Rockin' Out with Abby

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Can Your Jesus Come Over and Play??

The lines are long this season in order to get a glimpse of Jesus. You must show up early and be prepared for lots of waiting. Snowmen Marys, wisemen, and even a snowbaby Jesus wait in line to see the newborn....

Sometimes their line-up looks more like they all joined the Rockettes Christmas Spectacular and are set and ready for their chorus line number, ready to sing and kick their legs high in the air.

Bring your stable along in case you need some shelter while waiting in line...

The truth is, we have two nativity sets out this year on either side of the fireplace. Abby and Sammy are always seen playing with them both and asking if the other one's Jesus can come out to play. You can also hear a good scolding from Mother Mary from time to time when someone acts up and is put in time-out.

Abby and Sammy have now added a french horn and a tuba to their list of wants this year. That is after asking Santa for a harp and a bass the first time we saw him.

Here is Abby and I patiently waiting in line for Santa...

Here's Abby and Sammy waiting for Santa along with all the other children.

This is how Sammy spends most of her days when we are at home lately -- on the pot! She goes to the toilet so much it exhausts me. However, if you give her a nice stack of books she will stay on there for a good half hour. She is doing really well with her potty training. She has now graduated to wearing "grown-ups" her word for pull-ups.

Abby and Sammy love playing in all the snow. We have had a few ridiculously cold, frigid days here so far. They say that is how the entire months of January and February are. I am already asking myself why anyone would live here and WHY we do??? Why couldn't Charles take a job in sunny California, tropical Florida or the deserts of Dubai??? I hate cold weather. Why must I sufferand endure so much? Charles' firm does have an office in Los Angeles, I will have to work on getting us a transfer... I must say though, it is so much easier to deal with winter when you have a house. The other day, we had a playgroup at our house of 8-10 mothers and their children. Most of the children were down in the basement the entire time speed racing their bikes and having the best time while all the mothers lounged on the couch or grazed on snacks in the kitchen enjoying quiet conversation. That was priceless!

Covered with flour after baking cookies...

Christmas Preparations

This is our FIRST large official tree! We have never had a big tree in our entire marriage. We have always had a small one with very few ornaments, if any. I was very excited this year to have the real deal but very overwhelmed as well. Luckily, I have a good friend who went shopping with me and helped me pick out all my ornaments and decorate it. I am so proud! Who knew I could put together a nice tree!




Here is our candy-covered gingerbread house. Charles just dumped the entire box of nerds, runts on the roof and patted it all down. Abby and Sammy meticulously put on the bottle caps and gum drops. I love that it is just coated with candy!

Here is an incredibly delicious treat for the holidays! They were a big hit at a party I went to.

Peppermint Meltaways

1 cup butter, softened
½ cup confectioners’ sugar
½ teaspoon peppermint extract
1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
FROSTING:
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract
2 to 3 drops red food coloring, optional
½ cup crushed peppermint candies

In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and confectioners’ sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in extract. Combine flour and cornstarch; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well.
Shape into 1-inch balls. Place 2-inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350 F for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. In a small mixing bowl, beat butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar, milk, extract and food coloring if desired; beat until smooth. Spread over cooled cookies; sprinkle with crushed candies. Store in an airtight container. Yield: 3 ½ dozen

All I want for Christmas is....

Abby and Sammy sat on Santa's lap yesterday and told him what they wanted. Abby told him she wanted a bass cello and Sammy said she wanted a harp! Wow! My children are so cultured aren't they? (Thank you Little Einsteins)

Thanksgiving and Winter Festivities

On December 1st we had our first snowfall of the season! Abby and Sammy were so excited that they went out three different times that day and played in the snow...

We had a very nice Thanksgiving. We started the day out at the local bowling alley that our church rented out. Abby and Sammy had never been bowling before and they loved it. I forgot my camera though so I didn't get any shots of their game. We came home and watched the Macy's Day Parade that we taped while we were out. We have really missed watching the parade these past five years. In the afternoon, we hosted two other families at our house. There were lots of kids running all over but it was perfect since we have no furniture. It was also warm enough for them to play outside.

This is my friend Mary and I. Our husbands are so nice to let us go out every Wednesday night for a break to do some shopping or see a movie. It is great!

My little pilgrims!

Success in the Suburbs

I found this fun website about leading a happy and successful life in the suburbs and since it is new to me, I thought it would be fun to track her findings. See what you think....


http://www.successinthesuburbs.com/aboutdenise.html