Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 04, 2012

Overheard

This child is so funny.
DSC_2279

On Christmas Eve he was kind of grouchy. He didn't want to leave Grandma's house to go home to bed.
To which I, of course, replied that we had to go home to bed so Santa could come cause he only brings toys to good kids.
Eli: "Well I don't like Santa."
Me: "Why not?"
Eli: "And he doesn't like me."
Me: "Yes he does"
Regan: " He likes all kids"
Eli: "Nope. Not me. He doesn't like little boys."
Me: "How do you know that?"
Eli: "He told me"
Me: "When?"
Eli: "2:30."
Alden: "Yeah, well where were you?"
Eli: "In the North Pole" (said in a tone indicating obviously)
Alden & Lucy start laughing.
Me: "Eli he likes you and he'll bring you some presents tonight."
Eli: "I don't want them. You can give them to Oliver."
Me: "What about the train set you asked for?"
Eli: "Our baby can have them. I don't want to go to bed."

And he CAN NOT stop kissing everyone. But especially Oliver. I am worried it is going to scar the poor child.
DSC_2137

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Spiritual Sundays: Merry Christmas

from our family to yours
Christmas 2011

“We all can make the choice to give thanks in prayer and to ask God for direction to serve others for Him—especially during this time of year when we celebrate the Savior’s birth.”
—President Henry B. Eyring, First Presidency Message

Monday, December 19, 2011

On the Bookshelf: Advent 2011

Since I am not keeping up with posting my books each day, instead I'm gonna list all the ones we have and reuse each year!

1. Snowmen at Christmas
2. Sam's Snowy Day
3. Fluffy's Christmas
4. Follow the Star
5. I spy a Candy Cane
6. Cinderella's Fairy Tale Christmas
7. What star is this?
8. Russell's Christmas Magic
9. Mary Engelbrett's The Night Before Christmas
10. Merry Christmas Little Critter
11. I've seen Santa
12. My First Story of the First Christmas
13. Snowmen at night
14. The First Night
15. Christmas Trolls
16. Father and Son
17. This is the stable
18. The story of christmas
19. Gingerbread Pirates
20. Mr. Finnegan's Giving Chest
21. Christmas Wishes
22. The Polar Express
23. When Jesus Christ was
24. Come and see

Other good ones we've got that go along with the season:
Usborne's Christmas Activities
Usbonre's Preschool Christmas Fun

Monday, December 05, 2011

Advent Calendar days 3, 4 & 5

I just not going to be able to keep up posting our books & activities every day. But that is okay.

Our books we've opened in the last three days (well including today) were...


And I couldn't find the other book's image but it's called the Christmas Story and it's a huge board book.
The crafts and activities were....

...a snow man pizza (yeah the one on pinterest looked way cooler but this one my kids would actually eat!)
Snowman pizza

... writing stories in Christmas shapes. I just found some christmas shapes that were empty and let the kids pick which ones they wanted and let them free to write whatever stories they wanted. Alden's was called Yoshi's Christmas. And Lucy wrote one called the Snowman.
Lucy writing her christmas story
Alden writing his christmas story

....Eli decorated his Santa face instead of writing a story in it.... for obvious reasons!
Eli writing his christmas story

... Lucy's Paper plate Christmas tree from a couple days ago that I forgot to take a picture of
Christmas tree

We all hung around the table for quite a while and relaxed and the kids did crafts. It was great.
Dec 3: morning

On Sunday night we hung out with family and enjoyed a baby blessing.
Tonight we had a short Family Home Evening using this idea from latter day homeschooling.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Advent 2011 Day 2

Today's books were:


Well yesterday Shannon's comment was how do you remember to take pictures of all the stuff and haha I forgot to take pictures of their crafts.
They made paper plate Christmas trees and wreaths. (like these and then just a plate with the middle cut out and painted green with red dots on)

Then we attended Raymond's Old Time Christmas. They served donuts and hot chocolate, lit the tree outside and sung christmas carols, had a wishing well, and Santa came to town on a Fire engine.
Old Time Christmas
Here's THE tree.
Old Time Christmas Tree
My older kids were okay with Santa, but Eli no way! Although right before we got up to him (after waiting in line for WAY too long) Lucy turns to me and says, "but mom, won't we actually be sitting on a stranger's lap?"
Meeting Santa

It was a good day. And we ran into Lethbridge and Regan picked up my birthday present. An old vintage camera to add to my collection :) LOVE it.

