I've been so busy the last couple of days, I haven't even had a chance to update. The 23rd, we spent just about the whole day baking. Yummy sweets, but may last us forever!

Fruitcake Cookies

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins (got this recipe from another blogger).

Peanut Butter Cup Tarts (remember these from Alaina's Thanksgiving party?)

Ice Cream Kolaches
Took us forever just to get all the baking done! Happily, we had all the wrapping done by the 23rd.
We did Christmas Eve dinner at our house. My parents and my friend Erin came. Nice, cozy dinner for 8. The kids passed out their "gifts from the heart" .. . . a picture frame from Alaina, an ornament from Ian, and a prettily wrapped candy bar from Allie. I hadn't gotten a chance to take their Christmas pictures yet, so I did it quickly in the kitchen before we ate dinner. Here are a couple of the ones I've started playing with:


A while after dinner, the kids got ready for bed. Then we started the normal Christmas Eve bedtime routine. They put out the cookies for Santa and red bell peppers for the reindeer. And they each write a note to Santa. We don't do that ahead of time mailing thing. . . just the night before. So far, none of them have done a last minute change to what they want Santa to bring. Then upstairs to bed.
They had a great time this morning. . .don't have the pictures dumped onto the computer yet. I'm waiting to install PSE 4.0 that Andy got me. Everyone got what they wanted from Santa (Alaina wanted a toboggan for her Bitty Twins, Allison wanted the American Girl Horse Lovers outfit, and Ian wanted a Darth Vader Voice Changer!), and much more from us and each other. Alaina's biggest thrill was her new Gameboy. She's been begging for one, and it's really hard to make her wait out things like that, because the other two have them. We'll see how crazy I go when we drive to Arkansas! And the Darth Vader mask is going to have to stay home on that trip! Ian's played and played with it, but I'm tired of Darth's Heavy Smoker's Breathing! And Ian's thrilled with his new digital camera. I haven't looked to see the shots he took with it. Allie. . . she's so happy about getting tons of little animals to play with, and more American Girl stuff for her doll Kit.
Will get some pictures posted soon.












































