The Nativity story, in the glorious tradition of Fletcher

Brian posted this whole episode on his facebook page last year, so all the pictures and the writing is by Brian.  It is just too funny not to share here this year.  So pardon the repeat if you remember this from last Christmas.

The Birth of Our Lord is Celebrated by Fletch and the family with Rowan's new Fisher Price Nativity set. Attended by the traditional observants of the Holy Family, The Angel of the Lord. A sheep, a donkey, a cow, The Magi and their camel, an African elephant and a Golden Retriever named Dan the Dog.

The story unfolds.



The joyous occasion is joined by "Nu" (we do not know why this is his name other than it rhymes with canoe and Ruthie couldn't think of kayak at that hour of the morning).

Nu arrives.

Builds a fire for the Holy Family and Guests...

and being a loner departs, leaving his companion, Dan the Dog in the capable hands of our Lord. You really had to be here for this folks. I have paid big bucks for drama before, but watching this unfold was actually more enthralling.

cookie #4: grinch cookies

These are easy, easy, cookies.  Because I cheat.  Shhh.  Don't tell anyone, but I start these cookies with a sugar cookie mix.  But you have to put in just a leetle bit of extra work, so they're thisclose to being made from scratch.  Anyway, if you like the oh so delicious combo of mint and chocolate, then gather these ingredients:

1 package of sugar cookie mix
1/2 cup butter (one stick)
1 egg
21 Andes chocolates, chopped
1/8 t peppermint extract (optional)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
a few drops of green food dye

Yep, start by grabbing one of these pouches.  I keep a few of these mixes around at Christmas for a cookie starter, or for making cookies to decorate with the littles.  They love to shake those sprinkles! 

Unwrap your Andes chocolates.  You don't have to use exactly 21.  I just used about 3/4 of a package.  You could really use the whole package if you LOVE mint.  Chop them up coarsely.

Soften your butter in a large bowl.

Did I remind you to preheat your oven to 375?  No?  Well, go do it.  Sorry.  Add your sugar cookie mix and your egg.

Stir together.  Drop in a few drops of green food dye.  You don't HAVE to do this, but that's what makes them "Grinch" cookies.  I use a light hand here.  I like just a slight green tint.  If you like intense green, then drop away.

Stir in the green dye.  This dough is stiff and you'll have to use those muscles.  If you have them.  Which I really don't.  My arm is still recovering.  This is optional, but if you REALLY like peppermint, then add just a bit of peppermint extract.  But you need to be a big fan.  Which I am.

Now add in your Andes chocolates, and your chocolate chips.

Stir your chocolate into the dough.

Form into 1 to 1 1/2 inch balls, or drop by the tablespoon-full onto your baking sheets.  They'll spread of course, so space them about 2 inches apart.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes at 375 (or at 350 if you are using dark or nonstick cookie sheets).  They're finished when they are very lightly browned on the edges.

I made these for the first time last year, and I really like them since I have a mint-chocolate obsession.  Some people are turned off by the green color (i.e. my husband) but I think they're cute. 

Happy baking! 

homemade Christmas

We've made lots of homemade gifts and decorations this year, and I have to say I love it.  It reminds me of my childhood and all the pinecone trees, hand drawn Christmas cards, and cut out snowflakes I would make with my mom.  And now she's helping my littles with crafts for Christmas!  One day she brought out a stack of pretty Christmas scrapbook paper, lots of fun stickers, red yarn, and some fun punches, and they got to work! 

Mom cut out the paper and let Rowan and Fletcher stick on stickers.

And then Fletcher got to fulfill a lifelong wish and use a punch on paper.

My mom strung it onto yarn and tied knots in between the papers.  Fletcher was very happy with the outcome.

Rowan was also thrilled.

She just likes to play it cool.  I did the decorating and punching out of the garland for her room.  She didn't seem to mind.

We strung them on Fletcher's tree and in Rowan's room.  They are my favorite decorations for this year.

I made a couple homemade gifts for our goddaughter and godson.  Cecilia got a shirt and ornament.

