It's a THAT FAMILY CHRISTmas!!

"MERRY CHRISTmas?? I thought you said, SCARY CHRISTmas, Mama!"

That Dog taking cover under the CHRISTmas tree

Throwing food for the Reindeer

A big handful from That Kid

Opening his CHRISTmas jammies

"I love these jammies! I will give them a big hug!"

Leaving cookies for Santa...we also left the Reindeer some dog treats. They like those better than carrots!

SANTA CAME!

Walking down the hall to see what Santa brought

"AWWWWWWW YEAH! It's a Zippity!"

"Green paper? For meeeeeeeee? Thank you!"

That Kid got a bike from That Gramma and That Pappy (aka That Mother-in-Law and That Step-Father-in-Law).

Dressed and ready to go to That Gramma and That Pappy's house

A simple request of standing in front of the door for a picture results in That Kid posing

"I'm too cool for this, Mama!"

Unwrapping more presents at home, wearing his new bike helmet. He's special.

The next day, we played in the snow!!!!!

That Dad pulling That Kid's sled back up the hill

That Kid is done with the sled, and wanted to make snow bricks

Rosy cheeks from the cold

"I just want to lay here, Mama. A snow nap sounds nice!"

CHRISTmas traditions

This year, I'm making sure we start traditions. Sure, we've had a couple in the past. New PJs opened on CHRISTmas Eve, leaving cookies for Santa and dog treats for the reindeer, a letter to That Kid from Santa, opening our CHRISTmas gifts from each other CHRISTmas evening. But this year, I want to start a couple new ones.

We're hosting CHRISTmas Eve dinner at our house. I'm super excited!! I'm planning for That Kid and That Kid's cousin to sit down and listen to me read T'was the Night Before CHRISTmas after we eat dinner. I'm hoping that every year we host CHRISTmas Eve dinner I can do this. Also, at CHRISTmas breakfast, I'm going to read the CHRISTmas story. I can't decide if I want to read it from the Bible, or just from a storybook we have. This year, That Kid would probably enjoy the storybook more.

Also, That Mother-in-Law and That Step-Father-in-Law are coming over for CHRISTmas breakfast. Biscuits and gravy (using That Papa's gravy recipe...I chickend out and bought frozen biscuits this year), fresh OJ made from our Jack LaLanne juicer, and Scrammies with cheese. And coffee, of course! Then, That Brother-in-Law and That Sister-in-Law will come to open gifts here, and we'll go to That Mother-in-Law's house for an Open House where we'll get to see people we (for the most part) don't know. That Dad will be chasing That Kid through the townhouse, and I'll be sitting there trying to make polite conversation with strangers. Doesn't that just sound like kick-you-in-the-teeth fun??!!?? Did I mention there's no CHRISTmas dinner? Just appetizers. Whoopie! I offered to make something in the crock pot for CHRISTmas dinner, and That Dad said, "We never have anything to eat on CHRISTmas night!" and I told him, "We always have a big dinner in the afternoon!" Oh well...we'll make sammies or something...start another tradition with that, too!

Having a happy CHRISTmas

This time of year is always hard. You want your kids to have a perfect CHRISTmas; you want your family to be happy. However, what's the price of a perfect CHRISTmas?

I was speaking to a mother today who told me her husband lost his job 2 weeks ago. My mind started spinning. What did I have at home that I could anonymously put on their porch so they could have a happy CHRISTmas? Then she dropped the bomb. "I will go into debt for my kids to have a good CHRISTmas!"

Why? Why go into debt? Presents will come and go. Pieces will be lost. Toys will get broken. This year's big present will probably be sold at a yard sale in the spring. Is it really worth it? The look on your child's face when s/he sees what Santa left them is priceless...but it doesn't pay the bills. Sadly, you can't send pictures of your child as payment for your electric bill (though I wish you could! That Kid is so cute we wouldn't have to pay ever again!).

Oh...and the shortbread came out tasty and delicious. :) Dipped it in chocolate, sprinkled it with sea salt, and we're good to go. That Dad, upon seeing my shortbread said, "Oh! Shortbread!" I thought he was saying it in a "Hey, I love shortbread" way. But a'las...it was "WTF?!? I hate shortbread!" Maybe he should have been a bigger part of the cookie selection process. And next year when I say, "What cookies do you want me to make?" he can say, "I don't wany any shortbread!"

CHRISTmas treats

I have been baking since noon today. That Mother-in-Law came over, and we made her snowball cookies, and her candy cane cookies; and I made dough for snickerdoodles, shortbread, chocolate mint cookies, and jeweled cookies. I have baked the snickerdoodles, and mint cookies, have the shortbread in the oven right now, and will be saving the jeweled cookies for tomorrow. Did I mention it's now 8pm??!!?? My feet hurt. That Kid is on a sugar high that he probably won't come down from until CHRISTmas morning. I just want to crawl in bed and sleep.

Other CHRISTmas treats made this week include, Oreo truffles; Chocolate truffles with Sea Salt (thanks to Ree over at thepioneerwoman.com); fudge (just made that in the microwave...) and sugar cookies (pre bought dough) frosted green (store bought frosting) and decorated with sprinkles and red licorice for That Kid to take to his teachers today.

I love this time of year, but think I'm an overacheiver. Two kinds of cookies would have probably been enough. But I will mention that I cut my list waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back. I was going to make 14 different things. I got smart.

OK...the shortbread is going off. I'm gonna go check this out and hope it turned out well. Otherwise, you'll hear about it tomorrow.

No picture with the Fat Man this year!!

Here is last year's picture.

This year's picture had the makings of something quite, quite similar. That Kid was so excited to see Santa, he waved and yelled, "HI SANTA!! HI SANTA!!!!!!" when Santa waved to him, and I said, "Do you want to go see Santa?" "Yes Mama! Yes, see Santa!"

So, That Dad, That Kid, and I all ventured into Santa's wonderland. And guess what? I picked That Kid up out of his stroller, and took him over towards Santa...and he started sobbing. Wouldn't sit on his lap, wouldn't talk to him. He did blow him kisses, though. At least he didn't do like my friend C's little boy does...when people ask him what Santa is bringing him he says, "Santa isn't coming to my house!! He's a robber!"

Maybe next year I'll get another cute picture like I did that first year!