Sadly, as I mentioned in an earlier post, Jeremy’s aunt Patsy died soon after Thanksgiving. The funeral was this weekend. Due to Savannah and I participating in Journey to Bethlehem, only Jeremy and Emery went to Mississippi to be with the family. And since it was just us girls, we headed over to my mom’s for the annual Cookie Bake.

It seems like each year there is something memorable that happens. There was the year my sister got us all matching aprons that said “Santa likes my cookies best!” And the year that Buzz Lightyear kept showing up next to the finished cookie trays in all the photos. This year was no different. Savannah, Jessica and I were decorating sugar cookies and I kept thinking something just didn’t look right. Then it dawned on me! Usually our sugar cookies are frosted in the traditional red, white and green Christmas colors. But this year there was neon blue, bright pink and fluorescent yellow. You see, Nanny became a die hard coupon-er this year and the colors on the cookies reflect the icing that she found on sale all year! Yeah, I’m pretty sure we won’t be letting her live that down anytime soon!!!

First, on Sunday was our annual Mother/Daughter Cookie Bake at my parents house. When we got there, my sister was sporting an apron that said “Santa likes my cookies best!”

Let the games begin!!!

While the girls baked, nuked, frosted, and designed our Christmas goodies, the taste-testers played baseball.

(I found Emery a ball bag this summer at a yard sale and he never leaves home without it. Apparently, it’s always a good time to play baseball.)

The next day we took Savannah to The American Girl store for her birthday and on Tuesday I covered my kitchen table with markers, glue glitter, and 24 little wooden ornaments for the kids to decorate and give as gifts.

While they got colored away, I made up several cookie trays to take to friends and family on Wednesday. One of our favorite stops was to see Jeremy’s Grandmother, and also her sister and brother in law. Here is Savannah with Uncle Gerald. It’s a shame we don’t stop by more often. Really. Somebody slap me.

Later on that same day we took a tray of goodies to Emery’s homeschool tutor, Mrs. Browne. He was thrilled to be in a house “WITH 3 BROTHERS MOMMY!” and so I let him play for a while. Well, at least until he came up to me with a bearded dragon and a twinkle in his eye.

Let me assure you, Son…you have a better chance of getting the 1,000 Buzz Lightyears you requested from Santa than one bearded dragon from me!

Microwave Fudge

2 (12 oz) packages MILK chocolate chips
1 can Eagle brand milk
1 stick margarine
chopped nuts (optional)

Mix first 3 ingredients and microwave on high for 2-3 minutes. Stir. Cook another 2-3 minutes. Stir until creamy. Add nuts if desired. Pour into buttered 9×9 pan and refrigerate until firm.

It doesn’t get any easier than that People!

You’re welcome!

(For an easy Lasagna recipe…that I can’t wait to try by the way…visit Fiddledeedee.)

Kids who sleep much later than normal. And a mom who has time to accomplish something before 8 am.

I decided to surprise them with muffins this morning. And not the “just add water” kind. Homemade, from scratch, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip muffins.

As much as I LOVE these muffins, I never get the itch to make them except in the fall. As a matter of fact, it’s usually the first “fall-ish” thing that I do. It sets the tone for pumpkin spice candles, warm fuzzy sweatshirts, and the beginning of packing on those pesky holiday pounds!

Oh well, ya gotta start somewhere, right? Now where did I put my cup of coffee….

(Capture more “Feelings of Fall” at Beth’s)

For me, the best part about Monkey Bread is the memories. A long, long time ago when I was young (ahem), I had a friend whose Mom would make Monkey Bread the morning after a slumber party. I LOVED waking up to that smell. In minutes I resembled Pavlov’s dog.

One year I asked my friend to write the recipe down for me. Ten moves and over 20 years later, I still have that little ole recipe card. I’ve copied it in other places, but I just can’t make myself throw out the original. It reminds me of Tiffany. Of sleepovers and birthday parties. Of giggling girls watching the Thriller video and listening to cassette tapes into the wee hours of the morning.

That’s the good stuff.