Thursday, December 01, 2011

ADVENT 2011 Day 1

Our Advent activities this year are a little adjusted. Well it seems each year I do that a bit. But this year we are going again with the 24 Christmas books all wrapped up (I forgot to take a picture so I'll take it today!)
We had two books today since we've got more than 24 - some are wrapped with 2 in the package. We opened these two books...
Polar Express and Gingerbread Pirates





And then this.
Advent Activity Jar
This year instead I put all the activities inside the jar and each day the kids pick out two or three.

Our craft pulled from the jar was this. A very simple santa hat. Red construction paper and I wanted to use cotton balls but I couldn't find them, and these cotton pads worked just as well!
Santa Hat Craft
Lucy's Santa Hat Craft
My kids plus two neighbor kids who were over while we did our Christmas craft today.
Dec 1 - Santa Hats

And then we opened some pjs and went driving around town to see all the lights.
Christmas Lights

They also have a Lego Christmas Advent Calendar all the kids are sharing and one of those chocolate ones each. That way they always get to open one with chocolate and each third day they get a small lego guy.

What are YOU doing for your advent calendar this year?

Monday, January 17, 2011

Ukrainian Christmas & MSBH Update

This past weekend we celebrated Ukrainian Christmas. Yes it was a week late. But we were out of town the actual weekend and ended up celebrating it on the Ukrainian New Years. So that works! This year we had a lot of people (although there were quite a few I would have also liked to invite but we just didn't have the space!).
jan14- Ukrainian Christmas (a week late)
I looooove celebrating with lots of friends for Ukrainian Christmas! We had 23 people over and it was jam packed in our little house but so fun!!
I made 12 dishes (including cabbage rolls, perogis, etc) 7 meats and 7 desserts. It was a really fun time! I love this tradition and I love inviting different people. It's just so fun!


I also used the opportunity to finish off a whole pile of MSBH Challenge recipes.
Baba Au Rhum
Rum Syrup (I made Apple Syrup instead)
Kouigh Amans
Chocolat Babkas
Streusel Topping
Pissaladiere
Pissaladiere Dough
Plum-Oat Crisp
Dried Peach and Goat Cheese Galette
Corn and Shiitake Tart
Cornmeal Pate Brisee
Lime Glazed Cookies
Lime Glaze
Coconut Macadamia Nut Cookies

So I have 10 recipes left.
I am going to make them all before the end of January!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Monday, December 20, 2010

In the kitchen: Christmas Cookies: Chocolate Crinkle Cookies Recipe

from Martha of course!
Another favorite of mine!

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, melted and cooled
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 1/2 cups light-brown sugar, firmly packed
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup milk
1 cup granulated sugar (for rolling)
1 cup confectioners' sugar (for rolling)
Making the Crinkle Cookie Dough

In a medium size bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt until well blended.
In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium high speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.
Add the eggs and vanilla, and beat until well combined. If necessary, scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula to make sure all the ingredients are well blended.
Add the melted chocolate and beat until blended.
With mixer on low speed, alternate adding flour mixture and milk until just combined.
Divide the dough into quarters, wrapping each with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator until firm, about 2 hours.
Baking the Crinkle Cookies

Preheat oven to 350F degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners.
Remove portions of cookie dough from the refrigerator one at a time.
Divide the portion of dough into 16 1-inch balls.
Place each of the sugars in a shallow dish.
Roll each ball in granulated sugar and then in confectioners' sugar to coat completely.
Place the cookies 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets.
Bake, one cookie sheet at a time, until the cookies flatten and the tops form cracks, about 12 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the oven and place the baking sheets on wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container, between layers of parchment or wax paper for up to 1 week.
This recipe yields about 5 dozen Chocolate Crinkle (Crackle) Cookies

AND since I didn't take a picture of any of these this year.... here is a little treat I made for Lucy's K Class party last week.
White Chocolate Marshmallow Snowmen.
White Chocolate Marshmallow Snowmen
Saw the idea on the internet somewhere.
Three marshmallows on a stick. Dipped in white chocolate, with some eyes and a nose. I think pretzels would be cute for arms but I didn't have any!

