Merry Christmas!

I hope you all have the Happiest Christmas and a Merry New Year!

I thought it was about time I showed you all the picture that was the finalist for the Christmas Card.
You know, it was photoshoot attempt #2. SOMEONE was not happy and refused to smile. But we also managed to get these gems.

MM - Santa's Elves

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Santa's Elves

___________________________________

I've got 4. How many do you have?

Look! This one is even smiling.

 If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

Monday Mugs is going to take a break until January 9, 2012. I will announce a theme sometime before then.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!!!!!!!

**Angi! @ Messy Cars and Muddy Shoes! I thought I had figured out a way to leave you comments but it didn't work. I changed my computer settings and then as soon as I was done commenting, I was going to change everything back. Sadly, it is still giving me an error message that says I don't have access to that page. :(   I LOVED your gingerbread houses! I was so impressed that you guys made the gingerbread!

MM - Holiday Treats (recipes encouraged)

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Holiday Treats

___________________________________

I am determined to make this the sweetest holiday ever!

Starting with : Gingerbread Bars (recipe below)

featuring my adorable assistant, Daisy.

Next, we made Molasses Cookies.

Miss Assistant absolutely LOVED rolling the dough in the sugar and licking her hands after every roll. LOL

I did have a few minor mishaps.

1. Most of my kids did not enjoy the orange zest in the frosting of the gingerbread bars

2. The molasses cookies recipe was for "Giant" sized cookies. I didn't make giant cookies and it took a few batches before I got the cooking time just right.

and, 3. My uncoordinated left hand decided it would be nice to introduce my right arm to the cookie sheet.

Attractive, no? *special thanks to Bailey for snapping this pic of my arm*

___________________________________

If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be: Santa's Elves

Gingerbread Bars with Orange Frosting

Gingerbread

3/14 cups all-purpose flour

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1 cup water

2/3 cup light molasses

2 eggs

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

Frosting

4 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup margarine

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp freshly grated orange zest

red and green sprinkles, if desired.

*I didn't make frosting. I used store bought and just added some orange zest*

*Heat oven to 350degrees. Combine all gingerbread ingredients in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.

*Pour batter into greased 15x10x1-inch jelly-roll pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

*Combine frosting ingredients except sprinkles in large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Frost cooled bars. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Makes 60 bars.

Giant Molasses Cookies

1 1/2 cups butter, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup molasses

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

4 tsp ground ginger

2 tsp baking soda

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 cup chopped pecans (i didn't add these)

3/4 cups coarse sugar

1. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and molasses. Combine the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture and mix well. Fold in pecans.

2. Shape into 2-in. balls and roll in coarse sugar. Place 2 1/2-in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 400degrees for 16-18 minutes or until tops are cracked. Remove to wire racks to cool. Makes 2 dozen

This week, I am going to make Lacy Brandy Snaps. Wish me safe baking!

MM - Trees

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is:  Trees

_____________________________________

Our yearly tradition is to put up the Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving. Can you spot what is missing from our 1 year old tree? What we didn't notice until after we had added ALL of the decorations?

____________________________

If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be:

Fave Holiday Treats

(I wouldn't mind at all, if you wanted to share some recipes!)

 

Happy December!

MM - Thankful Week 4

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Thankful: Week 4

______________________________________

Above everything else, I am the most thankful for this bunch:

And just so you know, this pic was taken during Christmas Card Photo Shoot I. Unfortunately, for my darling bunch, I did not think this was "wall material"! I had to drag everybody out for Christmas Card Photo Shoot II and one Cutie in particular was NOT happy. I will share the photo that made it on to the Christmas Cards in a few weeks. I still had to photoshop different photos together! *eye roll*

_____________________________________

If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be: Trees

Monday Mugs - Thankful Week 3

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Thankful: Week 3

______________________________________

Last week, I was thankful that Lily and I were able to sneak away to see Breaking Dawn. Even though the movie theater parking lot was packed, we got a great parking spot. We were in line an hour and a half before the movie started and there were only 6 girls in front of us. We got our favorite seats. And we thought Breaking Dawn was the best Twilight since the first one.

Last week, while DaddyO was out of town, I was thankful that I was able to keep my cool while this boy pushed EVERY button I possess. He is the Grand Master Button Pusher and after he's pushed, he twists!Even with visions of beatings dancing through my head, I didn't harm a single hair on his! It's a good thing he is well behaved and darling most of the time!

______________________________
If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my
button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be: Thankful: Week 4

Monday Mugs - Thankful Week 2

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Thankful: Week 2

______________________________

Last week, I was thankful that this boy got a Game Ball for having such a great game on Saturday.

My little slugger wasn't feeling well and made EVERY attempt to get out of playing. But with some clever bribery, I talked him in to participating in the game. They were playing their toughest competition of the season, and by the 3rd inning the other team was up 1-0 with a few of our REALLY good players striking out. Bailey got up to the plate with one teammate on 2nd and he hit the ball to bring him home and tie up the game. On the next hit, Bailey was able to make it home and put his team in to the lead. After that, the rest of the team followed suit and they were able to win 1-10. This was Bailey's first Game Ball after playing with this team for 3 seasons. He was due. I was so happy for him! He was pretty pleased as well.

*Thankful Thought overlay is a free download from aliedwards.com*

____________________________

If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be: Thankful: Week 3

I am going to do something a bit different for

November and each week I will post something

I was thankful for the week before.

Hopefully with a picture to go with it.

