Behind on my Thankfuls!

So, today before I go to bed, I would like to say that I am thankful for Christmas. Yes, I have just finished remodeling my blog for the Christmas theme, but you should just be thankful I have withheld the Christmas music! I LOVE Christmas. I love the giving, the loving, the food, the feeling, the singing, the family, etc. The list could go on and on. I am especially thankful for this Christmas because it is the first time in over 10 years that ALL of my family will be together! I am trying to control my excitement due to the many comments I have received from this family that I am setting myself up for disappointment because we have so many people in our family that not everybody will want to do the same things, blah blah blah. I just can't help it. I think it all started with spending my first Christmas away from the family last year. Honestly? It stunk. Not because I don't love Steven's family or enjoyed it, but I believe that I didn't realize how much my family meant to me. How much I, indeed, loved Christmas with MY family and MY traditions. What are my, our, traditions? I will list them for you, or probably more accurately for me. :)

• Christmas Eve Party with extended family consisting of, but not restricted to:
• An amazing dinner with Aunt Livi's fudge and sometimes popcorn balls
• Playing the chimes
• Singing carols
• With a solo or two from Sarah =P
• A family band
• The reading of the Christmas story from the Bible
• Sometimes a shortened version by Mike, but not as much anymore
• Playing games
• Christmas morning
• The eldest child would have to go downstairs to get the parents, so the children won't peek.
• The Christmas Stair Picture--oldest on top to the youngest at bottom (excluding babies)
• Going around and opening one present at a time
• Youngest to Oldest
• Getting to thank everybody one by one
• Getting to see the excitement on everybody's face
• Taking individual pictures with all our presents
• Good memories
• Christmas Breakfast
• Mom's good waffles and some yummy fruit
• Dad's EGGS! YUM!!!!! He makes them the best
• All in all, lots of laughs and smiles.

 My turn to open a present--remember, one present/person.

 Family pic around 1998? I say that because I see I have Wednesday trapped in my snare (aka the blanket).

 Photo-op 2005 We are all grown up! Won't be as crazy as this year when we have all 27 us! (+the parents who started this amazing madness!)

 This is the perfect picture because this is us waiting while everybody opens their one present until it's our glorious turn again. =P I miss Mikey Jo!

 Our photo-op after opening presents

 Again... I want to say game time during Christmas, but I don't know.

 I believe this was during Christmas Eve Party (I just got back from working). My mom can correct me because I know she knows everything--she's just smart like that. :)

 Quality Family Time

 Family Band

Now can you see why I can't wait? :)

Obsessed!

My mom introduced me to: ourbestbites.com recently (like yesterday). I love it! They are two stay-at-home moms who do amazing things! Here are some of my favorite recipes:

Turkey and Pilgram Place Settings
Apple Cider Doughnuts
among others, but you can go explore their website and find out for yourself.


I'm also excited to try a cookies and cream fudge recipe:

 

www.pastrywiz.com

 For anybody who knows me, I LOVE anything cookies and cream, oreos, ice cream, fudge, etc. I actually haven't tried the latter until a few weeks ago at a Craft Fair. This lady had tons of fudge flavors. She let us sample one of any, she had chocolate, dark chocolate, raspberry chocolate, peanut better (a close second), and on and on. Of course, once I saw the cookies and cream, I picked that one. I was in heaven. So, I'm hoping that this recipe will bring the the same results.

This week, we made doughnuts with our friends (previously referred to as our neighbors, which they still are but now this is most definitely the better used description :-P). They turned out alright. I mean, they were edible, it's just that they were more of a scone variety than doughnut. That's ok though. They were yummy with some cinnamon sugar on them.
Also, this week I made an apple pie. I have done this before, but from the poll, our neighborly friends and Steven, it was delectable. Steven, who has tried my apple pies before, said that it was the best by far. Now, why is this so surprising? Because it was all made from scratch. I never thought I could make a successful filling. Wahoo!

This week has by far been an obsessed week in the kitchen and enjoyable. :)

Classes

Although my schedule didn't go quite as planned (I'll be talking to the teachers to see if I can get in), I was thinking about how much schooling I had left. After next semester, I only have 10 classes. Sounds like a lot? Not really because I have been taking 6 classes/semester at best. Yet, It will take me 3 semesters after next to graduate.
I am not complaining what so ever. I am actually thrilled at the idea that I have so few classes left to take. That means that I will be taking about 10 credits/semester. That also means that I actually might be able to take some fun classes that I was not aware that I may have the time for. Hallelujah!

Classes that aren't required that I want to take:
Children's Clothing
Fitting and Alterations
Home Decor Sewing
Pattern Making
Bakery
Pastries
Confectionery
Cake Decorating
Advanced Cake Decorating
Voice Lessons
Nutrition and Young Children
Nutrition in the Life cycle
Motivation Management

That list is a heck of a lot longer than I thought it would be...
Anyway, now I have hope that I can fit in at least 4 of these classes--wahoo!

Thankful 11-7

Today, I am thankful for daylight savings! I love that extra hour of sleep! :)

Little Black Dress

I don't know about anybody else, but I have always wanted a "little black dress." I am usually disappointed when they are too revealing in some manner or "grandma" style. I found one today that I absolutely love

....too bad it is over $100. Oh, well. Who knows, maybe after Winter semester I will fall madly in love with sewing and make it for a fraction of the cost.

Other dresses which I love:

This is the same idea as the black one, but a bit different.

LOVE THIS ONE

I know these are shoes, but they can go here too!

Like everything but the bow (This one is $200)

I was trying to stick with the modest dresses, but I couldn't pass up this one.

Obviously an undershirt is needed:

Ok, I think I will stop now. I'm not even 1/2 way through their dresses. I got all these pics from modcloth.com. While roaming I discovered they even have a long lengths category in the dresses. LOVE THEM!!!

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Had to add this one!

Thankful 11-6

So, I haven't updated because I was out of town for two days on a field trip to Boise. We got to view what we've been discussing for 2 months. It was really wonderful to see it in action. We also did some networking. We had an appointment with the State Board Director of Family and Consumer Science Education. I am thankful for a teacher who put this field trip together. I am thankful for the knowledge of older people in my life.

Thankful 11-3

I'm going to be posting these out of order because my older ones are only drafts, but today I am thankful for sales! I went after Halloween shopping today, and I love saving the money. I am thankful for coupons. I am thankful for people like hip2save and Krazy Coupon Lady who figure out how to pair up these two benefits to make the best of things! I don't think I can even count up how much money I have saved. I am thankful for a husband who has supported me throughout my newbie days, depressing days, and successes. I am thankful for all the support I receive from everybody else, too.

THANK YOU