'Tis the Season

I've actually got some free time to sit down and blog a little. Kinda nice actually. The months are passing by so fast now, it's hard to keep up. This month has definitely been busy. Parties, get-togethers, lunch dates, baking, delivering, cleaning, decorating, shopping, and trying to keep the relaxed attitude that one really wants for the christmas season.

 The most time consuming was the treats. And because I'm all about making things uncomplicated, I decided to make magic cookies. In my book, Magic=Sparkles, which in the baking world=sprinkles.

 The first batch went pretty quick because they were so big. Like 7inch big! Ooooh Eeeee! :o)

 Each kid decorated their own. I did the rest. And then they picked one to give to a friend. Which we delivered. I sold a few. And then they were gone.

 This was my favorite! They're fragile cookies and I broke one when decorating it. It started to bleed.

 I got a call from someone else that wanted to buy some. So I made more. Cause I like late nights. But not really. I just like creating, I guess.

For Ashton's football party, I made these chocolate covered brownie balls. They turned out so cute and S.U.P.E.R. Yummy! I love brownies.

So what I did was cooked a pan of brownies till they were soft. Let them cool down and then cut them in cubes that Mykael rolled into balls for me. I then dipped them in candied chocolate, topping with white sprinkles. WAY time consuming, but totally worth it!

I did make another kind of cookie. Home made oreos, that I rolled the sides (with the frosting) in crushed candy cane. Super awesome flavor combination. Just no pictures.

Traditions

Turkey day shotgun shooting. Although we were 2 days late doing it. It still got done, and we still had fun.

Dylan

Jaden, Eli, Corbin, Gramps, Miriam (with her cute white knee socks), Jared, Ashton, Dylan, ?, Tom

Jared, Ashton, Jaden

  Jane and Dylan up front. Granpa and Eli weilding that mighty weapon.

Gramps and Lotus

 But Man! was it cold!!! Windy cold. Which is colder than cold. In Idaho.

My Dad

I sat in the car majority of the time before I left to have lunch with a friend.

Jared and Dylan

 But I DID get out to shoot once. AND....shattered the first 'pigeon' that was launched. I left the whole group of guys we were with. Stunned. Even my husband and 12 yr old boy. My 'Coolness' went up 10 notches. And now have respect when it comes to shooting a gun.

We just didn't catch it on camera. But I SWEAR I DID!

There were 2 competitions after I left. Jaden won one of them giving him a highlight of the Thanksgiving holiday. 

Thanks to all of you that housed, fed, played, entertained, and visited with us.  

Grandma's Idea

12 kids.

2 older kids that wanted nothing to do with this.

 20 eyes

 10 mouths

1 slow camera

 This was supposed to be a size shot. Biggest to littlest. But this angle doesn't show that very well.

 And they started dropping like flies.

 One by

one

I'm the favorite now.

Ok, well he didn't come right out and say it....but the bar was raised. hee hee hee

 I've made a tradition. For every one of my nieces and nephews, I make them whatever kind of cake they want when they turn 8. (I still owe Lydia because I decided to do this after she passed 8.)

 He picked "sea creatures" themed. I had made a lobster, clown fish, anenome, sea weed, and urchin spines before our trip.

 I thought with having his help, it would be more fun. Which it was. From filling the cake, to frosting it, to covering it then decorating it. Its a REALLY long process and I usually do it at night. Alone with my Mp3. And all the time in the night.

 He stuck by me the WHOLE time!! He truly was facinated and interested in the whole process. He is well educated in all things under the sea. Which he freely shared. I loved sharing that with him!

Of course there were others with  ideas to create and that was fine. I don't even know what he made. A ghoulish face or something.

If you've got it, use it.

In her case, it was a willing Aunt. and all that gorgeous hair!!! With our trip to idaho, she spent the nights with Ang and everyday I saw her, she had a new do. She loved it!! This was hers' (and mine) favorite.  

 With all her hair down, Ang sprayed it with hair spray to make it more stiff to work with. Silky hair isn't very obediant as far as placement.

 It looked like a rats nest before Ang started twisting and pinning. The sides first (right Ang??) and then worked on the pony at the base of the neck.

 Organized chaos. Simply gorge!

I'm not a fan of huge funky bows in older females, but simple large black flowers really make it classy. (in my own opinion.)