Christmas Baking

I love the holidays for lots of reasons. One of them is the "need" to bake. We (a.k.a. I) had a nice time baking lots of treats. Here are pictures of a few.

Mini loaves for the neighbors, which the boys had a surprisingly large amount of fun delivering, while I watched them from the window, enjoying the warmth of the house! (Of course I couldn't take the baby out in the cold!) YUMMY! Especially "Grandma Cheryl's" Poppyseed Bread, my new favorite!Gingerbread,the Old Nauvoo way (much softer than any other gingerbread, which is why I can actually say I like it). The kids had a good time decorating them with our dear neighbors.

The traditional Vinton Christmas breakfast: Pie. I made a special cherry pie just for Jim. I took a picture of it just for Jen Stokes. (Oh, the memories! Good times, good times!) It's true love when you spend all that time on a pie, and then put a lattice top on it!

Yes, I am a "foodie." Yes, Jim will probably make some teasing comment about me writing a blog dedicated to baking. Yes, I'm an O'Neil so I had to report on the food. It was good!

December 21, 2008

I was irrationally (yes, we can say emotionally) needing a Christmas dress for my little girl! After trying to find one I liked that was actually her size - and having NO success - I decided to make one. Have I really made a dress before? No! But, all considered it turned out well. I learned a lot in the process, and if I ever do it again, it will be a little better. And, it was nice the boys had ties that would look ok for the holiday, since Jim doesn't think we need new Christmas and Easter dresses/ties. It must be an O'Neil thing.

So, naturally we had to have a photo shoot of the little girl IN the dress... here she is!
Yes, there is a shadow on this picture, but I still like it somehow...Lifting her head up! She's always been pretty good at it, but here she is at 2 1/2 months.Cute! (Thanks again Aunt Jenny for the bracelet!)Looking up, like she's learning something from heaven - or at least mesmerized by the light!What's going on down there?Then, the boys got in on the action. They are so sweet together, and accustomed to mom taking pictures of them. Here are a few of the better-cooperating shots. I like Eric's dimple in this one, and the way Michael is looking at Kate.

ADORABLE KIDS!

Yes, they did switch sides - and Michael IS wearing white socks to church (but at least he's wearing a shirt)!

Taking pictures is hard work! She just fell asleep, no help needed. I guess we were done!

Dear Reader...

I am updating the blog in order of event, so we're a little behind. But, due to Jim's schedule working the late shift (see, something good CAN come from Jim having to work the late shift on a Sunday), I have some evening time to blog. There are 4 blogs from today (well, this would be the 5th and I will make it disappear after a few days). If you want to see the 4 blogs from today, look at the 2 above (after) the "Christmas Tree and a Parade" and look at the 2 below (before) it. I am playing with my "dates posted" to get them to be in order. Enjoy!
-L

Decorating the Christmas Tree!

December 17, 2008

Yes, we got the tree on Saturday, but didn't decorate it until Wednesday. It was Jim's next day off. I can't believe that I didn't even get a picture of the "final product!" But, here are a few good ones.

Eric. You can tell that he's talking about something important as he hangs this ornament!
Jim, helping Michael get it on there good. (Yes, Papi, Michael does not have a shirt on - again! He really does own some, he just chooses to not wear them as often as most people do.)
The 3 wise men!

Kate, doing her part.

It was a good time, and the boys finally didn't have to ask me anymore when we would be decorating the tree. It was the perfect tree for us this year!

Lost Tooth! and Sledding!

December 16, 2008

It finally came out! Eric's tooth has been loose since the end of the summer. We kept waiting and waiting for it to get loose enough to fall out. Finally, before school on that fateful day, Eric let me pull it out. He was so excited! Here he is, missing one tooth!

Here is the "show me your tooth" picture. Funny thing about Eric: that night he started just bawling about putting it under his pillow for the tooth fairy. I finally figured out what was wrong, and told him he didn't have to put it under his pillow. You see, Eric has a hard time letting go of things. To this day, it sits in the special tooth fairy bag that goes under his pillow, but he isn't ready to let it go yet! Michael even told him "Its ok, the tooth fairy will bring you a surprise!" Despite brother's encouragement, he's not ready for it to be gone forever. So, it sits in the bag. It was a very exciting morning when his tooth came out!

Michael wanted a picture of him taken, too!
That afternoon I told the boys they could go sledding with Daryn and Anthony from next door. I approved them going to the hill by the school. When I decided they must be having fun (because they didn't come home as soon as I expected), I went out to take pictures. I couldn't find them. They went to the furthest end of the hill way up by the street by the school! I explained to them that from now on they couldn't go past a certain tree without me there. Oh well. Here are a few pictures of the fun.

Eric, with Anthony in the middle, Daryn on front, and Michael getting left behind!

Michael and Anthony.
Eric, after falling off the sled, rolling down the hill.