Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Let it be Christmas

 How we love our Olive Marie

 Ready for their program. This year was Ellie's first program, she made funny faces. I'm not sure that she knows she did this.

 Mia making a paper chain this morning.

Spray painting some pine cones. 

Molasses cookies with white chocolate. I was working at these one day when fed ex came. Being shy, I had to work up the nerve to give the delivery guy a cookie. His eyes lit up like crazy when I handed it to him and he thanked me. A few seconds later he knocked on the door and stood there with the cookie in his hand, one bite out of it, "Excuse me ma'am, where did you get this cookie?" he asked. and then, "Well you are a very good cook." Ha ha.

Oh, another story about these cookies. I use Pioneer Woman's recipe. The evening after I made these I was at Nate's Mom and saw she had a molasses cookie recipe out. My heart was beating frantically as I looked over the list of ingredients as she had hers marked, "These are the best" I breathed a real sigh of relief knowing the recipe I used was exactly the same.

1 cup Sugar
3/4 cups Crisco
1/4 cup Molasses
1 whole Egg
2 cups Flour
2-1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Cinnamon
1 teaspoon Ground Ginger
1/2 teaspoon Ground Cloves
1/4 teaspoon Ground Cardamom (I never have this on hand, it's expensive and I don't know if I like it or not?)
1/4 teaspoon Salt

Bake at 350 degrees.

Mix sugar, shortening, molasses, and egg together until well combined. Dump in dry ingredients, stirring dry ingredients together lightly. Mix together until dough is combined.

Roll dough into walnut-sized balls, then generously coat each ball with sugar. Place balls on a baking sheet and bake for 9 to 11 minutes, allowing to bake for about a minute after cookies begin to crack.

Remove cookies from baking sheet and allow to cool. Drizzle or dip in white chocolate.

Alan Jackson "Let it Be Christmas"

We have this song on repeat.

A Tree (Free Printable)

 Photo of my Aunt's tree on a snowy day. (Monday)

Free High Resolution Printable 18x20

For personal use only

Pinterest Inspiration found here.

Snow Day

All Things Baby

 The grilled cheese sandwiches are a packing lunches survival trick right now. I make a whole bunch with ham in them and freeze them. The girls like them.  Nate not so much. So, he gets trail mix.

I have nightmares about getting the lunches packed on time and getting the girls off to school. This morning we almost had a real life experience like unto my dreams but it all worked out.

 I read Bringing up Bebe a while ago. Got it at the library. I knew I wanted to read it again and I found that the Durckerman author made a Bebe Day by Day book. This book is like all the good info broken down into easy to read chapters. I'm liking it. Easy to refresh myself on all the tips. Although, the original book is a good read, and someday when I have more reading time I hope to read it again. 

 Sleepbag

I used to think these were so weird. Now I am all about zipper pj's. So much nicer at 2am than  a whole bunch of snaps. This particular style has great access to that diaper you are wanting to change. After the zipper of course. 

Love this sleeper also from Carters. Zipper the whole way down. 

Terry cloth so soft, does not make me shiver like fleece can.

Glider Rocker. This seemed like a wicked splurge back when we got it for baby Mia. I can not tell you how many times I have thanked Nate for buying this chair. Not necessary but nice. So nice and cushy. 

We bought a brand new crib back in the day and I'm pretty sure if I had it to do over again. I'd be looking for a thrift-ed one. Ours has served us well and all that but we would not have needed to get a new one. 

Burt's Bees 

Love their baby lotion! 

 The Maxi Cosi Quinny Freestyle 4. 

I spent hours researching for the perfect stroller while pregnant with Mia. This might have been it, if we would have been driving a mini van at the time. It took up the whole trunk in the car and I  am thinking we had to pop the tires off  to get it in? Nice. Nate was not a fan. I loved it in Grenada as you can see. Mia looks a pit peeved to be demoted to the basket.

These days I'm pining for a Phil and Ted's. I think if you are looking for a stroller and hope to have children closer than 5 years apart you will want a Phil and Ted's. 

I'd say get all used furniture for the nursery if you must and splurge on this stroller. It folds up nice. Wheels pop off in case you are still driving around in a two door car! 

Mini vans are great.

 I hear full size vans are too.

  Ergo baby carrier. 
You know, I since I'm talking all my favorite baby gear that I'm such a sucker for... I should mention the Ergo baby carrier. I had this for baby Ellie and it was perfect for our lifestyle in Grenada. Lots of hiking and walking etc. I never used it for Stuart and saw that it found a new home after realizing I didn't use it here. I guess we need to go on more hikes. All this to say the Ergo is known to be one of the most comfortable baby carriers. Nate would tell you it was very warm as well. But carrying a baby is going to be warm.
And Nate is a Martin. ( he's hot)

Sonya's Wedding

 The bride and groom, happy and relaxed.

 A beautiful day for a wedding. 

 Many thanks to Dorcas for taking most of these photos.

 Sonya's cousins. All born the same year. Special to have all 7 of them together.

 There was a special table for the nieces and nephews at the reception. I'll spare you from seeing the top of the table. Use your imagination.