Sunday, December 19, 2010

New Additions

On Saturday, the girls, my Dad and I headed down to my nephew Richard's 5th birthday party.  I was super excited because I was going to see my two newest nephews, Noah and Thomas.  I had not yet met Noah so I couldn't wait to see him - he was so adorable, super handsome and at that super fun age (8 months).  Thomas reminded me so much of Hannah - super clingy to Momma.  I did get to hold him and rock him to sleep once but he usually cried for his mom whenever someone else had him - brought back MANY, MANY memories of Hannah!  We had a great time spending time together and I'm really looking forward to spending Christmas night with them all again!

The newest little one, Thomas

Grammy (my mom), Richard, Emma and Hannah

My Dad with his grandkids (plus Rachel since that was the only way Thomas wouldn't cry)

Beautiful Noah

He was so gosh darn cute

I could have eaten him up all night!

My sister, Rachel with Thomas (I don't know how this one ended on the bottom - oh well!)

Visit with HoHo Man

Since school was closed on Friday for snow, we took the kids to see Santa.  We got there during his break and Matt insisted we get in line since he was due back in 30 minutes, but I said, there's no line, lets go get my camera!  Big mistake - we came back 15 minutes later and the line was huge!  But we got to watch many kids sit on his lap, some happy, some not so happy!  Hannah was very excited until the moment she said on the strange mans lap!  She looked down with her classic frozen "I don't see you" face and Santa had to lift her face up.  We never got a smile out of her, but she didn't cry either!  Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 10, 2010

Letters to Santa

Time for those letters!  Emma wrote on at home with me and one at school so she has two! The first one is the one from school written just as she wrote it:

Dec 1, 2010
Dear Santa
For Crismus I wod like grl puppy and a grl cat.
For my sister she wants a dorwo dans toy.
For me my vare own lop top.
I want a horse.
I want a hat.
Love
Emma.

To translate she wrote:
Dear Santa
For Christmas I would like a girl puppy and a girl cat (despite my repeated urging that Santa doesn't bring real animals!)
For my sister she wants a Dora dancing toy.
For me my very own lap top.
I want a horse.
I want a hat.
Love
Emma.

The letter she wrote at home reads:
Dear Santa
For crismus I woud like a more d.s. game. I wood like a kamra. Pelow pet. unickun. I wood like a grl puppy.
Thac uw.
Love
Emma

Translated for you:
Dear Santa
For Christmas, I would like more D.S. games. I would like a camera. A unicorn pillow pet. I would like a girl puppy. Thank you.
Love
Emma

Hannah's letter is quite humorous:
Dear Santa Claus -
I earned lots of tokens this year! For Christmas I would like:
-a DS just like my sisters but purple
-my own refrigerator and my own bathtub
-a kids laptop
-a bumble bee pillow pet
-a robot dog (see she listened when I said Santa doesn't bring live animals!)
-my own princess Christmas tree upstairs in my room
Thank you very much!
Love,
Hannah Grace

The bathtub seems to be a reoccurring theme for her - when I asked her what she wanted to get her Daddy for Christmas, she said his own bathtub!  Kids are classic!  I just want gloves that allow me to use my touch screen phone in this frigid weather - other than that, I'm open to whatever Santa can bring!  What did you ask for this year?

Monday, December 6, 2010

The Christmas Spirit

I LOVE Christmas!  I love giving gifts - finding that perfect gift and waiting in anticipation for weeks to give it to that special person.  I love baking this time of the year - when else do I need batch after batch of truffles, buckeyes, or sugar cookies?  I love our Christmas traditions - hmm, that's another blog idea there!  And most important, I love the meaning behind Christmas - I mean, we received the best gift of all that day in Bethlehem so long ago!  But what I struggle with now at 28 is what Christmas is supposed to feel like.  As a kid, there was the anticipation of waiting for Christmas break, all of the school-related Christmas activities, Christmas lasting ALL day.  Now, there is almost a disappointment because I don't know what to feel.  

I love to shop!  I look forward to Black Friday for months leading up to it.  This year my Dad came with me and we shopped from 3am until 7pm.  I was excited, I couldn't wait to get a ton of stuff crossed off my list - but once I purchased my items my excitement wore off.  What was I supposed to do for the next month?  So, in an attempt to maintain some sort of Christmas Spirit throughout the season, I'm trying to spread some stuff out.  This past Saturday we invited some of Emma and Hannah's friends over to ice and decorate some cookies.  Then on Sunday, the girls and I spent some time wrapping everyone's presents.  We're hoping to get out to the Bull Run Festival of Lights, and of course drive around to look at Christmas lights.  I still have some baking and wrapping to do as well as a few more things to buy.  To remind my girls of the reason for the season, we'll be having a birthday party for Jesus as well.  

While that takes care of activities leading up to Christmas, I still don't know what Christmas is supposed to feel like that day.  Maybe I'm crazy and no one else knows what I'm talking about (I know I'm not - the BFF confirmed the feeling!), but it just doesn't seem the same as I grow older.  Each year I seem to detach myself more and more from the childhood, excited feeling of Christmas.  Maybe if everyone sent me really cool things for me to play with all day, then I'd be OK!  :)  

Does anyone else know what I'm talking about?  Is Christmas any different for you now that we approach (and for some of you - already in your) our (gulp) 30's?  What do you do to maintain the spirit of Christmas? I'd love any suggestions!

Creamed Chicken and Biscuits

Need an EASY, QUICK and CHEAP dinner for a night you really don't want to cook?  I found this over at momswhothink.com. Everyone enjoyed it so it is definitely going on the "make again" list!  Sorry I don't have a picture - we were too ready to eat to snap a picture!


Ingredients:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup plus 1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup milk
1 egg yolk, beaten
2 cups cooked chicken, chopped (*I boil my chicken until done allowing it to shred or cut easier)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 can refrigerated biscuits

Directions:
1.  Melt butter in a large pan over medium heat; add flour, blending well.
2.  Gradually stir in broth, then milk.
3.  Reduce heat to low; cook until thickened, about 2 to 4 minutes, stirring constantly.
4.  Remove 1/4 cup milk mixture and gradually stir into egg yolk.
5.  Return egg mixture to milk mixture.  Add chicken, salt and pepper; heat through.
6.  Serve creamed chicken over hot biscuits.  Serves 4 to 6.

YUM YUM!  Enjoy!