And it reminds me that the little things matter. I’m sure that when Tiffany’s mom drug herself out of bed those early Saturday mornings she never dreamed I’d be thinking of her while making Monkey Bread with my own kids one day. But I do.

Won’t it be fun someday to find out what little things have impacted our own children?

Quite a while ago I joined a cooking website called Allrecipes. It’s completely free and full of all sorts of recipes. It appealed to me because I can’t tell you how many times I thaw a piece of meat for dinner with absolutely no idea of what I’m going to do with it. On the Allrecipes site, I can type in a search for the meat I have and up pops all kinds of suggestions. Each one is ranked according to the level of difficulty, and also other members can review a recipe they’ve tried to tell you how they liked it.

I enjoyed using it quite a while before I discovered the fantastic grocery list feature. I don’t know about y’all, but I tend to make the same basic meals depending on the season. For instance, in the fall I prepare more soups, stews, and roasts. I purchase more canned goods and less fresh fruits and vegtables. In the spring and summer, it’s the opposite.

That brings me to the grocery list. I am basically shopping for the same items, with a few extras thrown in here and there. The Allrecipes site allows you to type in a grocery list and save it. Last October I sat down with my recipe books and figured out exactly what I would need if I had to buy every ingredient for the things I make in the fall and winter. I also put things on the saved list like dog food, detergent, and toilet paper.

For the remainder of the season, when it was time for a trip to the store, I’d go into the Allrecipes site, print my saved list, and take it to the kitchen. Then I’d simply cross off items I did not need, leaving me with all the things I’d have to purchase to feed my family the next few weeks. It was huge time saver!

Oh, and one other perk! The list prints out according to items. Let’s see if I can explain. All the dairy products automatically print out together. The meats, cereals, condiments, soups, etc. Everything is in order as to how you will find it in the store. And it doesn’t seem to matter which store. Even though some stores have the bread next to the vegtables and others have it next to the beverages, they all have basically the same items next to the bread. So, in other words, you just turn the corner in the store, see what aisle you’re on, look at the list and everything you need from that aisle is all grouped together.

I can’t tell you how helpful this has been for me the last 6 months. Not only do I rarely forget to put something on the list, but I also rarely come home without an item that was on the list to begin with! Which can be so frustrating!!!

Now that the weather is warmer and the fresh produce is lookin’ good, it’s time for me to pull the recipe books out again and make my spring and summer grocery list. I really think making a grocery list only twice a year definitely qualifies it as a Friday Favorite!

Last night was the Kids Choir Christmas performance. Savannah had been a nervous wreck ever since she found out she’d be singing on stage. With a little bribery, her attitude went from “I’m NOT getting up there and YOU can’t make me”, to “okay, all I have to do is try my best and not complain, then I get to spend the night at Nanny’s?”

She seemed fine once she got up in front of everybody with her class. She was kind of in the back, but that was okay. It left plenty of room for all the jumping and dancing she decided to do. (Maybe seeing The Nutcracker the night before had something to do with the impromptu dance moves.) Since she seemed so comfortable I decided to ask her how it was on the stage. “I thought I was going to throw up”, she said.

Emery was the complete opposite. I knew he would be. I just didn’t know the extent he would ham it up. He sang his little heart out, shouting “HI MOMMY!” and waving during the first song. Finishing up the second song grooving with hands on the hips, cue the laughter, which fueled him all the more. The general consensus I heard as we were leaving is “he really stole the show”.

(Those pictures are still on Nanny’s camera.)

Today we had our annual Christmas cookie bake at my mom’s house. After 8 hours, we produced pounds of fudge, decorated sugar cookies, and made candy, cookie bars, truffles, etc. This year Nanny felt Savannah was old enough to really participate in the event, beyond licking spoons and taste testing the final product. She got her very own set of cookie cutters, wooden spoon, and rolling pin.

Emery also got promoted this year. He was allowed to cut potato candy with a butter knife. And anything that involves the use of sharp objects is fun for him. He was on cloud nine!

Now, as bedtime approaches, we are all stuffed! Full of sugar, fat, and calories. Since this is the season of sharing, I think it’s only appropriate to give all our friends and neighbors that same euphoric feeling. I know…you wish you were my neighbor, don’t ya?

