New Game:

THIS is a FABULOUS game to give your kids for Christmas! Thank you, Dad and Mom!
http://www.catan.com/catan-games/boardgame/base-game.html

December 28

Yay! It's

National Chocolate Day

So? Smile and eat some chocolate!

Christmas Fun!

Hehe, last Friday, I saw the others outside playing catch with the frisbee. With a Frisbee game coming up on New Year's, I thought it would be a very good idea to go out and practice some. Maybe. Not. A. Good. Idea. I had my tennis shoes that had a pretty good tread on them at the time. As I ran to catch the spinning disc, my course carried me over the ledge of the cement-to-dirt. Almost safely caught it. Almost. Alas, my left foot landed on the corner of the cement. My foot rolled in. My body swung down. My ankle hurt. I knew it wasn't just a get-up-and-play-again move. I hollered for someone to get Mom. By the time she got out, the shock of getting hurt was wearing off. Realization kicked in that I was hurt. And the pain got bearable. =) Dad and John pretty much carried me in. I elevated the ankle and ice was wrapped around nicely. With Tylenol and all, I soon had my mind onto other happier topics. By now, I could tell that the sprain wasn't that bad; the swelling was very minimal compared to when my other ankle was sprained. So? trying to practice, I got myself in a perilous position of maybe NOT playing on New Years. It wasn't a happy thought to think on. So I didn't. =P An episode of the Duggar Family Season 3 helped in that area.

(Notice: the stockings!)

Later that evening, Mom mixed up some Gingerbread dough for. . . . 

Gingerbread Houses!

 As you may have observed, the ankle was doing well enough (after a few hours) that I was able to get up and cut out my own housey.

December 24th~

the DECORATING PARTY!

 Chris and Mary

 In action: Jeremiah, Michelle, Amy

 The beginnings of my little A-frame.

All of us (who were decorating). . . =P

 Anna and John's half-completed house

 The finished little A-frame

 Christopher and Mary's house

 Jeremiah's

 Amy's barn

Joe's 

 Yummy Peppermint Bark----I think it actually turned out well!

A personal favorite stuffing

Sourdough bread, sausage, cranberries, artichoke hearts. Sound strange? Tastes marvelous!

Update on the ankle: is doing quite well. Am walking on it normally. Have sights set on playing Sunday. =)

Christmas pictures possibly to come tomorrow. Possibly. 8-D

Chex Mix Party!

We had fun. It was delicious. What more do you need?

(photos courtesy of Dad)

Elbow Song

This is my great-aunt on my Mom's side: Anita Denniston Bassett. My great-uncle Leslie Bassett is a composer. . . They're both like amazing pianists! This was filmed in 2009, they were out from Georgia and were playing for us---it was a lot of fun!. =)

This song she plays with the addition of her elbow. I think I should figure out how she does it.

This song they both are on there and just accompanying to what they're seeing the other one play!

I was remembering the "elbow song" the other day, and came to watch it again. . . Hope you enjoy it also! =D

Park Greenhouse Christmas Dinner

This was last Friday...just so you all know. =)

Preparing yummy things

Mary cutting peppers for the appetizer.

 The peppers are placed on the cream cheese; the bundle is wrapped up, and stuck with a toothpick. 

 The veggie tray supplies

 Can you guess what this is? If you look closely, you might be able to tell that it's not just ONE Snickers bar----it's a BOX of Snickers! I wonder where the extras are. . . .

This is the best way a table can be decorated: with chocolate!

 Chocolate cake with chocolate chips and nuts, nicely cooked so that it's a wee bit gooey in the middle. 

Cleaning up:

 The dessert table

 Lots of leftovers =D

 Except they ate ALL my sweet pickles!

Christmas Dinner for Park Greenhouse

Tomorrow we are having a Christmas Dinner for the employees at the Greenhouses. Today we are baking a lot! 

A favorite recipe

A new "recipe" I found yesterday. Instead of putting a Cookie Mix or such in a jar as a gift, you make a mini, personal "pie"! So far, I have the graham cracker crust done, as shown. Tomorrow I'll add the pudding or pie filling. If I fill it too soon, it's less likely that the pies would get to the correct recipient. =P This is where I found the idea: http://thefrugalgirls.com/gifts-in-jars-recipes; they have lots of other ideas, and I think they're  a rather clever ideas! 

Lots of dishes...

 A full fridge!

 Mary made croissants---they are the BEST! I sorta hope they don't like these rolls tomorrow, 'cause I like leftovers, too. =P Not to mention the truffles.


After the dinner, we play some games. Not Duck, Duck, Goose! but more age-appropriate ones that involve gifts. I forget what the exact name of it is called. =) It's like a gift exchange/steal/try-again sort of a thing. Mary and Amy were busy wrapping all of the presents for that....