12 days of Klamath Falls

We went to our ward party tonight and it was a blast!

We had a yummy dinner and then we had a funny little 12 days of Christmas skit that Chad and I were a part of.

I recorded it, I'll have to see if I can get it up on my computer from my camcorder-I haven't tried that yet.Then each table represented a number of the 12 days of Christmas and everyone had to come up with something from Klamath Falls and sing it as the song went on. Such as; The falls that don't exist for day one, 5 feet of snow for day 5 etc... It was a lot of fun.

Then we sang some songs and Santa came!

I took all the kids' pictures in the ward-most of them wouldn't look at me and when they would, Mrs. Claus wouldn't look or pull a face.

Whatever-as long as you get the yearly pic right?

If I took your kids' pic and you would like it email me and I will send it to you!

Photo frames by Shabby Princess

December Daily 19: Dumped on!

Friday: It shows no sign of stopping! It was windy and cold and miserable but that only stopped me from playing in it! Topher lasted quite awhile but Bekah and Chad were out there for hours!
Topher braving the blizzard.
These icicles have also encaged our side door-I didn't notice my daughters life was in danger when I took this picture-her tongue was touching the bottom of it-but look at that pile of snow on the awning-geez!


Topher started building this with Chad but lost interest-Bekah stayed out there and they made this into quite the fort! Bekah wants to build it up even higher tomorrow-well we are in no short supply of building material-sheesh! I hope we are able to make it to Portland for Christmas-but if this keeps up-we'll be snowed in!

December Daily 18: Gingerbread Pancakes & Cheerio Face

Thursday: I am cheating because I don't have any pictures from Thursday-we went out to get Topher some new snow boots and snow pants. On the way home we slid off the road and almost hit into a Christmas tree stand-but we didn't and it was all good-but that is the most Christmasy thing we did yesterday. Since today (Friday) I have tons of pics and plan on getting quite a few more-I am posting breakfast from today on yesterdays post.

Gingerbread Pancakes with whip cream and chocolate chips-yummy! The kids , I cut out with cookie cutters and decorated them-but they were devoured before I got a picture of those.

• 2 1/2 c flour
• 5 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 c molasses
• 2 c milk
• 2 eggs
• 6 T butter melted

Mix it up, and make pancakes. Easy and yummy!

Porter did not have pancakes; he had bananas and cheerios-I was clearing the table and came back to find this, he is trying to get them in his mouth already with out any help-too cute!Almost buddy just a little down and to the left!

December Daily 17: We Believe

Wednesday: We watched Miracle on 34th street this night and the kids were mesmorized by it. We wanted to show our support for Santa and made a little sign to hang in our window.

(I know the picture stinks-but I didn't think about taking the picture until late at night and the kids were ready to get ready for bed and not in the mood to take a pic-so I didn't bother trying to find a better lit area!)

The kids colored the stick figure that represented themselves and Bekah colored all the stars and Topher colored the tree with a little help from mom. The sign hangs proudly in our window letting everyone know that we Believe***

December Daily 16: My Horn Can Pierce the Sky

Princess Unicorn-Half Unicorn Half Girl-
How is that possible?
Ask Dwight-but here is her offspring.We played out in the snow and the kids sampled the icicles.
We pulled them around on tobagans-Chad knocked this little guy off the tobagan on a mad circle run-no tears, just a bit of an annoyance and a "Dad-don't go so fast"-and he was back in the saddle.
Made snow angels,
And stayed out till our noses frozes.
Good times.

December Daily 15: Cute Baby

It's been snowing here for the past few days and the kids are antsy to go play in it-brrrr! So that is probably what we'll be doing today. Porter woke up in a great mood this morning (like every morning) and his snow hat was sitting there-so I stripped him down pulled it over his ears and snapped away. I put a couple more of the 20 or so I kept on his blog. He is such a fun baby!

December Daily 14: Hangovers

Sunday-Well I guess the partying last night really did a number on the kids! Bekah woke up sick, so I kept her home from church. Chad went, He found out that April ended up keeping Phoebe home too!

