I'm Dreamin'... or am I?

No, it's not actually a dream. We are having a white Christmas. I know, I know, it's not "Saskatchewan white" but white none the less. It started this afternoon & I'm thinking that the local store that promised previous purchases would be free if we had snow on Christmas is regretting that decision!

This is a snapshot of the delightful chaos in our home last night (and this morning). What you don't see is the garbage bags that Grandpa was busy stuffing with discarded wrapping paper, so the children wouldn't disappear beneath it all. It's so fun to see the kids enjoying what we picked out for them & to hear their joy as they discover "just what I wanted". It was also fun to sing "Happy Birthday dear Jesus" together this morning. Cindi, Olivia & Sabrina made a birthday cake for Jesus (you can see a picture on Cindi's blog)
We are blessed!!!!!!!!!

picture this

Have you ever tried to get a family picture taken with five kids under the age of six? Let me tell you, it's a challenge! But we persevered - maybe I'll post it some day. But for today, you get Rick & Vange aka Grandpa & Grandma. We so seldom take pictures of just ourselves, & we actually both liked this one, so - here we are.
We wish you a very blessed Christmas!
May the season whisper peace to your heart.

Swiss Mountain Shortbread

I came across this recipe three years ago. We've never really been partial to shortbread, however when I discovered I could enhance the flavour by adding chocolate, I was all over it! The dusting of icing sugar just seems appropriate today with all the white stuff outside.

These were taken this morning - we've had about a foot of snow fall since then. It's all fun and games until somebody has to drive to work in the morning. YUK!

got milk?

Welcome December...had I taken this picture today, everything beyond the window would be white. Unfortunately, I was too busy wrapping presents today to think about taking pictures.

The last two Sunday afternoons, I, together with my girls & Viv, have been busy with our annual cookie extravaganza. I don't have pictures of the first day - that day we made approximately a gajillion sugar cookies (all decorated by hand, of course) & slightly fewer peppermint cookies (my personal favorite). As shown here, last Sunday we made armys of gingerbread men & stacks of jam-jams. Malcolm is showing remarkable self-restraint, don't you think?

Olivia has proven to be quite a productive helper. Might I even say she outlasted some of the adults... you know who you are!

Our last project, after the gingerbread & jam-jams were boxed up, was peppernuts. We hadn't planned to make them that day, but since we were super efficient with getting the cookies done, Becky had to call Greg at home to pack up the boys & get over to our house. See, we NEVER make peppernuts without Greg - he is our quality control/morsel placer. These things are labor-intensive, so they's that wanna eat em's gotta help make em! And he can eat em!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow afternoon - shortbread!