Merry Christmas!

Cute Christmas Picture

I thought this was a cute picture of Nora from Mom to Mom at church.  What a ham!

Merry Christmas!

We hope that you and your family have been blessed this Christmas season.

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Holiday Home Tour A La Newman

Since we are in Texas and our family is far, far away, I thought that I would show you our home for the holidays.  Thanks Mom for helping me decorate and for making my bows and you know, everything else!  

We are heading to the children's Christmas Eve service at our church, then going to dinner tonight to celebrate with our friends, the Walkers.  Tomorrow morning, Santa will have arrived and we'll have a fun Christmas morning together unwrapping gifts and eating sweet rolls.  YUM!  Tomorrow night we are going to have Christmas dinner with Joe, Christi, their family and the Ogle crew.  Should be lots of fun!  I've been making desserts all day.  Our house smells so good!  Peanut butter balls, pecan pie, sour cream apple pie and a huge Christmas tree cookie for the kids!

We are leaving early, early, early Sunday morning to pick up the big girls and then head to see the Newman clan in TN.  We can't wait to see everyone, especially that Grammy!

Merry Christmas everyone! 

The Yule Log that Nora made

A small sample of the fun Christmas cards that we have received.  I love Christmas cards!

My favorite after Christmas purchase last year.

These Nativities belonged to my grandmother and my Mamaw.  How special!

It's finally complete!  Love that my mom made this!

Sweet needlepoints that Grammy did for the big girls.

Guest room - Love the retro pillows my mom made forever ago!

Upstairs Charlie Brown tree (kid's tree)

A girl can dream ... right?

Our Little Rudolph

Christmas in the Square

Last Friday night we headed to dinner and then to see the lights in Frisco.  It was pretty neat.  With 175,000 lights, 11.5 miles of wiring, and 8 miles of cords, this is the largest choreographed holiday lights and music display in Texas. Plus, they had some fun activities for the kids and Nora shared her fist funnel cake with us.  Too fun!

 

Christmas Program at Nora's School

Last Thursday was Nora's last day of school at her Mother's Day Out Program.  They had a little Christmas program and invited the parents.  It was very sweet.  Here are some pictures from the day.

Miss Leslie (who Nora loved!) was leading the group.  So cute and funny!

Saying a prayer before our snack

Christmas Version of 1 Corinthians 13

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls but do not show love, I'm just another decorator.   If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas Cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love, I'm just another cook.   If I work in the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity but do not show love, it profits me nothing. If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point. Love stops the cooking to hug the child Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband. Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and linens. Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way. Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those that can't.   Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearls will be lost, golf clubs will rust,  but giving the Gift of Love will endure.

Nora's Christmas List

I asked Nora the other day what she wanted for Christmas.  Here's what she had to say...

I want candy canes and lipstick (aka chapstick).

Santa totally overbought.

Christmas Parade

Thanks again for a great time at the Children's Christmas Parade, Ogle clan!  We had a great time!  Didn't freeze and celebrated with an adult only lunch later that day.  A great follow up to a super fabulous birthday celebration with Mark the night before!  Too bad we forgot to charge the battery for our camera.  We missed out on some good shots!

2010 Christmas Parade

Sunday School Christmas Party

Last night we had a great time at our Sunday School Christmas Party.  Thanks to our fun social girls for organizing a fun event and to The Team for hosting Nora at your house while the adults went out for a fun time!

Sacred Marriage 2010 Christmas Party

New Favorite Christmas Cookie

Last week we had a cookie exchange at my Mom to Mom meeting at church.  It was so fabulous and fun!  I've decided that my new favorite Christmas cookie was made by Liz.  Here's the recipe.  Enjoy!

Frosted Cranberry-Orange Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen small cookies

6T butter, room temp

1/2c sugar

1/4c brown sugar

1 egg

2 tsp orange zest

3T thawed OJ concentrate

1 1/3 c flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/4 tsp salt

1 c dried cranberries

1/2c coarsely chopped walnuts (pecans would be great too!)

Frosting

1 1/2 c powdered sugar

3T butter, melted

2T thawed OJ concentrate (or a little extra!)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cream butter and sugars; Add egg, zest, OJ and beat until blended.

In another bowl, stir flour, baking powder, soda, cloves, and salt;  Add to butter mixture.

Stir in cranberries and nuts;

Bake on greased sheets for 10-12 min or until lightly browned (9 min in my oven).

Cool and frost.

Children's Christmas Party

Here are a few pictures from the Children's Christmas Party that our church held a few weeks ago.  What great fun!  Although I miss the fact that Nora is no longer a snuggly little baby, I have to admit, it is fun to do some real activities with her!

 

At the live nativity put on by some of our youth

 

Decorating cookies

 

Making our Yule Log

Making a fun necklace with Jordan

Chris and Kenslea

 Jordan and Nora being silly ... Nora making a run for it!

  Playing peak-a-boo!

Finally posing!