Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas! Here's some of our Holiday photos so far...

This is my Mom, Sister and I on our annual Shopping Trip! This year we stayed overnight in KC and shopped for two days. This trip is almost better than Christmas Day...we take our time, goof around, eat a lot, and just enjoy getting away together! It is so much fun! AND notice our 'matching pj's' -- my Mom really takes this shopping thing seriously. This picture was taken in the hotel lobby about midnight, I made them go to the lobby for a picture! They weren't very happy about it, but I don't care. We had to get those pj's on film!

On Dec. 14th our little church in the country celebrated with it's annual Christmas Program. As we do every year, the kids close the program with a Nativity Scene. The lighting is low, so it's tough to get a good picture - but you get the idea. Moms and Grandmas had to join the little ones on stage just to keep them there! These are the same angel costumes I wore when I was little! This is one thing I will really miss when our childhood church must close its doors, possibly next year.

You guessed it, Jace and Jalyn were Joseph and Mary in the program...

And I'm glad Jace isn't too big to sit on Santa's lap!

Jalyn did her own hair for school today!

HO HO HO and Merry Christmas! Hope you have a great one!

Bestest Sugar Cookies Ever!

I have so many photos I want to blog - but in the meantime I am eating...I mean baking...the best sugar cookies ever and thought I would pass along the recipe! Phil does most of the cooking in the house - but I love to bake yummies. Probably because I like eating them - but whatever.

Melt in Your Mouth Sugar Cookies

1 c powdered sugar
1 c white sugar
1 c butter
1 c oil
pinch of salt
2 eggs
1 t baking soda
1 t cream of tartar
1 t vanilla
4 c sugar

Beat the sugars, butter, oil & salt really well. Then add eggs and dry ingredients. Make into balls and roll in sugar (I used colored sugar for the holidays). Bake on ungreased cookie sheet for 8 minutes at 350.

And, with only a cup of butter and a cup of oil, they're practically fat free!!

Enjoy - and Happy Holiday Baking!!

Proud to be a Dance Teacher!

I was so proud of our Dance Students last week at The Nutcracker! They did a wonderful job and worked very hard to pull off a successful show! Despite some backstage disasters...the show went off without a hitch!

I haven't seen Jamie's pictures yet, she's still working on editing them...but they'll be posted on her website soon - www.infullbloomphotography.com. In the meantime, here are some backstage photos we took.

I encouraged the 'big kids' to play with the 'little kids' and keep them busy during the show! Sometimes the waiting backstage can be a little too exciting! Here's a rousing game of Ring Around the Rosies, and shown above a Dancing Doll reads a Christmas Story to an Angel! Beautiful!

I am so proud of them...when I have doubts about doing the show, when life seems so busy and I'm not sure I want to dive into such an enormous project...I just remember that 'Cloud 9' feeling I get seeing the kids in costume, the smiles on their faces, the excitement in their eyes, and the tears in my eyes watching those angels squeal with excitement when the balloons come down! It's so worth it!! So Thank You to those who participated, those who helped backstage or on stage, and those who came to watch - Thanks for making it a special night!