Some Lovely Randomness

It's Valentine's Day, and that means little to our house. Except for Boo who loves any reason to make a card...

Things have been a moving lately, so much going on. We find out this week about Boo's school situation, so keeping my fingers crossed on that one.

I worked at my companies conference this past week, it was interesting. My team from the office was wondering if my face hurt from using my "corporate voice"' and "nice smile" all day long. Yes...yes it did. I felt a bit like Barbie from the end of Toy Story 2...

I am gearing up to possibly do a big Once a Month cooking day. We will see how that pans out. I am testing all the recipes on my family, or as Boo calls it "Are we your pigs again?" Yes dear, yes you are. Today I made Stuffed Pancake Muffins, and they were yummy. Those will be made again!

Speaking of Toy Story 3...who's excited for that movie! ME ME ME ME ME! More excited for Toy Story 3 than Eclipse! I love Toy Story movies, have the first two on VHS. Boo is bit geared up for it too, not to sure about Hunter though. Just think about all the new innuendos that will come from this one!

It is snowing again, not sure how I feel about this.

I am watching the Olympics so much! I watched the Biathlon today, who does that! Me! It love the Olympics and love that they are in our time zone so I can actually watch Hockey without waking up at 2 am. Apollo Ohno...need I say more.

Boo is sleeping over at Little Bro's tonight...that is HUGE! There is no school tomorrow, and SIL offered to watch Boo who was OVER THE MOON at the chance to play with her cousins all Day LONG. She packed Wii games, snow gear and her DS (which she then left on the counter). I can't wait for the stories to come out this!

I have no kid, a dog in bed and a Hubby at work...I am going to bed!

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a blast at Big Sis and BIL's house. All the kids were together to open gifts for the first time EVER and that was FANTASTIC, even though a big chaotic. The poor cats are STILL trying to recover (the adults too).

This is my nephew, EC. He is 2 1/2 and a HOOT to talk too. He thinks everything through, and will give you the most insane attitude ever. He got a dinosaur from Ma, and fell in LOVE with it "This is my friend Dinosaur".

Here is my SIL opening her gift from me. I purposely used ZhuZhu pets boxes because they scare her. Boo has the set from when I did the review a while back, and they freaked her out. I KNEW I had to do use them. She was not as impressed, even though she LOVED her mouse and Princess and the Frog goodies inside.

I love being with my family, because they get my kids. The understand Boo's need for Lego's, Littlest Petshop and clothes. She got some of all on Christmas Eve, and more. I think the shirts from Big Sis, the pants from Ma and the game from my SIL won though.

My other nephew RC is a very controlled never-show-emotion kid. At bowling (they bowl with Hunter and Boo) he never shows his excitement, fights the smiles every time. I knew opening this gift would bring a huge smile, so I was ready for it! The boy loves his Lego's!

We took some down time after eating our appetizer meal, and the kids watched Night at the Museum while munching on cookies and more snacks. Having them all together is wonderful. Hunter didn't want to leave at the end of the night, he just loved being together.

CHEERS to Christmas Eve all together! I am so glad we were able to all come together. CHEERS to Big Sis and BIL for having the entire brood over and enduring the crazy wild kids. CHEERS to the family, the love and the chaos!

The house is quiet once again.

Boo is asleep, much to her dismay.

Koda is bundled down, much to his glee.

Hubby and I are about to fall over, which I think Hubby already did.

We spent the day with family, and waiting. It was great to be with my niece and nephew, to once again be able to watch them open presents and just be together.

The kids spent almost two hours outside after gifts and brunch, and came in SOAKED to the bone. Two changed clothes, and all had coats in the dryer. Boo made a new friend, which doesn't surprise me in the least.

Hunter went home, which always makes me sad. It seems worse because of the day.

We got about 12 inches of snow so far, and it is snowing again right now. The roads are slushy after the rain mixed in, and some cities forgot what a snow plow is. We pulled one person out of a snow bank, offered two others who already had help on the way.

