Good things...

1. Someone who knows just the thing to cheer you and does some preparation before you arrive...

2. Flower shaped poached eggs...

3. Someone to do your hair (I love that feeling!)...

I hope you find some good things today!

Stacey: "You're all nut-balls, but I love you."

The other night we were watching our weekly Christmas movie at Zach and Stacey's. Just sitting, watching and eating ice cream. Mom decides to take a picture, so Silas picks up his book and pretends to read...

Apparently since he has started reading again he wants proof in the pictures...even the fake ones!

What a hoot. I laughed, Zach shook his head, and Si just kept on "reading".

I love these boys.

Oh Christmas Trees!!

Who has their Christmas tree up??? Me! Me! I do! Stacey and I went for an adventure last week to find our trees. And boy did we ever! A friendly lumber jack even trimmed them down for us to the perfect height! Here they are on the butchering block...

And now look at them!

Beauties eh?

A Christmas recipe!

As requested by Isabelle here is a Christmas cookie recipe! I made these this morning and theywere a hit! They went to school for a trip meeting and were devoured. They are delicious and SO festive.

Candy Cane Cookies

Makes about 30 cookies

*Note*: Since I was sending these into a school I didn't use almond extract but instead swapped it for peppermint extract, which is more real anyway!

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup icing sugar

1 egg

1 1/2 tsp almond extract

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

1/2 tsp salt

red food coloring

1. Preheat oven to 350F.

2. Beat the butter for 2 minutes. Beat in the icing sugar and egg. Then add the extracts.

3. Add in the flour and salt. Mix till combined.

4. Remove half the dough to a bowl. With the remaining dough stir in enough food coloring to turn the dough red (or close enough!).

5. To form each candy cane make small-ish (about 1 teaspoon) balls of each color. Roll them into snakes about 4 inches long. Twist the two strands together, bending the top down to make a candy cane shape. Place on a baking sheet. Continue with remaining dough. I found that rolling a bunch of red and white balls and then making them into snakes was the fastest way.

6. Bake the cookies for 9 minutes. Remove from the baking pan onto a cooling rack.

Happy Baking! Let me know if you try the recipe!

Happy St. Nick's Day!

Today is the feast day of Saint Nicholas...this day, not Christmas, is a day of gift-giving in countries that celebrate him. As children we weren't given a present from Santa Claus on Christmas, but a gift from Saint Nicholas on December 6. And as grown-up kids we still do! What good memories I have of waking up early before school on past December 6th's to a boot full of treats!

We celebrated early this year, on the eve of St. Nick's day, with a supper made by our Mama and presents from St. Nick.

What are some of the things your family celebrates this time of year?