9th Annual Gingerbread Party

I love this tradition in my family. 10 years ago (we missed a year), my mom hosted the first gathering to decorate gingerbread houses. I have been every year- even when I didn't have kids. I was able to be auntie to my sweet nieces and nephews and now my kids get to enjoy the fun too.

Jason and his own special creation

This year my sister Chris hosted us at her ranch. It was unseasonable warm today and the perfect day to be outside. The only downside was that Nathan was feeling sick (even threw up- yuck). Poor kid, we stayed as long as we could and he even got to decorate a little house!!

Pictured above: Mike, Me, Jason, Sherry, Gidget, Kalika,
Desiree, Christine and Gracie.
Not pictured- Grammy (taking picture) and Nathan.Nathan's house and Jason's gingerbread man

A Christmas Tea

Today I had the pleasure of going to a Christmas Tea with my sweet girlfriends. Tricia's weekly Bible Study hosted their annual tea and it was so special. We had wonderful music and a great message about Jesus' birth and what an amazing and priceless gift He gave us when he came to earth (the Creator becoming creation) and later died for our sins. She is the ONLY reason to celebrate this season. Have a Merry and blessed CHRISTmas!!

Tricia, Janice, Tracy, Melissa

Christmas Cookie Exchange

On Tuesday night I went to our church's Annual Cookie Exchange. I have gone almost every year since starting our church, but this was the first time I had a "daughter" to take with me.

Dear Isabella is my surrogate daughter at church. Her mom lives in Washington and isn't able to do these "mother-daughter" things that our church puts on. I also have felt a little left out when my friends are getting to do fun "mother-daughter" things and I don't have a daughter. She and I also are part of a monthly group called "Feed Your Faith"- mothers and daughters get together and are learning to prepare simple dishes that we can share with others (to share our love and faith with them).
Don't get me wrong, I love my sons and I am so glad that they are mine- I only miss having a daughter for these occasional events. I also have such a close relationship with my mother and I know sons grow up and marry the love of their life. For that reason, I wish I had a daughter that I could share with all these things that my mom and I are sharing, but it is my prayer that my sons and I will have close relationships and that I will have a special relationship with my future daughters-in-law. With God- nothing is impossible!!

My other surrogate daughters- Dear Claire and Maddie!

Julie and 2 of my favorite girls- Emma and Maddie

Hard to see-but these are all the daughters
of my friends at the cookie exchange.
The future women's ministry

Candy Cane Cookie Balls

At our Thanksgiving feast, I was introduced to a new, delicious cookie- Oreo Cookie Balls. I love Peanut Butter balls and these are a close runner-up. I am going to a Christmas Cookie Exchange tomorrow night and needed something to share. I switched it up and now have these wonderful delights. the original cookie calls for Oreos (really good), but I used one of my favorite cookies instead for a Holiday twist- Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe Joe's. I hope you will make them this season or any time of the year!! ENJOY!!

Candy Cane Cookie Balls (aka: Oreo Balls)

1 package of Trader Joe’s Candy Cane Joe Joe’s (or regular Oreo cookies)

1 Brick Cream Cheese

1 ½ bags of Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips (Ghiradelli or another brand)

-Soften cream cheese

-chop cookies in a food processor

-melt choc. chips (in crock-pot or double boiler)

-mix chopped up cookies and cream cheese in a bowl (easiest with clean hands)

-form small balls with hands and put them on a plate or wax paper (should make 50)

-coat balls in melted chocolate

-place coated balls on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper

-place in fridge to chill chocolate.

Advent Begins

Our Giving Tree- our hands stretched out!

This year is about Giving- "It is far better to give than to receive." this is something we are really trying to impress upon the kids this year. Our church is doing the Advent Conspiracy- Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More.

There are a few ways in which we are trying accomplish this:
1. Worship Fully. Each day the boys and I are studying the different names of Jesus. We look up the Bible Verse where it is found, read it, talk about it's meaning. We also write the name down on a star and put it up on the wall.
2. Spend Less. There is no Christmas shopping being done this year. See below how we are giving this year instead of receiving!
3. Give More. We are donating to Free Wheelchair Mission on behalf of our family members (a wheelchair that changes many lives is only $60). We are also giving 25% of what we would normally spend on Christmas and give it as a special offering on Christmas eve. Part of the money will be going towards an irrigation system for a ministry in Zimbabwe and part will be going towards a great organization that digs water wells all over the world (fresh water is a precious gift). Also, each day the kids and I are putting food items in a bag to be given to Second Harvest Food Bank instead of a candy advent calendar. As we give the food, we pray for those who will receive it.

This way of celebrating our Savior's birth is what I hope becomes our new tradition. After all, God gave us the greatest gift of all- His one and only Son- Jesus Christ. The least we can do is give to those- near and far- who are truly in need. We know how extremely blessed we are- with our health, family, home, food, jobs and our friends- our cups runneth over!!

Our Three trees

Homework

After a nice long break (9 days off) it was back to school and homework today. I just had to take a picture of the boys BOTH doing homework together. They usually don't do it at the same time since they distract each other, but this was a rare and wonderful moment. Homework seems to go on forever- probably because there can be so many distractions (noises, hungry tummies, nothing in particular).

Game Fun

Our last day with Ryan before he went back to school was spent together. We went and saw Harry Potter: Deathly Hollows- great fun! After a late lunch at Elephant Bar, we all came back to our house and played Monopoly for 2 plus hours.

I personally love to play games. I grew up playing them and they are something I love doing with the kids. However, Dan is not to keen on playing them. This weekend was special since Ryan and Grandma Mary were with us. The little boys watched on as the 4 adults went round and round- buying property, paying taxes, gaining and losing money. Mary was the big winner of the night. She bankrupted us all and ended up with everything!! What fun we had!

Dan and Mary were head to head until she won!!

Mary- the BIG winner!!