Our Loves

Cookies! Cookies!

It's cookie baking day!  Over the river and through the snow to the Grand loves house we go ...  and our sleigh will be loaded down with lots of gifts and baked goods.  So today is cookie baking day at our house.  And gift wrapping time this evening.  We are heading out a week early to spend extra time with our little loves so they can get some 'baking with Grandma' done.  I feel like Mrs. Claus with all my little elves as helpers.  It's so cute, they all grab their little aprons and take their spots on the kitchen stools as they wait for their kitchen assignments.  They love baking and I love teaching them. They take close note of the little secrets of cooking and every year I see the advances in their techniques.  They look like a little assembly line when it comes to decorating the cookies etc. Today I'm baking cut out sugar cookies in several shapes and gingerbread boys and girls.  It's a time saver having them pre-baked and ready for decorating. That enables us time for baking other cookies and candies. I foresee a lot of smiles and sticky fingers in my near future!

Pictures are of some of the sweets I baked last Christmas. 

   

Snowman

 ... now tell me, isn't this the cutest snowman?  I think this is the neatest idea. I hope we have some 'packy' snow while we are visiting our Grand loves over Christmas.  I think they would get a kick out of watching Grandma making a snowman ~ let alone an upside down one!  And snow angels, can't wait!  Pictures to follow, weather permitting!

A to Z's of Christmas

Mel over at Up North with Mel did an A to Z Christmas list on her blog and ended with "So what's your A to Z;s of Christmas?" Well now, being that she is my sister - that sounds like a challenge - so here goes:

A to Z's of Christmas 

a - adoration 

b - birth

c - Christ

d - decorations

e - eggnog

f - family

g - gingerbread

h - holly

i - icicles

j - Jesus

k - Kris Kringle

l - love

m - mistletoe

n - noel

o - ornaments 

p - poinsettia 

q - quilt 

r - reindeer

s - Santa 

t - tinsel 

u - unwrapping 

v - visitors

w - wreaths

x - xmas 

y - yule log

z - zzzz - a long winter's nap

footnote: x is a Greek symbol for Christ - but please note that I personally prefer to use the word CHRIST in Christmas

Nov 11, 2011 – Explanation of the origin and use of the abbreviation xmas. ... an unknown (since the Greek letter chi, [C,c] which looks like the English letter x, is the symbol ... 1) Using an "X" to replace Christ's name in Christmas - i.e. Xmas

So tell me, what is does your A to Z Christmas list look like? 

~ It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ~

UPDATE on Bling! Bling!

I've had a few inquiries as to the 

meaning of 'bling bling' 

I hope this helps:

World English Dictionary

bling-bling or bling
— adj
1.	slang  flashy; ostentatious; glitzy
— n
2.	ostentatious jewellery

Shh...

 I've been at it again 

 making up some 

whimsical pictures 

for my grand-loves 

for Christmas. 

'Hush' is the word.

Christmas is nearly here so once again I decided to find a seasonal background! ~ Then I came across this perfect picture while surfing the net ~ and well, you know me -I just had to share.  ~  Once I get over this latest lazy spell I've been stuck in  ~ I will start to pull out some holiday decorations ~ piece by piece until the next snowflakes fall ~ that means baking ~ I don't know why but I love to bake Christmas cookies when it's snowing! ~ And I'm finally into stage one of shopping ~ I'm beginning to 'think' about it. ~ Shopping is not one of my favorite things to do. ~ Personally, I think gifts should come from the heart and be given when ever one feels like gifting. ~ But we do love seeing those happy faces on the Grand-loves as they open their gifts from Grandpa and Grandma! ~ And the hugs  ~ well, they're just 'priceless!' ~  How are you all doing on your Christmas to-do lists? ~ 

Subtle Hints

We had a wonderful Christmas smothered in Grand-loves! 

 We recieved this gift with a subtle hint ~

I guess they want us to move closer! 

Christmas Goodies

Go ahead ~ help yourself!

