Wednesday, December 30, 2009

holiday photos

this year i learned one thing... that before the holidays next year, i'm going to work a bit more on my technique with the christmas photos.

but for now, i thought i'd post a few of my favorites this year....

i like this star...


and this silly kid....


yep...it's a klingon ship...


the bigger silly kid....


it's glowy under the tree....


ahhh.... the bokeh.....


and a new christmas ornament this year....


all in all, we had a wonderful christmas & i'm happy to say i'm looking forward to a great new year!

Thursday, December 24, 2009

christmas baking...down to the wire

this year we took a break from school this week to get ready for christmas.

we did all of our baking this week. i try to focus on favorites because there are just too many out there, and let's face it: i'm not as ambitious as i used to be☺


so we started out with the christmas canes....here's my very eager helper workin ever so hard ...



i love how they look all laid out here...i think they're pretty, just like this....


but then we have to bake them & they turn out like this... very "christmassy". yep, it's a word☺


then on to the mexican wedding cakes....i'm sure there are other people making these with another name for them, but that's what the recipe we had growing up calls them. i think there's a story behind it, but presently, i don't remember... (presently, i am lucky i remember tomorrow is christmas)



and then my other, not-so-eager, you're-gonna-help-because-i-said-so helper whips up the homemade oreo batter. i can actually walk away & let him do it himself... hey, that's kind of nice...☺ (see the chex in the background, there's party mix ...yummmmmy!)


aahhhh, there they are, all nice & finished. you haven't lived till you taste these guys. they'll make you forget about those store bought cookies. and no, they're not woopie pies....woopie pies got nothin on these little suckers. they are D-lectible!


and then there's the fudge. my love hate relationship with fudge. sometimes i can make it, sometimes i can't. i prefer to believe it's the fudge's fault, not mine☺ but this time it turned out. i'm not sure, but i believe fudge deserves it's own close-up, don't you think? this is my mom's recipe called "fantasy fudge" - it's the best!


and last but not least my babies.
my sugar cookies.


some years, these cookies are all the christmas baking i do....


because these babies can stand alone. they are extraordinary. my aunt gave me the recipe when i was a teenager and they have been a family favorite ever since.



whew...i'm ready for a vacation now!

along with the sweets, i've made a big yummy cheeseball & a big batch of party mix. we should be all settled in for the nasty weather of the next few days.

and if all goes well, i'll get a little more last minute christmas knitting done☺

merry christmas!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

i ♥ faces week 48 "sweet dreams" | nappanee children's photographer



this week's photo challenge at i heart faces is sweet dreams.
and who doesn't love a photo of a sweetly sleeping babe?

you might remember, almost a year ago i took photos of my freshest niece & this is one of my favorites. and since today is this little one's first birthday i thought it was perfect for this post!

so happy birthday baby & sweet dreams!

xoxo
-aunt apryl

Monday, December 7, 2009

fingerless glove love...

he's all smiles -
somebody loves his birthday mitts....


another thing i love about knitting.... i can get an idea in my head at the last minute & whip something up that's going to be cherished by the recipient.

score one for mom☺

Thursday, December 3, 2009

double digit birthday | nappanee children's photographer

as of today, both of my boys are in the double digits.
man, i'm not as young as i used to be☺

he's 10 today and doesn't he look awfully grown up & serious? and he's looking so much like his dad... i'm betting that chin's going to be killer when he's all grown up.☺

and this boy loves the birthday. like, reeeeally loves it. talks about it ALL year long! so we're kind of bummed because he's under the weather today & not feeling his best, but we're making the most of it.

so happy birthday my little boy!
promise me you'll slow down just a little for your mama, won't cha?

xoxo
mama

 
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