Christmas Goodies

Today my friend, a mommy of a 15 month old, who is pregnant with twins, dropped off a pack of those 'break-n-bake' cookies with a card attached that read, "Christmas is Jolly, Christmas is sweet. I'm stressed out, make your own dang treat!" A few years ago my neighbor gave us the same pre-made packaged cookie dough. I thought it was a very cute idea.
It has been a while since we've gotten any plates of goodies and now pondering what we'd like to pass around to our friends and neighbors, I need some ideas.
What are your favorite goodies to make at Christmas? What are your favorite to receive?
my dear friend Cindy made us some wonderful (and addicting) chocolate covered shortbread. Last year my neighbor made these heavenly chocolate/oats/caramel bars.
I'd like to get some ideas from you.

Honey, I'm Home!

It has been so fun to have Abram home so much. I mean he is still gone a lot, out 'campaigning', applying for jobs, trying to round up some more clients, etc. But he has been home more than usual which has been great! We've had some car trouble and have been down to one car again, but I don't think I've ventured out yet since it became december. ( I abhor Holiday traffic) so it has been just fine. I have been much less effective on getting my own 'chores' accomplished with him around, so the house is a disaster mostly, but I just have this general feeling of happiness and well-being.
I'm going to try to get the christmas present making over with. I have a baby doll quilt/pillow to do, a few monkeys, a skirt to finish, a baby doll sling, a cape/mask to finish, a stuffed something to make and I have no ideas yet what to make for my mom/mother-in-law. Thankfully Abram is taking care of the men. He has made 4 knives so far.
What are you making this Christmas?

cute

I keep thinking Aisling is past the age of cute quotations, but she keeps surprising me.
The other day we were telling her all about the scary movie Jurassic Park. Today she came and asked me when she would be old enough to watch 'gymnastic park'.
then this weekend I cooked Tater-Tots instead of hash browns for breakfast. She came in and looked exclaiming, "I LOVE teeter-toters!"

$$-Free Christmas

I talked to some friends this week and heard a few things they were doing to save money, or not spend so much money this Christmas. One bought most of her 3 year old's toys from Goodwill, another had limited her spending to $50 per kid. I know some crazy women who will get up at the crack of dawn to battle the rage infested Black Friday Shoppers to get great deals. I've read people's blogs about how they are already done with their Christmas shopping and others who are dreading going out. What about you? Are you going all out this year? Or are you settling in for a simpler Christmas?
We never have gone hog wild for Christmas or for anything actually. I sometimes wonder if I was loaded financially if I would feel the same way. I just feel like we and our kids do not need the latest and greatest, in fact I do my best so thay they won't even know what the latest and greatest is. My daughters found out about "Anna Ontana" at a birthday party (Hannah Montana) but we explained to them that she is a teenager and little kids don't need to play with teenager stuff. Are we mean, or what? We usually stick to a 3 gift per child Christmas. It used to be a book, a toy, and pjs. It has broadened a bit, but I don't think they need many gifts. They get some from grandparents and cousins. I don't think Abram or I need any gifts. He usually finds a way to get things that he really wants throughout the year, and I am expert at going without. ( I realized this morning I only have 3 pair of pants that fit. That may have something to do with the fact that I'm not quite back into my regular size yet)
This year for Christmas I'm going to try not to buy anything. I have been busy making presents and might have to buy a few notions for the projects, but I am really scrounging around my house to find resources. So far, so good.

Christmas Carolling

Tonight we drove around a bit while Abram was checking out a Black Hawk Helicoptor with the Young Men. The kids and I checked out some Christmas lights and sang a few Christmas songs. The girls don't know many yet, and it was funny to hear some of the words they sang. For instance, "Frosting the Snowman!"
And "then how the reindeer loved him, and they shouted out with fleas! Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, you'll go down in mysteries!"
We saw a house with a big blow-up Santa riding a motorcycle. Aisling said, "that must be a dude's house." Clearly, only "Dude's" have santas on harleys.

My friend Nicole helped me (she actually did it for me) make a superhero cape for my nephew. It is a very smooth, shiny red fabric that is just awesome for a superhero. Now it just needs a shield shape and a giant S sewn on. Aisling decided Sam (the nephew) will probably like it, even though it is a girl color. Funny coming from the girl whose favorite color is blue.

We finally got to see Prince Caspian and I think that actor is quite cute. He or Peter would've made a better Edward (Twilight) in my opinion. But what can I say? I still haven't seen the movie. Personally I don't like the appearance of Anna Popplewell who plays Susan, and I don't care for her character either. I really didn't like the eyeliner job they did on her for the film. That's me, the new film critic. I thought it was pretty good, not too scary or overly violent. The kids liked it.