It's a good thing Chad went! He was sitting in sacrament when they sustained him Ward Executive Secretary-I guess they forgot to call him! It's all good-he's excited for the challenge.

Bekah was feeling better by evening so we borrowed High School Musical from the Appah's. Bekah and I sat up and watched it, munched on some popcorn and m&m's and rocked out. We hadn't seen it before, (I know we are sooo behind the times huh?) we both enjoyed it-Bekah was dancing all over the living room.

I was knitting some little hats for some little neighbor gifts I'm making for my mom's neighbors that we hang around when we are down there. I might make a couple for down here too, but we'll see how it goes.

Hopefully the sickies are out of the house to stay!

December Daily 13: Bekah's Christmas Party

Bekah really wanted to have a Christmas party with her friend Phoebe and her family. I told her yes last month that she could have a party when it was closer to Christmas. Well she didn't let me forget and she had the whole thing planned out.First we had dinner on our fancy china dishes with candlelight.

Then we made Christmas books-and even though I thought the guys would be miserable-they surprised us all and gave us a good laugh spending more time than any of us on them and I won't embarrass Jason by letting everyone know of his knowledge of crafting tools.

Then we decorated gingerbread cookies. ie; made a mess with sugar crystals.

Then the kids watched a movie and played while us grown ups played Rummikub.

It was a way fun time with our friends-so thanks Bekah!

Cupcake Friday-Peppermint Chocolate

I don't really have a new recipe for you per say...

I love these two flavors separate, and together they are even better!

First off I just made chocolate cupcakes again.

Then I made a cream cheese butter frosting with peppermint extract and some red food coloring. I didn't use a recipe-I just made it.

I sprinkled them with crushed candy cane and topped with some of this for prettiness.

Yummy!

December Daily 12: Peppermint Bark

My favorite Holiday treat is also the easiest thing to make-I'm pretty sure you can't screw this up. I mean if you tried, you probably could-but it would be hard!

For those of you who have never made it-super easy.

All you need to do is melt a bag of your favorite kind of chocolate chips-traditionally it is dark-but Chad hates dark-so we go with milk. I melt mine in a double broiler-but I'm sure you could use the microwave.

After the chocolate is melted-spread on some parchment paper in a thin layer-stick in freezer.

Melt white chocolate-I use Bakers white chocolate and try to use as much as the other chocolate-but I think any kind with cocoa butter in it would work well-just don't use those nasty candy making white chocolate, because it would be an abomination to the wonderful candy!

Once that is melted spread it on top of the frozen chocolate layer and sprinkle immediately with crushed peppermint.

Put in fridge or freezer to harden then break like peanut brittle to serve.

Ahhh heavenly delightful stuff!

December Daily 11: Sick and Tired

We did nothing Christmasy today unless you call blowing your nose and taking a nap something Christmasy.

If you call that Christmasy-then that is really sad.

I went to exercise this morning feeling a bit tired, but that's it. I grabbed an apple and ate it on the way, by the time I got to the church-I thought I was going to die. I was so nauseated. I warmed up with the girls and started into the workout, then I just had to go home. The girls asked if I was preggers. Wow I hope not! Well I don't think so-but it was just morning sickness! I came home took a long nap-and woke up not feeling nauseaus anymore. I did have a bit of a sinus headache though.

When mom is sitting or laying around all day, trying to rest away the sicky feeling-that means no one else does anything either.

Unless you count kids staying in their pajamas all day and Chad getting pretty far in Mario Galaxy on the Wii getting something done.

If you count that is getting anything done-than you might be related to the rest of my family!

Holiday Tag!

I've been tagged by my lovely friend Micayla and I haven't been ignoring it-just putting it off...

My Schedule is booked!...5:00, solve world hunger. Tell no one.

5:30, jazzercize, 7:00...

Hey....lets play. Just copy and paste into your own blog and answer the questions.