Monday Mugs - Thankful

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Thankful: Week 1

_____________________________

Last week, I was thankful that ALL of my trick-or-treaters were feeling good enough to go out and beg for candy. On any other day they had congestion, coughing, sore throats, chapped lips and some of them were puking. I was afraid I was going to have to go out and explain why I was trying to get candy for a sick kid(s). Here they are right before we left to fill their trick-or-treat bags! Miss Daisy wasn't missing one ounce of her spunk when I told asked everyone to look at the camera, she turned away.

I was also thankful for being able to catch moments like these without waking anyone up!

*Thankful Thought overlay is a free download from aliedwards.com*
____________________________

If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be: Thankful: Week 2

I am going to do something a bit different for

November and each week I will post something

I was thankful for the week before.

Hopefully with a picture to go with it.

And now......the Ladies

Miss Lily

The big kids all went with  a HORROR theme this year. I begged and pleaded with Lily to let me make her a tutu but she refused. Shocking, I know!

Luckily, this 'Lil Gal is still easily influenced.

She was excited to be a butterfly, but the second I put the tutu on, she started yanking on it and said "it bothers me!"  *eye roll*

I told her if she let me get some good pictures of her, I wouldn't make her wear the tutu trick-or-treating.
How do you think she did?

Two of the best moments of the shoot were when Daisy saw Grandpa pull in to the driveway!

When we left the house, she mentioned that her shoes were feeling funny and for the first 45 minutes of our trick-or-treating she let me know a few more times that her shoes were not right, but she followed the big kids from door to door, overjoyed at all the candy she was getting.We stopped at our house for potty breaks and to check on Grandpa, who was holding down the fort so we wouldn't get tricked later. I got Daisy a different pair of shoes and I didn't realize until I saw this picture why her original pair were giving her such a hard time. And notice she is wearing a different tutu. :)

Poor thing!

Monday Mugs - Trick or Treat

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is: Trick or Treat

_______________________________

Well, I had grand plans of having a complete dress rehearsal yesterday so I could have pictures for today's post. BUT, I'm pretty sure Daisy is only going to let me put curlers in her once so I better save it for the actual trick-or-treating. I also had a Puking Cutie yesterday. I'm not sure how my kids manage to get sick at the most inopportune times! I did get some pictures of Bailey on Saturday, before he got sick and Ashton was kind enough to dress-up for me on Sunday so I wouldn't be completely empty handed today.

I tried to talk all the older kids in to having coordinating costumes that would match Daisy's, but no one was very excited about coordinating with a butterfly! LOL


________________________
If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my
button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for next week's Monday Mugs will be: Thankful: Week 1
I am going to do something a bit different for
November and each week I will post something
I am thankful for. Hopefully with a picture to go with it.

*Angi - The pictures in your post last week were amazing! Isn't picnik great? Also, I wanted to let you know that I did try the suggestion you gave me last week to make it easier for me comment on your blog. It was a while back, and it did make it so I could comment, but not long after I changed it, we got 2 viruses and complete meltdown of our computer. I have no idea if the 'fix' had anything to do with it, but I am afraid to change it. I'll keep trying! :)

Shutterfly Christmas Cards

I know I know! It's not even Halloween yet. And there's definitely NO forgetting Thanksgiving. But there is a lot of planning and scheming that must go on to make sure the Christmas Cards are printed and ready to go so recipients may enjoy them for as long as possible in December.

I am just starting to think about our coordinating outfits. And scouting out possible photoshoot locations. And I've started bribing threatening preparing the family for our annual photo.

I've already started browsing the card section at Shutterfly too. With so many cards to choose from, it is going to take me a while.

Should we go Christmas-y? With a space for a family shot and individual shots of each kid?

Or maybe just one family photo with this awesome card? Feast your eyes on Shutterfly's Christmas Cards.

Or maybe I should try to cover the entire "Holiday" season? Go see Shutterfly's Holiday Cards.

I think I like this one!

Another project I need to get started on is 2012 Calendars, starring The Cuties! The Grandparents expect this every year! I think I like this "Happy Days" design. Check out Shutterfly's Calendars.

I have purchased pictures, calendars, notebooks, photobooks, etc. from Shutterfly and I have always been happy with the quality and customer service. Remember our little getaway to Salt Lake last summer? The one where I took over 600 pictures? Well, I made Shutterfly photobooks for my Mom and my Grandma with those photos and they absolutely LOVE THEM!  I am currently working on my book from that trip which includes almost 60 pages of pictures and journaling. I know it is going to be something that my kids will enjoy and cherish in the future. If you would like to see MY photo book, go here.


Would you like 25 Free Cards from Shutterfly? I will give promotion codes to the first 3 comments that say "I want me some Shutterfly cards".

-or-

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here.

WW - From Fall to Winter

MM - Oh the Things We Do in October

Are you in need of a mindless Monday Blog post? Are you struggling to deal with the weekend being over and can't muster the strength to type a single word? Well, Monday Mugs is for YOU! Because on Mondays, I need some motivation, I may or may not "borrow" ideas from IheartFaces and post my interpretation of their weekly theme.

Mondays are hard! Blogging on Mondays shouldn't be!

Today's theme for Monday Mugs is:
Oh the Things We Do in October

____________________________________________

Visit The Witches!

____________________________

If you are in need of a simple Monday post, JOIN ME! Grab my

button from the sidebar and link up your own post!

The theme for the next Monday Mugs will be: Trick or Treat

*Angi @ Messy Cars and Muddy Shoes* I am still stopping by and visiting your blog! Still not able to comment!! Thanks so much for linking up last week. Amazing Fall Photos! And to answer your question: I edit my photos at picnik dot com. They have a "vibrant" button that brightens up my photos and helps our faded laundry look much better! LOL (just so you know, I didn't edit ANY of today's photos)
I'll keep trying Angi!