My Daybook

Taken from THIS BLOG......

FOR TODAY
(Monday, December 21, 2009)...

Outside my window...

Snow is falling gently - I can watch it falling on the porch from the glow of the porch lights.  It's dark outside - on this shortest day of the year - the first day of Winter.

I am thinking...

about how tired I am - that we had a lovely day but that I am glad it's almost over and I'm looking forward to a lazy evening by the fire watching another Christmas movie!!

I am thankful for...

Lovely new neighbours this year, the sticky mess we had to clear up which meant we had had so much fun decorating our houses.....and watching the children's excited faces over the train beneath the Christmas Tree.

From the learning rooms...

December has been a month of crafts, fun, books and stories, playing....I'm sure some learning has taken place - mainly based on tradition, religions and celebration!

From the kitchen...

The kitchen has been central to all our crafts, traditions and fun this month - we've had a lot of family dinners, baking, gift making, talking and playing about in the kitchen.  

I am wearing...

My second outfit of the day after I managed to spill coffee all down myself this afternoon - laughing out loud at something - while trying to balance coffee and one of Dana's amazing cream puffs!!  I am wearing jeans and a red top!

I am creating...

Endless Christmas crafts with the children, traditions I hope they will pass on to their children, memories for them, yummy treats, my Christmas journal!!

I am going...

to relax for the evening by the fire and in front of a good movie!!

I am reading...

Several Christmas magazines ...

I am hoping...

To have a quiet evening tomorrow night to catch up with my journal - Lloyd is out for the evening with IBM for Christmas and I think I will craft the night away :)

I am hearing...

Lloyd play on his game while Sam and Abby chatter away to him.....Laurie and Susie are watching tv in the other room - Laurie is waiting for his friend to arrive and take him to the movies....

Around the house...

Christmas tree lights are twinkling....the fire is flickering.....the cats are snoring on the chair behind Lloyd.  Everywhere is clean and tidy ready for Christmas

One of my favorite things...

Seeing Abigail's excitement when her letter arrived from Santa this afternoon!!!

A few plans for the rest of the week:

Tomorrow we are going to Val's house to visit, on Wednesday the children want to do their shopping.  In the evening is Stacey's Open House party.  We haven't decided what to do on Christmas Eve yet - normally we would go to Lets Play to tire out the children - and they are still keen to do that - but if the temperature is warm enough, we may go for a walk somewhere instead - Strathcona Wilderness centre or somewhere....or sledding maybe....

Here is picture that I am sharing...

Chris and Max with their completed gingerbread house from todays

 gingerbread house-making extravaganza!!

Perfect recipe for Christmas!!

Ingredients:

* 2 cups flour

* 1 stick butter

* 1 cup of water

* 1 tsp baking soda

* 1 cup of sugar

* 1 tsp salt

* 1 cup of brown sugar

* Lemon juice

* 4 large eggs

* Nuts

* 2 bottle wine

* 2 cups of dried fruit

Sample the wine to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the wine again.

To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink.

Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large

fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's

best to make sure the wine is still OK. Try another cup... Just in case.

Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in

the cup of dried fruit.

Pick the fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner.. If the fried

druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the wine to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or

something. Check the wine. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts.

Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can find.

Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over.

Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the

window. Finish the wine and wipe counter with the cat.

Go to Safeway and buy cake.

Saw this recipe over at Debs World !!!  Thought it was wonderful :)