Thursday, December 31, 2015

Merry Late Christmas

We had a nice Christmas--we were glad to have Kaitlyn home with us. On Christmas eve we go to my in-laws  after Christmas eve service. We eat appetizers, candy and cookies then head downstairs for Christmas presents. Christmas day we have dinner and play cards after the clean up. When my mom was alive we use to have Christmas dinner with her, I miss my mom.


Amy enjoying her Kindle Fire.

Early this year I wrote on my calendar to mix up cookie dough and freeze. Last year I mixed everything the same day I baked it --that was a nightmare because I did it on Christmas Eve day.

This year I tried a new sugar cookie recipe and a new frosting recipe. This is the sugar cookie recipe-- I subbed gluten free baking mix in place of the flour and they came out wonderful! For cookie frosting I usually just used powdered sugar and milk, the difference when butter is added makes everything so much better.This is the recipe I used for the frosting- I looked up cream bouquet because I never heard of it. I went on to look up a recipe for that  too- I only had vanilla and butter flavoring so I use that. I was very happy with the results.

I also made a six sister pb fudge and chocolate fudge recipe. I think the peanut-butter layer would have turned out better if I wasn't rushing to get to Star wars, it was still good. We waited to see it till our daughter who moved to Wisconsin made it back. I also made peppermint bark but I may skip it next year since I was the only one who eats it. If I decide to try again I want to try this recipe. Peanut butter balls are my all time favorite--I use Whole Foods peanut butter. I use to  make it with the rice crispies filler but love it so much better without it. I also made death by chocolate cookies, they weren't as well liked. Peanut butter cookies were made with a recipe I found years ago. 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, 1 egg and 1 tsp vanilla. I  also made chocolate chip cookies, and Mexican wedding cookies.

We had a wonderful time eating, talking and just being together. Kaitlyn will be leaving in a few days so we're trying to get everything squeezed in we want to do. I didn't get many pictures without people turning there heads or holding there hands up. I'm hoping to get a few pictures of the girls together this weekend.  

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Prim Swap ornies



This  ornie is from Di at Cottage Wishes!





This ornie is from Linda at Country Pickens!



This ornie is from Cindi at Cindi's Country Corner!



This ornie is from Amy at Bumble Bee Lane!

Thank you ladies for all the wonderful ornaments!

Thanks Amy for hosting the swap!!

Updates

We had a nice Thanksgiving this year even though we were missing our daughter Kaitlyn. My oldest daughter Elizabeth who was married this summer also celebrated Thanksgiving elsewhere.



I made a delicious peanut butter pie from this recipe-- http://thatsmyhome.com/pie-recipes/peanut-butter-pie-time-pie/




I made these ornaments for a local swap and a prim swap.


This was the other ornaments I made for the local swap.



I must have read the instructions wrong for this hat--it was almost done and it was able to fit my cat.



Amy with Santa at the annual tree lighting.












We had a fun time riding the holiday train to Lawrence and back.


Jaime's band concert