O Holy Night and Merry Christmas

This was our first Christmas without visiting either of our families during the actual holiday.  We didn't have services on Christmas Eve, but did celebrate on Christmas day with our church family. 

I bought this ice cream from our school's fundraiser, and was saving it just for last night.  HH and I approved.  (Love my wedding china!  I was able to complete the set this summer, and I'm happy I have it.  It's dishwasher, microwave, and freezer safe too.)

We got a knock at the door around 8:30.  HH went to take care of it, because we get a lot of men who are drunk knocking at our door.  It turned out to be the grocery store general manager (who attends our church), with a lovely gift basket.  He asked one of his employees if there was anything special that Pastor likes to personalize our basket, and the employee said, "He sure likes Diet Mountain Dew."  (I know SMH ChiTown Girl....I deserve it!)  I thought it was nice he tried to personalize it.

This is a print we got a bit ago that I forgot to photograph.  It says 6-29-11.  This is the day we moved to South Dakota.  I want to do a whole theme around it, and perhaps put it in a different place, but for now it works here.  I love Etsy!

These two pictures were taken in the lobby of our hotel.  (We are heading out bright and early to see our families...HH is going to NC and I'm going to KY.)  HH says, "I think these pictures should be on our Christmas card next year."

HH was talking about something, and I just downloaded the "Instagram" app that everyone seems to be using now.  I was playing around with it.  I have seen several bloggers who have captured their "week" in instagram pictures.  Maybe I'll try that soon.



We continued our tradition of having Chinese on Christmas day.  Last year, we went to have Chinese as a late dinner because my sister had not left the hospital on Christmas day.  There was someone to stay with her husband, and we convinced her to have dinner with us.  That was a sad time.  It was nice to have a light-hearted meal this year.

I'm landing in Kentucky at 1:18 tomorrow!  So happy to be able to be with my family until Saturday morning!

Just a Pinch Recipes

I've needed some new recipes.  I'll be making some of these things in the next few months...It makes me wish we were not leaving right after church on Christmas Day!  (Maybe I'll make one or two things for my family while I'm home.  What is harder about cooking at home is my mom doesn't cook much at all, so she hardly has any basic spices, so I need to make sure to buy everything!)

Beef Squares

Sausage Rice Casserole

Sausage Balls

Italian Sausage in Pastry Puff

Chicken Empandas

Tater Tot Nachos

Cherry Salad

Pineapple/Lime/Parmesan Cheese Salad

Alfredo Bacon Potatoes

Bacon, Beans, and Everything Nice Soup

Spaghetti Soup

Basil Tortellini Soup

Potato Casserole

Christmas at The Capitol

I am so happy that we were able to go to Christmas at the Capital!  I know this will be an annual event for our household!  I loved all the detail that was put into these trees.  I also got my hair done, and we had a really nice lunch at the local Italian restaurant.

My favorite tree was the Narnia tree.

Gotta love this tree topper!

I thought this was a Bob the Builder themed tree from far away, but it turns out it was thanking all the volunteers for the huge flood that took place in SD this summer!  I loved the clever use of sand bags!  There were a LOT of sandbags when we arrived here.

Posing together, and I'm rocking my TOMS snowflake shoes.

I have arrived as a teacher!  On the last day of school, one of my students comes in beaming and says, "Merry Christmas, Mrs. F.  I killed it myself."  He proceeds to tell me how he killed it, plucked the feathers, and all.  Awesomeness!

Picture Full Post

It feels great to update the blog!  Sorry for the rapid fire of posts!  :(  Above is a bag with peanuts and hard candy...one of my students gave it to me.  What makes it special?  It is from a student who has taken a bit longer to start liking me (although I don't think she even disliked me, just indifferent before).  Our church passed out candy bags, and she put the candy in a different bag and gave it to me.  She didn't have anything to given, but wanted to give something to me.  Those gifts are priceless to me.

This made my reading teacher heart smile!  :) 

I saw this on a blog, and found it on the Etsy website.  You can find anything and everything you ever have wanted there.  Much of which is sold at a very reasonable price.

I also bought our stockings off Etsy.  Stockings were/are a big deal in my parent's house.  We looked forward to our stocking contents just as much as presents.  HH and I really go out personalizing the contents of our stockings since we don't do big Christmas gifts too each other.

LL Bean Moccasins...they are WICKED GOOD just like the website says.  I love these things!!!

About Christmas Treats...

People bake A LOT up here.  It's kinda like one of the ways women "prove" themselves I think.  I think I see that cooking/baking is valued differently here than when I lived in a major city.  I'm actually burned out on holiday treats.  This year especially I haven't even wanted a piece of fudge to pass my lips.  It isn't doing anything for me. 

I did make these cookies last night for a dessert for a friend's birthday.  I just added peanut butter and honey to the middle of them to make the "sandwich" effect.

Our Love is Black, White, Tan....

My post title is a song that came out years ago by Nicole C. Mullen.  I loved the message of our love for her husband, and their multi-racial family.  This is a conversation I had with one of my girls last week.

"Mrs. F, why do you want to adopt black babies?"

"Well G, I think that God loves all colors of babies, and so do I."

"I know, but why don't you want a tan baby (motioning down to her skin tone...Native American)?"

"Well, G, I guess if you think about it black babies are just like you except they have really really good tans."

G giggles.  Then, fearing she has offended me, she starts talking about how she will be a really good babysitter when we get the baby, etc.

I love innocent conversations with kids about race.

We meet in April with the adoption agency to start the process.  I am excited.  HH is excited.

Can't wait to read Kisses from Katie...

Christmas Break Starts at 12:40.....I Think I CAN

Life has been busy, and I haven't been documenting it.  That makes me sad.  I'm going to have to set aside designated time to blog every few days.

I didn't know my coffee could get any better, with my Keurig machine and flavored syrups, but it can.  I got this homemade pottery piece for judging a contest in town.  LOVE!

HH hard at work on home improvements....(You use a chalk pen to write what you have to do for the week.)

A fun paper plate drawing activity I did with my kiddos...

End of the day mayhem...

Our church kiddos performing...They did good for the first time around.  I learned a lot, and we had a "kid friendly" potluck.  I pride myself on bringing new and innovative things, but for this day, I made sixty chicken fingers and brought a big bottle of ketchup.  It was a hit.

My kids rock at art, and make me look awesome...