Christmas Parade

Getting ready to go to the big parade in downtown Leesville

Welcome Home Troops

It was a wonderful parade with over 4,000 troops

We are so proud of our military.  Thanks for all the sacrifices you have made for us.

Merry Christmas and God Bless You and your families!

PillowCases

These sisters are going on a Disney Cruise!  I made their Disney shirts to wear on the trip but these are pillow cases to take with them on the cruise.

Have a great trip girls! 

{Peppermint Fudge}

I promised you the recipe for this fudge so here it is...........

1 1/2 tsp plus 1/4 c. butter, softened

2 c. sugar

1/2 c. sour cream

12 oz. white baking chocolate, chopped

1 jar (7 oz) marshmallow cream

1/2 c. crushed peppermint candy

1/2 tsp peppermint extract

Line a 9" square pan with foil and grease foil with 1 1/2 tsp butter

In heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, sour cream and remaining butter.  Cook and stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.  Bring to a rapid boil; cook and stir until a candy thermometer reads 234 degrees (soft-ball stage), about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat; stir in white chocolate and marshmallow cream until melted.  Fold in peppermint candy and extract.  Pour into prepared pan.  Chill until firm. 

Using foil, lift fudge out of pan, gently peel off foil, cut fudge into small squares.  Store in fridge.

Give away quickly or you will eat it all.....delicious!

Going to Grayson's school program tomorrow night :-)

Happy Thursday

Peppermint Fudge

My mother-in-law has given me little treats all week.  One of which is the recipe for this Peppermint Fudge.  I couldn't wait to try it!  It is pretty, sweet and easy.

I hope to share the recipe with you tomorrow night.  Sometimes i have to try something once to get it just right.  I think my second try at this will be wonderful....although it's really good this time.  I used  pre-chopped peppermint chips that are a great time-saver but they are a bit softer than peppermint sticks.  When I added the peppermint it melted and turned my fudge pink.  It's really kind of nice.....pink peppermint fudge.  It is delicious!  Recipe to follow this week.

Caliope is an adorable 18 month old little girl.  Her mother is working on her internship in our office so I get to see Caliope often.  I think she would make a sweet playmate for Grayson.

Well.... Caliope fell this weekend and broke her elbow:(  Broke my heart.  I just had to make her something to wear with her pink cast :)  Also, I have knitted her a hat and just need to add red and brown polka dots.  I got her a Rudolph to love on while she heals.

XOXO to Caliope

Lindsay asked me to add a name to this ruffled onesie so this is what I did for Miss Aubree

Tomorrow is Wednesday!

Where do the days go?

Stay warm and enjoy this wonderful time of the year!

A December Weekend

Tonight my mother and I went to watch and hear a living Christmas tree at an area church.  It was absolutely wonderful.  I've watched it many times in past years but this year it was excellent.  I only cried about 4 times but then I can cry at commercials.  I think the spirit of the season will be nearer and dearer to me because of this program.  I just wish my entire family could have heard it.

Earlier today I was in the cookie baking mood so I tried out some new semi-homemade cookie mixes.

{Chocolate Peppermint}

{Yummy!}

{Gingerbread}

{Really yummy, too}

I made my cream cheese frosting to top them with and sprinkled them with the  peppermint chips that came in the box.

Chocolate and Peppermint are a great combo :)

These guys definitely had a learning curve.  I finally got the hang of them on the last few cookies and next time I will be prepared.

My advice for making gingerbread people is to keep the dough chilled and keep the cutting surface floured well.  If you do that they are easier to move to the baking sheet and will not break.  Also, the next time I will color some of my icing red or have some candy for the buttons.  He just needs some color.

Little treat boxes I found at Big Lots

Big Sister shirt

Little Sister shirt

Good Night!

Have a wonderful Sunday!