Christmas!!

As I mentioned before, we weren't sure what time Nate would be able to get home on Christmas morning, so I "let" the kids sleep in until almost 7:30. (Lily was really the only one still sleeping, but that is ok.) I got up and started making breakfast and then at 7:30 I played the Christmas music that lets the kids know it is ok to get out of bed. They came rushing down so excited and then remembered they weren't going to get to open anything yet. So we went into the kitchen to make muffins together and wait for breakfast to be done so we could all eat while we waited for either Nate or time to go to church. As we were pouring the muffins into the pan, Lily comes running in claiming that daddy is home! We look outside and sure enough there is his truck pulling in!! He had worked all night super hard with less than an hours sleep to be able to get home as early as he could. (Which doesn't always happen even when he tries) BEST Christmas present ever!! So we hurried to open our presents before we had to get ready for church.

 Look what Santa brought the kids!!

 The aprons I made the girls for their Christmas present from mom and dad.

 We were blessed with some last minute money and I was able to get the kids Christmas outfits since I didn't have enough energy to make them this year. (This is after church so they look a little ruffled)

 We were all able to attend church together, which was a special treat because Luke played a piano solo as the closing musical number for the meeting. He played perfect and I couldn't have been more proud! It was such a special morning, and helped remind everyone the true reason for the season.

Since Nate wasn't able to be at our Christmas Eve celebration I wanted to make him a special meal for Christmas. While he slept a little I finished all the preparations and we had a fantastic Christmas dinner! It was yummy and we had a wonderful day! I sure love my little family!

Christmas Eve

As is tradition in a lot of families, every Christmas Eve the kids get to open one present that is always pj's. This year was no different in that the kids were going to get pj's; what was different was that Nate was on call. That means that he had to be at the hospital by 6 am Saturday morning and wouldn't be home til sometime on Sunday morning. It was hard for me, I mean I knew it was part of the deal. Most first year residents get the crappy schedule, and residents just have to work a lot. I knew that. But it is one thing to "know it" and another thing to experience it. We made due and had lots of awesome friends that wanted to make sure we were taken care of. However it just wasn't complete without Nate. But we did get to participate in some of our yearly traditions, even if Dad couldn't be there for it. The kids opened their presents and got dressed all in their cute new jammies!

 After that we were lucky enough to get to join with some friends for dinner and the nativity re-enactment. (One of my favorites every year!)

Then home to bed! The kids all slept together in one room, as they do every year, and luckily fell asleep pretty fast. Then it was up to me to get everything ready. It wasn't easy as I have been struggling with the last part of this pregnancy and being told that if I didn't take it easy I would be put on bed rest, but I was able to get done most of what I wanted/needed to do.

Our cute little tree all ready for the morning. Not knowing when Nate would be home, we told the kids they would just have to wait. It took the pressure off so that they could sleep and not be so excited that they would wake up at the crack of dawn. That was a present in and of itself to me! They did really good and didn't wake up until 7! But that is for the next post!! :) It was sad to experience this all without Nate, but we did what we had to and it was still lovely. (We did try to go see daddy at work, but he was SWAMPED all night... which unfortunately meant no sleep so he would have to sleep a lot of Christmas day...)

Christmas Sugar Cookies

We love making sugar cookies at our house! Even if we did do them for Halloween too :). While everyone else is out of school, my kids have to go this whole week. Everyday, all day. It is lame if you ask me, but no one did. Anyways, as a result we have to do our fun stuff after the kids get home from school. Nate was post call, so when he woke up we got everything out and got busy! 

 We always have so much fun! We each donated one of our cookies to our "Santa plate" so mom doesn't have to make more just for Christmas Eve. I had Nate take a picture of me so I would be included on here, but it didn't turn out. I would prefer not to put awful pictures of myself up, especially when I am already feeling like an elephant :). Sorry mom, maybe next time.

But he did take this one of the kids, they are so cute!

Snow!!

We have long heard about the snow here in Cleveland, but had yet to experience anything substantial. It has snowed a few times, but never enough to go out in play in... until Saturday! We woke up and it was coming down and by afternoon there was a ton out there! The kids cleaned their rooms faster then they ever have before so they could get out there and play! The first thing Lily did was grab a handful and eat it. I looked at her funny and she said, "I like to eat snow." 

