My Thanksmas Epiphany

I love Thanksgiving and have to admit that I was bugged when about a week ago I saw my neighbors jumping ahead; some putting out their Christmas wreath and others setting up the outside Christmas tree forest. Then something hit me: If they love Christmas then LET them love it. I'm grateful there are people who love celebrating the birth and life of Christ so much that they want to start months in advance. Good for them, and I know they'll enjoy every second of it. I focus on Thanksgiving during November and all the wonderful things the Lord has blessed my life with. But as I bring Christ into my Thanksgiving I realize I, too, am celebrating the life and birth of Jesus Christ. I guess you could say, I've had a change of heart. . .

. . .Well, kind of. No, I'm not going to set up my Christmas tree this afternoon. Or turn on our Christmas lights this weekend. However, I also won't post my list of "How To Know It's Too Early To Decorate for Christmas", or tell all who may suffer from ECDD (Early Christmas Decorating Disorder) just where they can find a cure. What I WILL do is appreciate the outward presentation of love that others choose to display, no matter how early it may come. So Merry Thanksgiving and bring on the Turkey and the mistletoe.

Scroll down for a really yummy cookie recipe. . .yes, another one. What can I say I'm a recovering fatty, and cookies are my drug of choice.

Sugar-Addicts Unite

Psst...you are now finding out a dirty little secret that I don't like to share with anyone. When I get bored I bake...and eat. OK, so it's not really a secret, and by the fit of my pants one could assume I've been quite bored lately. My last post was about cookies, and this one is too. (SHOCKER, I know!) Around the holidays I bake a lot of cookies and pies; during the rest of the year, not so much. So, here is a delicious (if I do say so myself) adapted recipe for a cool item I found at the store: Cinnamon Chips. I found Hershey's Cinnamon Chips just down the baking isle and thought I'd give them a try. The recipe on the bag sounded a bit ho-hum so I "improved" it, and they were goooood.

Oatmeal Cinnamon Chip Cookies
1/2 c. butter
1. packed light brown sugar
1/3 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/2 c. OLD-FASHIONED oats
1 c. cinnamon chips

Heat oven to 350. Beat butter and sugars in bowl until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Combine flour, baking soda & cinnamon; add to butter mixture, beating well. Stir in oats and cinnamon chips.

Drop by rounded TABLESPOONS (no one likes a tiny cookie) onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool 1 minutes then remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Makes about 3 dozen.

My recipe varies from the original by using less butter, old fashioned oats instead of quick oats, adding cinnamon to the dough, and using less cinnamon chips. No offense to the Hershey's people (if it was my product I'd tell you to use the whole bag too) but adding the entire bag would make for one super sweet cookie. I think one cup was just the right amount. I also decided not to add the raisins, because raisins are nasty, but if you are a left-on-the-vine-for-too-long, shriveled fruit lover I bet raisins adding 3/4 c. raisins might appeal to your palette.

So if you trust me, try these cookies and let me know what you think.

Cookies for Breakfast

Everyone knows I love to make (and eat) cookies. So, I just have to give a shout out to this cookie recipe. I've never found a "cookie mix" cookie that tastes soooo good. I am not of fan of "usual" pumpkin cookies. They're just to cake-y. When I eat a cookie it better be chewy, sweet goodness and this one fits the bill. It is delicious and really easy, so what's not to love? I haven't been able to find this in smaller boxes at the grocery store, but you can find it at Costco and Sams during the holidays. Seeing as it is the holidays I suggest you all go get this and try these delicious cookies!! (Oh, too bad to all you who don't live in the west...not sure if you can get this anywhere else.)


Pumpkin Oatmeal Cookies
1, 15 oz package Krusteaz Pumpkin Spice Quick
Bread Mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 egg
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons water
sugar (optional). . .This should not be optional. These cookies taste even better rolled in sugar.

I'm thinking about looking for another pumpkin bread mix to see if it can be made with another mix. They also make really REALLY good ice cream sandwiches. We used butter pecan ice cream. Delicious!!

If One Little Witch Meets One Little Jedi That Makes...

. . .Two Little Trick-or-Treaters Going Trick-or-Treating

The costumes are put away. The candy has been looked over. Another successful Halloween has gone into the playbook and here I sit with two kids already telling me what they'll be dressing up as next year. That's right, my little guy has his heart set on being a "bloody mummy." I haven't explained to him yet that mummies are never "bloody." The pip-squeak wants to be a cowgirl. Yee-haw!

My little pip-squeak made just about the cutest witch you've ever seen.

To say that my little Jedi knight was excited to go trick-or-treating is the understatement of the century. He could not wait to get out there. But showing the control of a true Jedi he slowed down enough to keep the pace of his little sister. We stayed out for two hours. The pip-squeak didn't want to go in either. They both finally conceded when I suggested we hit grandma's house one more time for another "giant" candy bar! He came home with quite the haul. The best part: He gave me all his Milky Ways. I'd like to say it was pure generosity that moved him to share. The truth is he doesn't like them. (I know. . . CRAZY!)




We visited my grandparents and parents (which is pretty easy as they live around the corner). I love that their such great sports with Halloween.

I just love this picture. My pip-squeak was
thrilled to see grandma
(or as she called her today, grammy)
dressed up as a witch too.

The kids at my grandparents house

I'm dressed up as a doctor...can't you tell?

Check out Jon's tats. Coolest fake
tattoos in the world!!

Scroll down there's another post below.

The First Snow

The first snow came early this year. And although it wasn't even enough to count as a real snow storm my pip-squeak was thrilled. I love that snow seems like magic to kids. The first snow fall was fun, but I'm not sure I'm ready for the winter quite yet.

Tasting the snow_Dancing in the snow_ Discovering the snow