Gingerbread cookies everywhere!

Today was spent baking gingerbread cookies with Em and finishing up the Christmas crafts we started earlier in the week with the babysitting kids. I decided at the last minute that we would have a pj day for the kids (and me of course) and lunch was served picnic style on the living room floor. I think they enjoyed it!

I've decided that baking and icing Lori's sugar cookies is too stressful to add to my holiday baking so it will be reserved for Easter (her favorite holiday) and a few other times throughout the year. We used some vintage clear red plastic cookie cutters (they look like these)for some of the gingerbread cookies and now I'm on the lookout for some more of them. I love the way they imprint on the cookies!

After the hubby got home, we set out to deliver trays to the neighbors and tomorrow I will finish up trays for traveling around to Christmas celebrations with our familys.

I've been telling Delmar that I want to start pulling Em into the kitchen more and today was the perfect start to that and hopefully the beginning of a wonderful tradition.

Tomorrow we are expected to get between 3-4 inches of snow starting later in the morning so I guess we will be having a white Christmas afterall. Praying for safe travels to all of our family and friends that must do so.

Must scoot for now! Enjoy your familys this weekend.

Blessings!

Amy

The Stomach Flu & Riding the Polar Express

Emily has been throwing up again. This happened about a month ago and she threw up for almost 36 hours just about every 20 to 40 minutes. So, this experience is all to fresh in her mind. But let me tell you, the girl can aim. Not one mess made by her. (We won't talk about the one that dad made when he forgot that the bucket had about an inch of water in the bottom of it.)

Anyway, this time it only lasted for about 24 hours so we were all most grateful.

The bad part about the timing was, we had purchased tickets almost 6 weeks ago to ride the Polar Express last night. Emily threw up about 8:20 yesterday morning and started to perk up throughout the day. So, we decided to take a chance and go.

We met Mike, Sharon, Bryce and Alexis there. The kids were all able to wear their pj's just like in the movie. It was awesome and we are both grateful that she didn't have to miss it. Here are some of the highlights:

All Aboard!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We go NOWHERE without Woobie!
The Shew'sThe Sandage'sDancing to the "Hot Chocolate" song.

Emily receiving her bell from Santa

The trip was awesome! The music, the dancing, riding a train for the first time, hot cocoa and cookies, the reading of the story, all of it. We could not have asked for a better evening. Perhaps the beginning of a new tradition? Next year will tell.

Thankful for....Family

My dad and Carole have had Thanksgiving dinner for the last couple of years at their house and we always have a fun time. My step-brothers are great as are their family's. It also usually gives me time to chat with my sisters two oldest boys whom I don't see very often.


You know how sometimes with "step" families, the two sides "stick with there own", not at this dinner. Carole has us draw numbers for seats so you don't get to pick who you sit by. The first year we we all complained but now I think we all enjoy getting time to talk to people other than our immediate family. Except for Delmar and Angelic, somehow they manage to sit by each other EVERY year...hhhmmmm.


Chow time! Emily & Grandpa JackThanks for letting the kids play on your computer Christopher!
Me and my buddy Angelic.Emily has had about as much fun as a girl can have.


The whole clan...

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Emily and I spent Tuesday evening carving her pumpkin while daddy worked at the church's Grand Palace.

Before...

During-she loved putting her hand in it this year....last year, not so much....

After...

PUNKIN' HEADS...

The whole time we were carving, she talked about the yummy roasted pumpkin seeds. After the were done, she tried them and decided she didn't like them afterall. Oh well, mommy LOVED them!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

This year we went back to Black Bart's Pumpkin Patch in Warrensburg. Last year we went to the local patch and weren't impressed to say the least. Owners were not expecially friendly and not much of a selection or things to do.

Here are some pics from the outing-ENJOY!

The end result.