My little Stinker...

Lily's Grammy made her this cute sweater and I wanted to take a picture of her in it for her. So, I get her all happy and smiling and EVERY time I took a picture she stuck out her tongue!




You thought I was exaggerating didn't you!?

Christmas Eve

I'll post more on Christmas eventually, but here's some pictures from Christmas Eve with Anthony's Family. Here's Gavin and Lily with some of their cousins (they have 12 on Anthony's side).


Lily with Grammy (I'm so mad at myself for not getting more pictures of her in her Santa dress...).












Gavin opening his jammies.






He was so cute, before I had Lily we went to Children's Place to pick out this year's PJs and I gave him the choice of blue for him and pink for her or red for both. He picked the red so they could match! Here they are:

Lily's blessing was earlier this month-I just added some pictures to the December 2007 slide show. Enjoy :)

Some cards

I've been making some cards the past couple of days for Anthony's aunt for Christmas (per her request ;))


Here's the first set-I got my inspiration from this card. Her's is way cuter. I have since watercolored the cake image.














This is the second one, copied from this card
I made 4 of each of the cards.

Cookie Swap

Whew! We've had a busy couple of days!

Where did I leave off? I think the weekend...Anthony had his Christmas party in Vegas and since I decided not to go, he took his friend John. Anthony's company put them up at the Paris this year and those two lucky boys got upgraded to the Imperial Suite. I miss all the fun! :( It's probably a good thing I decided not to go though, since we went this summer as a family, Gavin would know what he was missing. And how unfair that we get to go with Lily and he has to stay home. :) While he was gone, we went to a primary activity and then to a Christmas party. I also got my new Stampin' Up catalog in the mail-sadly I haven't had much time to look through it yet. On Sunday we went to Grammy's and made gingerbread houses!


Before:















After: (it looks like a bomb went off...)















From top left: Cate's, mine and Janet's












From top left: Mine, Janet's, Jenn's & Cate's














Here's my finished house:




































On Monday, Gavin had his school Christmas party. Santa came and Gavin finally got to tell him what he wanted for Christmas. After school we decided to go to the mall to do some shopping. There was no line for Santa and since Lily didn't get to visit with him at school, we went ahead and saw him again. Gavin told him what Daddy wants because he "already told him" what he would like. So thoughtful that Gavin.









Last night was my 2nd (wahoo) annual Cookie Swap! It was a big success (at least I would like to think so). The cookies are so good! We filled up 4 long tables with different kinds. I served Sherri's hot cocoa-big hit! I can't wait til next year. I put those pictures in a slide show for your enjoyment! ;)

That brings me to today. Lily had her 2 month check up today and got 4 shots. Poor baby was soo mad! She now weighs 9.1 pounds (5th%) and is 22 inches (50th%). We are planning on staying home the next few days to let her rest and finish getting ready for Christmas. Are you ready?

Gavin's 1st scrapbook page

I was sorting through some old scrapbook papers and stickers and making a pile of things I didn't want anymore and next thing I knew, Gavin had created his 1st scrapbook page! He did a great job! I especially love the borders he did-I can't believe he figured it out all by himself.

Andes Peppermint Crunch Chunkies

Gavin and I tried a new cookie recipe this afternoon and they are super good! So good, I can't stop eating them! Here's the recipe:

2 sticks unsalted butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar, packed
1/3 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup old fashioned rolled oats
1 cup sweetened coconut
1 1/4 cups chopped pecans (I left these out)
1 1/2 cups Andes Peppermint Crunch Baking chips

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using an electric mixer, cream the butter brown sugar and sugar until fluffy (about 3 minutes). Beat in egg and vanilla. On low speed, add baking soda, salt and flour. Mix completely. Stir in oats, coconut, pecans and Andes Peppermint chips.
Measure out 2 Tbs for large or 1 Tbs for small cookies. Place round balls on greased cookie sheet 2 inches apart. Press lightly. Sprinkle some of the remaining chips on top of each cookie. Bake for 20 min for large cookies or 12-15 min. for small cookies. DO not over bake. They get crunchy on the outside but remain soft on the inside. Remove from cookie sheet and let cool. Yield approx. 30-3" or 60 1 1/2" cookies.

Sherri's Yummy Hot Cocoa

I got this recipe from my friend Sherri and it is so good! I put together these jars for the people I visit teach for Christmas. They're not decorated too fancy, I needed them done by tomorrow :)



Hot Cocoa mix

16 oz Nestle Quik Instant Chocolate Mix
16 oz Cremora (as in the powdered creamer you add to coffee- I used Coffeemate)
16 oz confectioners sugar
25.6 box powdered milk (Carnation)

Mix altogether in large bowl. Separate into 9 pint jars. Hand these out at the holidays with a note that says "Add 3-4 tablespoons hot cocoa mix to 8 oz boiling water. Enjoy!


Thanks Sherri!

Christmas Survey

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? A little of both
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Gotta have colors on the tree. Usually only white outside, but this year I did color on the back deck too.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? Nope
5. When do you put up your decorations? Day after Thanksgiving, after shopping of course!
6. What is your favorite holiday dish? ummm, not sure
7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? Pinata on Christmas Eve at Aunt CeCe's!
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I was actually just thinking about this the other day and couldn't remember.
9. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? A bunch of random ornaments right now, but each year the kids get to pick an ornament-that way when they have their own tree, they'll have a bunch of ornaments!
10. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Yuk.
11. Can you ice skate? Anthony and I went once a few years back, I didn't do too bad, but not something I want to do again any time soon-too cold.
12. Do you remember your favorite gift? Every year I get my favorite gifts!
13. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Being with family and friends.
14. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Chocolate Cream Pie! yummm
15. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Getting up ridiculously early on Christmas!
16. What tops your tree? Star
17. Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving-especially now that Gavin is old enough to get excited! (Actually I'm the most excited this year about one of Anthony's gifts and Christiann's and Janet's and all of them now that I think about it...I can't wait...)
18. What is your favorite Christmas Song? O Holy Night and Santa Baby
19. Candy Canes? yuk

Post this on your blog and fill in your own answers!

Gavin had his friends over today for a Christmas party. He was so excited, he kept thinking it was his birthday!

We painted ornaments and decorated sugar cookies. I never knew one could pile so much on one little cookie, but leave it to a 4 year old to figure it out! Gavin's were pretty light on the extra toppings compared to some :)

Here are his masterpieces:

Look at that big girl smile!

Lily smiled for the first time on Thanksgiving, but this is the first one I caught one camera!

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