Epic Fail: Christmas Wreath treats

So at about 1030pm I decided to get started on my contribution to the Christmas cookie associate appreciation event tomorrow at work. The leadership team has a tradition of bringing in homemade Christmas treats for the Call center associates. So I thought it might be fun to make one of my childhood faves, Cornflake Christmas wreathes with Cinnamon Red Hots. I followed a mixture of a few random recipes online and totally under estimated a few key items:

1) There IS such a thing as TOO MUCH butter...in both life and apparently Cornflake crispy mixture

2) Melted marshmallowy goodness holds a kind of sizzling lava heat only apparent once your hands are completely submerged

3) It is difficult, no--terrifyingly close to impossible to get off the firey gunk after learning tip #2

4) Stubborness knows no bounds

5) Lastly, I am convinced there is no way to gracefully form wreathes out of sticky gum like cornflakes

Sooooo.... This is what they will get--- I am calling them Christmas Droppings. Instead of Christmas wreathes, they look like what Elf poo might resemble... just droppings of mistletoe turds.

Sounds Yummy, right?!

Hopefully, I can slip them on to the table without anyone spotting me so I dont have to own up to them. I will be sure to stage them close to a garbage can so people dont have to run to far after the urge to hurl.

Epic Fail and major disappointment of a favorite Mrs. Kay used to bring to every Chrismas potluck at our church in Minnesota.

Let me know if you want the recipe.

First Snow and Christmas Card outtakes

So we woke up this morning to the beautiful whiteness that is our first Illinois Snow. It was a light snow (maybe 2 inches?) and has kept coming throughout the day. After we got home from Church, Judah got his shovel and started to work. What a little man.

(secret: i did must of the porch with a broom, hehe)

So then I remember that we still had not taken a picture for our Christmas card. I was inspired by my bay window and the snowy scene outside. I decided to get some of my Christmas ornaments out and decorate the window a little. We have not decorated much since we will be in Ohio for the last 2 weeks of the year and it seemed like wasted effort. (or laziness? you be the judge) So once I had the window looking good, I had Judah do some test shots as I created a tripod from a tv tray stand and books. I will walk you through the agony that is trying to do a "self portrait" Christmas card with a 10 second timer and a grumpy six year old.

First a little preparation: "staging the windowscape"

Second: Test shots

test shot 1: looking "relaxed"

This was Judah's creative as he went from a jumping position into "criss cross apple sauce" (We used to call this "indian style". I guess that isnt "pc" anymore. )

Test shot 2: we are blocking all of my hard work on the window sill... try again

Timer too fast, not ready!!

Um, no. Judah too much.... me not enough

Cute, but no.

Now listen here... we are going to get this right!

Ok this is better but not quite there yet (fast foward like 100 takes later)....

Be looking in your mailbox for the final shot!

Then while my 6 yr old had his last tantrum after like 35 different shots (im cruel) I headed outside to enjoy the snowy flakes coming down.

RANDOM

what am I contemplating? hmmm..... its a mystery

hehe : )

you wanna piece a me?

Judah

After the Christmas Program the "conveniently" had the Book Fair located in the center of the school. Of course it was packed with all of the parents and their children begging them for this and that. I could not escape either. I dont remember book fairs being that expensive! Most of the books were 10-20 dollars! So I bought Judah a super secret Christmas present and then let him pick out a poster. He cracked up at this one and just "had to have it!"

Judah and his Kindergarten teacher, Ms. May (she is Awesome!)

One of Judah's art work posted outside of the class in the hall

(you are asking your self, is he wearing a mid-rif shirt?)

I love the randomness that is Kindergarten.

Christmas Program - Greenville Elementary K-2

On Tuesday (12/7), We went to Judah's school for the Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade presentation of Trouble on Candy Cane Lane. It was this super cute play where the residents of Candy Cane Lane were fighting over which color candy canes were better - red or green. Judah was part of the Green Candy Canes (Kindergarten classes) and sang in the chorus. The 1st graders were the Red Candy Canes and the 2nd graders had the speaking parts up on stage. They were all dressed up in the cutest out fits. My co-worker's son was Rudolph. It was humorous and cute and the all of the kids memorized their lines and did a great job! It was weird going to one of these things by myself, but I did see quite a few friendly faces (co-workers, church members, etc.) Judah did great but he was in the back row so I did not get a good shot (even with my 10x zoom!!) Why would they put one of the shortest kids in the back row? : ) Here are a few pics from the night.

