DPP: Merry Christmas

DPP: Bakefest

"Bake while the oven is hot" was my motto today.

 

In addition to a jello salad, homemade cocktail sauce, breakfast casserole, chocolate covered pretzels and peppermint patties, we baked two loaves of bread, three pans of cinnamon rolls, chicken pinwheels, chocolate chip cookies, macaroons and sugar cookies.  The last one just about put me over the edge, but the kids really enjoyed themselves.

DPP: Elf Andrew

It's that time of the year to deliver fresh-baked goodies (cinnamon rolls!) to neighbors.

 

Usually it means Doug and kids out of the house so I can frantically wrap.  This year, though, the boys tackled the closest houses on their own giving Doug a few extra minutes of football before heading way down the street.

DPP: The First Day of Winter

 

It was just a dusting but I felt like we were in a snow-globe all day.  Perfect!

DPP: Christmas - Round 1

 

This year Christmas is being celebrated in three stages: a pre-Christmas, out-of-state gift exchange; our first at-home-just-us Christmas; and a post-Christmas/birthday to-do with Doug's folks.

DPP: Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

DPP: Home for the Holidays

DPP: The National Marine Corp Museum

 

DPP: The Boys

They clean up pretty well.

DPP: Out the Door

We're headed out for a week of pre-holiday festivities and gatherings.  

DPP: Stuff and Bother

Even as a child, I would think to myself after Christmas, "What am I going to do with all this stuff?"

 

 

So in preparation, we made some donations to our local thrift store.

DPP: Plan C

Brainstorm: we had this lovely dress hiding in the closet so I can put away the sewing machine, at least temporarily.

DPP: Plan B

The photo is terrible, but you get the point.

 

I have been laboring over this dress for the past month in preparation for a wedding this weekend.  It's a bit too large; it may fit in another four years.  My mother talked some sense into me this morning and convinced me that it was a crazy idea to think that I could pleat, smock, and construct another dress in three days so we have moved on to Plan B.  It involved another trip to the fabric store  with all the children as well as calls to my mother and sister while there to get opinions on fabrics they could not see.  With a little *coaxing* that it really didn't matter and a round of Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Mo, we (namely, Stephen) made a choice and that was that.  Now for nap time, and the chance to get to work.

DPP: French Seams

The name sounds exotic and mysterious; the execution is easy; and the result is so very satisfying.

DPP: So Cheery

Gloomy, foggy mornings call out for something bright.

 

Orange slices provides just the right lift to the morning and a much-needed boost of vitamin C to boot. 

DPP: Yule Logs

A surprise gift from new neighbors.

DPP: A Creche, LEGO Style

I charged the big boys with the task of building a nativity scene out of LEGOs.

 

 

Stephen set to work on the stable:  "I made it so that it looks like it was built into a hillside."

 

 

Andrew made Jesus.  "I used a technic pin and a minifigure head.  That's all I could think of."

 

 

 

And here's the whole family together.  I love Mary's skirt and the lantern hanging down from the ceiling.  These boys are very creative.

DPP: A Moment's Reprieve

 

In the midst of the witching hour, it's nice to have a beautiful-if-brief diversion.

DPP: The Stash

Usually these babies are kept in a high cabinet, behind the tea and sundries, away from little hands.

 

But they were too pretty to be kept in a dark cupboard during the Christmas season so now they live atop the fridge, a cheery display still safe from the reach of little hands.

DPP: Souper Mom

I love the fact that my kids think I'm Top Chep whenever this meal appears.

 

It really doesn't get much easier than Potato Soup.  Here's what we do.

 

Chop 2 whole onions and saute in olive oil in a large pot. 

While the onions soften, peel and chop 8-10 lbs. potatoes (they like it that much!)

Add to onions; add chicken broth and/or water to cover.

Simmer until potatoes are soft and somewhat mushy.

Add 2c. white beans, pureed for extra protein (thanks for the tip, Lisa!).

Add salt & pepper to taste.

Top with cheese, onion, bacon, and/or broccoli.

DPP: "Go Outside!"

We continue to be blessed with awesome weather which means lots of outdoor play for the kids.

 

 

While I've been slow to catch the festive spirit this season, the youngsters are on overdrive, and an afternoon in the out-of-doors, is exactly what we all need.

DPP: Oh, What Fun!

 

What fun to be able to crop such a face from a group photo shoot!

Just one of many interesting expressions.

DPP: Off to a Great Start

Once again it's time for the December Photo Project:

an effort to capture images daily of this most-exciting of months.

