Christmas Baking

I LOVE Christmas baking day! It's become a great tradition in our family--one that I will continue with my Mom, until she starts skipping ingredients in the recipe and the Chex mix comes out tasting like peanut butter!

Mom wanted to get a few shots of her and Dad and the boys for a Christmas card--we took about 12 shots before Jackson called it quits!







We came home from Breakfast with Santa and busted out the cute aprons that we found at the Dollar Tree a couple weeks ago! For a dollar?! Who wouldn't buy them! Jackson's was a little big, but he still wore it! And, without pants, might I add, because he splashed in the puddles and got SOAKED! Nothing like baking in your underware and an apron...get your minds out of the gutter people!! Eventually, he ended up in feeted Christmas jammies.













We turned up the Christmas music, pre-heated the oven, and dove into all the ingredients! One the menu--Chex Mix, Colassal Cookies, Peanut Butter Balls, Grandma Ruth 7 Layer Bars, Candied Pecans, and Sugar Cookies. YUM-O!











Throughout the day, Jackson and I did Christmas art stuff. I found these really cute kits at Target and thought they would be fun! And they were!









Adam made his appearance around 2pm--after picking up lunch for all of us! Thanks babe!! He walked in sporting his "chef's jacket" that he bought for the Chili Cookoff a few weeks ago! He was all set for his Peanut Butter Balls--it's his job every year to rolls the balls and then run them through chocolate. I don't know why he gets a kick out of this, but he does, and looks forward to it every year!










Dad was wanting to find/make a recipe that Grandma Ruth used to make--7 layer Cookie Bars. Those were his project, and he took it very seriously!! Don't mess with my Dad and his baking! HA! They turned out really good!!





After all the baking, Mommy took about an hour nap (much needed!) and then we headed home in the HEAVY FOG!! My goodness! It's thick! You can barely see the Christmas lights in yards! Great night for jammies and movies!!

Breakfast with Santa

My Dad invited us to the 2nd annual Breakfast with Santa at the Boeing Company. Last year, we saw Santa arrive on a firetruck, and then spent the entire next few months hearing "you 'member when Santa came to that place on a firetruck?!"

Breakfast with Santa

This morning, we all got up, got showered and dressed, kissed Adam and sent him off to the office, and then headed over to pick up Mom, Dad, and Aunt Stacey. We arrived at Tower II just after Santa had arrived (and fortunately, Jackson did not throw a fit for missing Santa's arrival!)

Santa and Mrs. Claus were very odd this year. They were NOT as friendly as they were last year. Santa barely wanted to speak, nor do I think he really WANTED to get his picture taken...but Jackson sat on his lap and told him, again, what he wanted: "A Gator and a 'mote control boat." I got a few pictures Jackson by himself, the boys together, and Everson by his self. We even got a family shot (minus Daddy-O--BOO!!)

Ev was upset that we disturbed his slumber!

They had face painting again this year, and Jackson chose to get a blue snowflake (although, like last year, I would have liked for him to choose something different, but it's not my cheek! The reindeer was adorable!)...

Ev wanted one too! And I guess Momma told him no...

There were also games set up....Jackson fished once, got a prize, and then was over it...





Jackson, not surprisingly, was more interested in the project. This year, we made a Santa hat for Jackson and Jackson made a stocking for Everson. We also made some really cute ball ornaments (that I have yet to get a picture of--but they are simple and cute!) This year, I sat back and let Jackson do what he wanted--but I STILL wouldn't let him play in the glue...until he does his own laundry, I'm not giving in! Something I DID protest a bit--they put SHARPIE MARKERS on the kids coloring station! Seriously?! You've got to be kidding! I picked up all the Sharpies and put them in a bucket FAR AWAY from the table....apparently, the people setting up don't have children....








We didn't stay TOO long--it was a bit crowded, and we had some baking to get too!!