Christmas Goodies

I have been looking forward to doing some baking this Christmas. However, I needed to find some quick and easy recipes because it's hard to do much with a very active toddler :) All he wants to do is play and not by himself. He wants me or anyone he can recruit to be with him at ALL TIMES!!! I love it though ;)

Peek-a-boo!!!!

So the first recipe I decided to make is Jeremy's favorite cookie......

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
Wax paper

Directions:
In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, the sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened.

Next, I made something I have never made before....

White Chocolate Peppermint Bark

Ingredients
Crushed candy canes, to yield 1 cup
2 pounds white chocolate

Directions
Place candy canes in a plastic bag and hammer into 1/4-inch chunks or smaller. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler. Combine candy cane chunks with chocolate. Pour mixture onto a cookie sheet layered with parchment or waxed paper and place in the refrigerator for 45 minutes or until firm. Remove from cookie sheet and break into pieces (like peanut brittle.)

And last, I made one of my favorites.......

Peanut Butter Cornflake Bars

Ingredients:

1 cup corn syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup peanut butter

7 cup corn flakes

Directions:

Bring sugar and corn syrup to a boil, then remove from heat. Add peanut butter and mix in until melted. Place corn flakes in a bowl and pour mixture over them, then place in a 9x13 pan (buttered) until cooled. Cut into bars.

Merry Christmas!!

5 years

On Friday, Jeremy and I celebrated our 5th year of marriage. We had a fun date night filled with lots of good food and shopping. Five years ago I never thought I could love Jeremy more than on the day we got married. But five years later and one precious son I love him even more. I will be forever grateful to the Lord for bringing us together so long ago. He is the perfect matchmaker:)


He also got me pretty sweet anniversary gift.......

I have been wanting a new camera for sometime now and I am so excited. I am in love with this camera!!!! I haven't figured everything out yet but here are a few of the first pictures I took...

My beautiful flowers Jeremy brought home...

This is one of the many ornaments we received when we got married...

My cutie pie:)

Headed to Magnolia for Christmas

And here is Graham with his love.....a brand new tractor. Maybe Santa will bring him a few more:)


Merry Christmas!!!

Christmas at the Rose Center

Tonight we took Graham to see the Christmas lights at the Rose Center. He had a blast looking at all the "ights" :)

We had to get a picture with the TECH bulldogs:)














Silly Savannah :)

My sweet sister

I laugh at this picture b/c as you can see Graham is upset. He wanted everyone else but me holding him. I guess he's sick of me ;)

He even had a fun ride on the "choo choo."

Merry Christmas Y'all :)

The Faithful God

Therefore Know the Lord your God, He is God, the Faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9

Today I am thankful that our God is Faithful. He is faithful in His love for us. He is faithful to guide and protect us and to work all things together for his own good. He is faithful to bless. He is faithful to forgive. Not only can I see His faithfulness in the lives of others, but also in my own. The Faithful One carries me.

The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Pumpkin Patch

We finally made it to the pumpkin patch tonight. There were about 20 pumpkins to pick from and I think Graham wanted them all......

Oh, how he has grown......

Happy Halloween everyone :)

Halloween Cupcake Pops

Today, while the boys were at MDO my friend Jill and I made these adorable cupcake pops. They were so much fun to make and I thought I would share the recipe and a few pictures :)

Ingredients
Makes about 50
9-by-13-inch Chocolate Cake for Cupcake Pops
2 cups Cream Cheese Buttercream Frosting
1 package chocolate coating bark
1 package white coating bark or pink candy melts
Sprinkles, for garnish
Candy-coated chocolates, such as M&M's, for garnish

Directions
-Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Trim about 1/2 inch from the perimeter of the cake. Working in batches, crumble cake into the bowl of a food processor; process until fine crumbs form. Transfer to a large bowl and add frosting; blend together using the back of a spoon, until well combined, 5 to 10 minutes.

-Roll mixture into 1 1/4- to 1 1/2-inch balls; transfer to prepared baking sheet. Cover with parchment-paper-lined aluminum foil. Transfer to refrigerator until chilled, about 2 hours or to a freezer for about 10 minutes.