And I couldn't think of something boy-ish for Jacob's shirt, but he did get an ornament.  I'll work on something cute for a boy soon.  I promise, Jacob.

Let me tell you, my craft/art area is a MESS, and the guest room is strewn with boxes, gift wrap, and glitter.  And I have to clean it all up so my parents can actually get in there when they come tomorrow night to stay.  I also have a few more little stocking stuffers and gifts to pick up, and nary a gift has been wrapped around here.  It's going to be a busy busy Christmas week.  Just thought I'd let you know in case you thought I actually had my act together this year!

Come on, commiserate with me.  What do you have left to do?

cookie #3: almond brittle cookies

Yep, cookie #3 is yet ANOTHER bar cookie.  We did actually make some drop cookies, too, but for some reason, bar cookies tend to be my favorite.  This was the first year we made these, and they will definitely be made every year from here on out.  They are crunchy and nutty, and a cross between shortbread and brittle.  Thanks to my mom who brought the recipe!  And well, actually made them while I took pictures.  Yay for moms!  If you'd like to try them, gather these ingredients:

1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 t. salt
1 1/2 t. almond extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup chopped almonds

Preheat your oven to 350.  I always forget to tell you that.  My apologies.  Now soften your butter.

Blend together your butter, sugar, salt, and almond extract.

Mix in the flour.

You could use sliced almonds, but we chopped whole almonds in the food processor.  The big chunks of almonds are really awesome in this cookie.

Fold the almonds into your dough.

The easiest way is to use your hands to blend it all together.

Plop your dough on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

And spread it out.  You want it to be under an inch thick. 

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until browned on the edges and golden on top.

Let it cool completely, and then break up like brittle. 

Now go on and get baking!  Not much time left before Christmas!  But I will be back with just a couple more cookie recipes for you.

p.s. The cookie scene was designed by my mom.  Ain't she great?

lights

You Capture's theme is Lights this week.  We all have a lot of those around us right now, right?  I didn't have to venture far to find lights.  In fact, I didn't have to leave my house!

It's just not a Christmas photo unless you have a little Christmas light bokeh in there, am I right?  Here is the rest of my house if you'd like the Christmas tour.

home tour: Christmastime

Now that this house is decorated for Christmas, it's starting to feel like home.  Just in time for us to pack and move to a new home soon.  But such is Army life, eh?  A huge thank you to my mom for helping me decorate this year.  I'm just worried about when it comes time to take it all down.  Who wants to come help? 

Let's start outside.  We have a beautiful fresh wreath and beautiful fresh garland around our front door.  Pretty, right?

My mom helped me wire the garland together made from tree scraps!  When we went to get our tree, they were cutting off the lower branches and throwing them out.  Well, I love a good deal, and you can't get better than free.  So they let me fill our car with cast-off tree branches.  We used our front door as a backdrop for our Christmas picture.

And you know you're in the South when your flowers are still in full bloom in December.

Here is the nighttime view.

And in the backyard I put little paper lanterns and big balls in the red oak.

We put the real tree in the formal living room, which is actually called the "man room" here in our home.  Obviously, it's Brian's room.  Our deal was I was allowed to do stuff like ruffly tree skirts and a whole wall of plates in the house if he could have this one room to remain manly.  It's a good deal. 

It is a PERFECT tree.  It is definitely the best shaped tree I've ever seen.  And in the family room we have the fake tree up, and I decorated the mantle over the fireplace.

And we hung the stockings from the tops of the high bookshelves instead of the fireplace because I was afraid the littles would yank on them and konk their heads with those heavy heavy stocking hangers.  And my mom put the village just out of reach of Fletcher and Rowan.  Except when they drag over the kitchen stool.

Kitchen window... the paper whites are so tall they are bending over!

We even decorated the kid's bedrooms for the first time this year.  Fletcher loves his tree, and the tree skirt he made with my mom.

And Rowan points to her decorations and says "pretty!"  I punched out her garland and strung it, and hung it with the gold store-bought garland.

And here are some more random pictures I took around the house.

Here is my pinterest wreath!

And here are my little elves.

Thanks for stopping by and visiting!