It was a day of family, fun and just being together. Boo is in hog heaven with her new books, clothes and games for the Wii. Hunter about freaked when he opened his very first hunting shotgun, I have never seen his face like that, not even at their birthdays. This topped it all.

I have pictures, and more stories. Last night we were at Big Sis's house, and that needs a post all in itself. Why? Let's see...snow, 2 year old, two 7 year olds and a 12 year old. You think about THAT one for a while.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, that you were able to hug your loved ones, you were healthy and you had a joyous time!

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas from The FritzFacts! We hope your days are safe, fabulous and full of love!

Lost under the ribbon

Deep Breaths everyone...Christmas is less than a week away.

Are YOU ready?

Are your gifts all bought?

Wrapped?

Stop laughing, mine aren't either. I keep saying I will wrap as I buy, every year I say this, but it never happens. Not once.

Only now, we are getting a bit closer to THE DAY, and I haven't wrapped a single thing. Not good.

So, tonight while I watch the Vikings play I will be working on that...hopefully...if Koda doesn't try to EAT THE WRAPPING PAPER. That is sort of key. Crazy dog...

What about you? Have you finished shopping? Wrapping/Bagging?

Baking Day

Last weekend we were finally able to have baking day, or Cookie Palooza as Big Sis calls it.

It was a blast.

The sisters, Ma and 4 kids all got together and baked the day away. We laughed, yelled, measured and helped the kids make some wonderful decorations.




Baking day was a huge success, with us each bringing home more than we ever thought we would get done. We could have done more, but the kids had had enough, the grown ups had sore feet and Koda was sick of being locked up.

I can't wait for 2010!

Some Closure

I realized this week that I have left a TON of things open lately, so sorry. So in effort to close some thing out, I give you this post. lol

Boo's Foot:
Boo foot was NOT broken, but she did have two inflamed ligaments and a strained tendon. You could feel the heat coming off her foot. The surgical shoe wasn't needed, but she was ace wrapped for over a week, and was not allowed to participate in gym or regular recess. All is better now, with some slight discomfort only every once in a while.

Hubby's Grandma:
Being the over-achiever that Grandma is, she is already back in Iowa resting in a smaller hospital. She spent a total of 4 days in the big hospital when they deemed her well enough to not be a high risk patient. This woman is a rockstar!

The Bathroom:
We are slowly working on the bathroom. To get it framed in we used gift cards only, so now we are slowing down. Small steps! It should be done by the time I turn 80 or so! lol

Hunter's Mad Skills!:
I can't say enough about Hunter's Mad Skills right, I am still a bit in disbelief of how his day at the tournament went. He spent some time this morning focusing on what he wanted to happen today, and how he wanted to bowl. Warm-ups were good, he adjusted where he needed and read the lanes pretty well. His first game, 154. His second game, 158. His third game, Oh My Lanta, 188!! I was amazed and so very proud of him, still am. There is a good chance that he will once again make it to state, but we won't know for sure until after the 30th, and state is on the 9th or 10th. Good thing he is here that weekend!

The Sleep Clinic:
This is really a post within itself, but because we don't KNOW a ton, I will trim it down a bit. We spent almost two hours with the doctor for her appointment. He told me first off, that I was doing everything that I possibly could right (woohoo!) and that he wished all his patients parents filled out the forms as well as I had.

Right now we are working on the Quality of her sleep, and once we figure out why that is all goofy we will work on the Quantity of her sleep. He told me that every time she gets up during the night, it takes close to a hour to get back into good sleep. So, if Boo sleeps total 10 hours, but gets up three or four times she is really getting six or seven good hours of sleep. Not much for her. We are working to clear up a couple issues first, see if they impact her sleep at all and so far they have. She is still getting up, but some other "while sleep" issues are getting better. She still has a hard time going to sleep at night, but that will be worked on once this stuff is fixed.

