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Last week was the school Christmas program. I went to the afternoon program and again to the evening program. Seeing it twice is always fun because they do such a good job! The highlight for everyone was the play and the song "Drummer Boy"! Watching the children preform about the birth of Jesus is great!
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We had the start of our banquets on Friday night. The food was yummy and the kids enjoyed the night at home with their sitter! (Thanks Maryana and Jenna!!! They really love when you guys come! And no wonder .. a gift for each of them! Wow! Thanks!!!)
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Saturday we waited for the third fore casted snow shower! We've had snow on the ground for about 10 days already this season and it's not even the official winter day yet! I still always say, "If it's cold ... it may as well snow." I like snow. Not really being out in it. Just watching the kids play in the snow and staying dry and warm inside is my way of enjoying it. I decided to bake more cookies while it snows. We made chocolate chip cookies last week and we stuck some in the freezer for future gatherings! I mixed a go of Ginger Snaps and baked them. I love making these! The smell is so amazing. The kids helped too!
I dipped some in white chocolate to make them look a little more fancy! My style!
Here are the girls the other day baking chocolate chip cookies. Watching them bake ...
Scooping them off the tray ...
Eating them ...
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Then we mixed a batch of sand tarts. I never made these before and so I wasn't sure how it was all going to turn out. I hoped I picked a good recipe! I hoped my family would like them! I was right! The recipe is yummy! The taste is so good! The mess was crazy ... with sugar all over the kitchen counters and some on the floor. Nothing a good wipe down couldn't clean up though!
The cookies are a hit! My big batch of crispy sand tarts are almost all eatin! I might have to do another batch this week!?! They came in handy though when we hosted Matt Lapps and Dutchies for a very last minute Sunday brunch.
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Saturday night, the snow was blowing and it was freezing cold. Like 20 something degrees! We wanted to as a family go see a live nativity scene. The snow didn't keep us inside and we bundled for the cold walk through nativity. We arrived with the snow still blowing and the roads were getting slick. We were taken to the walk through nativity by bus. Then we walked through each scene. We warmed ourselves while Abraham spoke. Then we shivered through a few scenes before warming us again by an open fireplace with the shepherds. It really seemed like "real life". I'm sure there were plenty of really cold nights for those shepherds. Then the angels sang as the snow still came down! We moved to the next scene into a barn. There we heard from the king and then witnessed a live manger scene of baby Jesus! A donkey, sheep, singing angels, harp and flute playing softly, Mary & Joseph trying to keep their newborn warm! We ended with warming up with cookies and hot chocolate! By now, the roads were terrible and they escorted Mike back for our truck and we headed slowly home. It is such a blessing to have a warm house and food in our fridge. Mike and I again realized and acknowledged that those two things are such blessings!!! We jumped into our pj's and made a quick visit with Matt and Lena. Their basement was so warm from their wood stove!
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Church was canceled Sunday morning. That's when we decided to host a last minute brunch with Dutchies and Matt Lapps. Mom and Dad stopped in too. (Doesn't seem like the weather outside is keeping us inside.?.) Mom made some creamed beef while I quickly got some breakfast foods together. By 11 AM, we were ready to eat a hearty breakfast with great friends!!! Thanks for coming you guys!!! The kids played in the snow while we played games. We sipped on coffee and ate cookies! :)
Sunday night, we went to my parents for some Rummy O and Dice! I rolled my very first handful of sixes!!! Six sixes in one shake!!! Mark that score down please!!! :)))
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Today was a normal day of laundry, cleaning up from the weekend, and making errand stops in town. I am so glad to have finally dropped off my Christmas cards at the post office!!! Cards are on their way friends!!! The kids had another good day at school. Mike made it safe and sound to and back home from New Jersey!
There is another fore cast of snow for later tonight! All this snow is a blast! Maybe we will be able to all sleep in tomorrow morning?!?
Take time to enjoy this season!!! Winter is much more fun with snow ... and cookies ... and friends stopping in ... and of course - Christmas!!!
