Christmas Day 2009

Christmas day we had a ham dinner with the Kandoll side. Thank goodness it was in the late afternoon so we could recover from waking up at the crack of dawn the day before;) There sure are alot more kids, makes things fun:) Kids really feel the magic and wonder of the season, they don't get all caught up in the busyness of parties, baking, buying and wrapping gifts. It's nice to just slow down and watch them enjoy:)

Amanda telling the Christmas story

The kids enjoyed hearing it again and the older ones adding

to it with what they have been learning:)

Kids waiting for the presents

This was just amusing:)

Grandpa helping Max open his.

He was 1 of the 3 kids that wasn't feeling very good:(

Grandma made these adorable blankets for the kids.

The girls also got jewelry boxes.

Shane's blanket:)

Some hanging out

We did handmade gifts this year

Molly got mine.

It's a wall hanging memo board, I'm gonna post about that later.

Max with Uncle Jeremy's personal sparkling cider.

Kam is just sooo cute:)

Opening his gift from Grandma:)

It was a wonderful Christmas and time of celebrating the birth of our Lord

and Savior Jesus Christ!

Christmas Eve 2009

This year we decided to do a breakfast for the West family Christmas. Crazy though cuz none of us are morning people except for Bruce and Lisa:) Testament to that we were supposed to eat at 9:30 but I think we ate at 11:30ish;) lol Anyway we had a bunch of fun, we played games, people won prizes, good food good time!

Most of the kids, we had a little trouble with this

cuz there was always 1 baby sleeping:)

Biok and Lisa and Hudson:)

Janel, Nathan and Jacob

Carlin and Lily:)

Kamdyn really got into opening presents this year:)

Soo cute!

All the adults in our jammies:)

Poor Carlin was pretty much couch bound the whole time:(

He didn't seem to mind too much.

Max declaring he's full!

Our yummy food:)

A little evidence of Anita ;) lol

Max and Josh enjoying some Clementine's.

We had a very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

Christmas Baking

A little sampling of the baking happening around here:) I haven't done as much as I normally do for 2 reasons 1. Michelle and 2. preggo! lol Michelle and I always do our Christmas baking together. 2 people can get alot more done than 1;) It's kinda a blessing in disguise this being sick, don't really feel like cooking/baking stuff that doesn't really sound good! Anyway I'll give ya the run down on the way...

These are surprisingly good! All they are is a pretzel, a rollo candy, and a pecan.

Ya put the rollo on top the pretzel and pop it in a 350*oven 5 min.s

Pull em out and press with pecan.

Got this 1 from Michelle:)

This is a tray we did for a party. From right: Ritz dips, Starbucks peppermint,

Rich ladies fudge, Rollo cake cookies and Snow peaks.

These are Sweet goobers-basically peanut butter buckeye balls on a pretzel.

The pretzel cuts the sweetness of the peanut butter ball.

Last but not least Christmas bark!

Enjoy!

Look what I made!:)

Well it started out Christmas balls and I got this crazy idea to turn them into a wreath:) I think it turned out pretty cute, but I am having a hard time trying to come up with a way to hang it. Securely that is on the front door:) I was going to put a ribbon loop on the back once I got going on it but in my excitement to get it done {kids bawling and my feet} I forgot.

So this is what I started with.

I had thought about adding the berries but decided against it in the end.

I also added in some painted fruit and glittered fruit.

Here is the end result.

I like it;)

Christmas Bark

Don't be freaked out by the ingredients in this recipe- its delicious!!

1 sleeve of saltines

1 c. butter

1/2 c. brown sugar

1 to 1 1/2 c. choc. chips

1/2 bag of Heath toffee chips

1/2 c. pecans {optional}

Preheat oven 350*

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or you can just spray with Pam spray.

Lay out the saltines on baking sheet.

Melt butter and brown sugar in saucepan

Bring to boil for 1 min.
Pour over saltines making sure to cover evenly.

Bake for 15 mins.

Sprinkle chocolate chips over saltines to melt. You can pop it back in the oven for a couple mins.

Once melted spread chocolate evenly and sprinkle with toffee chips and/or the pecans.

Let set up in fridge.

Enjoy:)

{this is for you Sharla}

Our Little Christmas Town

This is the first year that the kids have been SOOO in the spirit of everything Christmas. Don't get me wrong they have been excited the other years to but this year they want to help with the decorating, picking out gifts, putting up the tree, and on and on:) Its pretty cute kinda sad tho since Ive been disgustingly sick this year! In case you haven't heard we are expecting another baby;)

The kids setting up our "Christmas" town:)

Arranging....

and rearranging....

this was just really cute:)

Kam trying to get in on all the fun!!

Little cheeser;)