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

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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

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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

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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*

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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

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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?

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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

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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*

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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

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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!

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