I tag Amy Simpson, April, Tabitha, Toshya, Becca & Jennie Minor

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Wrapping Paper- I really like to use brown postal paper and decorate the rest myself

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real-and we even go and cut it down each year.

3. When do you put up the tree? The second we are home from Thanksgiving traveling

4. When do you take the tree down? The week after Christmas-

I am all excited to get it up, but once Christmas is over it is time to start looking forward (after all my birthday is just 10 days after that!)

5. Do you like eggnog? In a cupcake

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Barbie Porsche with working headlights

7. Hardest person to buy for? My Step dad, Jim

8. Easiest person to buy for? Probably Christopher

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, a couple kid ones, and then I have a Nativity music box that I love-I would love to have the Willow Tree one someday.

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? They are all mailed baby!

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Can't think of one, I've been pretty spoiled every year!

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? So many good ones-but Elf wins out.

13.When do you start shopping for Christmas? Different every year, this year day after Thanksgiving-all in one stop

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Not YET!

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Anything my mom cooks

16. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

17. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year we will be doing both-our house first and Grandma's later that day

18. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

19. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning...except for the jammies and ornaments

20. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Traffic

21. Favorite ornament theme or color? Undecided

22. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Refer to Question 15

23. What do you want for Christmas this year? To see my kids excited faces-I have everything I need

24. Do you go "Black Friday Shopping"? We did this year, and it was fine.

25.What is your favorite Christmas cookie? Peppermint Bark

December Daily 10: Nog Celebration Cupcakes

Chad had his last two finals for OIT today so he is out for the rest of the year! He still has another week in University of Phoenix, but he is home with us! We are all so excited to just have some down time, relaxing and spending time together with nothing pressing to do!
SO what do I do when it's celebration time? Bake cupcakes obviously! (Making up for my huge amount of slacking on Cupckae Fridays).Introducing the (Mormon) Eggnog Cupcake!

Chad LOVES eggnog-I could take it or leave it and most of the time I leave it. These cupcakes though I would take every day! So delicious, gooey and perfect.

While looking for a recipe-all I could find were ones soaked in rum or bourbon and I just didn't have any of that laying around the house. I did have vanilla though-so these Loverlies were created.

• 4 tsp Vanilla
• 1 cup Egg nog (this is a Chad staple from the day it hits the stores, and he stocks up on it when he knows it's about to be taken away, then he goes into nog mourning until the following holiday season)
• 1/4 cup oil
• 1 TBS apple cider vinegar

Mix these ingredients together with a whisk in one bowl and then in another bowl combine the following ingredients. Then combine wet and dry together and bake in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes.

• 1/4 tsp nutmeg
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/3 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt

Frosting is just as good as the cupcake-Chad and the kids loved it, and I think this might win as the new favorite cupcake-at least from Chad.

• 1/4 cup softened butter
• 3 TBS eggnog
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• pinch of nutmeg
• 2 cups confectioners sugar

Mix it up and frost those babies! I sprinkled mine with a cinnamon/sugar mix and stuck a cinnamon stick in for garnish-but not necessary. My mom gave me a good tip for buying cinnamon sticks since they are on the pricey side-buy them from a store that sells in bulk-they may cost $20 a pound still, but do you know how many sticks would be in a pound? They weigh next to nothing!The cupcake almost had a caramelized edge, that was just the right amount of crunchy (is that okay to say for a cupcake? I am lacking a better word here) and the inside was so moist and gooey, I hope you can see in this picture-such a tasty little treat, I may have to make them one more time before the holiday season is over, since these really come just once a year!

Hop on pOp x 3

A favorite past time of our kids is to "Hop on Pop" It drives me crazy, because Chad get's just as wild as they do and someone usually ends up crying. It doesn't stop them from coming back for more though!

Well he starts the rough housing young and even Porter gets in on the fun now. Chad was tackling him with his head, the other two kids saw the opportunity and jumped in and Porter got a death grip on Chad's hair.

Chad was the one callilng for help this time, and all I would do was take pictures.

