Treasure

This sweet grandpa of mine is quite the treasure!

He turned 95 at the beginning of December and is such a special guy. Today the boys and I met Mom, Drake, and Braden at the care center for a visit with Grandpa. He was pretty quiet today, but a couple of weeks ago when we were there he was FULL of stories about the olden days and could hardly spit them out fast enough.  Aaron and I were chuckling quite a bit with everything he was telling us. A lot of times you hear the same stories over and over again, but this time was different.  We heard some colorful stories from his past that I had never heard before.  I sure wish I would've had a tape recorder with me. These stories are simply priceless and a window into such a special guy's life!

Last year I bought him a small Christmas tree for his room, and we decided to leave it up all year long and switch out the lights and ornaments for the different holidays and seasons.  So today, we took down the Christmas ornaments and colored lights and put on white lights with silver and blue snowflakes and icicles.  

He loves his little tree, and it's such a simple thing to do to make him happy!  Next up will be red lights and heart ornaments with each family member's pictures.  

Confession time

I have a confession to make.

Well, two really.

First, I like tradition.  I don't like to waver from tradition.  Traditions tend to hold special memories. That's why I like to make the same type of cookies at Christmas.  Certain cookies are just meant to be made at this time.

Second, I'm addicted to Pinterest.  There, I said it.  I waste spend quality time perusing this site for, hmmm, anything that looks interesting to me. Don't tell Aaron.  I'm sure he has NO idea!  Well, this poses a big problem when you stumble across an amazing looking cookie that is just begging to be made at Christmas.  However, it definitely isn't in my traditional holiday baking routine.  You see the problem?

Well, I decided to break tradition and squeeze it into my baking schedule.  A Red Velvet Cheesecake cookie.  Go ahead and drool.

OH MY HEAVENS!  

One bite and you might just think you've died and gone to Heaven!  You can find the recipe here.  You might notice the beautiful drizzle that goes across this gal's cookie.  Apparently I'm drizzle impaired :(  I just ate those two disasters so you wouldn't have to see how pitiful my drizzling abilities are! A nice little dollop with some pearl sprinkles was my solution.

Baker beware...these are dangerously delicious!

Merry Christmas

From adventuresofabettycrockerwannabe.blogspot.com

Gingerbread Houses

What a blessing Grandma Ween is.  She willingly makes gingerbread houses each year with her grandkids at Christmas time.  In previous years, Austin and Carter made one together.  This year though, she had one for each of them to make.  Even better, she had supplies for Austin to make an ISU cottage and Carter to make an UNI cottage.  How thoughtful!  Somehow she found purple and yellow licorice to make it all work pretty swell.

They look rip roaring ready to go!  (Ignore the clothes on the couch in the background.  We should just all be happy it was actually getting done!)

It always amazes me that there is any candy left after my boys have done these.  I think their motto is eat one, put one on the house, eat one, put one on the house, etc.

This year, both boys were pretty independent with their gingerbread cottages until the icing decorator broke :(  Then Grandma Ween got to flex her muscles.

Both Austin and Carter had so much fun designing their own houses.  It's a terrific tradition that I am so thankful to Ween for doing with the kids.  I know they will look back on this time fondly in the future.

Meet Chip

Here he is...

Yes, I know he looks quite similar to Carter, but we are changing his name to Chip.  Notice the bottom teeth :(Just last night he chipped these two permanent teeth for the 2nd time ~ yes you read that right!  THE 2nd TIME!

Sigh.

Let's see, the first chipped tooth came a little over a year ago at a friend's house.  Four of them were playing tag and Carter oh so gracefully ran into a friend's elbow. You just have to love when they bring him home to you with the other part of his tooth in a baggie!

Chip number two followed less than 6 months after the first one. Austin and Carter were playing Madden 11 on the Wii. Carter scored a touchdown and was jumping up and down celebrating and somehow ~ I still can't figure out how ~ his chin came down on top of Austin's head.

At least each of those only involved ONE tooth each time. This time, it's TWO!!! Apparently a basketball to the mouth will do that to a person. Carter and his friend were playing basketball outside having a hey day until the dreaded incident. I knew something bad had happened because I could hear the wailing from inside the house.

After the second time, I made sure our amazing dentist was put into my cell phone for such an emergency.  The first time I interrupted tomato canning, the second time dinner out, and this time supervising Cub Scouts serving food at Food for First. Let's just say, Dr. Craig and Dr. Debbie Grandgenett are pretty amazing people and never ever make us feel bad for needing after hour care!  They still speak to us even when they see us out in public :)

I guess a new mouth guard will appear in "Chip's" stocking this year!

Holiday Q & A v.2

This Question and Answer session brought to you by Austin.

Q: What are you most looking forward to over break?

A: No snow, no school, and Christmas

Q: What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

A: Opening presents

Q: What is your favorite Christmas song?
A: Jingle Bells and Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Q: Do you believe in Santa?

A: No

Q: How long have you not believed in Santa?

A: Since 3rd grade

Q: Who or what made you not believe in Santa?

A: Friends :(

Q: If you knew you were only getting one present this Christmas, what would you ask for?

A: an xBox 360 

Q: What's your favorite thing about going to Grandma Ween's for Christmas?

A: Fudgens

Q: What's your favorite thing about going to the cabin for Christmas?

A: Seeing my family and presents

Q: Why do we celebrate Christmas?

A: Jesus' birth

Q: What's your favorite holiday cookie?

A: Almond bark pretzels

Q: What are you getting your mom for Christmas?

A: Not telling

Q: What do you want to do for New Year's Eve?

A:  Stay up all night and hang out at Papa and Grandma Di's

Q: Will you be excited to go back to school after two weeks?

A:  NO!!!!!!!!!!  (That was his typing!)

Holiday Q & A

This Question and Answer session brought to you by Carter.

Q: What are you most looking forward to over break?
A: Christmas

Q: What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
A: Our neighbors come over after we open our gifts on Christmas morning.

Q: What is your favorite Christmas song?
A: Jingle Bell Rock

Q: Do you believe in Santa?
A: No.

Q: How long have you not believed in Santa?
A: 2 years

Q: Who or what made you not believe in Santa?
A: Austin :(

Q: If you knew you were only getting one present this Christmas, what would you ask for?
A: A four wheeler

Q: What's your favorite thing about going to Grandma Ween's for Christmas?
A: Fudgens

Q: What's your favorite thing about going to the cabin for Christmas?
A: Cool gifts and family

Q: Why do we celebrate Christmas?
A: Jesus' birthday

Q: What's your favorite holiday cookie?
A: Sugar cookies with frosting

Q: What are you getting your mom for Christmas?
A: Don't know :(

Q: What do you want to do for New Year's Eve?
A:  Go to Grandma Di's and spend the night at the cabin

Q: Will you be excited to go back to school after two weeks?
A:  NO!!!!!!!!!!  (That was his typing!)

Cookie Exchange

I love getting help with my holiday baking!  A friend organized a cookie exchange that I went to last night.  It was so much fun.  I met new people, tasted some great food and drinks and came away with 10 dozen different types of cookies...well make that 9 dozen as I'm looking at the picture realizing I missed picking up the plate of frosted sugar cookies :(  How did I manage to do that?  Must have been the good drinks time I was having!  I'm also noticing that some little elves have already hit the stash of goodies as not all plates have their full dozen still on them.