And today... somehow I ended up living in a state that might get snow. It messes with your mind, not knowing whether we will even get the chance to sled or make a snowman with the kids. We have gone from getting barely anything one year to getting 31 inches another year. But there is never a guarantee. I am a little depressed seeing all the snow in other parts of the country this morning. Our forecast for Christmas day this year? Sunny and 50 degrees. Pff.

Payton... Snowmageddon 2010

Mason... Snowmageddon 2010

Nika... Snowmageddon 2010
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Cookie project for my in laws (read: if you are my in laws, stop reading now)...
What you'll need:
Grasshopper cookies
Candy canes
White chocolate

1) Smash up some candy canes.
2) Spread the Grasshopper cookies out on wax paper.
3) Melt white chocolate.

4) Coat each cookie in white chocolate.

5) Sprinkle crushed candy cane onto each cookie.
Wa la!

I forgot to take a picture, but we packaged the cookies up nicely and attached a picture of the kids decorating the cookies. To: Grandpa and Grandma, Love: Mason, Payton and Nika.
We had to let the cookies sit overnight so the chocolate could harden. Rex must be starving, because the crazy dude dove head first into our candy that was left over.
Reeexxxxx!

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It's tradition for our local fire department to bring Santa around on the firetruck each year. An ambulance leads the pack with sirens blaring, cueing the children to bolt outside to catch a glimpse of the jolly old guy. This year it was just Nika and I at home... we ran to the curb and she stood there staring, in awe.

There is something about moments like this, when it is just her and I. It allows me to slow down, give her my full attention and feel the moment with her in the spotlight. I stood behind her getting a bit weepy, taking in the enormity of the situation through her eyes. I couldn't help but think about how different her life would be today if she hadn't been adopted by our family... and about how a moment like this would never be happening.

These are moments I crave... because I love this kid and I never want to forget our journey.
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We had our annual cookie baking day this past weekend... grandma, aunts, cousins, grandchildren. We all pack up and gather to bake and decorate cookies. Unless your name is Payton... then you lick a lot more frosting than you smear.
Family cookie baking day is one of the things I most look forward to each holiday season.

As we baked, we talked a bit about the closeness of our family... my aunts are like mothers to me... my cousins like sisters. My cousin joked that her friends are always saying, "You are always with your family!" Yup... we tight like that. I can't imagine it any other way... these girls are my soul sisters.

Embrace your family. Enjoy the holiday. Do it while you can.
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The winners of the BusyBodyBook are...
#2
Anyway....just wanted to add that Nika sure is a beauty..then and now. Precious!
And the elf thing...its all up to me as Rod is out of town every week. I am running out of ideas....YIKES, how many more nights do I need to do this, LOL!
#16
Nika is so beautiful! So is the others!
Nicole
Nmills25@verizon.net
Ladies... please email me with your mailing address so I can get them in the mail to you... yay!
I love your beautiful family and reading about your adventures, I so admire jumping head first into life "challenges" and making them triumphs! And yes, I am enjoying every minute of the holiday season as well....check it out if you have a minute! :)
ReplyDeletedreamingbigx3.blogspot.com
Well I live in Canada, where rumor has it we all live in igloos and travel by dogsled, and we have zero snow as well. While I can certainly do without it, I NEED to have it at Christmas time, but not a single flake will be making an appearance. Better not show up in May!
ReplyDeleteLacia... I'm sad for you! My friend just went home to South Dakota and said the same thing!
ReplyDeleteI am the same way Bethany about the snow...grew up with it in SD then moved to SC and only get it about once a year...last year it did deliver and we got it on Christmas Day but its not looking so promising this year..I had to come home to SD this week for a few days and there is NO SNOW....i was sooo disappointed!!! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!!
ReplyDeleteIf it makes you feel any better, there is no snow in the Waunakee area, and I don't think they expect there to be any snow by the weekend. I asked Chloe last night if she thought we'd have a white Christmas. She said "Every Christmas is white!" I asked her what if we don't have snow by then? She still responded with "Every Christmas is white!" I guess it's all how you see it in your minds eye :)
ReplyDelete-Meegs