Christmas at Home

We set up a hidden camera Christmas Eve and we caught Santa. Check it out!

Christmas without Momma

It was a year ago today that my Momma went into the hospital for a obstructed bowel and never came home. This is a poem my Mommom gave me I felt needed to be posted.

"My First Christmas in Heaven"

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below

with tiny lights, like heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow.

The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear

for I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear

but the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.

I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring

for it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart

but I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.

So be happy for me, dear ones, you know I hold you dear

and be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.

I sent you each a memory of my undying love.

After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.

It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do

for I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.

So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear.

Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

My Little Angel Beauty

Monday night was Alex's Christmas Program at Maris Stella Catholic Churh in Avalon. The kindergarten classes were angels. They're costumes consisted of a sheet and a halo. Easy enough and cheap. The whole program was very cute. My angel beauty

Aren't they all adorable?

She can be such a ham

A Fond Farewell to Aunt Mary

On a wintry cold day last week, we lost one of God's sweetest angels. Aunt Mary died at 80 years old last week having lived a fulfilled life and having touched the lives of all that knew her. Her body was tired and she was ready. Aunt Mary was Brodie's Mom's aunt but she was known as Aunt Mary to everyone. She lived in Philadelphia so I only saw Aunt Mary about 4 times a year but she eminated a love that stuck with you all year round. The things I'll remember the most about her is that her smile was genuine and so was her heart. Aunt Mary, you will be sadly missed.

Our Christmas Tree

I love our tree this year. I think I love our tree every year but especially this year because Alex made 8 of the ornaments on the tree this year and One thing I love is ornaments. No particular kinds. I have quite a few favorites on our tree including Alex's. To see some of Alex's, goto http://campbellsoupandkids.blogspot.com/2008/12/day-at-school-merry-x-mas-k.html
This is a symbol of the love Brodie and I share. Bottom right was my Momma's, it has her name on it.

This was the first ornament I ever bought for myself. It was on my first tree on my own.

I painted this ornament when I was in the second grade.

We put this one together but they say ladybugs bring good luck.

This was from our Disney vacation

This one came from Aunt Sue, I think, a couple of years ago. I have always loved it.

This is a Lenox Bride & Groom that was a wedding gift from my Mommom.

North Cape May Christmas Parade

We went to North Cape May's Christmas parade and we saw decorated fire engines, a helicopter, a boat, marching bands, and of course...SANTA!

Joey, Morgan, Haley, and Alex

Steffie, Prada, and Alex

Drinking hot chocolate, staying warm...it was COLD! But it sure was FUN!

A Weekend with Sammy and Morgan Mary

Sammy and Morgan Mary are Brodie's cousin Laurie's children. Sammy is also Brodie's godson. Although we do not see them often, our families are good friends and enjoy each other's company. Over the weekend, Sammy and Morgan Mary came to spend the weekend with us while their parents went to Vegas. Alex and Morgan were two peas in a pod

Hiding from Joey

Sammy played trains with Joey... Joey loved Sammy!

Piggyback rides

Photo Op!

Alex boxed Sammy on the Wii. She knocked him down one time. Here, you can hear her say "knock out, knock out. You little booger" It was very cute.

Cookie Exchange and My Grandmother's Molasses Cakes

Two years ago, my friend Kris invited me to a cookie exchange at her house. For those who have never done one, Everyone invited chooses a cookie different from someone else's. You make however many dozen cookies that there are people exchanging plus one dozen for judging and sampling. The first year, my cookie was obviously nothing to brag about because I cannot remember it for the life of me nor could anyone else. Last year I won with a chocolate dipped peanut butter cookie. It was yummy and beautiful but very time consuming. This year, I decided to go with a molasses cookie. Now it's no prize winner but it is easy to make and I knew no one else would make it. Plus, I knew a few people never even had one before. It's the perfect addition to any cookie tray. For this reason, I've decided to include the recipe in this post. Brodie says they look like turds before you bake them and they don't look much better after either. Despite that, he is a big fan. This recipe is my Grandmother's recipe and my family has been making these for many Christmas and I intend to carry on the tradition. I hope some of you try them. Happy Baking!

