Marshmallow Hot Tub

One aspect of the holidays for me is more time spent in the kitchen baking. Although, the boys were sick quite a bit this year, the 2 youngest had a couple of good days that they were well enough to help out a little.

He cracked me up when he was stirring this! He said, "Holy cow, it's a marshmallow hot tub!"

Christmas Cuddles

 Every Christmas, we get out our collection of Christmas books. We love these stories, and try to add a new one each year. Most of them are stories about the reason we celebrate, Jesus, while a few are just fun stories that make us laugh, and 1 of them is a seek and find book.

Whatever their title, they all serve the same purpose for us. They create a reason to be together, cuddle and find solitude.

This year, these books were read more than ever. Our family has been sick, off and on, for the past 3 weeks. So, we've had many opportunities to cuddle and spend time reading.

All of the boys were sick the week of Christmas, and not able to attend a Christmas Eve service. So, instead, we were home. Part of our evening included gathering around Grandad, and listening as he read to us. He read stories reminiscent of the first Christmas, when our Lord, and Saviour was born. It was a wonderful way to bring the day to a close, and sent us all to bed thinking of a night long ago.

Brother's Store

We've been doing this for 3 years now, and the boys LOVE it! I read about this idea, I believe in a Family Fun magazine, and decided to try it. I'm so glad I did! It's become a tradition in our home. The boys get so excited on Christmas Eve, knowing that they get to "shop" for each other.
All throughout the year, I pick up items that I know each boy will like (at discounted prices). I then store them away, in a box that the boys do not know about. On Christmas Eve, I set up the guest room as a "store", with 4-6 items to choose from. 3 of the boys (the 3 whose gifts aren't out) then come in and shop for their 1 brother. The boys wrap their gifts right then. We do this 4 seperate times, until all brothers have a gift to give to each other.
The boys pay $2 per gift (cash that we later use for roller skating and bowling). While this cost may seem trivial, it does give them ownership over the gift. They give the gift with the knowledge that they picked it out and paid something for it.

shopping for 1 brother

some gifts are wrapped

each boy labels the gifts they're giving

some gifts are placed in bags



gifts are then placed by the giver near the tree



all gifts are given with much joy...

...and received  with much thankfulness

Christmas Morning Sticky Buns

I've had a couple of requests for this recipe. It's a great recipe from a Gooseberry Patch cookbook. I've made it the past few years on or around Christmas, but it's a wonderful recipe for anytime of the year. It's very easy and very yummy!
I love the fact that all of the prep work is done the night before, making the morning an ingredient and stress free time.
If you give it a try, let me know how you like it. :-)

Christmas Morning Sticky Buns
1 pkg. frozen rolls (16-20)
1 small pkg. powdered butterscotch pudding (the type you boil, NOT instant)
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tbsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 cup chopped nuts (if desired)

Place frozen rolls in a lightly greased bundt pan. Combine pudding mix, sugar and cinnamon in a bowl. Sprinkle powdered mixture over the frozen dough in the pan. Pour melted butter over the mixture, as evenly as possible. Cover the bundt pan with a towel or foil, and allow to sit out all night. In the morning, uncover, and bake at 350 for 25-30 mins., or until lightly browned. Gently invert bundt pan onto large plate, being careful, as "sticky goo" will run out. Serve warm.

***When I make this, I buy the frozen rolls that are in an aluminum pan, skipping the step of the bundt pan and inverting (as well as the clean up afterwards). Also, right before I bake the rolls, I place 3 to 4 dallops of butter on top. I find this insures that the powdered mixture becomes gooey.


1 with chopped pralines and 1 without, how the boys like it ;-)

A Saviour is Born

 ... gatherings, decorating, baking, buying, wrapping, a room that looks like Santa's workshop exploded, giving, festive music, lights, spicy and sweet scents, a kitchen where you can't see the counter tops for the baking ingredients, reading special Christmas books, candlelight, countdown and excitement...

All of these things come to mind when I think of the Christmas season.  I admit that I love all of these aspects of Christmastime. But, there is 1 aspect that I treasure most of all.

In the midst of the busyness of this season I am so grateful for the moments that I get to sit next to the fire, sip my coffee and spend time in God's Word. I treasure this time of listening to Him, as He speaks to me through His word. He's reminded me over and over again that we only celebrate because He loves us so much, that He chose to provide a way for us to know Him.

He came humbly, as a baby.
He knew that one day He'd pay the penalty for our sin.
He was born to die.

I've heard the story of Christ's birth my entire life. With each passing year though, the awesomeness and wonder of His coming becomes more glorious to me.

There's a song that I love... it's by This Hope... and it says:

"Do you know Him better than you did last year?
Is this song a little brighter, filled with Christmas cheer?
When you hear "Joy to the World", does it make you want to sing?
Does your heart want to celebrate the season?
Are you walkin', talkin', captivated with the Reason?
Singin' glory in the highest, it's Christmas time again!"