 Calories were magically removed!

My virtual gift to you!

Merry Christmas!

images found on net 

Oh my goodness

 what's that girl been up to now?

I remember waking up in what seemed like another world on Christmas morning because Santa came. Not only did he drop off toys but he also delivered a beautiful tree. What a breath-taking wonderful surprise! It was dressed in colorful balls, candle ornamets that bubbled, and sparkling lights - all draped in shimmering silver icicles. Each one perfectly hanging across the branch, as if the elves had an inch-worm in their pocket to determine the spacing of each icicle. And the floor was covered with presents, presents, presents! We each recieved one or two gifts, but it was always exactly what we wanted. Santa is so good at this sort of thing. I suppose I was in awe because there were so many gifts, but now I realize it was because there were nine of us kids in the house. However, beieve me, we were all very content with what we recieved. Our socks were hung on the fireplace and magically filled with various fruits while we slept. Bowls of nuts were set out on the table and we could only see a few crumbs left behind where we had left cookies for Santa. 

But now it seems that every year the trees go up earlier and earlier. As much as children like to help decorate, and yes I know that Santa is a very busy man, I personally think it takes away that moment of 'awe and surprise' for them on Christmas morning.  Stores are running the holidays all together. I remember when they would at least let Thanksgiving pass before seeing the Chirstmas items on the shelves. But like life itself, traditions change and we continue to adapt. But I still sometimes prefer tradition.

  Reminder:

 JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON!  

Dolls ~ How do they get their names?

I couldn't begin to tell you how many dolls have held a prominent place in either my heart, the hearts of my sisters, my daughters and now my Grandaughters.  Dolls certainly hold a special place in the hearts of little girls, regardless of what timeframe they are born in or what branch they are hanging on in the family tree.

Of course once a doll is placed into the hands of its new "mommy", she then has the honor of naming her new "baby."

You just never know what is in the minds of little ones as they go through the "naming" process.

I remember naming my dolls Penny and Nicky (short for nickle) because that particular year I was learning about how to count money. Very clever ~ don't you agree?  A generation later I have to believe my daughter named her doll by recognizing words that went together.  She named her baby Polly. But not just Polly, if you asked her she would let you know in no uncertain terms that her babies name was Polly Esther.  lol  Oh how her Great Aunts loved that name. They remembered that doll and her name for many years to follow. My youngest daughter had a not so handsome boy cabbage patch doll whom she named Homer. Her Uncle teasingly made a comment about her "ugly" little baby and she said "he's not ugly he's Homer Lee."  Another doll unforgotton. 

Our Grandaughters recieved numerous gifts from numerous people again this year. Books, video games, cameras, sleds etc. etc. and of course a few new dollies.  Well our little Sydney recieved a special new baby and she named her Kelly. But once again, following in her Mothers footsteps; she listened to words that she knew belonged together... after all her sister recieved a computer game called "Kelly's Pet Parade."  You guessed it ~ that's her babies name.  Not just Kelly, but "Kelly's Pet Parade!"  I guess it's true: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.   

Shopping

Well wouldn't you know we'd get around to our Christmas shopping on the coldest dang day we've had so far this winter. And technically "winter" hasn't even arrived yet. I would say the wind chill was a tad bit "chilly" right around 10 to 15 below zero depending on the gusts. 

But we did get our shopping done ~ and we did good! I forsee a lot of happy little faces again this year.  Our Grandkids recieved their letters from Santa today.  The six year old was so excited she threw her head back as she was reading her letter and exclaimed "Mrs. Claus loves the same kind of fudge as I do ~ Chocolate mint, and Santa said I should look for some under my tree!" 

Now I have to ask, How exciting is that?  ~ she has a personal connection with the big fella's wife.  They are at the wonderful ages that make Christmas so exciting.  Their eyes just sparkle and their voices echo in ranges of squeals and giggling.  With camera in hand - her comes Grandma. I can hardly wait!