Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Christmas break



I took some better pictures of the Christmas tree earlier this month - we were still counting down to Christmas break on the chalkboard, now the kids are counting down the days until Christmas, only 4 more days now!





 newly arranged "gallery wall" with some family pictures and some little plates and art from thrift / antique stores.





We're having a good break from school so far.  Last weekend we went to the zoo



The week before Christmas is definitely the best time of year for the zoo.  It was calm and quiet, everyone must have been out at the malls.



Yesterday we made this fudge:
Christmas Fudge (recipe from Parent's Magazine)

Your child can stir in the dried fruit when the fudge is off the stove.

• 2 bags (12 oz. each) white-chocolate chips

• 1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated milk)

• 1 tsp. vanilla

• Pinch of salt

• 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots

• 1/2 cup dried cranberries

Line an 80-square pan with foil. In a saucepan over low heat, stir and melt chips, condensed milk, vanilla, and salt. Remove from heat and stir in fruit. Spread evenly in pan. Chill 2 hours or until firm. Remove from pan and cut into squares. Store covered in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Very easy to make and yummy too, Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Christmas events and decorating

Breakfast with Santa yesterday at Chris' work.  I don't know what he was telling them, but it looks like they're listening.
Thomas asked for Lego and Kate a microscope.


Then we headed out to Mill Hollow Christmas tree farm


and found the perfect tree.....

Last year at the Christmas tree farm - last year we got a Virginia pine tree, this year it is a Leyland Cypress.

Brought it home to decorate last night, and took some pictures today, it's a dark day so I need to take better pictures on a sunny day. 




it is so pretty, the nicest tree we've had, these pictures don't do it justice.

Emmy checking everything out...

the chalkboard Kate decorated.....


the black and white picture is my Dad as a little boy, and his father going to see "Father Christmas" - he grew up in England.


this little picture was a thrift store find, as well as the silver owl and penguin.  The little brass shoes is the ornament from Thomas' first Christmas

little silver sheep (from New Zealand antique store) and another thrift store find - fiestaware juice pitcher


the Santa stocking holders I've had a few years (from Marshalls)