It's a fun, upbeat song... not your average "reflective" piece. However, the lyrics ring true for me. They're a great reminder that Christ is the reason we celebrate.

I will continue to treasure my time with God by the fireplace, as well as all of the other festivities that come with this wonderful season.

And, as I read my mug, "A Saviour is Born", I will reflect on the miraculous birth of a tiny baby, be ever grateful for the awesome privilege of knowing Him, and be reminded of the promise that He is coming again.

A Little Venting about Stink Bugs...

I usually try and find the positive in most things. Even when I'm frustrated with something, I try and "flip" my thinking, so to speak, look at the upside.

There is one thing though that I've simply not been able to find an upside to ...

STINK BUGS

Seriously, what is their purpose????

I thought that with cold weather that stink bugs would no longer be crawling my walls and hanging around on my ceilings. I thought that I'd be done with them until early spring, when they emerged and found their way back into my home.

I was wrong.

What is that, you ask?

Why, that's my angel tree topper... with a stink bug stuck in the netting of the skirt! These bugs have messed with the wrong lady. It's one thing to crawl on my walls, but hang out on my Christmas decorations?? Oh, no.. I won't have it.

So, I leave you with this ...
DEATH TO STINK BUGS!!!! ... and may you have a wonderful Christmas week.

Cherry Taste, without the Cherry!

I love the flavor of chocolate covered cherries.

However, I do not like cherries.

I know... that doesn't really add up, but it's true. My method of eating a chocolate covered cherry is to eat the surrounding chocolate and drink the cherry flavored filling.

I throw away the cherry.

Well, no longer do I have to waste cherries!
 (I know you're all relieved. :-) )

I'm not sure whether this is the first year these are available, or whether they've been around and I've been out of the loop. Either way, I've found them now!!

These Cherry Cordial M&M's are YUMMY! If you like the taste of chocolate covered cherries, you've got to try them!

Gingerbread Boys

We had our children's church Christmas program last weekend. The set consisted of many boxes, as the play was set in an attic. Well, there were boxes and pieces of cardboard left over afterwards, and the church did not need them. So, I brought them home and let the boys go at it today!

They spent most of the day creating, and then pretending and playing in their creation.

It's amazing what cardboard, construction paper, and creativity turns in to!

"WELCOME TO VANCE GINGERBREAD HOUSE"

room 1.... a little Christmas tree, a "fireplace" (paper with a flashlight behind it) and a TV

room 2.... a TV and a game system

room 3... pictures and a light to read by

...the view looking out...

4 creative and content gingerbread boys :-)

My Husband, My Love

Happy Birthday to my Husband, my Love,

Today you celebrate another year of life. This is the 14th birthday I've celebrated with you, and I can honestly say I love you more now than I could have possibly imagined.

You are everything I ever dreamed about in my husband.

The Song of Solomon 2: 3-4

"Like an apple tree among the trees of the forest, so is my beloved among the young men."

You stand out from the crowd.

Your love for God is so evident. You yearn for Him, to know Him more and more. He is your God, your Lord and Master, and you lead our family to Him. Every time you interact with me and our boys, the sincerity of His love shines through you.

"In his shade I took great delight and sat down, and his fruit was sweet to my taste."

You are my protector.

I love being in your presence, beside you, in your arms.

"He has brought me to his banquet hall, and his banner over me is love."

I know you love me.

You are consistent in your love, giving your all to me and our boys.

I pray God is gracious to give us many more years together.

I love you and respect you.

FOREVER YOURS,

Allyson

My Little Boy is Becoming a Man...

I am a Mommy to 4 incredible boys. There are moments in almost every day that I find myself in complete awe that God would bless me with these 4 little men. They are amazing. Each one of them is growing SO very quickly!

I am most keenly aware of this in our oldest. It seems that with every day, we wake up to an older boy,  change having taken place seemingly overnight. He has grown so tall, and reminds me each day by telling me that "I'm short". :-) His voice is doing that cute low, high change. He laughs at himself quite often over the sudden fluctuations.  He's incredibly responsible, constantly taking on new and more difficult tasks. He's a hard worker, rarely complaining, doing his best.  He's such a blessing... and he's becoming a man right before my eyes. 

I was hit hard with this reminder yesterday...

He and I were sitting in church service, sharing his Bible, following along with the sermon passage. There was a note written in his Bible that pertained to what was being said, and he pointed it out to me. As he did so, he slid his Bible over to me, sliding physically closer to me as well. That's when I noticed something.

His arm was around me.

It wasn't just that he'd put his arm around me though. He was purposeful in it. It was the way he looked at me and smiled, the way he sat there in comfort.

As my eyes welled up, I realized, for the first ever, I felt a sense of protection under my son's arm.