- Begin to shape balls into cupcakes by rolling balls first into logs. Fit logs into a 1 1/4-by-3/4-inch flower-shaped cookie cutter. Push cake mixture into the cutter halfway so that some of the cake mixture extends beyond the top of the cutter. Shape extended cake mixture into a cupcake-shaped top. Push cake from cutter to remove. Transfer to a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Transfer to freezer until chilled, 5 to 10 minutes.

- Meanwhile, melt chocolate in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Line another baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Remove cupcakes from freezer and dip the bottom of each cupcake into the chocolate; transfer, bottom-side up, to prepared baking sheet. To make lollipops, insert a lollipop stick into the bottom of each cupcake. Let chocolate set, 15 to 20 minutes.

Melt orange candy melts in heatproof bowl set over (but not touching) simmering water. Dip the tops of the cupcakes into the chocolate and place right-side up on prepared baking sheet or stick lollipop sticks into a Styrofoam square. Place a candy-coated chocolate in the center of each and top with sprinkles. Let dry completely.

Enjoy:)

Thankful

Life has been a bit crazy lately. My Grandfather-in-law has been in the hospital for over two weeks and yesterday had a bypass surgery and a valve replacement. Praise the Lord he made it through the surgery but now has a long recovery ahead of him. So.... today I am thankful. Thankful that the Lord brought him this far. I just know the Lord still has plans for him. Plans like seeing his great-grandsons grow up. That's what he told me in the hospital :) I just love and adore our Paw Paw. I admire his love and faithfulness for the Lord. Though I married into the family I've always felt that I am one of his own granddaughters. So please keep him in your prayers. We are praying for a miraculous recovery.

Oh how time flies......

My oh my, how time flies....my baby is 18 month old today. Even though he's my baby..he's not so much a baby anymore :(

One year ago.........

and today......

At 18 months Graham weighs 24 lbs 11 oz and is 32 1/4 inches long. He's wearing 18-24 month clothes and a size 4 diaper.

He sleeps about 12 hours a night and only wakes up if he's teething. He has 10 teeth now :) I never thought he would have teeth...nor hair. However, his hair is finally coming in and it's blonde and curly :) I just love it!

We had is check-up today and they said he should be saying about 7-20 words. I was counting today and I just stopped at 40. He really does talk a lot and will repeat most of everything you say. He loves books...we probably read 20 or more a day. He can point to all the pictures and he can also point to all his body parts.

He knows the color blue, numbers 1-3 and already knows the letters O, Y, and A. Why those...I have know idea. I just try to talk about the colors, letters, and numbers a lot and I guess he just picked up on it. I love seeing him learn :) Just the teacher in me I guess.

His most favorite things to do are play outside and take a bath. He's learning to brush his teeth and feed himself with a spoon. It seems he learns something new everyday.

Graham is so smart, sweet and has the funniest personality. However, during the past few months we have really started to discipline him a lot more. About a month ago we started time-out. He has really gotten better about not touching things he shouldn't. He also knows the word "spank" ....so if I use that word or put it into action.....he knows I mean business. :)

First time in time-out......

So tonight he stepped on one on his toys and hurt his foot. So he picked it up and threw it in time-out. He kept telling it "NO, NO!!" ....

It really was funny to see :)

I love you so much Jonathan Graham!!! I love staying home with you. Though hard at times, it's the BEST job in the world!! I will always treasure the time we've had together! I love you with all my heart!! Happy 18 months!!!!!

We're back

We had such a great time on vacation. We were sad to leave but glad to be home. Graham enjoyed the water and just wore himself out each day. He also wore me out :) He really is on the go ALL the time! Not sure if it's because he's a boy or his age ...??? Probably both:) Anyways, he had lots of fun and we made lots of sweet memories :)

Every evening after dinner we would ask Graham if he wanted to go swimming and this was his response..........

He was full of excitement :)

I'm already missing the beautiful water .....

VACATION!!!!

Well we are in Destin, Florida and having a great time. It's so good to spend so much time together as a family. Graham is having a blast. He wakes up each morning and can't wait to see the beach. Here are a few pictures of out trip so far....................

My two boys :)

Our beautiful view.....

I'll post more pictures later :)