A little Christmas Cheer

I've been glued to my Mac this Christmas break getting all my digital scrapbook supplies organized - believe me, it's been hours (just ask my abandoned family).

 So now I'm ready to create - and this is just the beginning of all the Christmas pages I've yet to make!

Two for one...

This post is serving me two purposes. First is to show my kids favorite Christmas gift - an electric scooter (as my friend said, "death on wheels"). They are having so much fun riding around the neighborhood - they're really cute on it. Second is to show our home to some friends who've asked to see the front (the back yard is always in our pictures). Yes, we're still missing a shutter above the garage from Hurricane Ike a few months ago.

You can click on the photo to see the kids closer :o)

Maybe the kids don't miss winter...

My kids are insane...crazy, I say!! Even though the weather outdoors is warm enough, the pool water is freezing! I don't know anyone who swims in December without their pool heated - except my kids! 

I had nothing to do with the decision - that was a dad thing ;o)

We miss you winter!

Here are a couple of the scrapbook pages I did this weekend. This was an attempt to remember that winter can be cold and fun! We've been in almost 80 degree humid weather for Christmas! 

We miss the cold - please come back quickly!

Our version...

We had our friends, the Lelands, over for Christmas Eve dinner and fun. The kids "acted" out the Nativity story for us. A few of them were more into the costumes than others...can you tell which ones? They were really cute and tried to be respectful even with a cat as the main focus!

Oh me, Oh my!!

This is what we call "Black Gold" or "Texas Tea".  We're making this up for some friends around here for a little Christmas cheer (or sugar overload!). For those who aren't in driving distance, whip some up - it's too good not to! 

And make sure you have a cute delivery girl like below ;o)

Christmas tree bloodshed?

I'm a little worried (or should I say, "freaked") about what my cats know that I don't. They sat here next to the Christmas tree this evening for about an hour looking at something and I don't know what. I'm not sure I want to know - but if they pull the tree down during the night, I won't be happy!

 I just hope and pray it's not a lizard - that's about the worst in my opinion...can you say yuck!! Whatever it is, it won't stand a chance with Cocoa & Sugar on the hunt!

Let them eat cake!

Here's a fun cake I made for a Christmas dinner this week. I didn't get a picture of it cut but it was really pretty inside. It's a four layer peppermint cake and speckled with candy cane bits in the batter. I wasn't sure how the frosting would taste since I'm not a white chocolate fan - oh my, it was yummy! I've also posted the recipes cards I made for them both -

give it a try...it won't disappoint!

Holy Cannoli - SNOW!!

Yes...it really is snowing in Houston! I know those of you in Utah and Chicago may be laughing at our small little flakes, but it is genuine snow! It started this afternoon and is still going hours later and the flakes are dime sized! It snowed here about four years ago and we missed it. We were in Atlanta for Christmas and missed the miracle - but we're here this time :o)

Ryan making a snow angel on the trampoline

See...told you it was snow! Can you believe we actually had our air-conditioning on yesterday - crazy!

It's looking like Christmas & home repairs...

We got our tree up and decorated today. We did it a little differently than usual but like the new look. The kids love to reminisce with every ornament we put on. 

During all the hustle and bustle of pulling boxes out of the attic, Jose took a nice step through the ceiling of our family room! At least he didn't fall off a ladder and end up worse off. The repair will make for an expensive tree decorating!

Winter Wonderland...

The kids with their cousin, Katie, after a day of skiing at Alta. They had so much fun in the snow - what a novelty for us Texans!

During Ski school - Marisa & Ryan had skiied before but this was Tess' first time - they did great and went down normal slopes afterwards...not just bunny hills!

We went to see the lights at Temple Square - one of our favorites! And you HAVE to have hot chocolate for light viewing :o)