She will have a sleep study, but not until February or so. They want to give her treatment now a chance to work before we go that route. After the sleep study, she will most likely pay a visit to ENT and Allergy as they both seem to play a part.

Did you know that they "grade" tonsils on a score of 0-4? Boo is at a 2, not bad but not great either. Also, did you know that bags under your eyes is NOT from lack of sleep but sinus and/or nasal congestion. Strange facts I learned at the sleep clinic!

I think that's it. I have to start getting this house ready for The Great Cookie Bake Off 2009! We are all gathering tomorrow to bake the day away, and I can't stinking wait!

Everything You Always Wanted To Know About How We Celebrate Christmas

It is Christmas time, and as an adult I LOVE Christmas. I am borrowing this from Girlymama and Musings of a Housewife because why do they get to have all the fun!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Oh Hot Chocolate and I are best friends.

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? All gifts are wrapped in our house. I love watching the kids faces when they pull something open.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Oh Colored, 100%. I went through 9 ads on Black Friday to find a tree on sale that had colored lights.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.

5. When do you put your decorations up? This depends...if Hunter is with us for Thanksgiving, they go up that weekend. If not, then the next weekend he is with us. I hate even thinking about his missing out on that!

6. What is your favorite holiday dish? Cookies...is that a dish...

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Christmas at my Aunt's, playing outside after lunch, all the cookies Ma would make for us while we decorated the tree...do I have to pick just one?

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? Santa is real people...whatchutalkinabout

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When we got older, my parents would let us but my kids do not unless we are at someones house. But again this depends on Hunter. If he is with us on Christmas Eve he opens all his presents on Christmas Eve, otherwise we wait for him on Christmas Morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I don't, the kids do for the most part. We have a hodge-podge of ornaments that are from me growing up, and the ones that the kids pick out each year. It is a fun tree for them.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Love it! We are getting some this week and I can't wait.

12. Can you ice skate? Sure...or something like that. When I was younger I was on the ice almost everyday. Now I am older and out of shape.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? Ever? No. But I got Kris Mutts one year, those were pretty cool. Last year Big Sis got me my scrapbook bag, and that almost brought tears to my eyes!

14. What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family, eating and being lazy for a whole week!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Of course

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Setting out Santa's cookies with Boo (crap...I have no idea where that plate is) and sitting in the dark with the tree lit up.

17. What tops your tree? This year...nothing. We got a new tree and our old topper doesn't work. I am on the hunt!

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving. I love watching people's faces

19. Candy Canes: Yuck or Yum? Oh sweet heaven YUM!

20 Favorite Christmas Show? National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, The Christmas Story (even more so this year) and MAJORLY White Christmas

21. Saddest Christmas Song? Hard Candy Christmas by Dolly Parton (from Best Little Whorehouse in Texas....that's going to bring some funny google searches).

22. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Silent Night/Peace Peace when sung by a Choir, otherwise Songs for a Winters Night by Sarah McLachlan (from the remake of Miracle on 34th Street) or Believe by Josh Groban (from Polar Express)

Let me know if you do this, I want to know about your Christmas too!

Try This! - Holiday Cookies

It is time again for Try This, hosted by Girlymama. I love this carnival, and have found some great recipes.

This months theme, holiday cookies of course!

I am reposting one of my favorites, because the world is not complete unless EVERYONE has tried BUCKEYES. So good, so rich and so perfect in every way!!



Almost Instant Buckeyes

Ingredients:
1 (10 oz.) pkg peanut butter chips
1 (16 oz) can Pillsburgy Creamy Supreme Vanilla Frosting
1 (12 oz) pkg light cocoa candy melts or coating wafers (or chocolate almond
bark)

Directions:

1. Line cookie sheets with waxed paper. Melt peanut putter chips in medium saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in frosting. Let stand about 30 minutes or until cool enough to handle.

2. Roll mixture into 1-inch balls. Place on waxed paper-lined cookie sheet.
Refrigerate 15 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, melt candy melts as directed on package.