I have been reading a biography about John Adams and have loved it. I'm more than half way through, around 500 pages so far. I hadn't done any studying on our founding fathers until this year. I did a bit of study on George Washington and everyone loves and respects him. Did you know he didn't take any pay while he was general or president? I have also gained the most profound respect for John Adams. He was incorruptible. How would you like to see one like that nowadays? After this I want to find out more about Thomas Jefferson. The biographer paints him in a not too kindly light and I'd like to see if I can get another perspective. In this book, really the only good contribution he gave us was wording the Declaration. In my mind that isn't enough to earn him the fame and honor he has received. John Adams really was a singular man and should be more loudly lauded and held as an example to ourselves and our children of the kind of people we would want to aspire to be. I have had a quote of his on my wall for the last 3 years. It says, "Let them revere nothing but religion, morality and liberty." This was a standard he held for his own children, and for himself. Jefferson is quoted as having said many wonderful, true and inspiring things. Unfortunately, according to this source, he wasn't able to muster the self-discipline to live his beliefs. I'm not judging the man personally, just that we as a nation honor someone who might not be so worthy of it. I'll look into it and get back to you.

Dog Free

We are finally dogless.
The girls were pretty sad at first, but they're handling it rather well. Poochie has been gone more than a month now, and Chance finally got the boot this weekend. I think they have both gone to really great homes and will be happy in their new lives.

Finally!

I just got an email this morning. Snapfish has completed my photo book order. It says "ordered 11/14, shipped 12/7. I must have ordered some fancy book! Why on earth would it take so long?
It says it should be here in 3-5 business days. Well, I am relieved, and looking forward to getting my book. Mine is pictures of our trip to Hawaii in 2007. What did you make yours about?

Aisling Jae

My big girl has turned 6. <"at last", is how she feels> After all, all of her friends are 6 already.
She was lucky enough to have her actual birthday on Thanksgiving this year. We were able to have a 'cousins' birthday party for her the day before.
My wonderful sister really helped me out (like usual) with the party and activities. I think it was fun, but a bit much.
We did all of the girls hair, make-up and nails (10 girls) which took a long time, but they were all very patient and happy. We should have called it good with that, but we also made this craft which was VERY cute and fun, but not very age appropriate. My niece who is 8 made 3 or 4, but the rest of them needed help and all the adults got burned on the hot glue gun at least once.
We ran out of time, didn't even sing happy birthday, just basically threw a cupcake at each kid and let chaos rule. I think things were under control until all the grandparents started showing up. The party should've been over by then, but it wasn't. Then 5 adults come in, all wanting to talk and visit and all the kids were wanting their letters wrapped and it was just crazy! I love them all and I think everyone had fun.
My sis brought colored hair spray stuff and the girls got a kick out of colored hair. They felt very cool.
Aisling liked her party and loved having her cousins here. She was happy to get blue (her favorite color) frosting on her cupcakes and felt like she was cheating to get fingernail polish. ( we don't allow it in the house)
Aisling is becoming quite a good helper ( at last! says momma) and loves to pretend she is "Pupcake" the wonderful minding, helper dog. (Which I love too!) If ever I need her help, I can count on Pupcake's happy, panting help complete with ruff-ruffs.
Aisling is still very boisterous and moody, but she is usually easy to coax a smile from. She loves to play tricks and tease.
Her favorite food is probably chili (from a can, how easy is that?) and definitely no-bake cookies.
But she is getting better about being willing to try the food I make for dinner. I am seeing a light at the end of the "that's disgusting!" tunnel.
Her daddy is her buddy and they get to do all kinds of fun things together (sometimes I'm jealous, but usually just grateful) and she thrives on having his undivided attention.
She loves animals and asks us all the time when will we live on a farm? And that she wants to be a cowgirl when she grows up. She was very sad that we just got rid of both our dogs since moving back to the suburbs. She has decided we should let her get a little dog, or a cat, or a hamster, guinea pig or rat. I don't think so.
She is the most grateful of the kids so far. SHe really appreciates when I do things for her, or make things for her and will thank you for it for years to come.
Aisling is a very determined little thing and is hard to dissuade when she decides something.
All of her siblings consider her their favorite, which is a wonderful quality for the oldest child to possess. She can always get the other kids to smile and they all want to play with her.
She loves to play video games with her grandpa, her uncle Tay, or her dad. I guess anyone who will let her play with them. I don't know, but it seems to me she is pretty good for a 5 yr old who doesn't own a gaming system. (now she is 6, I know)
She REALLY wants to see Prince Caspian, I've been hearing about it ALL year. Anyone know if it's ok for kids?
We love and enjoy our energetic, personality-plus girl and look forward to seeing her grow and develop her attributes. Thank You, Aisling! You were first in our hearts and your strong will shall be a blessing to you.

Photo Books

Has anyone gotten their photo books from snapfish? My sister got hers about a week ago, and she ordered hers after I did. I still haven't received mine. Should I be worried? Also hers had some blurry looking pages, anyone else have this problem?