Have yourself a Merry Christmas!

Hope that each and everyone has a blessed Christmas. Let us rejoice in our blessings and celebrate our Saviours birth! Bean had a Christmas program at school and I just love their version of Happy Birthday to Jesus!

Let us all be like children with their joy and happiness!

Birthday Party for Jesus!!

We were invited to a birthday party to celebrate the birth of Jesus last week. On the way to the party, Bean asked “Mommy What is Jesus’ middle name?” Trying to think quickly I thought “Christ.” Then I went on to explain that he really just goes my Jesus since he is the Christ. So she thought about it and asked “So Jesus is going to be at his party right?” Well I explained that he would be there in spirit. That satisfied her and I was happy about that. The party was great and Bean did wonderfully in the reenactment of the birth of Christ. She portrayed a wise man and brought frankincense as her gift. My friend had put a wash cloth dipped in essential oils in her basket. Bean loved smelling her gift (over and over). After constructing Baby Jesus in the manger with marshmallows and haystacks we were on our way. On the door was a tree to write on there what we would like to give Jesus for Christmas. Immediately – Bean knew the answer – “Mommy a Barbie Island Princess.” I was thinking along the lines of love or something…but Barbie is good. I just love how big her heart is!!

Cheap Tip O' the Day!

Do you look at the coupons that print out at the grocery stores? Those coupons are called catalina's and can be for cents off your next purchase, specific products or promotions coming up or freebies. Yes freebies Yall! Lately I have been getting dog food and kleenex free catalina coupons. So next time you get any catalina's - look at them before you chunk them - you never know what treasure they may hold.

Out of the Mouth of Bean

After dinner I opened my fortune cookie which read "You have a talent for all that is artistic." I promptly told Roon that I got the wrong fortune - he asked why. I handed it to Bean to hand to Roon. Bean says Mommy I will read it...it says "CVS." LOL! She knows me too well. She proceeded to tell me that the other piece of paper read "Dear Tom Thumb."

Oh and for those who wanted the report on the Turkey - it Did ROCK, despite ourselves. When we were taking it off the sitting device it broke in half...and then we found the giblet back stuffed inside still. Apparently leaving the giblet bag inside the turkey during cooking is a right of passage of sorts.

The Turkey that could

So, I got this free 19.5 pound turkey on Sunday night. We thawed and got it ready for battle (I mean cooking). We decided to do something called the Sittin Turkey. It is a very cool device that my parents got us for Christmas last year. Basically it mimics making a "Beer Can Turkey." So Roon cleaned and spiced the big girl up this morning. I cut up onions and shoved them up into the top of turkey. I filled said Turkey device up with amber beer. Then came the problem. How does little ole me - get big giant turkey onto said device without dropping the bird or losing the beer. So I gathered my strength (and I am still recovering from surgery mind you) and held all 19.5 pounds of giant turkey in left hand and tried (with all my might) to get turkey on device. I LOST!
All my pretty onions came out and bird was flopping about on arm....Very sad sight. Being the determined girl I am, I tried again. This time I went as fast as humanly possible. Loaded bird onto right arm, holding onions in with fingers, moved device and plop! Now my bird is not as pretty as the box and is kinds lop sided, but I did it!
See picture below:

So then I tried to straighted the bird up and it looked like she was going to walk away - Please see exhibit 2 below - "Walking Turkey."

But Alas I decided she looked ready for the oven. Getting her in there was a fun time too. Bean just watched me and said "Mommy that is not going to fit." And yes it did not - but I finally got the second shelf out and got the bird in.


I am victorious! Now hopefully this will be some Rockin Good Turkey!

Christmas Fun - Getting to know you

My friend sent this to me and I thought it was good blog fodder for the Season. Here are my responses:

Christmas Fun
Welcome to the 2007 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends! You know the drill. Don't be a scrooge! Fill it out, pass it on.

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate, but I did just try the new Starbucks Peppermint White Hot Chocolate Mocha and it will make you say “Hot Toddy” It is so GOOD! I need one right now!

2. Does Santa wrap the presents or just sit them under the tree?
Both – depends on how busy Santa is

3. Colored or white lights?
Colored

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No – gotta protect the cat

5. When do you put your decorations up?
Day after Thanksgiving usually – but this year they are still not up yet ;)

6. What is your favorite holiday dish?
Date Nut Rock Cookies (I know sounds gross – but they are sweet to your mouth)

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
My Dad decided that he was tired of us kids getting up at 5 am or earlier every year to open presents and check out Santa stuff…so he decided to wrapping paper the hallway shut until they (my parents) were ready to get up and had the camera engaged. If said wrapping paper barrier was broken we were busted. We tried getting our cats to break it down to no avail. They knew better.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
Second grade or so…I snuck downstairs and saw them putting together toys…..I was said, but I also felt loved cause my parents went to all that effort for us! At least I knew why they were so dog tired every Christmas morning.

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Not usually, but sometimes we do

10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree?
With everything you can imagine…I collect Gingerbread men and woman so I try to buy a new one for my addition every year….Roon has an entire set of silver plated ornaments from when we was growing up that his Mom collected.

11. Snow: Love it or hate it?
LOVE IT, also.

12. Can you ice skate?
Yes – but I can’t go backwards

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Oh I can’t pick just one.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you?
Celebrating Jesus & being with loved ones!

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Driving to see Christmas lights

17. What is on top of your tree?
When it goes up there will be an Angel.

18. Which do you like best giving or receiving?
Both – But I love seeing the joy in people’s face when they open their gifts

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
The Carpenters Christmas CD – ALL OF IT – EVERY SINGLE SONG OF IT! I also like Perry Como’s “Do you hear what I hear”

20. Do you like candy canes?
Yes – but I have Overdosed on hard candy during my surgery non-eating fast…I was allowed to suck on hard candy – so I will probably pass on the canes this year.

21. What is your favorite Christmas movie?
A Christmas Story and while not a Christmas movie Die Hard – it is always on TBS and I always have to make sure that Bruce Willis really gets everyone out of that building safely. I also really love all the cheesy ABC Family Movies…anything with the former cast of 90210 says Oscar ya know.

Umm Umm Good!

We did not cook a turkey this year - yet anyway. I went and grabbed my free turkey from Kroger's last night though. All 19 pounds of it is thawing right now. Roon said get something small...well small is relative right? The only turkey's left were the big and mighty large ones! I did make some yummy mash potatoes this year. I got the recipe off the pioneer woman cooks. If you have not visited her web site - you should. She provides pics and comments that will knock your fuzzy slippers off. She has this picture of mashed potatoes (all waiting to be mashed) and it says "hello lover." So true....who does not love some good mashers. These are really yummy and can be made ahead. Happy Eating!