4. To coat each ball with candy, pierce ball with toothpick; dip in melted candy leaving small are around toothpick uncoated. Place dipped ball on waxed paper-line cookie sheet, pushing the candy off the toothpick with the tines of a fork. (If desired, smooth toothpick mark with finger.)

If melted candy sets up while dipping, rewarm in microwave on LOW power. Let stand 5 minutes or until set. Putting in the fridge sets quicker.

Makes 6 dozen Buckeyes.

Man, now I want to make some. Must resist for another week!

Head on over to Girlymama for more Try This posts!

Thanksgiving and then some

I could say that I am sorry I haven't been around...but that would be a lie.

So, I will tell you that I have been too busy, worn out, laughing too hard, sleeping too little and being with the family all week long.

It started with Hunter coming a day early. While this made my day, it threw a kink into my schedule. After begging the Grandparents to take him for the night, it was solved. Plus, my FIL had been going through Hunter withdrawls.

We spent Thursday among family, and it was wonderful. The siblings all stayed until later, we played games and tortured the children. It was the best thanksgiving yet!

Friday I was up at the crack of dawn to to go a few stores with Big Sis. We hit Target, Micheal's, Old Navy and Best Buy. Best Buy was a huge disappointment. They had no good movies on sale, and that is what I mainly hunt for on Black Friday. I did get Boo a new winter coat at Old Navy, her zipper is all jacked up on her current one. I got her this one in the Plum color (not listed for some strange reason). It was only $15! Such a deal.

I also got Hunter a hilarious graphic-t there, they have the best ones in my opinion (these crack me up the most). I wanted to get this one for me, but got this one for Hunter instead. I also debated getting this one for my sister in law too, it is totally her shirt (make sure you read the fine print at the bottom, too funny!)

Target is always my favorite. I don't mind the lines, it gave me an Big Sis some time to talk more. I got a ton of movies, and some fuzzy socks for Boo's stocking. Big Sis got what she was hunting for, and a couple other things too. The people at Target weren't as crazy as other places, but it was busy.

Micheal's I was in search for the $3.99 wreathe they had on sale. I got it, plus ribbon and mini ornaments. I didn't have a wreathe, never had a place to hang it. I knew I wanted to make the wreathe myself, so much cheaper that way. It was pretty easy to do, I will have to show pictures soon.

Friday we also got my new Christmas Tree. I have had a 3 1/2 foot tree since Hubby and I started living together (9 years ago) but with the new house I got to get a "normal" size tree, and we found the best one. I love it, it is pre-lit with multi-colored lights and has enough branches to look pretty full. I can't find a picture online, and I haven't take one yet so use your imagination! lol

Saturday we decorated the house, the outside lights were hung and had some family time. The boys played on the Wii while Boo and I made her Gingerbread House. Then had to fix her gingerbread house because someone, who shall remain nameless but has 4 legs and a tail, tried to EAT her gingerbread house. It is all fixed, just looks a bit like a shanty now!

Sunday was just us all day. We made cookie dough, decorated the tree and watched the Vikings go 10-1! It was a good day. A good Thanksgiving and a good weekend all together.

Mother's Day 2009

Today is Mother's Day, but in my house...it is Packing Day!!

Ma, Big Sis and I spent a better part of the day packing and getting things organized for the move next weekend...6 days people...

But, we did take a break for some pampering, we decided to get pedicures and bring Boo along too.

We all were in a line, feet soaking on the baths. Boo kept telling us "how wonderful!" it all was, until her feet started getting tickled. Talk about a ticklish girl.

I wasn't much better. It is like I am having convulsions in the leg when I get a pedicure...very ticklish.

But we all had a great time, and Boo told us that next time she would purple like me.

Next time???

I have created a MONSTER!!

Have you Hugged Your Admin Today???

Today is the day to recognize and really appreciate your Admin/Secretary/Assistant/Helper.

