Happy Birthday Baby Jesus - Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas is finally here. Gavin got up at 6:30 to see if Santa left any presents and kindly went back to bed until Liam woke up. The first time Liam did was run into the living room and announce that Santa left presents. He said the big was was his and he was right, it was a bike. I would have to say this year was really a theme gift year. Madison asked for any and all Twilight stuff. I found that Hot Topic is the place for the Twilight shirts. She finally got a cell phone (not by dad's choice), and a Coach purse with a scarf. Gavin only wanted video games and movies. He was lucky to have snagged an ipod and more baseball equipment as well. You can never have too much sports equipment. Liam changed his list with the wind, the only consistent request was a bike. He asked a few days ago for scissors. Oh no, not scissors, have you lost you mind. Did you see what happened to Kit? There is no way you are getting scissors not even play scissors. The kids has fun and Liam does like to open presents even if they are not his.

Liam wanted to with Baby Jesus a Happy Birthday, since this is what they had been talking about in Sunday School. We celebrated with Brett making pancakes. Later we will go next door to eat out tamales with his parents and brother.

Opening his bike

Liam's new set of wheels, check out his feet,

they have reindeer heads on his pj's.

More legos, you always need more legos


Gavin's ipod

Madison finally got a cell phone... watch out if

she has your phone number.

Twilight shirt (I guess Edward sparkles, I think he

is messing with my flash)

Twilight sountrack

(why didn't I think of this story line)

Mr.Baseball got a hit away

and a pitching net

Liam in his gobbles (goggles & hard hat)

What a mess!!!! All that wrapping to just end

like this.

Merry Christmas to all

Christmas Eve Traditions

If Christmas Eve is not busy enough, a few years ago, Brett & I decided to start a new family tradition, making tamales on Christmas Eve. The first year, it took a LONG time, and every year since we have shortened the time. This year it was only 2 hours. Liam loves to help cook, so what better time than now to let him help. His job was to mix the masa, which was very enjoyable for him. Getting his hands messy and playing in the dough is his dream job. He quickly lost interest once the water had been absorbed.

Madison mixing the shortening

4 dozen later

When the tamales were ready to be steamed, it was almost time for bed. So, we had to hurry home (run next door) to finish the Christmas Eve activities. As a tradition, the kids get new pajamas on Christmas Eve. This is the only gift that is opened early. The others have to wait until Christmas Day. Once the pj's are on it is on to sprinkle the reindeer food and read Twas the Night Before Christmas, put out cookies for Santa and then off to bed. Usually, there is a snag when it is time to go to bed, but not this year, everyone was tired.

Don't they look cute?

Outside waiting to sprinkle reindeer food

Leaving food for the reindeer

It was cold and they are tired of the need for pictures.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

WHAT IS LIAM DOING?

Today after church we all (yes all 5 of us) went to the grocery store as we do most Sunday's. Liam does not get a choice of walking or riding in the cart, it is ALWAYS riding in the cart with the seatbelt buckled. Today, he wanted to walk. So, against our better judgement, we let him walk. That was our first mistake. Usually, we have to tell Madison & Gavin that they can not have whatever junk food items they are begging for or to stop touching each other or _____(fill in the blank). Oh no, today was an even better day with them at the store. Madison & Gavin were pretty good, as any kids that hate to be in a grocery store are. It was Liam. He did not want to stay with us. He wanted to run down the aisles making crazy noises, jumping around and touching literally everthing in his reach. At the end of the bread aisle, is the Little Debbie display. I will admit their snacks are quite tasty. And on occasion some are usually in our basket. But, after Liam had been there, I doubt you will want them. i saw him bending down to each box and asked Madison what was he doing. "Licking the boxes". Yes, he decided that he would lick, yes I said lick the boxes of the cakes that had Christmas scenes. "Snowmen" (lick), "Santa" (lick), "Trees" (lick) and so on. I tried to explain that we cannot lick the packages because other people will not want to buy it now, and they are just dirty. His response, "BUT, I LOVE THEM"!!!! Loving them or not, we quickly put him in the basket, buckled the belt and checked out. It looks like Liam will have to spend a few more years in the basket.

