Christmas Baking

Growing up I always loved making Christmas cookies and candy with my grandma, mom, sister, aunts, cousins. Each year it seemed that less and less participated and now that I live a thousand miles from my mom I miss out on it each year. Thank goodness I married a wonderful guy who loves to do anything with me.

Last Sunday we spent the day baking away. We started off with cut out cookies. Jackson was game for helping in every way possible!

Brian won favorite parent points by making Jackson a Mickey cookie and letting him eat the whole thing!

Brian and I teamed up and made toffee. He stirred constantly for 10 minutes, then I spread the chocolate chips on top and broke it into pieces. This stuff is amazing and so addicting! I am glad there is no left in my fridge! I also dipped peanuts and Ritz with peanut butter in chocolate.

During Jackson's nap we frosted cookies and as soon as Jackson woke up and came downstairs he said "cookie please". Yup! Cookie number 2 for the day!

Here is a sampling of the finished product, so yummy!

The best part of baking all these goodies is delivering them to friends and indulging in a few myself!!

Wordless Wednesday: My mom is a great cook!

Honestly, there are no words to describe how much my son eats!

Camels, Donkeys, Sheep, Goats, and Santa

It has been a weekend of animals and I actually forgot to include elephants in the title. Friday night Brian and I went with Louis and Katrina to First Baptist's Christmas show. At the show we all got up close and personal with an elephant! I never realized just how big and stinky they really are until I was so close that I could have touched it.



Saturday morning we headed over to my aunt's church for their Visual Natvity. Even though Jackson wasn't in the program he got to play the part of a shepard.

All he was interested in were the animals!

He feed the goats and sheep with daddy and

rode the camel with daddy and mommy, and the donkey ALL by himself! Oh, did I mention this was on December 11th and it was 75 and beautiful outside!

They also had crafts to make and cookies to decorate.

After a fun morning Jackson went down for a nap. Once he woke up, we headed out to see Santa. We opted for Bass Pro Shop again because they give you a free picture, the lines are short, and the shop itself lends a lot of excitement for Jackson! See what I mean:

Jackson was waving to Santa while we were in line and excited, but once we got up there we couldn't get a smile!

Family picture inside Bass Pro Shop. I always love how they decorate for Christmas!

We shopped along with the other million shoppers at the mall, but I finished all my Christmas shopping!

Gingerbread Barns

Saturday afternoon Jackson and I headed over to Katrina's to build Gingerbread Houses. Each year Katrina invites all the girls from Northwestern College that ended up down in Houston to build houses. And like last year, she was nice enough to invite me even though I abandoned her after freshman year! Thankfully God brought us back to the same place!

Jackson was all into decorating his house or barn, as he called them, for the first 10 minutes. He found a M&M and ate it, that was the end of decorating. He kept sneaking candy into his mouth. I don't know how much he ate, but I do know it was A LOT!
Jackson really loves Katrina (and Louis)!

I had a hard time keeping our house together because Jackson thought it looked better without a roof! The finished product! Right after this picture Jackson ate Santa peep and his pretzel skis.

Gingerbread House Decorators 2010!

Santa's Wonderland

Right after work on Friday we jumped in the car and headed to Santa's Wonderland with Louis and Katrina. We wanted to get their as early as possible for Jackson. I didn't want him tired and cranky on the hayride. I was also excited that it was a nice evening, no need for coats, hats, and gloves.

I thought everything in Santa's town was so cute! They had a lot of cute things and yummy goodies for sale.

Jackson will be guiding Santa's sleigh this year!

Jackson was sitting by the fire, then it started snowing, and he wanted to be apart of that! "Reee-ach!"
I think he liked it!

Next up was the hayride through Santa's Wonderland. While waiting in line for a few minutes Brian realized it might have been a good idea to take Benadryl since there were animals around and we were going to be sitting on hay and he is allergic to hay! I was a little worried we may be making an impromptu trip to the ER, but we I mean he made it out alive. Since then I have added benadryl to the drugs I carry in my purse.

Jackson has really warmed up to Katrina and Louis. I think they got the best "family" picture that night!

He oohed and ahhed just like we thought he would and may the hayride even better for me.

After the hayride we walked around Santa's town a little more and debated a picture with Santa but ended up skipping. Here is our attempt at a family picture.

We headed out early because it was past Jackson's bedtime (ok, ours too)! I am upset that my camera was acting up and I have dust spots, I think, on many pictures. Oh well, memories were made none the less!

Thanks for joining us for a fun night Louis and Katrina!

21 Months

Dear Jackson,

Right now you are looking everything Christmas! Each night you can't wait to open the advent tree, get out your treat, read the Christmas story, and pray with us.

You are goofy! I think you take after your daddy in this area:) You like to sit in your duck bathtub to read your books and build with your blocks. You also close your eyes soooo tight when we pray and then say again 5 times!

Daddy and I read at least 10 books a night to you and most of the time we read them twice. Your favorites are Duck at the Door, If You Take a Mouse to the Movies, The Gingerbread Man, and Trucks.
You have been sleeping in the guest bedroom because you sleep so much better in a big bed. You move around so much you kept waking yourself up in your little bed. I think you are the only 21 month old to have a queen size bed!

There is no stopping you when it comes to talking. You can tell us what you need and want. You love to say "reeach" when coming to give us a kiss, "by me" when you want mommy to sit by you in the car, and "welcome" when I try to get you to say thank you which you can say!

You watch our everymove and pick up every small detail. The other day you opend the fridge, got out a can of oranges, opened the drawer with the untenils, found the can opener, and brought it to us! That surprised us. You're one smart cookie!

You know most animals. You can say their names and the sound they make. For colors you get them right 50% of the time. When we ask you what color you say the wrong one, but when you bring something to us then you will say "blue train."

You are a perfectionist. If you can't do something the right way or the first time it makes you very upset. You are doing a much better job about not throwing fits. But, with out a doubt you a strong willed boy who knows what HE wants.

You are still a big boy! Everyone always thinks you are way older than you are. I would also say you are the most handsome little boy I have ever seen!

We love you more than words can say and pray daily you grow up to be a man on fire for God.

Highway Parade

Tonight we bundled up to take Jackson to the Parade of Lights. The crazy thing is that it is done on a busy highway with 4 lanes of traffic. I thought they shut it all down for the parade, but we came to find out they only shut down half of it and we were on the wrong side!

Before the parade!
Not sure we are going to survive the WI cold since we were chilly tonight:)

Jackson's favorites were the firetrucks. But, since we were on the wrong side at times it was hard to see because we had 3 lanes of traffic in our way. Also, most displays and speakers were facing the other way too. I guess we learned our lesson for next year!

Jackson pointed, waved, and oooed the whole time.

Brian and I had to keep swapping Jackson to save our backs.

We had a fun, full, and festive weekend. I have lots to still share!