Today, is Admin Day!! All this week at my office there have been mini celebrations for the administrative staff: cookies, e-mails and luncheons. Last week the staff that I work with recognized the admins for all their hard work over this past year with closer parking (our lot is HUGE) and the monthly statue. It was great to see the support we get.

Make sure you tell your Admin "Thanks!"-"You Rock!" or simply "We really appreciate you!". They work hard, and don't ask for much!

Now, a twisted joke that makes me laugh each and every time I read it!

A big mining company recently hired several cannibals. "You are all part of our team now", said the HR manager during the welcoming briefing. "You get all the usual benefits and you can go to the cafeteria for something to eat, but please don't eat any of the other employees".The cannibals promised they would not.

Four weeks later their boss remarked, "You're all working very hard, and I'm satisfied with you. However, one of our Admins has disappeared. Do any of you know what happened?"The cannibals all shook their heads indicating "no".

After the boss had left, the leader of the cannibals said to the others, "Which one of you idiots ate the Admin ?"A hand rose hesitantly, to which the leader of the cannibals continued, "You fool! For four weeks we've been eating Managers and Supervisors and no one noticed anything, but noooooo, you had to go and eat someone important!

A Holiday Recap

I was waiting to write this until we were all done celebrating Christmas...but I can't wait anymore.

With the rotating holiday schedule for Hunter, the days are all squeezed into one week, either before or after Christmas. This year, Hunter came on Christmas Eve night, and he is here until this Sunday. We are loving the long week with him, and he is loving the break off school.

We have been so blessed to have such wonderful time with our family. This afternoon we have more time, and our last celebration. It will be great to see our cousins from Iowa, we don't see them nearly enough since they moved.

My kids love to give gifts that make people smile, and we had a great deal of that this year. Giving Mom her first digital camera, their cousin his first set of Lego's, and listening to their young cousin scream "MICKEY" over and over again. It was wonderful.

The gifts they received were limited this year, from us at least. We decided long ago to cut down to three from us and Santa, and they each bought one for each other. It was great to see the excitement that came across their faces as they opened some thing they wanted, something they never thought they would receive.

Both kids received a Nintendo DS this year, something to keep them entertained in the car during long car rides, and something they can earn more games for. Boo and Hunter were both so excited, with thank yous flowing to us and Hubby's parents.

I think my favorite gift they received was Boo's "Build A Fort" kit. It is the coolest thing EVER. It has rope, clips and suction cups along with the canvass pieces. She uses my blankets and yarn almost every day to build forts or "Shelters" when she thinks I don't know they are the same. Half my blankets are all stretched out, not a good time. We are busting this out tomorrow, the one day we have nothing going on. I can't wait!

Hunter is in love with his i-Dog. I won this on Classy Mommy's blog. The lights and action are great, and you can make it do tricks! That is the coolest part I think. I keep hearing it bark though, so that is a bit odd at times...lol

I got my rolling scrapbook bag!!! I squealed...Hubby laughed at me. Big Sis always knows just the right thing to make my day a bit brighter, and this year was no different. When we went to our scrapbook night in November, I felt like an inadequate scrapbooker. I had my canvass bags, and that was it. Big Sis had her cool rolly bag, and so did everyone else. Now I have one too! I can't wait to load it up, and I need to do that since my craft area looks like a tornado hit it.

Below is a slide show, works so much better than uploading a bajillion pictures. Thanks to Jo-Lynne at Musing of a Housewife for turning my on to One True Media!

Today is the last holiday, but also Mom's birthday. Happy Birthday Mom!!! We love you!!!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Merry Christmas!!

The stockings have been hung.

The notes have been written.

The reindeer food has been sprinkled in the yard.


The cookies have been left out, with a glass of milk to wash them down.

The note tells Santa NOT to eat the gingerbread house.

Boo is tucked into bed (with cough medicine coursing through her system),

Hunter has been picked up and tucked into bed at Grandma and Grandpa's.

Hubby is at work, making triple time as I write (woohoo).

I am settling down to watch X-Men and finish wrapping the presents.

