Christmas Happiness !

Merry Christmas!

Showin' some love on Christmas morning...

Jessica made this for Lauren. She can't wait to hang all of her necklaces on it!

First Batch!

Here is my first attempt to bake a cookie worthy for my annual neighborhood cookie exchange next week.
This is the cookie I made tonight. Orange Zest Cookie with Orange Zest Glaze. It's a super delicious cookie recipe I got off of pinterest. Mr. Stoner recommended it. He said that his mom used to make this cookie when he was a little boy.  

Here's the problem...it just doesn't "look" very pretty. And honestly, my cookies don't even look like this picture. They look a little less desirable. (That's why I didn't post the pic I took.) The cookies I take must look beautiful,and taste amazing. I'm pretty sure this isn't the cookie I want for my party. However, my family is gobbling them up!

Here's what I'll try next:

Cookie Dough Truffle

The presentation on this one is great! But it might be a little time consuming.




York Peppermint Brownies

Who doesn't love chocolate and mint? I know these aren't "cookies," but hey, our neighborhood group uses that term loosely.


Any great ideas out there bloggy friends? I need a "winner!"

Costume Change...

What a nerd!

Spooky ghost!

Matthew the lumberjack!

Jessica's on her way through the woods to Grandmother's house.

TRON LEGACY

Happy Halloween!

Twister

What could be more fun than playing twister?

I was reluctant at first, but it really was fun.

I learned that Lauren does not play nicely:)

She pushes and tries to make everyone fall.

Jessica just laughs her head off.

The boys were very strategic.

Yep, that's me. The big 'ole bum. I have no pride.

I purposely posted this picture so that everyone can

feel better about themselves.

It's kind of like giving service.  

"Josephine"

I love to listen to Pandora Radio

(www.pandora.com) while I'm working.

It's so great! I can create my own radio stations based

 on one artist that I really like.

Here's a confession:
 one of my favorite stations is John Denver.

 I also like Glee, The Civil Wars, and Tim McGraw.

The other day I heard this song called

 "Josephine."

It's sung by an artist I had never heard of.

 Her name is Brandi Carlile. She's amazing.

I love this song, among many of her others.
 I'm such a sucker for her type of harmony.

I'm pretty sure that I have to buy some of her albums.

 Take a minute and listen and let me know if you've heard her before. I'm gonna learn this song!

Laurel Falls

Our family enjoyed a great hike in the Smokies last May. Little did we know that we would come upon a real live bear. We felt a little excited and a little anxious. Fortunately, there was a ranger  following the movement of the bear.

The "Falls" with Jess and Lauren