I guess I should call it a night.  Hubby and Josh think I am crazy hopping around in the kitchen making cookies on one leg at eleven o’clock at night.  *smirk*  Sometimes you just have to!  The smell of them cooking even means alot to me!  Silly goose that I am.    

Thank you God for our wonderful Christmas with our children all under our roof with us.   I feel truly blessed.    It is good to remember this in light of all the trials we have gone through the last two years.   God still is with us and guiding our lives.   God Bless!

I guess I should call it a night.  Hubby and Josh think I am crazy hopping around in the kitchen making cookies on one leg at eleven o’clock at night.  *smirk*  Sometimes you just have to!  The smell of them cooking even means alot to me!  Silly goose that I am.    

Thank you God for our wonderful Christmas with our children all under our roof with us.   I feel truly blessed.    It is good to remember this in light of all the trials we have gone through the last two years.   God still is with us and guiding our lives.   God Bless!

I am sooooo hungry for these sweet cookies!   I do miss my family at Christmas so this is a great taste from home.  My parents spend all the holidays with my brother since he lives closest, but I still miss some things about having holidays with my familiy.  We do spend our holidays with hubby’s family prior to Chrsitmas.  Hubby and I have made alot of traditions with our children that mean alot to us all.  Some are silly…..every year Santa puts a Wonka Bar in their stockings…which are getting harder and harder to find!!  If I were to say I wasn’t going to do one of them for Christmas next year it would be sad for them.   I really hope that these things are importnat to them when they are older.  Since I live in the cities, I imagine that all my children will be near by when they leave home.  If not we will need to alternate our holidays with them and always hold our family Christmas Party for the extended family prior to the holidays.  I count my blessings of all the family I do have close to me.  I am truly a blessed woman with family that has been wonderful in helping me to continue all the same tradidtions with our family and children even though I am not able to do things very easily this year!   This year I said I couldn’t cook so my SIL got my recipe for 7-layer salad as that is what I make EVERY year.  It is not Christmas to them if they don’t eat that!!   I actually want to make something new…but would never mess with tradition!

There are some things that just make me long for home and my mom.  When I am sick….gotta have my hubby make me mushy eggs on toast (my mom made it for me whenever I was sick).  I have had that at least three times since my surgery.   Sunday afternoons are always special for me if I make grilled cheese sandwhiches and chicken noodle soup, just like back home.  Do you have those things that aren’t your favorite food because of the taste, but because of the sentiment or memories????  

I think what makes me sad is my children will not have the memories of Christmas Day, etc with my parents.  My parents do celebrate Christmas with us but not until January.   It jsut isn’t the same.  The kids have funny stories about my hubby’s parents that I am sure will be retold and retold!   We added one this year in fact,  Josh got a card from them and they wrote $10 in it but forgot the money!   LOL!!  It is the thought that counts, right??   Josh got a good chuckle out of it.   I am sure he will remember it for a while, the bittersweetness of Gramma’s forgetfulness/dementia.  I love those type of memories! 

I think I feel like this every year on Christmas Day……Now that I am a bit sad I am off to make a bit of home…….

 CHOCOLATE-OATMEAL DROPS – MOM’S RECIPE  – Added to Website

I am sooooo hungry for these sweet cookies!   I do miss my family at Christmas so this is a great taste from home.  My parents spend all the holidays with my brother since he lives closest, but I still miss some things about having holidays with my familiy.  We do spend our holidays with hubby’s family prior to Chrsitmas.  Hubby and I have made alot of traditions with our children that mean alot to us all.  Some are silly…..every year Santa puts a Wonka Bar in their stockings…which are getting harder and harder to find!!  If I were to say I wasn’t going to do one of them for Christmas next year it would be sad for them.   I really hope that these things are importnat to them when they are older.  Since I live in the cities, I imagine that all my children will be near by when they leave home.  If not we will need to alternate our holidays with them and always hold our family Christmas Party for the extended family prior to the holidays.  I count my blessings of all the family I do have close to me.  I am truly a blessed woman with family that has been wonderful in helping me to continue all the same tradidtions with our family and children even though I am not able to do things very easily this year!   This year I said I couldn’t cook so my SIL got my recipe for 7-layer salad as that is what I make EVERY year.  It is not Christmas to them if they don’t eat that!!   I actually want to make something new…but would never mess with tradition!

There are some things that just make me long for home and my mom.  When I am sick….gotta have my hubby make me mushy eggs on toast (my mom made it for me whenever I was sick).  I have had that at least three times since my surgery.   Sunday afternoons are always special for me if I make grilled cheese sandwhiches and chicken noodle soup, just like back home.  Do you have those things that aren’t your favorite food because of the taste, but because of the sentiment or memories????  

I think what makes me sad is my children will not have the memories of Christmas Day, etc with my parents.  My parents do celebrate Christmas with us but not until January.   It jsut isn’t the same.  The kids have funny stories about my hubby’s parents that I am sure will be retold and retold!   We added one this year in fact,  Josh got a card from them and they wrote $10 in it but forgot the money!   LOL!!  It is the thought that counts, right??   Josh got a good chuckle out of it.   I am sure he will remember it for a while, the bittersweetness of Gramma’s forgetfulness/dementia.  I love those type of memories! 

I think I feel like this every year on Christmas Day……Now that I am a bit sad I am off to make a bit of home…….

 CHOCOLATE-OATMEAL DROPS – MOM’S RECIPE  – Added to Website

Yep….Santa brought Guitar Hero III for the Wii and even Daddy likes to play!!

