Abigail's Preschool Christmas Program

 Abigail's preschool Christmas Program was on the 19th at 6:30.  She had been practicing for week in school and at home too!  She did such a great job!

It was not easy getting her in this dress, but we compromised with the pink tights.

She sat nicely with us while the other kids ran around...so nice and so different from her brother!

She was getting tired by this point I believe.

Abigail and her buddy, Ethan

Abigail and Nana 

(nice that Nana was able to join us)

Enjoying the treats after the show.

Abigail's other buddy, Ryan and his sister

Cut-Out Cookies

The day after we got the tree, we decided to make cut-out cookies.  The kids were really a big help this year.  I think we all had a good time making these cookies.

This was the taste test...pretty good!

Our Christmas Tree

We got our tree on the 14th before the snow started to really fall.

 Our tree melted a little...OK, a lot this year...

 The kids waited patiently while we got the lights on.

 This was the new way to decorate...by laying on the floor.  I think it was Caden's idea first.

 Abigail's turn for the star.

The finished product!

Goffy Girl

 Look familiar, Mom?

My mom has a picture of me sitting on our front porch with a pair of pants on my head too :)

This pajama set is Abigail's favorite outfit.  As long as we're not going anywhere, she wears it all day long.

Chocolate Pretzel Cookies

I tore this recipe out of the December issue of Family Circle magazine.  The kids and I made them last week when Caden had 2 snow days and no snow.  Too bad there aren't any left for Santa!

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup roughly chopped mini pretzels, plus 30 whole pretzels for garnish

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a bowl, whisk together flour, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.  In another bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar for 2 minutes, until fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla extract until just combined.  Pour in flour mixture and beat on low until just combined.  Carefully fold in chocolate chips and chopped pretzels.

Drop tablespoonfuls of batter on baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart.  Press down lightly to flatten.  Gently press a whole pretzel on top of each cookie.

Bake at 350 for 11 minutes.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Gingerbread Creations (12.2.13)

 Mammy wanted to get the kids gingerbread houses again this year.  Since we bought them "fresh", the kids kept eating the icing and candy throughout :)  Last year we used one that was a year old, so they didn't eat anything (something for me to remember).  Abigail actually picked out a gingerbread carousel earlier, so I knew which one she would like...though Caden's was much easier.  You can see that we tried to get the carousel to stand up, but at the end it turned into a "cake"!  Abigail didn't mind thank goodness!

 

Soccer Medal

Caden had a soccer banquet in November where he received a medal.  Here he is showing off his medal plus his tee ball trophies.

This little table quickly became his "award" table...all his idea.

Abigail's First Official Hair Cut/Trim

I got my hair cut right before Thanksgiving.  Abigail went along with me so that she could see what it would be like to get her hair cut at a salon (by the way, she was SO good there...just sat and watched me the whole time) .  She wasn't interested at all.  She said she wanted Mammy and me to do it.  So, we pulled out Aunt Erin's DVD player two days after Thanksgiving, popped in Punky Brewster, and we were ready to go!  I really only took about an inch off, but it was enough for her curls to be lighter and now her hair is about shoulder length when really curly.

 I just noticed Caden's expression :)

 All those curls!

 She sat so well for this too!

The "after" shot.