I wish everyone a great new year filled with joy, happiness & love.
The kids and I had a little new years celebration this morning (since they will be at their Dad's house tonight).
I surprised them with a fancy breakfast and we sat down for our last meal together of 2010. We toasted to the new year with sugar rimmed champagne glasses full of sparkling apple cider & talked about our hopes, dreams and wishes for 2011.
"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude."- Denis Waitley
My Aunt Glory started a yearly tradition of a Ladies Christmas Tea back when I was a little girl. When she moved out of state, I carried on the tradition myself and have kept it going every year since.
This years tea was delightful. It was so nice to visit with everyone! We had family visiting from out of state for Christmas and they were able to make it as well. It was great to catch up with everyone and talk about what everyone is looking forward to this next year. Some people are focusing on getting fit or changing their diet, others looking to embrace the seasons, while some are wanting to 'pay it forward' and a couple are looking to start their own business. We will have to support & encourage one another with our goals for this new year.
Menu:
Breakfast Casserole (recipe below)
Cucumber Sandwiches
Cinnamon Strudel Muffins
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
Homemade Cinnamon Applesauce
Assorted Fruits & Fruits Salad
Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
I used a new recipe for the casserole and everyone loved it.
So for all of you that asked for the recipe; here it is:
Ingredients
1 pound sage flavored breakfast sausage
3 cups shredded potatoes, drained and pressed
1/4 cup butter, melted
12 ounces mild Cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup onion, shredded
1 (16 ounce) container small curd cottage cheese
6 jumbo eggs
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F Lightly grease a 9x13 inch square baking dish.
Place sausage and onion in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium-high heat until evenly brown. Drain, crumble, and set aside.
In the prepared baking dish, stir together the shredded potatoes and butter. Line the bottom and sides of the baking dish with the mixture. In a bowl, mix the sausage, Cheddar cheese, onion, cottage cheese, and eggs. Pour over the potato mixture.
Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into center of the casserole comes out clean. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Here's a video of the kids first peek into the family room on Christmas morning. Their stocking were filled with things like; pencils, gum, small toys, a few snacks & their favorite fresh fruits and Santa left a toy they each wanted too.
The Ohh's, Ahh's and gasps of grateful smiles & thankful hearts
The mystery gift without a tag:
The kids thought it was from my brother to his girlfriend;
but all of a sudden, there was a tag on it and it had their name on it!!
A trampoline!
So I did what any other mom (with 12 foot ceilings) would do...
told them we were setting it up in the living room!!!
Because after all, how much fun is a new toy if you can't use it right away! It was nice to see my kids take just as much pleasure watching people open gifts from them as opening their own. They had smiles from ear to ear. Our family room was filled with hugs & kisses and giggles & belly laughs all morning long. No one was in a hurry to open the next present or disappointed when everything under the tree had been opened. For hours on end, the kids enjoyed playing with little things in their stockings just as much as the big toys. It was wonderful to take our time and make the morning really last, while enjoying every minute of it. I couldn't have asked for anything more.
The magic & wonder of Christmas
Christmas has been more than just a day or season. This year especially, has had a special magic that only the Christmas spirit can bring. The ability to look at everything with child-like wonder and take the time to honestly appreciate things like; the twinkle of tiny lights, the sound of beautiful music, the warmth of a roaring fire, the fresh smell of pine & sweet scent of cinnamon, and reading stories together, is such a blessing. There are not words to describe the pure joy I feel in my heart as I type this.
We enjoyed a delicious Christmas Eve diner at my Mom's house this year. We shared it with my Mom & Mark, my Aunt Glory & Uncle Don, Jerrick & Sierra, and my two babies. I'm a sucker for homemade mashed potatoes and gravy. They might very well be one of the best foods on earth.
Later we sat downstairs next to the Christmas tree and crackling fire while my Mom read a couple Christmas stories from her childhood. Then we each opened one gift. (A tradition in our family to open one gift on Christmas Eve, usually a new pair of pajamas, robe, or slippers, etc.) I got the softest pajamas I could find for the kids this year. Jacksons had snow flakes and a polar bear while Ashleigh's were zebra print with colorful hearts. Zebra print is the theme of the year for Ashleigh because she is completely in love with it lately. After a nice visit we headed home. I told the kids we were going to make a short detour on the way home but wouldn't tell them what it was.
We got close to our house but drove right past our street. The kids were so curious about what we were doing. I took them to see a great Christmas light display. The lights were beautiful and twice per hour there was a show that coordinated dancing lights to music. The kids looked around at the 50 foot Christmas tree and played while we waited for the show to start. We loved it and the first song they played was "Carol of the Bells" which is one of my favorites. They were so surprised when the lights started to flash, blink and change colors to the music. It was the perfect thing to do together before going home to bake cookies and hang stockings. This video was recorded on my phone and no where near captures its magnitude, but it gives you an idea of how grand it was.
Ashleigh dancing with the lights
(before getting embarrassed and running out of the frame haha)
I love to decorate for the holidays, especially Christmas. This year we made our own Nativity scenes. Almost all traditional Christmas decorations are symbolic and I like to reflect on that as we transform our home for the Christmas season:
The star signifies the bright shining star over Bethlehem on the first Christmas.
The color red is the first color of Christmas symbolizing the Savior's sacrifice for all.
The fir tree. Evergreen is the second color of Christmas; showing everlasting life and the tree points up to heaven.
The bell rings out to guide lost sheep back to the flock because all are precious and important in his eyes.
The candy cane represents the shepherds hook caring for the flock and turned up side down makes a J for Jesus. (Jackson's Favorite.. probably because it's candy haha)
The wreath is a symbol of never ending eternal love since it has no end.
Every night, for about a week, the kids colored, cut, glued and glittered pieces of their own Nativity Scene. As they colored, I read them a story that focused on that particular person or animal. They turned out great. It was so fun for them to add a new piece every night. We are looking forward to making them again next year. I found the template for all the pieces online. Next year, I would like to add some pieces such as the Three Wisemen.
Jackson's
Ashleigh's
Books:
Jacob's Gift by Max Lucado
The First Christmas by Carol Heyer
The Crippled Lamb by Max Lucado
The Donkey and the Golden Light by John and Gill Speirs
The Christmas Bell by Rolf Krenzer
What Star is This? by Joseph Slate
The Christmas Animals by Michael K. Winder
Santa's Favorite Story by Hisako Aoki
Earlier in the month we talked about Santa. The kids enjoyed learning how we got the name 'Santa Clause' out of 'Saint Nicholas'. We talked about Nicholas and how he was named a Saint because of his dedication to serving God and watched a cute Veggie Tales movie about St. Nicholas and how he became known for his generosity to the those in need and his love for children.