We all know that Josh LOVES Guitar Hero…and very determined to beat Tom Morello in a guitar battle.  I think his determination will keep him up ALL night!!!

UPDATE….Josh beat Tom so we can finally move on to a new song!

CHRISTMAS EVE PICTURES…..

Our Spread of Appetizers for Christmas Eve prepared by Hubby and Josh.

(note our pooch Teddy checking out up the food!)

Didn’t they do a fabulous job!

Hubby and I found a little school desk for Tommy on Craigslist.  The best $5 Christmas gift ever! 

He loves it!!!

We went to the dollar store and filled the desk with a ton of supplies!

My boys……they really do love each other, some days!

Erik and Josh playing the Guitar Hero Josh has for the computer!

Nice look, Josh…..you weirdo!

Erik opening his gifts with his audience!

CHRISTMAS DAY……..

Actually everyone was up way before me and waiting nicely to open presents when I awoke.  Today has been a lovely day in our home.  We have all three of our sons home and it finally feels like Christmas to me.    Erik is home for two days for Christmas.  He is currently at a 30 day evaluation at a residential treatment center.   To be totally honest it has made it a sad Christmas for me in addition to the knee surgery as well.  But I am very happy to have all three of the boys together for Christmas.   This morning they opened their joint gift from Santa and have been playing together nicely all day.  Santa brought a Wii and  number of games.   I think they are finally trying out the last game, wait, I don’t think they have opened the Guitar Hero yet!   They played until lunch time.  After lunch I had them clean up the living room and do dishes.  The rest of the afternoon they have been playing.   Dad and I mostly watch, but occasionally play a couple of games.   Hubby put two chickens into the crockpot and we will be eating shortly. 

Stocking opening….Erik is wearing his new Hollister shirt from Josh.

Josh and Dad digging through Josh’s stocking….

I took a little nap this afternoon while watching the boys play their game.  I am off to enjoy some more time with my boys.  Merry Christmas to you and yours!!   Remember and enjoy your blessings today.  God Bless.

I am up and about more today.   It really doesn’t feel like Christmas since I have been so out of commission.  The surgery on Tuesday went very well.   The surgeon removed the cyst and scar tissue in my knee.  He also discovered some cartilage what was rubbing so he shaved that.  The first few days were terrible, but it is getting better and better each day.   This morning I took a shower all by myself.  It is nice to be able to shower myself and not having to rely on others as much. 

Hubby, Tommy and Josh are at Church right now and will be home shortly.  We will finish wrapping presents and they enjoy a meal of appetizers and open our gifts to each other.   Tomorrow morning Santa will come……..all the boys are excited.   The oldest (19) is the most excited as he knows what Santa is bringing, a Wii.  

Many more things to mention….but time to go lay down again and put my leg up.   I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!  God Bless. 

I am officially off of work for the rest of the year.  I have my knee surgery tomorrow, wish me luck!  

Today I am getting all the baking and cooking done for my Cookie Exchange Party tomorrow evening.  

ITEM FOR COOKIE TRAY:

Cookies Santa’s Whiskers – In fridge Cooling – will bake tonight
Chocolate Coated Pretzels – 1/2 of white Chocolate Done – Hubby is making!
Chocolate Oatmeal Drops –  DONE
Fantasy Fudge – Done

And of course, back again this year by request, Jen’s Hot Cocoa Mix

APPETIZER BUFFET:

Olive Bread –  (make mixture a head of time) -Done
Holiday Bacon Appetizers – Can Make ahead and freeze.  Thaw and warm in oven for 10 minutes.
Veggie Tray – Store Bought
Shrimp Cocktail
Artichoke Heart Dip – Done in the Fridge ready to bake after work tomorrow.

I will make a bunch of extra pretzels, fudge and oatmeal drops to put together for my niece and nephews.  I usually make those living on their own a frozen lasagna, but I don’t think with me having knee surgery in two days that is going to happened.  

I will only use a portion of the veggie tray and keep the rest of our family party on Saturday.  I will freeze the extra bacon appetizers as well for Saturday.  The more I can do ahead of time the better.   We have abour 30 people coming over on Saturday.  They are all bringing the food as I will only be post surgery by about 4 days.   I will put out appetizers later in the evening. 

Christmas Eve will be hubby, the boys and I.  I will make appetizers for supper that night as well.   We got some store bought ones as I am unsure how much I will be standning.  

8th – Saturday – Leftovers or quick Meal

9th – Sunday – Crockpot Spare Ribs – 7-8 hours ( fix and Firget it 5 ingred – pg 139) – Stuffing and Vegetable

10th – Crockpot – Honey Rosemary Chicken with Yukon Potaotes

11th – Grilled Cheese & Tomato Soup

12th – Soup

13th – Stew – 5-6 hours  ( fix and Firget it 5 ingred – pg 97)

14th – Wings and Oven Potato Wedges

15th – Out To Eat Concert

16th – Sunday  –  Easy Pot Roast

17th – Monday- Cookie Exchange Party – Appetizers to be determined

18th – Tuesday – Crockpot – French Dip Sandwiches

19th – Wednesday – Soup

20th – Spaghetti/ Meatballs and Garlic Bread

21st – Friday – Ham and Cheese Wraps/ Pasta Salad

22nd – Saturday – Family Christmas Party at our House – Potluck!

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To Try Next Week: 

Taco Meat Loaf / Rice/ Broccolli

Something with Pork Chops

Teriyaki Pork Roast

Sticky Chicken

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For more menu plan Monday fun, head on over to Laura’s at I’m an Organizing Junkie!