 

 

It was a great day to begin: sunny weather, warm temps, and happy kiddos (well, all except for the two that managed to disturb some yellow jackets).

Giving Thanks: My Husband

What a guy!

Giving Thanks: Apple Pie

I'm starting to forget her.

 

Your mother, she could peel an apple in one long strand.

 

Sleepless in Seattle

Giving Thanks: Playmates

I remember praying earlier this year that the Lord would bring some nice young neighbors.

 

He answered those prayers with a renewed friendship, playmates who moved away about 7 years ago but have returned, even if temporarily.  The Spring Valley Gang is in full force most afternoons.

Giving Thanks: The Little Things

Lest anyone think that I'm scraping the bottom of the barrel, let me elaborate:

there are onions and there are Publix onions.

 

I've always bought onions in 3# bags.  Probably because my mom always did, but we do use that many.  I go for the cheapest - no hoity-toity organic things unless they happen to also be the cheapest.

Then I picked up a bag at Publix.  What a surprise when I opened the bag!  Small onions, even tiny onions; not one gigantic monster of an onion in the lot.  Not that there aren't times when you need lots of onion.  It just seems that I always end up with half an onion sitting on my counter for several days until I use the shriveled thing or toss it in the compost.

No waste with these babies, though.  Not too big.  Not too small.  Just right.

Yes, it's the small things in the life that make my day.

Giving Thanks: Church Dinners

Five dozen rolls fresh from the oven, a crock pot of chicken and Spinach Maria

 

 

'cause my mama raised me right.

Giving Thanks: Clean Things

Never underestimate the power of clean.

 

And while my standards are far below perfect (case in point is the state of my kitchen as I type - there is literally nowhere, not one single spot on the counters to set anything!), I tend towards tidiness.  On a whim I picked up this cleaner, mostly because it was just plain cute.  Turns out it is great for scrubbing those stubborn stains in my kitchen sink among other things, and the container just makes me smile.  Win-win!

The Birds & the Bees....and Butterflies

I took all the kids to the aquarium this morning for a fun adventure.  We all love the butterfly exhibit and there's always a fuss over who gets to hold one.  I happened upon a unique site - a siamese butterfly.  We oohed and aahed over it until it was time to move on.  When I mentioned to a docent about finding the two butterflies attached end to end, he explained that they were mating.

Oh.

Andrew said, "I read a book about butterflies but it didn't say anything about that."

Stephen said, "It's a shame that humans don't do that."

I am not ready for this.

Giving Thanks: Neighborhood Adventures

What a blessing to have so many different fun places to explore, all within walking distance of our house?

 

 

 

 

God is good.

Giving Thanks: The Bug Whisperer

For a while it was a penchant for slugs.

 

 

But really, anything creepy and crawly will do.

 

 

Ladybugs & spiders, slugs & snails, grasshoppers, crickets and daddy longlegs.

 

 

They are all fascinating to our resident entemologist.

Giving Thanks: Storytime

My right-hand-man at it again,

 

 

this time buying a little time so I could cover a math lesson with Andrew.

Giving Thanks: Success!

It was a rocky start, to say the least: shortage of fabric, unclear pattern, tempermental pleater.

 

After one really late night and numerous problems, this dress is finally beginning to take shape.

Giving Thanks: Laughs

At our fortunate pre-Halloween thrift store shopping experience, we also happened upon a rack of wedding dresses.  Andrew said, "Wow, those must be for someone who is really tall."  I explained that they were just hung on a high rack because wedding dresses have a long train in the back.

 

Jonathan must have been processing the conversation.  A couple of days later he told me, "When Iget married, I'm going to wear pants that drag the ground."

Giving Thanks: My Parents

Thanks for gladly entering the chaos that we call everyday life!

Giving Thanks: A Special Girl

Giving Thanks: A Bumblebee on Lavender

 

Because, really, we need to appreciate how dependent we are on these busy, little creatures!

Giving Thanks: Outdoor Games

 

 

A swing, a stick and a ditch - the perfect recipe for play!

Giving Thanks: Help in the Kitchen

It is wonderful to have enthusiastic helpers.

 

And while there can be too many cooks in the kitchen, one assistant is usually just right.

Giving Thanks: Unexpected Surprises

Bearded iris in November?

 

 

Wonders never cease.

Giving Thanks: Gingko Trees

 

My absolute favorite week of the year is when the gingko tree changes its leaves and then quickly drops them all like a melted puddle of butter.

Giving Thanks: Something Missing

Who knew that losing something would be so much fun?

 

 

 

And he pulled it out all by himself.