Can you find Judah?

The parent club taped the performance so I will buy the dvd from them. I cant wait for Judah to be in 2nd grade so he can get a speaking part! : ) He says he wants to be Rudolph

My little Candycane!

Weekend Visitors

Mom, Dad and Josiah came to visit us for the weekend. I know we just saw them for Thanksgiving, but we can never get enough!!! They came in Thursday afternoon. I thought it would be nice after being on the road to come into the inviting warmth and smells of beef stew simmering all day. So I bought a slow cooker, looked up some recipes and put together something very very yummy. I marinated beef tips in merlot and garlic overnight and then put the rest of the contents of the stew together the next morning to let it simmer all day. It was soo very good! I was able to sneak out of work a little early on Thursday and I took Friday off. Thursday night we relaxed with the stew and homemade banana bread (a friend gave to me). We watched the Sound of Music and drank hot chocolate. It was so great to watch this family loved classic-- we sang along to all of the songs! It was Josiah's first time seeing it and he didnt mind it too much. Judah keeps singing, "When the dog bites! when the bee stings! when Im feeling sad..."

The next day I took Judah to school and then we went out to breakfast at The Red Apple. It is a little diner much like Ohio Deli. I took them for a little tour around town. First stop was what Judah deemed as one of the coolest things about Greenville-- The buffalo!

There is a buffalo farm (?) at the edge of town and it is neat to see them close up. They are huge majestic animals. Thank goodness for the electric fence!


Then we went to a few of the little antique shops around town. We found some interesting finds. Mom made the comment that it was interesting how some items she remembered using as a kid are now "antiques" and how that made her feel "old". These were some of my finds--

Owl salt and pepper shakers hanging from a little tree!!! I thought these were so cute.



an old mason jar and I bought a "sprig" of snowflakes to decorate for winter.

We also checked out the thrift store, a chocolate shop, and book store. It was fun checking out all of the little shops that always seem to be closed when I have the time to venture out. I think I pushed Dad to his limit, but he was good and didnt complain. He found a few treasures as well.

Mom and I had a little fun picking out sweet treats at the chocolate shop too. My favorite were the dark chocolate truffles. We met my friend and her son at Cunetto's for a late lunch before picking up Judah. I also took them by Greenville college and we visited the christian book store and had some "java" at Jo's Java on campus. I think Josiah may consider coming to Greenville for college... haha! we'll see : )

Friday evening we headed out to Lebanon to a little town that was supposed to have a lot to see in the way of Christmas lights and shops. When we finally got there we found the beautiful shops with decorated windows but all of the shops were closed. Classic small town theme I am learning. I really have no idea when these places of business actual do business as they are always closed when normal people can visit them. Mom and Dad were total optimists and had fun "window shopping" anyways, before we got too cold. Here are some of the pictures..

what you see here is after I asked Judah to stop making "gang" signs in our photos.

Cute but Cold Mama

I asked mom to give me "wonder"

The boys

see the gang signs? Judah says its "I love you" and when I asked him to stop, he says, "you dont want me to say I love you anymore!?" ---sigh, I cant win.

We did not find the winter wonderland light show that was supposed to be in Lebanon as well so we mapped the nearest applebees and ended the night with dinner before returning home.

On Saturday morning I took mom to pick out donuts at the Bakery Nook in town. It is this little place that makes really good donuts like vanilla creme filled devils food with chocolate frosting!!!! ridiculous.

I then took them into St. Louis and we visited the St. Louis Science Center. It is a lot like COSI except it is FREE!! We had fun "learning" and exploring the different exhibits. We had lunch at Triumph Grill and Moto Museum (motorcycles!) which was DELICIOUS! Then we headed back home saw some Christmas lights along the way.

Josiah and Judah manipulating a tornado with the BARE HANDS!

Christmas tree exhibit

My lil bro!

Cute little moment between Gpa and Judah at the dinner. He loves him so much!

Gma and Judah proudly displaying his "lego cabin"

Yay for our Visitors! Thank you for a fabulous weekend!