How Full?

Today, Pilly was this full after lunch.  Yes, her cheeks are full of food:)

Brrr

We went outside today to take the mail to the mailbox.  Brrr!  I don't think we need to go anywhere else until the baby is born!  Then we will only go to the car, which should be prewarmed.  Of course, some nut wanted to walk around the block and not go right home.  She also had the warmest coat on so that might have had something to do with it!

Pnut told us last night, "When it is hot, I like cold weather, and when it is cold, I like hot weather."  Quite an example of the human nature, right?!

Not too much to report for today so this will be it:)

Oh Christmas Tree!

We were very busy this weekend getting some stuff done.  It will be nice when the baby comes that we already have this completed, but it made us all very tired!

We put up our tree.  Now, some idiot dog that lives here chewed through wires in the tree so one section won't light anymore, but it still looks alright, especially wtih all of the decorations on.  The girls don't care!

Pilly decorated at probably twice or three times the rate of Pnut.  She was just putting ornaments all over the place!

It is fun to have it up!  I wanted to get their Christmas presents out and put them under the tree, but that wouldn't work very well! 

The girls are in bed and I have things to do so I must go!  Have a lovely evening:)

We had a busy day today, but we got so much accomplished!  We switched cleaning day to today because I have a doctor appointment at 9:00 tomorrow morning.  We also made butterscotch chip cookies (Joel's favorite, he ate 4 within 1/2 hour of being home).  Then after supper, we went out to get gas and get me some more socks.  I only wear knee socks once I start wearing pants, and I wear them out so fast!  They always get holes in the heels and it makes me very sad.  So we went to the mall to look around because we have $10 gift cards.  We tried a couple of places, w hich were all quite unreasonable.  Then we went to the Bon-Ton, and Joel found the clearance section.  There were sets of 2 pairs for what appeared to be $4.  I went to check, and here they were only 99 cents!  So I bought all 5 sets that they had.  Ten pairs of knee socks for $5!  That is unheard of:)  And they were originally $12.99 per set...that is $60 saved:)

Randa-you need to tell Eric because it was technically Joel who found them.

So I would really like it if they make me go into labor at the doctor tomorrow, and I am trying not to get my hopes up.  (Ha!)  Otherwise, it will probably be until his due date.  Apparently, it is more convenient for Joel that week than next.  I could throttle him!  Anyways, chances are we will still be here next week:)

What happens when...

There have been several problems with the platform that I work from lately, and I have had to spend a lot of time on the phone with the IT people for my work.  I have also not been able to work because they take over the computer and try to fix the problem.  So this afternoon did this:

The girls were pretty excited about the snow in their room.  Pnut told Joel that it was snowing in the house:)  I did 17 or 18 of them.  It gets hard to come up with new ways of cutting them out after a while!  One time when I was in high school I did this for my room, and it just felt so fun every time I walked in so I thought they might enjoy it as well:)

They also made snowmen for the wall today, which are super-cute.  And we got to put the first star on the wall tree for countdown to Christmas.  Quite a fun day:)

Our Thanksgiving

We made cookies this Thanksgiving, which we always do, and the kids did a gingerbread house.  They had a ball, as these pictures will demonstrate:)

 

They ate it basically as soon as it was put together.  There were some good photo opportunities then, but I had already put the camera away!

Dessert and Hot Chocolate

Red Velvet Hot Chocolate
4 c whole milk
1 dash water
3/4 c semi-sweet chips
1 t red food coloring paste
1 c heavy whipping cream
1 T sugar
1 t whipped cream cheese

Whip cream and sugar for 2-3 minutes.  Just before it peaks, add whipped cream cheese and whisk for 2 minutes.  Taste and add more ceram cheese to taste.  Do not overwhip!
In a medium saucepan, heat milk over medium.  Add a splash of water and chocolate chips, constantly stirring gently.  When almost melted, add red paste.  When chips totally melted, pour into mugs and top with whipped cream.

I didn't have the red paste, which, of course, does not affect the taste at all.  I also did not whip my cream cheese before adding it in.  I don't think it mattered!

Blackberry Cheesecake Pots
1/4 c heavy whipping cream
8 oz cream cheese
1/4 c sugar
1 t vanilla
4 oz blackberries

Whip the cream.  Add cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla and beat with paddle attachment until smooth.  Add half the blackberries and beat until just crushed.
Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Top with remaining berries.

I used all the berries except for enough to put 2 on top of each dish.  This is a pretty and simple dessert that looks classy:)