Together Again!

Kathryn and Walker haven't seen cousins Mimi and Devon since our vacation at the beach this summer. Kathryn was having serious girl cousin withdrawals, especially since Walker gets quality time with cousin Daniel several times a week now that we are in Birmingham.

Well, FINALLY, this past Monday, the girls were reunited, and they loved every minute of it!

First it was down to business--a cousin Christmas picture.

Kathryn and Mimi...

And then we REALLY got down to business...Princess movie watching! These three were in heaven!

We can't wait to join the girls again at Casa del Rio (Papa and Nana's) this weekend! I have a feeling there will be more princess-playing on the agenda!

Christmas Memories

I hope all of you had a fabulous Christmas. We did! Of course, I don't have any pictures to prove it. You guessed it! I left my camera in Birmingham while we celebrated Christmas in Mobile. Not that big of a problem considering Pops let us use his camera for all of our picture-taking needs, but then I forgot to transfer the pictures to our laptop before we left!

All that to say, you won't be seeing any Christmas pictures here for a while. Even more fun to me than pictures, however, is capturing our Christmas memories in this little book...

I ordered this book for the twins' first Christmas, and it is so much fun to look over the past four years and relive those memories. The book allows you to keepsake such things as how you decorated inside and out, family traditions, favorite parties and festivities, presents under the tree, Christmas dinner, ringing in the New Year, and my favorites: Christmas bloopers and practical jokes and "The Biggest Cookie Monster."

You won't be disappointed with this fun book! Each book captures five years' worth of memories, which means I'll be ordering a new one after next year. Maybe you should order one too!

Shop Til You Drop

Yesterday, Mom, Makenzi, the kiddos and I ventured to Fairhope for a little shopping. Little being the key word. The only thing I bought were two of these Rudolph books we found in an antique store. Two of Kathryn and Walker's favorite Christmas songs this season have been Frosty the Snowman and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, so the books just had to be bought!

I have to admit I love this kind of shopping. Finding a small treasure in the very back of a shop for pennies. I don't know who was more thrilled me or the little ones!

Christmas Program 2009

Walker and Kathryn did much better during their Christmas play. No freezing once they saw Mommy with the camera like they did during the Thanksgiving program, probably because I strategically located myself so they couldn't see me! They were really getting into this song, so I couldn't help but film a bit of it! Enjoy!

Here Comes Santa Claus

This past weekend, the kids and I drove to Mobile for the Tew Family Christmas. On the way down, we decided to stop at Bass Pro Shop in Prattville for a little last minute Christmas shopping. While we were there, we checked out the "Santa line." Thankfully, it was very short (we'd visited our local Bass Pro the Sunday before and the line was literally wrapped all the way around the store...and it's a huge store!).

We weren't in our Christmas attire and all "dolled" up like some of the other little ones getting their picture made, but I was just happy to check it off our list! Walker was excited to see Santa and tell him that he wants a "marble thing" for Christmas (aka the Quadrilla Marble Railway).

Kathryn wasn't as excited to see Santa, hence the separate pictures. She finally obliged after the photographer let her hold Rudolph. She still woulnd't get near Santa's lap! Also, notice the plastic duck she picked up somewhere in the store. When I told her that we weren't getting the duck, she threw a very large fit right there in the middle of the store. Gotta love three year olds!





Before visiting Santa (and before the massive tantrum), the kiddos also checked out the ATV's. This was their favorite! It was like a golf cart on huntin' steriods!

Santa's Helpers

I've been taking a sewing class for almost 2 months now, and here's the first product of all of my labor! Don't look too close. It's certainly not perfect, but if you scroll down, you'll see it makes a great outfit for fruit decorating:)
Here are Santa's helpers working hard at making Christmas citrus.

And here's how we displayed all of the yummy smelling fruit!

Cooking in the Kitchen with Kathryn

I've heard of Christmas in July, but I've never quite heard of July in Christmas. Yes, that's my daughter helping me do a little holiday baking in her swimsuit!

Gotta love ALL of that flour too! Want to know what we were baking? Toffee Crackle Cookies! The recipe came from the Publix Family Style Magazine. You can get your free subscription here.

And here's the recipe:

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

1 egg

1 t vanilla

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup chocolate covered toffee pieces

granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl beat sugar w/ an electric mixer on med. to high speed for 30 sec. Add brown sugar, baking powder and salt. Beat until combined, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can with mixer. Using a wooden spood, stir in any remaining flour. Stir in toffee pieces.

Shape dough into 1 1/4 inch balls. Roll balls in granulated sugar. Place balls 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake about 20 minutes or until tops are cracked and sides are set (do not let edges brown.) Transfer cookies to a wire rack; cool.

Forgot to take a picture of the final product, but I can guarantee you they were yummy! You'll just have to try them for yourself!

Neighborhood Favorite

We went for a walk around the neighborhood the other night and discovered this winter wonderland! It wasn't exactly "right around the corner," but after seeing the kid's reaction to all of the lights and decorations, it was worth the walk!

Walker's favorite was the dalmation driving the firetruck!!