 Gabby and Luke immediately started trying to get each other covered. I think Gabby's tries were valiant in effort, but of very little effect!

 Gabby was trying to make a snow angel and Luke crept up and got her right in the face. So she waited til he was sitting down to make her attempt.

 It backfired.

 I am glad we got out there to play in it because it has since all melted away and been replaced by lame rain.

Where is all this snow everyone keeps talking about?! I want a white Christmas!!! :)

Kids Holiday Performances

This year all my kids were able to participate in their school performances. Luke and Gabby were in "Winter at the O.K. Coral". Little did I know, Luke had one of the main rolls! He just said he had a speaking part, no big deal. But I open the program and his name is second on the list and he had SEVERAL speaking parts! Way to go "Mayor Manly"!! Now every time I pick him up from school kids come up to him and ask to shake his hand or quote his lines to him. He just blushes :).

Here is just one clip.

Gabby also had a speaking part, but my camera died and we recorded it on Nate's phone. I have to have him home so he can put it on here. Then Lily had a little song performance for preschool. It was super cute. They did 4 songs, here is one:

I love these kids!

More from Lily

Yesterday I was busy working on some projects and Lily was running around playing. All of the sudden she was at my elbow just standing there. I asked her what was up and she said:
"Mom, can Heavenly Father see us all the time?"
"Yes."
"And he knows the things that we do?"
"Yes." At this point I am thinking, yeah! she listens!! Then she says,
"...SO Heavenly Father is JUST like SANTA!!!"

Recipes

For those of you who asked, I figured this would be the easiest way to get you the recipes :). These are some of our favorites! (Though I won't tell you they are healthy, cause they aren't.) I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

Layer Bars (Irma Bars)


1 c. graham cracker crumbs
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 c. butterscotch chips
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. coconut
1 c. chopped pecans
1 can sweetened condensed milk


1. Mix the graham cracker crumbs and butter together, press into bottom of 13x9 in. pan.

2. Spread chips, coconut and nuts in layers on top of eachother

3. Drizzle milk evenly over the top of everything.

4. Bake at 350 for 28-30 minutes.



Oreo Truffles

1 pkg (8oz.) cream cheese, softened
1 pkg oreos, finely crushed (about 4 1/4 cups)
6-8 squares bakers semi-sweet chocolate


1. Mix cream cheese and 3 cups of oreo crumbs until well blended.

2. Shape into 1 inch balls (makes about 48). Refrigerate for 10 minutes.

3. Melt chocolate. Dip each ball into melted chocolate and set on wax paper to dry. Sprinkle with remaining oreo crumbs.

4. Refrigerate for 1 hr or until firm.

Super easy! We are planning to do some more baking next week. So ANYONE who wants to join us, just let me know and we will coordinate! I am so excited!!

My little helper

How I love Christmas baking! True most of it is not good for me, but I give most of it away so it doesn't end up on MY hips!! ;) I truly miss getting together with my mom, sisters and sister-in-laws to do our annual Christmas baking. I thought about asking some of the ladies in my ward to come over and bake with me, but when I mentioned it to some of them, no one seemed that interested. Then I had a marvelous idea to just bake with my girls! The first instalment happened yesterday. Gabby was at school, but I was seriously craving mom's layer bars, that we call "Irma Bars" after the neighbor that introduced our family to them. Lily and I gathered everything we would need, put our aprons on, and started. She was such a big help, it made me sad to think that I usually don't let her in because I think she'll just be in the way.

 She felt so big and really did a good job with whatever I asked her to do. She took her job very seriously and was so excited when I told her she could wipe her hand right on the apron! (She LOVED the apron. Shhhh, don't tell her she is getting one for Christmas!!!)

 She was fascinated by the sweetened condensed milk and wondered how it could go from this liquid to something we could pick up and eat!

 After the layer bars were baking we went to making Oreo truffles. They are oh so good! Unfortunately, after we got started on them I forgot all about pictures because I had to roll and dip 48 of these little suckers!

It was a lot of fun to bake with my Lily and I can't wait to do some more with Gabby home to help us! And maybe I will see if any of those ladies want to join us after all. (I have about 10 recipes I want to make this year!!!)