Christmas Hangover

This was taken the day after Christmas:

A bigger post soon, right now I am enjoying my time off with my family.

*YUM*

Lindsey and I spent all day baking on Saturday. Well she kinda got bored with it after a few hours and moved on to other things like cleaning her room, hmmm I would have rather baked than clean my room when I was eight. Gotta love it though, that is her Dad coming out in her. I did however get 90% of my baking finished and I am so happy about that. Last year I was a total slacker with the holiday baking. I think the only thing I managed to do was the Chex Mix and that is only because David and Lindsey would have made me ride on the hood of the car to Ohio. Chex Mix is a must with those two, forget everything else as long as there is homemade Chex Mix. I was 12 weeks pregnant this time last year, so I really was not up for much of anything except my head on a pillow. Anyway, this year I am on schedule with my decorating, my baking and pretty much all of my shopping, well my gifts are mostly handmade this year. So after....

2 batches of peppermint bark

Several batches Chocolate Kiss & Turtle Pretzels

2 batches of mint chocolate dipped oreos

3 batches of Chocolate gobs

3 batches of Chocolate chip cookies

3 batches of Chex Mix

3 batches of Sugar Cookies

I am almost finished. I still have a few things left to make, things that really can't be made until the day prior to consumption, but for the most part......*DONE*.

Just for fun

Lindsey and me, goofing with the camera:


And look at this *cutie*

*Love* the tootsies, so cute.

*Holiday craftiness*

Here are some of the things I have been working on:

This is the mantel in our Family Room, I painted the canvas *packages* two years ago and made the stockings that same year, obviously I had to make a fourth one this year, (I had saved some of the extra fabric just in case;) glad I did) The feather trees are new this year, very easy and inexpensive to make. I *love* how they turned out.

This is a wreath I made for Lindsey's bedroom door. Very stylish for a *sassy* eight year old.

These are our advent boxes/calendar, also new this year. Got the idea here and here. Lindsey is really enjoying opening up the boxes each day to see what *goodie* she and Mally have gotten. Not all are filled with actually goodies, some are filled with pieces of paper that list something we will do as a family that night, like *cuddle under a blanket and drink some hot cocoa* or *watch a Christmas DVD* or * put on your PJs climb in the car and go look at Christmas lights* with a to go cup of hot cocoa of course.

I am really excited about the holidays this year, so much to be thankful for. It has been a busy year and I am looking forward to slowing down a bit and spending it will my family. Yes, they are all coming to my home this year. Christmas Day will be spent with my Dad, looking forward to that too, it has been a pretty good year for getting our relationship back on track. I am happy about that, esp. for my girls sake.

Going out soon...

Our Christmas card:

O Christmas Tree(s)

OK, so I was talking to my Mom on the phone yesterday while waiting in carpool line at school and she was asking me how many Christmas trees I put up this year, so I mentally go through the house counting them and say twelve, then pause....and she busts out laughing. It was a total accident that I had put up twelve trees, and didn't realize it until I was talking with her. For those of you that know us, you will find this *hilarious*.

Sick-O x 4

We are re-cooping from a household cold epidemic. We are all drugged and ready to face the world again. More to come.... Some pictures to post too. YEAH!!!!