Christmas Week

Christmas was here and gone before we had time to blink! Wow that was fast! We had a wonderful Christmas -- hectic till it got here and then peaceful when it arrived. The colder weather is starting to settle in, and I'm happy about that cause it just hasn't felt like Winter or Christmas with it being in the 60's....that's not typical for us at all! Time to take out the afghans and quilts and snuggle.

Caitlin made a cool gingerbread house! We were happy we got to complete a lot of little projects before Christmas that we had planned. I did a lot of baking! I made nine different kinds of cookies and three different types of candy! I was baking all the way up to Christmas Eve day.

Here's Caitlin with one of her favorite gifts:

My son's favorite gift was the plane ticket we gave him for a vacation with his girlfriend's lovely family!

We enjoyed the holiday concert at school:

And seeing Santa:

I'm still enjoying all my decorations--not ready to take them down yet!

I am thinking of some Valentine crafts though......

Holiday Rush!

Good Morning! I don't know how it happened but a magical Christmas Elf just let me post on Blogger through Windows 10!!!!It's a Christmas Miracle!!!! I have hesitated blogging because of the trouble with the two programs rebuffing one another but today it's great :)

We've been busy here, like all of you I'm sure. Getting everything ready for Christmas~~~so excited. Caitlin and I made several batches of cookies--some our recipes and some that are my Mom's and since she is unable to make cookies any longer by herself, we made her recipes too! I actually did complete one of my resolutions from New Year's for 2015 and that was to be a better cookie baker and I did it! I make some good cookies, if I do say so myself!

Caitlin is doing peanut butter cookies:

These are my Mom's recipe for Butter Crispies:

We made crescents, horns, sugar cookies, and I also made Italian style cookies (two kinds) and I plan to make peanut brittle, and stained glass candy log and a few more. So fun!

We brought some to a Christmas party at my Godmother's house, and they loved them. With all the boys together and all the appetites, they all went fast! My Caitlin was the only girl! I'm happy my husband was home from his trip to South Carolina to make the party!

Here are some photos of my decorating in the kitchen/dining area:

Well, I think I'm gonna do some wrapping and then I'm off to do a couple of errands! Have a great day!

Hello December!

The last month of the year! Wow! That came fast! And it is going to go by quick too. I have so much to do and I'm feeling the pressure that it won't get done! But it always does! Always! Above is a little tree in the corner of my kitchen.

I love setting this little one up in a special little spot.

It brings me joy every time I see it. It radiates happiness :)

The little elves and mice are having a a party of their own!

And someone brought cookies!

 I went on a girls weekend trip to Lancaster! We had so much fun!

 Shopping, eating, chatting and wonderful scenery! And lots of laughing!

 Have a great day!

Thanksgiving Decorations & More

Everyone getting ready for Thanksgiving? 

 We are! My decorating is done. Compiling my the list of ingredients I need for the assorted things I am making. I'm a list maker!

There's always time for decorating! 

I've been out of the house alot lately with some special events going on. I recently did a craft fair and that turned out great.

Now I have to concentrate on sending out a few packages with some Thanksgiving/Christmas items in them. I had hoped to get them out sooner but I've been a little overwhelmed with appointments for my Mom, school activities, Girl Scouts and I'm going on a short trip soon.

Here's a look at some of the things I sold at my table:

I made Thanksgiving people with my pumpkin heads using Fall/Thanksgiving cupcake papers. I also made polar bears. This is just a small part of my table. It was very fun.

In between everything, I've been cooking up a storm. I had such a desire for meatballs yesterday so I fried up a bunch to have tonight --spaghetti and meatballs! The house smells so good...

Our Girl Scout troop went ice skating too last week. Caitlin is contemplating taking lessons. She really loves it. Her friend Ashley was giving her a helping hand and then Caitlin got the hang of it. She's only been ice skating a few times.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Fall! I feel like Christmas is here! Fall is going too fast!

Catching Up!

Good Morning!  Trying to play catch up with everyone as I've been super busy! I have Thanksgiving and Christmas on my mind as I'm sure we all do! When I was putting away from Halloween stuff, which is so hard for me to do since I love it so much, I had gone to Home Depot to get a couple bins and saw these twig trees! I've been looking for one for a while and couldn't find one anywhere.

It comes pre-lit and is battery operated. About 2 ft tall. I plan to purchase some new pip berries in Lancaster to decorate it as a year 'round tree. I was so thrilled!Only $21.00

October was a super busy month cause besides all the decorating, we had planned a trip to Hershey with my husband's brother and wife and their youngest son. But decorating continued until the very last day of October as I was still putting my little pumpkin around the kitchen on Halloween morning!

Here is Caitlin and my nephew Ryan at Hershey. What a great park. We try to go every couple of years. Mostly in the Summer though.

 We brought my son's girlfriend Amber with us. We adore her and she loves doing things with our family.

 I hit all the sales for Halloween thanks to a wonderful friend and got some great additions for my haunted house. A chandelier, a table and chairs and a few other little things! I wish I could zoom in better for you to see.

Then it was party time the night before Halloween! We had a small party and the kids had lots of fun!

Caitlin and her friends. They are so cute. They didn't all come in costume because we were using silly string and they were doing sack races, etc. A few did and some just wore Halloween sweatshirts.

These pictures of snacks and desserts were taken before the party started. By the time it was going, my table was beyond filled to capacity with yummy stuff!

On Halloween, Billy and Amber aka Mr. & Mrs. Freddie Krueger, took Caitlin trick or treating in the afternoon. My husband took her out at night and to a haunted house! She is dressed as a Pink Lady from the movie Grease!

 Now we move on to Thanksgiving! More fun ahead!

Have a great day!