12/25/08
12/18/08
It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas!
The J Crew house is all aglow with twinkling lights tonight.
the front of our house...
the side view... 
the front door...
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
How lovely are your new LED bulbs!
Santa
He's real, isn't he?
My girls who are 6 and 5 know that Santa is not real. Are we bad parents because of this? Some may think so but it's not a huge deal to us.
A few years back when they started to take in all things Christmas, etc. we tried to tell them about Santa but since I didn't grow up believing it was hard for me to "play along".
Also, we had a hard time giving Santa all the credit for all the presents so we said "everything in your stocking is from Santa" and that seemed to satisfy everyone. Well, one year our oldest figured it out...she was opening the items in her stocking and she said "Santa does NOT shop at the Disney store" and for that I had no answer. The cover was blown...Santa is not real. Now that they are older and in school it's becoming a little crazy because they are probably the only ones in their class that know he's not real!
I tell you this to share a cute story...
Jada, who is 5, boldly stated yesterday to one of her little friends "Santa is NOT real" and her friend replied "Yes he is and if you don't believe in him then you won't get any presents". Jada said "Yes I will get presents because I asked my Daddy if I would still get presents and he said I would even if I thought Santa wasn't real. AND my Daddy knows because he is the smartest guy in the WORLD"
Awwwwwww! The love of little girls for their Daddy's! It just melted my heart.
My girls who are 6 and 5 know that Santa is not real. Are we bad parents because of this? Some may think so but it's not a huge deal to us.
A few years back when they started to take in all things Christmas, etc. we tried to tell them about Santa but since I didn't grow up believing it was hard for me to "play along".
Also, we had a hard time giving Santa all the credit for all the presents so we said "everything in your stocking is from Santa" and that seemed to satisfy everyone. Well, one year our oldest figured it out...she was opening the items in her stocking and she said "Santa does NOT shop at the Disney store" and for that I had no answer. The cover was blown...Santa is not real. Now that they are older and in school it's becoming a little crazy because they are probably the only ones in their class that know he's not real!
I tell you this to share a cute story...
Jada, who is 5, boldly stated yesterday to one of her little friends "Santa is NOT real" and her friend replied "Yes he is and if you don't believe in him then you won't get any presents". Jada said "Yes I will get presents because I asked my Daddy if I would still get presents and he said I would even if I thought Santa wasn't real. AND my Daddy knows because he is the smartest guy in the WORLD"
Awwwwwww! The love of little girls for their Daddy's! It just melted my heart.
*************************************************************************
Even though she doesn't believe he brings her all the presents Jada still loves Santa!!
12/17/08
Christmas Cookies
I was hoping to have this beautiful blog about the bunches of Christmas cookies that I was baking this glorious holiday season but it has not gone as planned.
I tried, tried very hard to plan...it's hard to spend all day baking with 3 kids but I was determined.
I forewarned my dear husband early last week saying "I will be baking ALLLLLL weekend, so be prepared" He said "Fine"..I think he's used to it because this is what I do every year but I was trying to increase what I bake. I had visions of getting up Saturday morning, showering, putting on bummy clothes, enjoying my coffee and planning my baking schedule; after all, I had ALL DAY!
Well, Thursday night I get a call about this birthday party my oldest was invited to...when was it? Saturday at 3pm! NO! It couldn't be - I could strangle last minute planners - what a kink that would put in my plan - how dare they?! Well, I had to take her, right? It was at the Obnoxious land of Libby Lu and she was begging to go...ok, I'll take her!
Back to cookies: I had most of the ingredients, made a list for more and we took a trip to the store. I was prepared! I was excited! It would be a cookie baking experience to top all cookie baking experiences and I was ready.
Well, Saturday came and I woke up later than I wanted and there was too much prep work to be done so I didn't start actually making the dough until 11am! Eeek! I HAD to get the Peanut Butter ones done 1st since I was sending a bunch to my dad for Christmas. I whipped up 4x the recipe, baked a bunch and saved the rest. Then, I started on the Chocolate Chip ones...2pm rolls around and I have to wash my hair, get myself and daughter ready for the party! Eeek! I only had 2 flavors of dough made! I left it all, begged Julian to put it away and rushed to the party. We were there for 2hrs and she had a blast (pics to come later) so it was worth it but geesh when would I get to those cookies?!
By this time it was 5pm...time for dinner so I took us out (after all the kitchen was overtaken by cookies). We had a nice dinner at one of our favorite places and when we arrived home I had no more ambition to bake so I said "it'll wait until Sunday".
Sunday I made more progress - made more dough and actually baked the 2 new recipes that I was trying this year but I ran out of time to bake more!!! So I said "it'll wait until Monday night after work". Then my throat started hurting, my head was pounding and I realized I was getting the dreadful cold my kids have...GREAT!
Monday night came and went...I had no energy to bake so I said "Tuesday".
Tuesday came, the cold was still there but when I got home I dove right in...Then it all went to hell in a hand basket!!!!!
My chocolate chip cookie dough BOMBED! Literally. The dough didn't firm up like it usually does in the fridge so instead of nice fluffy cookies I got flat almost burnt cookies. In fact, I did burn the first batch but caught the next before it burned. I think I mixed the dough for too long...I was super ambitious and tried to do it all at once - I made 4x the recipe and I don't think you can do that LOL!
