Oh What Fun It Is To...Take Family Christmas Photos!

For the first time ever, in the history of our little family, we were unable to take our Christmas photo with every family member. Our oldest is in another county going to college and this year we just couldn't manage to get everyone in the same place long enough. So instead we took everyone's photo separately and just put them all on the same card. What a genius idea! Apparently people do this all the time. Ha ha!
Of course, we had to take many, many photos so everyone would be happy. Some were cute.

Some were funny.

Some were downright goofy!

And my husband and I couldn't be left out of the fun.

Our oldest? The one away at college? Well, hers turned out just fine! So it went directly on the card.

She may not have been able to come home for the Christmas card, but she IS coming home for Christmas! And Christmas Eve! I am so thankful that all my sweet babies will be under the same roof on these very special days. And I hope yours are as well! Hugs, Taniya

Baking For Christmas!

Hi Everyone! This week, and actually most of this month, has been spent baking. Which I love! I look so forward to this time of year because I love baking, love shopping for that special gift for those I love, and decorating the house and Christmas tree with my family is an amazing time as well! But today I'm going to write about all this yummy-ness going on around here. First I made
PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
These are just such a simple recipe and everyone loves them so I like to include them on the plates I give away.

Next I made a batch of fruit bars. This time I made APRICOT FRUIT BARS. Usually I have to make many more batches of these lovely things because everyone eats them before I can plate enough of them to give them away! Ha ha!

And who doesn't love SNICKERDOODLES?

We also made two pans of fudge, one regular and one PEPPERMINT CHOCOLATE FUDGE.

But the regular got eaten so fast I only got a photo of the peppermint! Lastly, we made PEPPERMINT BARK.

I still have more baking to do and will continue until Christmas Day with the grand finale being Christmas dinner with ham and all the lovely side dishes that go so well together. If anyone is interested, I'll be posting recipes of these fun Christmas cookies and desserts soon! Until then may your days be merry and bright...and full of good food! And may your stove look like this.

Kisses, Taniya

A Surprise On My Front Porch!

No, it's not a baby in a blanket. It's not even a basket of puppies. It's a box full of fun Christmas surprises from my sweet friend Dawn!! This box actually came before Christmas but I wanted to post about it because it brought me so much joy. It was full of thoughtful, little gifts she knew we would all love. Here's a sample of my gifts. I've been collecting snowman ornaments forever and she never forgets.

Aren't they cute? She always manages to find ones I've never seen before. She also sent these pretty candle holders.

And these sweet candles that I'll probably never open because I wouldn't want to ruin them!

Now, somehow (wink) she's found out I love nail polish.

One of them had a special note attached.

So I looked...

Aaaww! I miss you too, Dawn!! You want to know something kind of amazing? I didn't have any of these colors. You can bet I will be blogging about them very soon on my special little nail blog. Actually, I already blogged the Fergie one! Click this. There were lots of nice, fun gifts in our box and it was so fun for all of us to open them. So thank you to my lovely friend, Dawn! Here's to a wonderful New Year full of (good) surprises for everyone! Taniya