The Christmas Story House

Digital slideshow made with Smilebox

Here are some photos from our trip to Cleveland to visit the Christmas Story House. We had a nice family day and the guys even got to have wings on the way home at their favorite place...Quaker Steak and Lube.

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Christmas 2011

I hope that everyone had a lovely Christmas! I hope Santa was good to everyone too!

We had a nice holiday.

Here's our annual Christmas Eve family photo...this was the best of the bunch. My fat is hidden, my teeth aren't too awful and my double chin isn't taking up the whole picture ...yep, love holiday pictures of myself. I had hoped to get a closer shot, but my brother was struggling with the camera...lol.

The elves brought the kids new jammies on Christmas Eve.

Here's Miss M modeling her new Christmas jammies! She is such a hambone!

H with his gift of the year...an iPod touch.




Miss M with her Barbie camper from Santa. It is by far the hit of Christmas 2011!

Thanks for stopping by!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Snowman Face Cookies

Miss M's Dance Christmas Party is Tuesday. I agreed to bring in some cookies for the party. Of course, I couldn't just do regular cookies. I found these cuties at BettyCrocker.com and made them today. Here's the recipe:

1 pouch (1 lb 1.5 oz) Betty Crocker® sugar cookie mix
1/2cup butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting
Red string licorice
Assorted candies

1. Heat oven to 375°F. In medium bowl, stir cookie mix, butter and egg until soft dough forms. On ungreased cookie sheets, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart.

2. Bake 11 to 14 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.

3. Frost and decorate 1 cookie at a time. After spreading frosting on cookie, add licorice for band of earmuffs and candies for ear "covers" and snowman face.

Enjoy!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Cute Teacher Gift Idea

I saw these on Pinterest from the blog My Sister's Suitcase. I just had to make a few for my colleagues at school. I filled each cup with assorted chocolates (kisses, butterfinger bells and peanut butter cups), and will deliver them on Monday morning with a can of soda. It's going to be an action-packed week in middle school. I hope this helps the week feel a bit less crazy!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Holiday Lights on the Lake 2011

On Friday evening, we visited Blue Spruce Park's Festival of Lights. The Festival is in it's 20th year. We've been attending annually for about 8 years now. This year's theme is Santa's Tropical Holiday.

Here are Rudolph and his friend in the hot tub.

Our kids on the dock with Santa peeking at them.
I'm still learning how to use this camera!

A view of the lake and light display.

Merry Christmas!

~peace and blessings~

Lisa

Christmas Tree 2011

Hunter decorating the tree.

Miss M adding her Precious Moments Little Mermaid to the tree.

Christmas Tree 2011



~peace and blessings~



Lisa

Handmade Christmas Cards

These are a few of the cards I made for the Christmas Card Exchange that I participate in each year. I used the K & Company Die Cut Cardmaking Pad and Elizabeth Brownd Layered Accents for these cards. I think they are coming together nicely...only 15 to go!

~blessings and peace~

Lisa