Christmas

Wow, I can't believe it took me so long to update!

Christmas was so amazing this year. We made gazillions of cookies, had everyone over here after presents for breakfast, and spent the entire day in the caring embrace of our loved ones and family.

Rowan was adorable waking up to her surprises from Santa. I made such a big deal out of it, that she wound up acting all nonchalant and cool walking out to see the tree....

She always tries to get me that kid....

Either way, Mr. Boyle and I both agreed it was our best Christmas ever.

Cookies!!!


Me and Mr. B at the family Christmas Eve party... if only he hadn't made a funny face


We three = love


Leaving cookies for Santa


Santa Came!!!!!


Presents!

A little power wheel drag racing always rounds off a good Christmas morning

3 Days until Christmas...

Watching the snow fall outside the window... and feeling the peace and slow comfort of the season.

A little homemade Christmas

Ingredients:

1 cup plus 2 tbs of Cinnamon
3/4 cup of apple sauce
Lots of Love

Directions:

Mix and roll out dough.... cut with cookies cutters... punch hole for string.

Bake at 200 for 2 1/2 hours.

Voila!!! Christmas gifts for the whole family :)

The moments that create traditions

I am such a traditions oriented person. I love doing things that create memories for the holidays, and that always includes Rowan and I building a gingerbread house.

Despite multiple conversations about why we couldn't eat it, we still had fun :)

oh tannenbaum

I love making memories for the holidays...and part of that for me, has always been cutting our own tree. Barney and I have been going to this little tree farm since we met... its run but an old man that uses the money he makes on the sale of the trees to pay his taxes.

I love being able to assist him in his retirement while creating that special memory with my family. The only thing missing was snow!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and blessings to you and yours!

Cookies for Santa

I've been baking all day while listening to the gentle thrum of my mom's sewing machine as she finishes a quilt.

I made a Buche' De Noel for desert tomorrow and of course lots of cookies for Santa! Tomorrow is the big day! I can't even begin to describe the excitement I see in Rowan's eyes when she talks about Santa... this is gonna be so fun.

So glad daddy got home in time to help with Santa's cookies! Smile!


Ummmm please disregard the "adult" natured cookies in the top left... (ps.. Barney started it!)


The extra special cookie Rowan made just for Santa


My Buche' De Noel (yule log). yes I'm aware it looks like a giant turd but aren't those meringue mushrooms to die for?

Rowan says that tomorrow there is only one more day to Christmas

Oh heavens... holding back giggle

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza

Wow Mama!!!

Going through the motions of the holidays while living back in my home town is quite nostalgic for me. I find myself reliving bits of peices of my childhood from sledding with my old friends to that quiet feeling in our house in the early morning hours that held promises of excitment and childhood joy.

One of the many traditions I resurected for my daughter was a trip to the La Salette shrine in Enfield, a few towns over from me.

They host an incredible Christmas light show every single year... complete with life sized nativity scenes and a quaint Catholic chapel built of rough hewn lumber with open beams and old fashioned latern chandeliers... If your craving an old fashioned country Christmas, you would want to spend your time in this chapel... it is breathtaking.

Rowan took one look out the car window however at the lights....and that was all she really cared about..... "Wow Mama!!"

Christmas Crafts with a Preschooler

Its cold as hell out there today... so despite how tempting it would be to grab the sled and run out the door for some fresh air, we've been confined to the house.

To occupy The Terror I whipped out some paint, popsicle sticks and glitter.... let the Christmas glitter explosion begin!

Sled, snowflakes and framed Rowan art


Popsicle stick gingerbread house, this is my side


and this is Rowan's :)

Getting Festive

Sorry I've been away so long! I've been up to a lot of things lately and therefore have been super busy! I've done a lot of Christmas Crafting including an Advent Christmas Ornament Crochet along, some home made gifts for family and lots and lots of baking, cocoa drinking and snuggling of course!

So I'll leave you with a butt load of pictures... wow? Did I really just say butt load on my blog??? Yup, yup I did....

An attmept at a self Christmas portrait... blah, we'll be redoing this.



Advent Ornament Crochet a Long


Buddy loves the snow!!


Over the river and through the woods to find our tree we go! (Rowan and grampa)
(yes, us rednecks go out into the woods and chop down a "wild" tree) hehe



We had to cut down a 40 foot tree because I liked the top of it hehe


Snowy woods



Not bad for free :)



Add some bows and decorations....




And... Tada!