Would contain these sweet treats?

Personally, I am not a fan of blackberries. I think it dates back to my childhood when my mom would make us pick them on our property in Illinois. It would be 90 degrees outside and we’d have to wear jeans and long sleeved shirts to go hiking back in the woods where there were thousands of bugs and poison ivy plants.

All so she could have a few blackberries on her Cherrios in the morning.

Sure, I have issues. So?

I found out this week that my husband and daughter like blackberries too. What’s a woman to do? Well, I dug out a pair of blue jeans and laced up my Ropers. I set out with Stafford (to protect me from snakes!) and picked a bowl of berries just for them.

Ah…the things we do for love!

Naaaaa…I’m just kidding. I really do like having my kids around me 24 hours a day 7 days a week, every waking moment of every single day. No seriously. How SOON can you BE here, Papa???

Oh, it was just one of those days. One of those days when Aunt Flow visits and brings along her sidekick, “Crampa”. I only wanted to crawl into bed with my super-sized bottle of Motrin and a heating pad. But dooty duty called (twice yesterday) and I had to manage through the trenches of motherhood…bleeding and cramping…Semper Fi!

By the time Papa got the kids, my overdose of Motrin had kicked in and so I decided to put on a little makeup, a flirty top, and my favorite strappy sandals. I met Jeremy at the office and we went out for a bite. I stopped to grab the kids on the way home and before we left, Papa gave us a huge watermelon.

The youngin’s couldn’t wait to slice it open, so we decided there was no time like the present.

Savannah got the first plate of watermelon and was very disappointed when she realized Daddy cut it off the rind. When I slice it for the kids, it’s usually in the middle of the day. So I leave it on the rind and I let them eat it outside where they make big sticky messes of themselves, and then I just hose them off. Daddy didn’t share my enthusiasm for the “slice and spray” method of eating watermelon. And I can’t say that I’m surprised. This is a grown man that HAS TO have a fork to eat pizza and chicken wings! But I digress.

After a discussion about the “proper way” to eat a watermelon and “just where did you grow up anyways?”, Emery was lucky enough to get his sliced just right.

All 4 of us did our best impression of the Very Hungry Caterpillar but still couldn’t finish off an entire half of this big melon. We ended up calling our neighbors at 10:00 to see if they wanted to indulge in a late night snack as well. They graciously accepted the other half and we wrapped up what we had left for later today. Or…maybe even right now!!!

But we did something fun today and I took a lot of pictures which can be found here.

Today was the annual Christmas Cookie bake, this year at my mom’s house. Each year, my mom, sister, and I all get together for one day of baking yummy Christmas goodies and before we go home, we all share what we’ve made. That way we have a large variety on the cookie trays that we share with family, friends, and neighbors, and we haven’t had to spend hours upon hours baking everything ourselves!

In years past my Grandma has been able to participate and one year a very good friend of mine who had moved to our area and was homesick for her own family cooking traditions joined us too. This year it was just us, and my kids, and…

Buzz Lightyear. Because when you invite a 2 year old boy to a cookie bake, he MUST bring Buzz Lightyear! Here is Buzz guarding the bread and potato candy while Emery took a nap. It’s the only way I could convince him that the cookies would NOT be gone by the time he woke up!

We all had a lot of fun. Savannah tasted everything in sight and now, as I’m typing this, she says her belly hurts. Hmmm…can’t imagine why? Emery on the other hand just wanted to try to DO everything in sight. “I do it!” “I roll the balls!” “I stir it!” “I pour!” You get the idea.

I did save one of my favorite recipes to make later this week and those would be Sugar Cookie Cut Outs. You know, the ones where you roll out the dough, dig out your old Christmas cookie cutters, bake, then frost them to look like Santas, snowmen, and angels. Those make such a HUGE mess but they are my absolute favorite Christmas cookies to make and eat! I’ll be tackling that project a few days so if you come back and wonder where I’ve gone again, well, now you know!

TTFN!!! :)