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Spiritual Sundays

"The Christmas season is wonderful in many ways. It is a season of charitable acts of kindness and brotherly love. It is a season of being more reflective about our own lives and about the many blessings that are ours. It is a season of forgiving and being forgiven. It is a season to enjoy the music and lights, parties and presents. But the glitter of the season should never dim our sight and prevent us from truly seeing the Prince of Peace in His majesty.
Let us all make this year’s Christmas season a time of rejoicing and celebration, a time when we acknowledge the miracle that our Almighty God sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to redeem the world!" - BY PRESIDENT DIETER F. UCHTDORF, Second Counselor in the First Presidency

Saturday, December 18, 2010

In the Kitchen: Christmas Cookies: Cranberry-Pistachio Biscotti

One of mt favorites I make every year!

Ingredients
Makes about 4 dozen

* 1/2 cup dried cranberries
* 1/2 cup boiling water
* 3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 cup sugar, plus more for sprinkling
* 3 large eggs, plus 1 large egg, lightly beaten
* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup (2 1/2 ounces) unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Place cranberries in a small bowl; add boiling water. Let stand until plump, about 15 minutes. Drain, and set aside. Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt into a medium bowl; set aside.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add 3 eggs, one at a time, beating to incorporate after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in vanilla. Add flour mixture, and mix on low speed until combined. Mix in cranberries and pistachios.
3. Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; divide in half. Shape each piece into a 16-by-2-inch log, and transfer to prepared baking sheet, about 3 inches apart. With the palm of your hand, flatten logs slightly. Brush beaten egg over surface of the dough logs, and sprinkle generously with sugar.
4. Bake, rotating sheet halfway through, until logs are slightly firm to touch, about 25 minutes. Transfer logs on parchment paper to a wire rack to cool slightly, about 20 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees.
5. Place logs on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut logs crosswise on the diagonal into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Place a wire rack on a large rimmed baking sheet. Arrange slices, cut sides down, on rack. Bake until firm to touch, about 30 minutes. Remove pan from oven; let biscotti cool completely on rack. Biscotti can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Friday, December 17, 2010

In the Kitchen with Christmas Cookies: Lemonade Cookies

My SIL Jen asked for some of my favorite cookie recipes for Christmas. Soooo here's one to start.

Lemonade Cookies

Lemonade Cookies (new to me this year but I loved them!)
from Maire Barfuss
1 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs beaten
Pinch of salt
1/2 can thawed frozen lemon concentrate
3 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda

Mix margarine, sugar and eggs. Add lemonade, flour and soda. Drop onto cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes. (original recipe said 400 but it seemed to high of a heat for me, so I changed it). As soon as you pull them out of the oven you brush them with more lemon concentrate and sprinkle with sugar.

Monday, December 06, 2010

Photo Talk: Christmas Bokeh

I assume you've seen the word Bokeh before? At some point. People loooove to throw it around. Like me I do! :)

"Bokeh (derived from Japanese boke ぼã', a noun form of bokeru ぼã'ã‚‹, "become blurred or fuzzy") is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens using a shallow depth of field."

Sooo really it means the fuzzy stuff in the background of pictures! :) Like in this one. You can see it easily in this one. All those little circles on the left side - Bokeh!
Evie

One of the great things about Christmas lights is getting cool bokeh from your tree lights!
See this picture is pretty... but no bokeh.
the 2010 Tree

Want me to teach you how to take some bokeh? GREAT :) This is NOT going to be in photographic talk. (well unless we use the word Bokeh... but we can now since we already discussed that right! ;) )

The first thing is that you need to take off your automatic focus. It needs to be in manual. Then you put it out of focus so much that small circles appear. Then you take a picture.
small bokeh
f 9.0 1/8 ss
ISO 500
Bokeh #3
See how this one is lighter? Cause I was shooting more wide open with my aperture.
f 2.8 1/8 ss
ISO 500
Bokeh #4

Medium Bokeh
f 4.0 1/8 ss
ISO 500
Bokeh #1
This one is the same as number 2 it is just zoomed in more, and the viola bigger circles.
BIG bokeh
f 2.8 1/8 ss
ISO 500
Bokeh #2

Does that make sense??
And wanna try some and show them to me?