GRANDMA'S OLD FASHIONED MOLASSES CAKES

1 3/4 c. molasses
1 1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. hot water
7 1/2 c. flour
3 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
pinch of salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix molasses, sugar, shortening and water. Mix thoroughly. Blend in remaing ingredients. Drop by rouded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-15 minutes or until almost no imprint remains when touched with finger.

I personally use Grandma's old fashioned robust molasses but any kind can be used. Flavoring may slighly change. Also can reduce molasses to 1 1/2 c. if desired. I prefer the stronger molasses flavor.

ENJOY!

A Day At School, Merry X-Mas K-A!

Today I went into school with Alex's class to make Christmas crafts. Of course I forgot my camera but I took some photos of what we made when she got home.
This is a stuffed snowman (sock) and rudolph magnet. Fun! The snowman had googly eyes but they did not make it home so I drew some on until I get some more eyes. The buttons also popped off but managed to make it home so I had to sew them on. Good as new.
These are applesauce and cinnamon ornaments. You make a paste or sort of a dough my mixing the applesauce and cinnamon then flatten and cut out with cookie cutters. Let me tell you, what a mess but fun. My living room sure does smell good!

The stocking ornament was a glue together craft from oriental trading. Easy and cute. The other was my idea that I found in a craft book. Not what the picture looked like nor what I expected but still cute.

I made those ready to bake sugar cookies with the imprints on them. They went over much better than the eyeball cookies at Halloween and they were much easier too. Go figure. Thank you to the other mothers that came in and helped out and also to those who sent in supplies!

A Day Out With Thomas

On Sunday, the 7th of December, we spent the day out with Thomas. As most who read this know, Joey is insanely infatuated with trains, especially Thomas. We did a Day Out with Thomas last year in June at Strausburg Railroad and it was intensely HOT. Our plan was to see Thomas in September this year but Brodie got sick and it took a little while to figure out what was wrong with him. The docs put Brodie on meds and now he's functional. Joey was promised a trip to Thomas so it had to be December. It was intensely COLD! One extreme to the next. The only benefit was that there were a lot less people. We got to see everything including the train museum which we did not see last time. Despite the freezing cold, we had a great time. We even saw Thomas heading towards the station as we were pulling up to the railroad. When we got out of the car, he was right there. Joey was excited to see him right away.

Thomas the Tank Engine at the stationWe drove the hand car while waiting for our ride time. It was a little tough but good exercise! Next, we rode this little train. It's pretty neat. Wish we had one in our back yard! Photo Op! Our turn to ride on Thomas. Just a note about Thomas. Thomas actually pulls these coaches himself unassisted.

Waiting to pull out of the station. During the ride there's not much to see. Only fields, kinda boring so no photos posted of the scenery.

Our photo with Thomas

THE STRAUSBURG TRAIN MUSEUM

These are a few model trains but the museum was mostly real, big trains.Photo from the bridgeThese trains are BIG. It was COOL!Alex shovels coalDaddy and Joey engineer the train. Then it was off the the children's section.There were so many different train toys, Joey was in his glory.The wooden trains were his favorite part.Next, we had a photo with Sir Topham Hat. For those of you who do not know, Sir Topham hat is in charge of all the trains on Sodor Island where Thomas lives. Alex and Joey take a ride on the Cranky Cars.

Last year, Joey had to be pushed by Alex.

This year, he was able to keep up with her all by himself!

Then it was off to Aunt Fran's. I think the trip was a little over 3 hours to get there and we spent a good 4 hours there. We went to Aunt Fran's to help her with her Christmas tree. Of course she fed us dinner and all kinds of other junk. Alex was in her gory when Aunt Fran whipped up some Mozzerella sticks. Thanks Aunt Fran. We had a good time!

Lunch at Elaine's

We went to see Scrooge at Elanie's Dinner Theater. For Christmas, they also had a weekend lunch show. Aunt Fran, Aunt Mary, Tracey Lee, and Kevin came down from Philly. Our intention was to also see the parade in Cape May, however, traffic was so hectic that we couldn't even get into Cape May in time for the parade. Oh well. We'll see another one. Here are some of our photos from Elaine's.

stuffing our faces =)

Alex sharing her mozzerella sticks with Daddy. (They're her favorite)

Mommy and Joey

Ryan photographin himself

Steffie, Alex, and Mommom

My Babies

All in all, the show was good. The food was decent. The company was exceptional.