Okay...start wrapping the presents.

I hope everyone has a wonderful happy Merry Christmas!!

Baking Day!

Saturday was cookie day. After Boo got done with bowling, we headed up to Big Sis' house to bake the day away. Watching the weather I was prepared. I had a change of clothes for both of us, and tooth brushes. Last year we had snow and rain, this year just a lot of snow.

We had a lot to do, and with the prospect of a sleepover, we weren't overly rushed this year. We got the dough made for the sugar cookies, the gingerbread cookies and then made the Spritz cookies.

Have you ever made those???

They are EVIL. I am telling you that machine is the most evil thing I have ever had to deal with. But, we made it through and got a ton done. Boo loves putting the sprinkles on, making them "More Festive" as she calls it.

Big Sis and I did rock-paper-scissors to see who had to change the dough green, and she lost. I wonder if the green is off her hands yet... Boo wanted to do the red, Go Nuts Baby!

And she did.

My Mom was there as well, and showed us how to make Church Window cookies. Colored mini marshmallows, nuts, chocolate chips and an egg. SO FREAKIN GOOD!!! I am keeping this away from Boo. She will eat them all they are that good.

Boo also got to work the mixer. I thing she felt the most love for this job.

After a long day of baking, we called it a night. We didn't decorate a single cookie. Sunday morning, after pancakes to replenish our strength we got down to it. We decorated the sugar cookies, and some HUMONGOUS cookies on sticks. Boo liked those the best (shocking).

And what cookie decorating wouldn't be complete with a phone call from Hubby. He spent the weekend snowmobiling, and would call to check the weather reports. He had the best weekend, and was telling Boo all about it.

The cookies were all boxed up and we headed home. After a slippery drive we made it. We divided the cookies up, home and work and I took them in on Monday.

Once again, Success!! My co-workers love when I do this each year. A personal gift, that comes from a fun fun night with Big Sis and my Mom.

Busy Day!

Today was busy day for me. I had so much to do, and less than 4 hours to get it done. But, I got it all! I am excited that I am done shopping for the kids, and even got a great start on my holiday craft.

This morning I went:
- Dropped Boo off at school, her backpack was heavy (Grandpa told her to start lifting weights!).
- Ran to CVS to pick up pictures for my holiday craft
- Stopped at Walgreens
- Stopped at the Post Office, which of course took a little longer than expected.
- Went to Best Buy to get Boo's big gift, and something for Boo and Hunter to share.
- Ran home to drop off Boo's gift, didn't want it to freeze in the car.
- Went to Michael's to get ribbon for my holiday craft and found some cute tins for cookies.
- Went to Office Max to get self-sticking-laminating pages for my craft.
- Went to Target to get blank CD's.
- Went to get my hair done.

My hair appointment was at noon, and I got there 30 minutes early. I got all that done between 8:30 and 11:30! I am impressed with myself! Tomorrow, Cookie Baking Day! Hopefully I don't get snowed in at Big Sis' house...but a sleepover could be fun.

So much to do, so little time

Well, the errands I was going to run tonight didn't happen. Snow did instead. After a hour drive to go 10 miles, I decided to stay home instead. My to-do list just got a ton longer.

- Figure out what to do with my hair before my appointment on Friday (dramatic changes people! I can't wait, but I am terrified too).
- Finish shopping...
-Start wrapping (I have three presents done, and a lot more to do).
- Get over this cold. I can't take a sick day this week.
- Back the day away with my sister. So much fun to be had!
- Make grocery list, so that I can majorly shop on Friday morning. We are getting bare here!
- Entertain Boo for 3 days...ugh!
- Clean the bathrooms and bedrooms.
- Do a ton of laundry.
- Start craft for gifts...yeah I said start. I am a bit behind. lol

So much to do in so little time! I know I will get it all done, but it just seems like a lot.

