Monday, November 28, 2011

O Christmas Tree

Thanksgiving weekend was super busy with hosting Thanksgiving dinner, hockey, work, and me not feeling real well... but it has been our tradition for years to put up our Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend. And with Tyler home for the weekend, I really wanted to make sure we took the time as a family to decorate the tree.

I always start by putting up the garlands and the poinsettia flowers and then it is the boys turn. The boys each have their own box of ornaments that is filled with the special ornaments that they receive each year for Christmas. Every year I pick out a special ornament for each boy that has some meaning to them from the past year. {You can look HERE at a post from last year on some of my favorite ornaments.}
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After the boys were done hanging their ornaments I added a few finishing touches. :)

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And our family Christmas tree was done!

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Saturday, November 26, 2011

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks for all that we have and all that is important to us.

One of the things I was especially thankful for this year was the opportunity to host Thanksgiving dinner for our family.

A little preparation and a lot of help made for a special day and a wonderful meal. I am so thankful for the memories made...
making the pies

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~pumpkin and pecan~

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and mash potatoes

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"What are they??"

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rutabagas :)

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setting the tables

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preparing the turkey

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coloring the turkey from the newspaper

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Grandma with her little grandsons

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a cute new apron

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help in the kitchen

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football watching

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puppy gates

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picture taking

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a perfect turkey

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a proud chef :)

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a pretty table

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a Thanksgiving feast for my family

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bountiful food

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and finally a game of Scrabble

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and a nap :)

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So many blessings and so much to be thankful for!!

Thursday, November 24, 2011

thanksgiving

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

make a wish

With all of the birthdays this month, it got me to thinking that I needed to do a blog post on our family's 'birthday song'. This song started when my Mom was young and has the tradition has been carried on throughout the years.

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Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear _____,
Happy Birthday to you!...

Make a wish and blow out the candles,
wishes for good boys and girls come true.
So... hurry and cut the cake,
We can hardly wait, Happy Birthday to you!...

Ra, Ra, Ra Hooray for ______
Hooray for _____,
Someone in the crowd is shouting
Hooray, for _______
Hut 2,3,4. Who are we for?
____ that's who!

Saturday, November 19, 2011

another Birthday for me

Yesterday I turned

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I received some special gifts like a beautiful sunrise

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an iPad

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and a musical card that made me laugh :)

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I spent the morning at the gym and then headed to do some power shopping at the mall. :)

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That afternoon, Drew and I played a few games before he headed to a church retreat for the weekend.

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That evening we went out to one of my favorite restaurants, Porter Creek Hardwood Grill. Love this place!!

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And came home to my all time favorite cake (the Princess Torte from Wuollet Bakery)!

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A perfect day!!!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Pumpkin Cookies

Yesterday, it was our small groups turn to bring treats for our Women's Bible Study at church and I thought these pumpkin cookies would be perfect for the season. (This is one Drew's favorite cookies.)

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Recipe:

3 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1 cup shortening\
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup pumpkin puree

Icing:
5 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Tablespoons butter
5 Tablespoons milk
1 cup powdered sugar

In medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat shortening and sugar until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beat well. Add pumpkin and mix.

Slowly add flour mixture, mixing until combined. Drop rounded teaspoons of dough on cookie sheets and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

To make icing: In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine brown sugar, butter and milk and bring mixture to a boil. Remove from heat and cool completely, about an hour. Stir in powdered sugar until icing is desired consistency. Ice cookies. Store very lightly covered.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

a Family Birthday party

Yesterday we had some of our family over for a birthday dinner to celebrate the November birthday's of Drew, and Tyler (who was away at college) and me.

We enjoyed a birthday dinner of lasagna, garlic bread and Ceasar salad.

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And shared a favorite homemade 'Canolli Torte' birthday cake.

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And opened some birthday gifts.

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It is always so special to have family around to help celebrate the special days!