Just Life

My Santa apron. Bought for 10 cents at a yard sale. :)



Rosie Posie, my cuddly Christmas kitty.



Attempting to take a Christmas picture. She refuses to look at me when I have the camera.




Our tree. It's in the corner this year so we have more room for chairs. My family is coming for Christmas. Yeah!



We're having a cold December evening and the chili on the stove smells good. We got a little bit of snow on Saturday evening. Lily immediately opened her mouth to catch the flakes. Is this an instinct in all children? We drove down a couple streets decked out for the Christmas season. We rode slowly pointing out the snowmen, fancy lights, carolers, Winnie- the-Poohs, etc... Lily said, "Oh, a mailbox!" Donnie and I laughed. The girl does love going to the mailbox.

I've started a little bit of Christmas baking, some cookies over the weekend and crockpot chocolate pecan clusters today. I wore my Christmas apron (from a yard sale) but the picture didn't turn out too well. Here is the recipe for the crockpot candy:

1 lb. slightly salted peanuts (my sister gave me the recipe and suggested using pecans instead so that's what I did)
1 lb. unsalted peanuts
12 oz. pkg semi-sweet chocolate chips
12 oz. pkg white chocolate chips
1 lb vanilla bark
(I added a bag of carmel balls.)


Pour all into crockpot. Mix. Let set 1 hour on low heat. Mix all together to coat nuts. Drop onto wax paper.


So easy and it makes a ton! My whole counter was filled with them. Off to the freezer they go. (Well, except a few that I kept out for my honey and me.)



Hope you're enjoying the Christmas season!

The Countdown

Christmas with a child is so much fun! Lily loves pointing out everything "Kermus" as we drive or shop. Last night the three of us decorated a gingerbread house. It was fun to do an activity as a family and Lily was in her glee. I didn't tell her the candy was edible until near the end, so she actually decorated for awhile. Then she enjoyed some gumdrops. All in all a good time.

I have an advent house that I bought for $2.00 a few years back at a salvage sale. It's missing a few pieces of wood and the #4 door keeps coming off, but I still think it's cute and Lily is loving it. I explained that when we get to door number 25 it will be Christmas day and her cousins will be here. She was very excited and said she would share her toys with her cousins. Can you tell we've been working on sharing? :)

I'm trying to do something special with Lily or as a family everyday in the month of December. This afternoon we read "What God Wants For Christmas" and opened the little boxes that go with it. We bought it at Lifeway after the holidays last year. I recommend it if you have small children.

I hope to get the tree up tonight or tomorrow. It's such a lovely and wonderful time of year!