Little Bits of Not-Much

I've so enjoyed the past week and a half, having all three of my babies at home to play with. I forget just how much I miss Abi when she's in school!
Other than celebrating Christmas with family in Hot Springs, we've done a whole lot of not-much, which has been refreshingly wonderful ...

A little bit of Santa-impersonationA little bit of present-openingA little bit of sicknessA little bit of scootering
A little bit of free-playA little bit of snow-play
(after missing out on the White Christmas in Greenwood)A little bit of pee-peeingA little bit of marshmallow tossing

Kid-Friendly Baking

I love to cook with the kids and especially love recipes that they can actually do most of themselves. I found a great candy recipe that Abi could do solo. She enjoyed making it and giving it to her Sunday School teachers for Christmas.

Chocolate Cookie Bark

2 Tbsp. peanut butter

1 pkg. (6 squares) BAKER'S White Chocolate, melted

10 OREO Cookies, crumbled, divided

1 pkg. (8 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

ADD peanut butter to white chocolate; stir until well blended. Stir 1/2 the cookies into each bowl of chocolate.

DROP spoonfuls of the chocolate mixtures onto waxed paper-covered baking sheet, alternating colors of chocolates. Swirl with knife.

REFRIGERATE 1 hour or until firm. Break into pieces.

A Little Trinket from College

Anyone else remember this . . .
You could take home a little souvenir of the good ole' college days! I think they're asking less for it than Nick's truck is worth -- if you can believe that!

What we do when B's at Grandma's . . .

Eat chocolate cake . . .

And make dangly snowman ornaments . . . If it makes you feel any better, B, Abi said today (completely unsolicited), "It's boring at home when Brandon's not here! I miss him!"

The Difference 20 seconds makes

Here's little Miss Claus having a throw-down temper-tantrum in the floor . . . .And here she is literally 20 seconds later, the cheeriest elf you ever did see!

The Best $4 He Ever Spent

I am declaring the $4 my brother spent for this get-up at a yard sale . . .as the best $4 he ever spent!

Holly, Jolly Christmastime

The kids loved putting ornaments on the tree this year. Abi especially liked knowing which ornaments belonged to whom and when we got them. So far, Cam has not discovered the art of ornament moving or package-destruction yet

One of our other favorite Christmas traditions is "Christmas Camping." The night we finish decorating the tree, the kids get to "camp" around the tree. This is the second year that Abi has actually fallen asleep under the tree. Brandon likes the idea of it, but just can't fall asleep there.Nick went a little Griswold this year and put up our Christmas lights -- as much as I hate doing lights, I sure love the way they look! Thanks, Honey! We love it! Especially the playhouse!