So, after that disaster I tried the Snickerdoodle dough. The dough felt great, I made the balls and rolled in the cinnamon and sugar mix and started to bake them. THEY BURNED! I could NOT believe it! I baked another batch and they were SO much better; almost perfect!! I thought I was making progress BUT the next batch BURNED again. I could not believe it. I've never botched cookies this bad. I'm a good baker...or at least that's what I've been told.
So.
I fired myself.
For the time being.
I have spritz cookie dough waiting to be baked. If I burn those I think I'll hang up my mixing bowls.
I tried, tried very hard to plan...it's hard to spend all day baking with 3 kids but I was determined.
I forewarned my dear husband early last week saying "I will be baking ALLLLLL weekend, so be prepared" He said "Fine"..I think he's used to it because this is what I do every year but I was trying to increase what I bake. I had visions of getting up Saturday morning, showering, putting on bummy clothes, enjoying my coffee and planning my baking schedule; after all, I had ALL DAY!
Well, Thursday night I get a call about this birthday party my oldest was invited to...when was it? Saturday at 3pm! NO! It couldn't be - I could strangle last minute planners - what a kink that would put in my plan - how dare they?! Well, I had to take her, right? It was at the Obnoxious land of Libby Lu and she was begging to go...ok, I'll take her!
Back to cookies: I had most of the ingredients, made a list for more and we took a trip to the store. I was prepared! I was excited! It would be a cookie baking experience to top all cookie baking experiences and I was ready.
Well, Saturday came and I woke up later than I wanted and there was too much prep work to be done so I didn't start actually making the dough until 11am! Eeek! I HAD to get the Peanut Butter ones done 1st since I was sending a bunch to my dad for Christmas. I whipped up 4x the recipe, baked a bunch and saved the rest. Then, I started on the Chocolate Chip ones...2pm rolls around and I have to wash my hair, get myself and daughter ready for the party! Eeek! I only had 2 flavors of dough made! I left it all, begged Julian to put it away and rushed to the party. We were there for 2hrs and she had a blast (pics to come later) so it was worth it but geesh when would I get to those cookies?!
By this time it was 5pm...time for dinner so I took us out (after all the kitchen was overtaken by cookies). We had a nice dinner at one of our favorite places and when we arrived home I had no more ambition to bake so I said "it'll wait until Sunday".
Sunday I made more progress - made more dough and actually baked the 2 new recipes that I was trying this year but I ran out of time to bake more!!! So I said "it'll wait until Monday night after work". Then my throat started hurting, my head was pounding and I realized I was getting the dreadful cold my kids have...GREAT!
Monday night came and went...I had no energy to bake so I said "Tuesday".
Tuesday came, the cold was still there but when I got home I dove right in...Then it all went to hell in a hand basket!!!!!
My chocolate chip cookie dough BOMBED! Literally. The dough didn't firm up like it usually does in the fridge so instead of nice fluffy cookies I got flat almost burnt cookies. In fact, I did burn the first batch but caught the next before it burned. I think I mixed the dough for too long...I was super ambitious and tried to do it all at once - I made 4x the recipe and I don't think you can do that LOL!
So, after that disaster I tried the Snickerdoodle dough. The dough felt great, I made the balls and rolled in the cinnamon and sugar mix and started to bake them. THEY BURNED! I could NOT believe it! I baked another batch and they were SO much better; almost perfect!! I thought I was making progress BUT the next batch BURNED again. I could not believe it. I've never botched cookies this bad. I'm a good baker...or at least that's what I've been told.
So.
I fired myself.
For the time being.
I have spritz cookie dough waiting to be baked. If I burn those I think I'll hang up my mixing bowls.
12/14/08
Libby Lu Time!
Janea was invited to her first birthday party at Libby Lu's! We decided a long time ago to avoid that place like the plague because it presented a whole world we didn't want the girls involved with yet but I had to make an exception for the birthday party!
Janea had a blast and was super spoiled!! Here are some pictures of her makeover and friends!
The before pic
The start of the makeover...
Outfit change
New Hair style
Then eyes, lips and nails done!
Janea and the Birthday girl!
Striking a pose on the catwalk
The after pic of the superstars!
Thankfully Club Libby Lu is closing down at the end of January 2009! It was fun while it lasted ;-)
12/6/08
Janea the Cheerleader!
Janea has been in cheerleading class for the past 8weeks....she's had a blast and really enjoyed herself. I, on the other hand, am very happy that it's finally over (shhhh! don't tell Janea!)
Today was her final performance and in my rush to get there ON TIME I forgot the camera! Thank goodness for cell phones! Below are pics that Julian took from him phone and even brief video of one of the cheers.
EXPLODE!
Today was her final performance and in my rush to get there ON TIME I forgot the camera! Thank goodness for cell phones! Below are pics that Julian took from him phone and even brief video of one of the cheers.
READY!
EXPLODE! IGNITE!
COME ON TEAM LETS FIGHT!
Group pictures 
Group pictures
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