The Reason...

My family and I saw this magnet last night on a SUV as we were driving around town looking at the Christmas displays. It led to a discussion about how He is the Reason for the season and not all the commercialization that the retail industry focuses on.

From our house to yours -

May you have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Why?!?

Why do the kids wait until the holidays to get sick? The Girl came down with the crud Monday night, so she really couldn't enjoy her "skip" days from school (she was exempt from semester finals). Then, yesterday afternoon The Boy woke up from his afternoon siesta with a 104 temp. Talk about freaking mom out. I always go into panic mode when he spikes a fever like that. He had all the symptoms of strep; so like a good mom, I treated them symptoms until I could get him into see the doctor. I took him to the doc this morning only to find out that it's not strep or the flu, just some funky virus that we can't do anything about. Grrr...

All I know is...I DON'T want this virus. Guess in addition to baking this weekend, I'll be doing some super duper cleaning, too. I've already been Lysoling everything in sight.

Let's Bake!

Okay...the packages and Christmas cards are mailed. Time for serious baking! I received a new recipe from Hubby's co-worker - "The Elevator-Lady Cookies." The title alone should tell you how old this recipe is - I've never seen an elevator lady, at least not in person. I've been told the cookies are similar to those Moravian spice cookies. Yum!!! Those are on my list to bake along with peanut blossoms, fudge puddles, spritz cookies and oatmeal cookies with blueberries. Ha! Looks like I'm going to be busy tomorrow.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Overwhelmed

That's how I've been lately. Every year I promise myself that I will not to try to do too much between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And every year, I break that promise. This year I had the added bonus of having my hubby travel to Italy for a week earlier this month. Ugh...though he did bring back some wonderfully decadent chocolate and wine!

Quite frankly, I'm exhausted. My family and I are so ready for Christmas Break. It starts Thursday. We are not planning to travel nor are we having company come in. I'm being selfish this year. It's just going to be the four of us and I'm really looking forward to it. We have a couple of parties to go to between now and New Year's, but that's all that we are planning to do. Time to catch up on some reading and movies that we've wanted to see. Now, we just need the Christmasy weather...well, as Christmasy as weather gets here in No. AL. That would make our Christmas break perfect.

We are all through with our Christmas shopping. The first time that we won't be running out on Christmas Eve to finish up. Although I haven't mailed our Christmas cards, all the packages have been mailed...let the fun begin.

Now, where's my cookbook. It's time for some serious cookie baking.

Picture

Just a note about my header picture. That was taken in January 2007 at my parents house in Arizona. Usually, the only snow that they see is up on the mountain (behind the camera). Not this time, Mom & Dad received 8 inches of snow. They saw more snow in AZ than their former neighbors in Minnesota did in January. Strange!

I hope that you enjoy the scene. I love it!

Merry Christmas!