Christmas Cookies

I'm behind. Go figure. I will say that for the most part, my reason consists of spending time with my family so I'm ok with being behind (and overwhelmed).  The good news is I left my camera two weekends in a row so I don't have to do much for the past few weeks (trying to be positive about that) I am tired after working all week, but I am going to at least attempt 1 entry tonight. This is actually try number two...something has been going on with my computer and today I finally got it fixed!

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is making sugar cookies. I'll just say usually I mainly like the IDEA of making Christmas cookies. I always picture my cookies turning out like The Cookie Mama's. It never happens. They always look pitiful. And, they taste even worse.  This year I took the advice of Jan and made these cookies and they actually turned out ok. They didn't look wonderful...but at least they were edible and Bishop and I had fun making them. Thanks Jan for your advice! Oh, and Bishop LOVED them. And, I am thinking they got better the next day. I'll definitely make them again.

Someone kept snacking the whole time :)

My side............................Bishop's side

Now the fun part....sprinkles!!

I'm surprised we even had enough to decorate! Every time I turned around he was taking a bite out of another! Little Stinker!

Finished!!

BTW, he was NOT happy to leave Santa cookies and milk. HE wanted to eat them all!

A Homemade Christmas

This year I wanted to simplify things a bit by not doing quite as many gifts and not spending quite as many days rushing around the mall trying to land the "perfect gift" for everyone. Don't get me wrong...that still happened, but just not as much. I only went to the mall twice to shop...and that was at least one time too many for me! I mostly did online shopping but I also added a few homemade items to my gift list. I have to say...it was very rewarding and I hope to be able to do even more homemade gifts in the future.

Aprons I made for my two precious nieces. 

(and my first ruffles!)

Aren't they cute?!?!

Hot Chocolate mix with Darby's homemade marshmallows  (Darby was right...worth the mess!)

Wrapped with fabric ribbon and tags by MG Paperworks.

Now, I can't take full credit for the above photo or the next two. Leon had a hand (or two) in all of them. The frame is made from wood from my Grandmother's farm. It is from trees that had to be cut because they were damaged in the ice storm of 1994(ish?) and it has been kept under the barn since then. Leon made me one a few months ago and my mom loved it so we decided to make her one as a present and attempt a photo of all 4 of the boys. Since the pictures of the boys turned out so well...we decided to make my sisters one as well. They may or may not have thrown hints that they might like one :) And, if you know my family at all, you know Mandy is pretty much a sister so we made her one too. We forgot to take a picture of Mandy's or Wendy's. We tried to make them all a little different and I think everyone liked them. (I hope!)

I do plan on posting the pictures from our photoshoot at some point...I just had to wait until after Christmas. 

I stole this idea from my friend Cassie who writes one of the funniest blogs I know of. 

And I made this for my friend Maggie. I couldn't  find satsumas so I substituted tangerines.

And, I think that is it. I am going to have to start in October next year to come up with ideas for everyone again!

Oh, and almost as much as I like GIVING homemade gifts, I like GETTING homemade gifts!

Thanks Mags...love my scarf!

Happy Birthday JAKE!

Disney on Ice

Since Bishop's favorite character has been Mickey Mouse for months now, we decided to brave it and take   him to Disney on Ice.  I let Leon order the tickets and he got us front row seats!! If you know me, you know that I am way to cheap for that and would have never done that.  I have to admit, in the end, it really was worth it. We all really really enjoyed it! (even Leon!) His favorite was Mickey and all of the gang (of course) and maybe the Lion King. He loved it even though he really didn't know a lot of the characters. My favorite was Beauty and the Beast, Toy Story, and the Lion King (maybe because those are my favorite movies?) but everything was very, very good! I definitely would go again!

Woody was very....um, expressive. 

The best part about the front row was he got to shake hands with all of the characters at the end. It shocked me that he wasn't even scared! He just stood there with his little hand out waiting for all of them to shake his hand as they skated by.....PRECIOUS!

Christmas Parade

Last Monday we took Bishop to the Booneville Christmas Parade and as I suspected...he loved it. He especially LOVED the firetrucks and horses.

Oh, and he loved the candy.

WOW!

And, my favorite new "surprised" face!

You better watch out....

You better not cry....

This is how our Christmas card photoshoot went. Maybe I am terrible for taking the picture, but he is just so dramatic!!  I don't even remember what he was crying about?  He was not hurt though, I promise. I'm sure I had just said "no" to something he wanted....the usual.

I still love him to pieces though.

Oh Christmas Tree...

Don't you just LOVE a real Christmas tree? Well, I do. The smell...well, it just can't be beat. My husband complains about the hassle every year, but I know deep down he really does like it. Really, he does....right?  Since Bishop has been under the weather lately we decided to just go pick one up from Lowe's last weekend. Maybe next year we can do something more fun like go to a tree farm...or go get one from the woods or something. 

For the record, I did take pictures of our tree on the top of the Volvo on the way home, however, I am a not the brightest bulb and left the SD card in the computer at home. We really looked like the Griswold's. 

Bishop loved helping put the "balls" on the tree. He couldn't quite figure out that you hang them by the hooks, but he tried. 

My cute little helper

It is so colorful and cheerful and it makes me happy to look at it all lit up in our living room. 

I couldn't decide on color or white lights...and I'm happy I went with the colored ones! I actually love them both though!