Heavenly Bars ** Corrected!!**

**So Hubby just corrected me on the recipe...of course he did. This proves that I am not the best cook, and not good at coping reciepes! See the bolded line below!**

Here are the Heavenly Bars that my hubby made with his mom this past weekend. This things are fabulous! I can't wait to make them next weekend.

1st Melt
2 c. peanut butter
2 c. brown sugar
1 c. white syrup (corn syrup)
Stir in 1/4 c. instant vanilla pudding mix (from large box)
Stir in 4 1/2 c. Rice Krispies
Press firmly in 10X15 cookie sheet.

2nd Combine
1/2 c. melted butter
4 c. powdered sugar
Remainder of pudding mix
8T. milk
Beat until smooth & spread over crust & chill until firm.

3rd Melt
12 oz. chocolate chips
12 oz. peanut butter chips
Stir & spread over pudding layer

These are wonderful frozen, and even better after a short chill!!

Cookie Baking Extravaganza 2008!

The time has come once again...for Cookie Baking Extravaganza 2008!

One week from this coming Saturday Big Sis and I will be baking the day away. Well...Big Sis will be baking I will be melting and dipping. Let's just get that out there. Big Sis is an AMAZING baker, Betty Crocker like. I love watching her go, she is outstanding! Plus, she has been baking for over a week already. She brough fudge to bowling, thought Boo's coach was going to fall over!

So, I am sitting here getting my shopping list ready for what I plan to make that day and the day after at home. There are my favorites: Buckeyes, Peppermint Bark and Peanut Butter Blossoms. I will also be dipping pretzels and pretzel rods.

I found a great recipe for Oreo Bark that I have to try out, and a recipe for some bars Hubby made at his mom's this weekend. These things are delicious! I will share that one when I get it.

I can't wait until next weekend! Boo will have bowling, and then we will be off to bake the rest of the day away. It will be a great time, and some wonderful time with Big Sis. Hopefully there won't be a snow storm this year...

What are you baking this year? I would love to hear what your favorites are.

Stay tuned tomorrow! I have a small giveaway ready to go!

My one solo moment gone

With the holidays there are few things I have for myself. Now this is not a problem, but over the years I have curved something for me, not the kids, that I can do alone.

However this year, I caved in just a little bit.

Saturday night the kids decorated the Christmas Tree. We have a small tree, since we have a small home. But each year the kids sort the branches, spread them out and hang almost all the decorations (hubby and I hang our personal decorations). I don't touch the tree. I don't change anything, adjust or fix a single ornament.

That is all the kids help me with normally. I do the rest of the house alone. I love placing the snowmen around the house, hanging the lights and garland. I enjoy remembering where each piece came from, the ice skating snowmen from my mother in law, or the reindeer with one broken antler that I got at a craft fair our first Christmas together.

This year, Boo and I were both under the weather on Sunday. We were going to take both kids swimming Sunday night, but with Boo sick she and I stayed home. Hubby and Hunter left to meet his parents, and we got ready to watch a movie.

Boo was upset about not going swimming, but I gave her a small treat "Want to help me put up the rest of the decorations?". Her eyes got huge as she asked "Really? I can?". She bolted to the boxes just in case I changed my mind.

We got busy pulling out the countdown chalkboard, the bathroom Santa towels and stocking holders. She asked a TON of questions "Where did this one come from? Who gave you this? When did you get this one?".

We got the extra lights and I started to untangle them. Boo would pull the string so that it wouldn't get caught again, and I made my way through the line. When we finally had it all done, I asked her to hold her arms up, so that I could wrap the lights, this would prevent tangles when I was hanging them.

Once they were all wrapped I had to take a picture. It was to funny not too. Boo gave me a look, but still was able to smile for the camera. lol



We got the lights hung on the sliding door, the mantle and the entertainment center...all one string. The longest string ever. I think once I get a big tree this set would work for the entire tree.

Even though I didn't get my alone time to put out the decorations, the look on Boo face as we set everything up was wonderful. She was feeling so awful before that, and it seemed to help just a bit.