven foil - you should go get some."

Fudge

I am excited about this afternoon! I'm going to do some holiday baking, actually in my case it will be holiday candy making. This Saturday I'm hosting a neighborhood Christmas Cookie Exchange / Brunch and I need to make my goodies for it. The recipes that I will be making include a peanut butter fudge and a chocolate fudge. Here is the recipe for the peanut butter fudge:

3 cups sugar
3/4 cup butter
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1 cup peanut butter
7 ounce jar marshmallow cream
1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: Combine sugar, evaporated milk and butter in a sauce pan. Bring to a full boil and stir constantly for exactly five minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter until melted. Add marshmallow cream and vanilla. Beat until mixed. Spread in a buttered 9 x 13 pan. Set until cool. Then place in fridge.

Turkey?

I know most people are tired of turkey - not me! You see we had 115 people for Thanksgiving, all family, meeting at an old one room school house turned into a country church social hall. It was a lot of fun! But with that many people there are no leftovers - just one serving.

So, I purchased my 21 pound tukey before the holidays and I'm making all the fixings. Thankfully some friends of ours will be coming over tomorrow night to help us eat the 21 pound bird - what was I thinking!? If you have any good recipes about what to do with leftover turkey please send them my way.

By the way, my husband said, "I think it is about time you update your blog!" Go figure?

Surgery

My husband had minor surgery yesterday afternoon... It was one of those procedures that guys go through (usually on a Friday afternoon) and it usually produces some "minor" discomfort for the next few days. BTW - I have complete approval from him to blog about this - I would never blog "about this" without his permission. Okay, so I just had to blog about the comments from our girls - they have been hilarious!!!

"Hey Dad, are your privates feeling better?"

"Hey peas and pee pee both start with the letter P."

"What color is your boo boo?"

"Hey Dad, Mom bought peas today to make soup, not for your privates Dad!"

"Why did you have surgery Dad?"

I was out with the girls this morning and we ran into someone we knew and she was wondering if we were going to the state soccer game. I said no, that Jim wasn't feeling well (which is true - he has a very bad cold), to which Olivia said, "he had surgery yesterday!"

One other funny comment, it was recommended to buy an athletic support strap for after this procedure. Interestingly enough - Target doesn't sell these (only child size - go figure). So we went to the local athletic super store and Jim was looking around for this strap and a young sales guy approaches him, "Can I help you?" Jim responded, "yes". The sales clerk wanted to know what athletic event Jim was planning to participate in. When Jim explained the situation the clerk responded, "oh, well, if you have any questions all be over there."

Hope you enjoyed some of the comments!! Just so you know - Jim is doing very well!!! Ice on, ice off!

Happy Halloween!

The girls have had so much fun this Halloween. This is the first year that they were both into it! Our youngest, would run from door to door, and ring the doorbells. Of course it is always a lesson to learn - say your "thank you's!" Lots of fun - lots of candy!

Simple Blessings

This past weekend I went to the Simple Blessings Retreat center for a scrapbooking time away. Let me just say, "it was great!!" I got so much done and I'm almost caught up. For those who do any type of scrapbooking they know what it means when I say, "almost caught up". I know several people who scrapbook and have different philosophies on it. For me, when I think about what worldly possessions that I have or the "if we ever have a fire - what would I get out of the house after family members?" I would have to say it would be my scrapbooks. This is my best record of life and my family. Of course, I think the pages and pictures are beautiful, but it is so much more - a diary, record of life, my story. I couldn't wait to get home and show my girls what Mommy had been up to all weekend. They love looking at the pictures and "hearing" the stories over and over again. For those of you who don't scrapbook I encourage you to find some way to share your life (in story) with those you love. Wow, I can't believe how deep I am getting.

On another note, here is the recipe for the Oatmeal - Raspberry pancakes. (I can't take credit for them):

2 c. rolled oats

1 c. buttermilk

2 c. flour

1/4 c. sugar

1 t. baking soda

1 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

3 large eggs

1 to 1 1/2 c. milk

1 t. vanilla

1 c. fresh raspberries (or frozen - thawed and patted dry)

In a bowl, mix oats & buttermilk; let stand 15 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

In a large bowl, whish eggs, milk and vanilla until blended. Stir in flour and oat mixtures just until evenly moistened. Add more buttermilk if batter seems thick. Gently fold in raspberries.

Place on non-stick griddle. Makes approx. 16 to 18 pancakes