C- is for COOKIE! Cookies with the COUSINS!!!

Over  a week ago, I co-hosted/attended a cookie decorating party with some friends while the kids were at school. It was so much fun, I decided to make up some more cookies and frosting and bring it to my sister's house to decorate with the cousins after Sunday dinner. I love doing this kind of activity with my family because it gets the kids out of hibernation, sitting around the table, talking and having fun as a family. It was a blast!
 As you can see, these weren't your typical Christmas cookies. I made some Star Wars characters for the boys, Eiffel Towers for my Paris-lover niece Miranda, Dachshunds for the Hofmann's (who have 3 at home), and some more traditional Christmas shapes like trees, snowmen and snowflakes for the purists! Of course the colors were very non-traditional as well. We all has such a great time though, making these cookies our own and eating them afterward! I hope we can make time for this activity every year!

I love snowflakes!

Alissa and Miranda made some beautiful cookies! And...
they are goof balls!

Nicky chose an Eiffel Tower. Why?
Because it was the largest cookie, of course!

Aria and Aunt Suzi put their artistry in action!

Cole made some Star Wars cookies..... 
Boba Fett and Jenga Fett to be exact!
And you see that pretty pink dog cookie that says I heart U?
He made that for me!!!

Alissa is very artistic! I love her dachshund!

Erik, Tatum and Wesley made some pretty cool cookies too!

I love Aria's choice of color!

I think Ashtyn was having fun!

Greg didn't want to decorate any cookies
so Aria made a special one just for him!

On the Wednesday before school let out for Winter Break, Aria's after school choir, Viva Voice Choir, sang at a performance with all of  the other choirs at Archway Classical Academy. I was blown away by the level of music that I heard. I guess I shouldn't be suprised that the choir director holds these kids to just as high of a standard as the academic instructors hold them to everything else. Having been in choir for many years, I could appreciate the attention to detail this teacher had. The selection of music was beautiful and impressive! We heard songs in Latin, French and Spanish! I'm so proud of Aria for what she has accomplished in this group and so thankful that she is able to be a part of such a wonderful thing!
 

Viva Voice Choir conducted by Ms. Koci



Aria and her BF from school Jade



Cole was my date to the performance

A close up of Aria in the Viva Voice Choir

5-stranded plait

We saw another cool braid on YouTube; it's a 5-strand plait (another name for braid). It is difficult to do (mainly because your fingers get all twisted up) but the result is so pretty! It looks especially lovely on Aria's shiny brown hair!

My boy

Decorating the tree

Decorating the tree is one of my favorite Christmas traditions. We didn't really do it together as a family when I was little. In fact, we wouldn't have a tree up most years until Christmas morning. My parents would always say that Santa and his elves would come set up the tree and decorate it for us. I remember falling asleep to visions of this happening. As I got older, I would ask my parents to set up the tree so I could decorate it. I loved watching our spinning Christmas tree at night- it was magical! So I too have a rotating tree for my family. I hope they think it is as special as I do!

So here are a few pics of the kids decorating the tree. We love to pass out the ornaments and talk about when we got them and let the memories of years past flood in. It's a beautiful thing!

Greg's 51st Birthday

This weekend, we celebrated my husband's 51st birthday. We had family over and a couple of friends for Panzarattis, Greg's favorite-Pumpkin roll-, and hot cocoa! The daddies watched the football game while the mommies kneaded the dough for the Panzarattis (deep-fried pizza calzones) and the kids decorated Gingerbread (graham cracker) houses. We had a lot of fun!
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And to top it all off, we got to see my great neice who is only a little over 2 months old! This was a special treat because most of us hadn't seen her yet, and my sister (Grandma Jo-Lynn) has especially missed her grandbaby.

It was a great day! I hope my honey knows

how much he is loved!

Happy Birthday my love!

Is it December already?

I woke up yesterday morning in a bit of a panic- realizing that it was December 1st already. This month means a little bit of stress for me. Fun, but stress. Sometimes I wish the world would stop just for a few days so I could spend some uninterrupted, quality time with my husband and kids and savor them for just a while. I think some people call that vacation??

Oh well....I can't believe how quickly this year has soared by. It's amazing how we've all grown in so many ways in the past 11 months.... even little Ruby. I love my family.

 

 

Christmas 2010

Christmas came early this year!

Yesterday, after weeks of waiting patiently, our pictures finally came in from Diana. Sooo exciting! Of course I can't post any of the good ones... just a few to keep you excited and wanting more! I don't want to spoil Christmas for anyone else! :o)