Serves you right! If I've told you once...

December Daily 9: Mallows or Cream?

Tuesday: A rather lazy day-Chad had a final in the morning and then spent the rest of the day studying-and for some reason the rest of us felt we couldn't do anything while he was sitting at the table. We finished up the Santa Clause series of movies, I went to a presidency meeting and then we all sat aroung reading. I am reading book after book on homeschooling right now since Bekah and I will be starting that up after Christmas break. SO much information and good stuff to sort through...so much that I want to teach her and learn with her, that I am getting antsy.
To curb that, we started reading Charlotte's Web together-she is LOVING it. She amazes me how much she grasps from this story with no pictures. I've said it before, this girl is too smart for her britches!

I am enjoying the briskness outside, it's just cold enough to want Hot Chocolate-my favorite is Stephen's milk chocolate-with marshmallows...

topped with whipped cream...

...yup both! Once you get through that creamy goodness you still get the gooiness of the mallows, then the warmth of the chocolate-seriously doesn't get any better for me!

December Daily 8:Here we go a Caroling

Monday-SO after Bekah has all those questions about caroling-and trying to make sense of it all the night before, April called and asked if we wanted to join her family for caroling for FHE. Bekah was all excited about the prospect of playing with Phoebe, but the idea of knocking on people's door and just start singing at them was baffling to her.

We only went to a couple houses, but she and the rest of us ending up having fun.

Topher was SO upset that we couldn't keep going to more houses, we finished up and he says, "Another one house mom?" like we were trick or treating again.It's one of those dying traditions that we need to keep up, so that our grandkids can come carol at our house, and hopefully stay for some chocolate!

December Daily 7: A Soft Place to Lay

Sunday- Since it was Sunday we went for the Spiritual side of Christmas and made some beds for Baby Jesus and gave him a soft place to lay.

We then read The First Christmas Story......and watched it on DVD-on the same DVD as Mr. Kreuger's Christmas.The kids talked me into letting me watch this as well, even though it was well past their bedtime at this point. This movie always gets me when he is talking to the baby Jesus. I bawl like a baby myself. Such a great Christmas classic. When we were watching Bekah cracked me up-when he pulled out the record -Bekah says, "Whoa, mom that is a HUGE CD!" and then the whole Christmas caroling thing was just too much for her-"But why mom are they singing to him? Why do they have to go sing more? Why are they doing that? Why don't they stay for chocolate?"

Anyway if you haven't watched this yet with your kids this year-go do it, even though it's a little cheesy, it's way too sweet to pass up!

December Daily 6: Movie Night

Saturday: We had a pretty low key day, just did some stuff around the house, Chad went up to the school to study for an hour or so for finals and we went to our friend Payton's baptism.

It was a really sweet baptism and all the primary kids sang "I am a child of God". Our ward just got done with the primary program-did I mention I'm first counselor in the presidency? I can't remember if I had or not. Anyway I am loving the calling-the other girls in the presidency are fabulous and the kids are great. So back to the song-our ward's kids learned the descant for the program-and so when all the kids from a few different wards were up there singing, our wards kids sang the descant on the 3rd verse like they'd been taught and it was so sweet, such a great spirit there. Loved it!

When we got home we popped some popcorn put in The Santa Clause with Tim Allen and just relaxed. The kids had never seen it and loved it.The kids have actually been watching only Christmas movies since December started, one a day and are quickly going through the classics-so far they've watched: Santa Claus is coming to Town, Rudolph, Frosty, The Grinch, Charlie Brown's Christmas and now The Santa Clause. We still have a good stack to get through though-one of the perks of Chad's movie buying sickness-we've got em' all!
On an unrelated note-this kid turns 5 months tomorrow! If you are wondering why he is strapped into a seat like that-he only lets me put him down for short bursts of time and those bursts are a little longer if he is sitting up and able to see that I'm in the room still. Seriously. this kid is the neediest little thing! I know it will be short lived though so I am trying not to complain too much! He is such a lovey bug!