Christmas Memories

Christmas has always had special memories for me. A doll that walked, my 1st 110 camera, or the times when everyone would gather at Hap & Chris'. Happy (Pappy, Hap, or Elvin as he was legally know) was my grandfather & Chris (Christine) my grandmother had their Christmas specialites that we all looked forward to enjoying. For my birthday, I always got a tin of divinity, and every year I would ask how my grandmother made it. I got the same answer that everyone else got when she was asked. "I'm sorry you do not have the BLUE bowl that you need to make it". I never saw a blue bowl. I later figured out that she wanted to keep the recipe a secret and there was not way she was giving in. Until 1998, in my Valentine's card, there was a notecard with the Divinity Recipe. I could not believe it. I had finally gotten the recipe. I have not shared it with anyone until now. To honor her memory, I have decided to post her famous divinty recipe.

Mama Chris' Divinity
1 jar marshmallow cream
1/2 cup water
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup pecans (optional)

Boil the sugar and water to the soft ball stage. Remove from heat and stir in marshmallow cream and vanilla. Add pecans, if desired. Let cool 5-10 minutes. Drop from spoon onto wax paper to cool. If the pieces run and are smooth, let cool for a couple more minutes before dropping any more onto paper. The pieces should be fluffy when dropped, not runny. Let cool 30 minutes and enjoy!


Happy had a recipe he was more than eager to share. He made eggnog and not just any eggnog. This eggnog needed a valid id to consume. The kids were allowed 1 small glass at their house and then some would be sent home for the adults to enjoy the next day. Only there was usually none left when the adults woke the next morning. One year, I think he count of the jiggers he had used. It was so bad, no one could drink more than a sip.

These are memories I will cherish. I have tried to make the eggnog once and no one like it. I guess Happy had the special touch.

Happy's Eggnog

2 quart Braum's Eggnog (it had to be Braums, others would not do)
4 jiggers Ancient Age bourbon whiskey
nutmeg and cinnamon to taste

Mix eggnog & whiskey in large bowl, add nutmeg & cinnnamon and freeze until slushy.

Gavin's got BIG BRAINS

We have the preliminary results from the Elementary UIL Academic events. Gavin participated in 6 events.

1st Number Sense - This is from his dad, because I am horrible in math.
2nd Number Sense Team
1st Dictionary Skills
2nd Dictioinary Skills Team
1st Social Studies
2nd Social Studies Team
6th Listening Skills - yes, he's a male, that explains the 6th place.

That will be 6 medals. I am so proud of Gavin. Madison usually competes in Spelling and this is the year she decided not to try-out or she would have placed as well.

Christmas in Egypt

Gavin's class presented "Christmas In Egypt" last night. It is a religous themed play that the school presents every other year. This year, Gvin was casted as Pharaoh. It is a pretty big part considering he has a song named after him and he had a solo. Which he did not miss a line!!! The kids had fun and it was a cute play.

The Guards & Pharaoh

Pharaoh waiting to be announced

"Presenting the Fantabulas Pharaoh!!!

Spend Christmas in Egypt and be gypt out of Jesus, Spend Christmas in Egypt and be gypt out of joy. For Egypt is a foreign land, where man is god and god is man.

Nutcrackers Galore

Our 1st Christmas decoration was a nutcracker. Since then, I have bought at least 1 nutcracker each year. I was lucky a few years ago when Brett was in the Northeast and stopped by "The Christmas Tree Shoppe" and got me 8 new nutcrackers. Then my friend April got me the biggest one of my collection. While I was packing them up, I had the BIG one to the side, because he was too big for the box. I looked over and saw Liam hitting him in the face with a ball. I decided that I would mark how much Liam had grown by measuring him with the nutcracker.

Our 1st nutcracker

Hitting the nutcracker in the face

Almost as tall the nutcracker - 2006

2007

2008

The newest nutcracker is the closest one I have found that looks Scottish. This tartan is not Brett's g-grandmother's, but close. The Wallace tartan has more yellow and black. I think this is "Stewart", but he is still cute. I'm sure he will have a few more buddies after Christmas as this is the best time to buy them.

My Santa Post

I had to delete the santa post due to technical difficulties. If you paged down the writing went away and no one else's posting registered on my page. I will re-do and add later.