Christmas Cookies

I just love to make Christmas Cookies! I just ador how cute and yummy they look, more so than just eating them. Often times I leave them out on plates for decor, and they go bad before I have a chance to nibble on them. However they do get taken by little hungry hands.



I made this batch for my acheivement day girls. This week for an activity I made little gingerbread houses out of grahm crakers and royal frosting. I gave each girl one to decorate with more royal frosting and tons of little colorful candies. I made these cookies for them, so they wouldn't too tempted to eat all the other candies, until everyone's houses were done....... too much fun. (messy, but fun).

Kids Say the Darndest Things

A few weeks ago, Ryann and I were watching a Taylor Swift Special on T.V. and a Macy's Commercial came on. The new one with the "Beleive" Campaign with a mailbox. Ryann asked, with a little attitude, "Mom, Can we write letters to Santa- so we don't have to go sit on his lap this year?" Of coarse I said yes. She never has liked that big red guy.

A few days ago it snowed about 1 1/2 inches. And has been could enough to keep it here. Until this morning, Seiler was SO sure it is melting, "Because the teachers at my school are so mean they would'nt let us go out side to play in it. So It is mad and going away! I just want to make a snowball!" I haven't heard brandon laugh that loud in a while.

Trip to Nauvoo

Ryann went to Nauvoo with Mimi, G-ma Rose, Danielle, Josh, Corrine, and Kristofer.

Ginger Bread Houses

Last week for Family Home Evening Uncle Josh taught the kids about making good choices vs. bad choices. He went all out, he built a mini house on a clay rock and one on a pile of sand. I wished I had a video camera with me when the kids were answering questions, they are smarter than we realize, they do listen when we teach them! Then, as the kids sang the song about the wise man and the foolish man Josh poured water upon each house. As you can imagine we watched the house on the sand wash away, and the other didn't move! After the lesson, we let the kids build their own houses! They spent hours perfecting their projects! They did such a great job! It was so much fun for them and fun for me to watch! click on the pics to view larger!

Bunkbed Wars

I could survive for 54 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

Created by Bunk Beds.net

My Favorite Fall Potpourri

I love this time of year when the air gets crisp, and you can smell someone far off burning a fire to keep warm. I love the bright colors of all the trees and how naked they become. I love all thee wild life we get to see (because they can't hid so easily anymore). I love to see pumpkins everywhere. I love dressing my kids in the layerd look. I love the christmas music, and decorations in all the shops. I love the Ronald Mc Donald Cup o'Tea Homes Tour (going with my family makes it fun). And I love to simmer potpourri on my stove. Drives my OCD Husband crazy (because it stays on the stoves for weeks at a time), but it makes my house smell heavenly.

Okay, so in my smallest sauce pan, I add:
1 or 2 cut up apples with peel
1 sliced orange with rines
Add enough water to cover fruit
1 tablespoon each Cinnamon, pumkin pie spice, and cloves.

In december I exchange apple pie spice for the pumpkin pie spice.

Simmer on your stove on low heat. Add water as needed (so it doesnt burn)
I just put a lid on it at night and add more water the next day and simmer away.

Lasts about a week, then do it all over again. Smells so good.

To Decorate or to NOT to Decorate!?!

Christmas is coming. . . . . but we will not be here for it.