Gum Drop Garland

Have you ever made gum drop garland?? If not, DON'T! I thought it would be so easy........the line gets so "gummed up" and the line easily cuts through the drop that you have to ever so easily pull the drop down the line perfectly straight. Too funny -- some how I signed myself up to do this for our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) table decorations. Just warning you in case you get suckered in to doing it :)

Cookie Exchange 2008

My baking day started out good....parchment paper and candy canes. However, the cookies I planned ended up like this... The thought went through my head -- no more cookie parties for me!! Alright, I can handle this...lets go to plan B. What is plan B? Luckily I dug up a receipe someone had given me...Spiced Apple Cookies. Not the best, but they will do. I'm all set and on my merry way.

When I arrived all these wonderful decorations were waiting for everyone! The party was an absolute hit! Great cookies, beautiful placemats, bags (notice the ornament on the bag), and new receipes for all! Can't wait for next year!! xoxoox

Nativity

I had to show off BJ's work. He got a templete to make this manger scene. He did a great job!!

SNOW

What a great day it was........Landon took pictures with Santa then low and behold....it was snowing when we were leaving! I wish I had a better picture. Tonight leaving church the cars were covered. Yea! A white Christmas :)

Christmas Ornament of the Year!

My mom was a hero when she brought Landon a new ornament for the tree. Can you tell what it is??? THOMAS THE TRAIN as Landon would say. My goodness.....moms will this obsession ever go away??!!??

Traditions

Two great ideas to make as traditions each Christmas...

1. Have your family do a birthday cake/birthday party for Jesus

2. Do only 3 gifts for each of your children on Christmas, representing the 3 gifts Jesus received from the Wisemen (you are taking the emphasis off gifts and putting it on the story of Jesus)

P.S. a cute story I heard recently was a mom telling a story of her 3 year old daughter asking "why do we get gifts at Christmas when it is Jesus' birthday and not ours?" The mom didn't really have a good answer (yikes). A while later the little girl came running down the hall saying, "I know why we get presents........they are our party favors at Jesus' birthday!"

Hodge Podge Soup

This is a tribute to Mimi.....when we lived with her 2 years ago (in between selling our house and moving to Madisonville) she gave me this receipe. I love it!!

1 lb. beef/turkey
2 cans Minestrone soup
1 can rotel
1 can corn (don't drain)
1 can pork & beans
1 pack of cornbread

*make corn bread as instructed on box
*brown beef
*mix all ingredients (except bread) in pot and heat through
*add cornbread on top.......easy and yummy.......winter welcome (no pun intended)!!