Merry and Bright

Our day began at 5:45 am.  We were through with gifts and breakfast by 8:30.  What fun!

All that planning, and saving, and shopping, and wrapping...it was worth it--to see the joy on their faces. 

And what joy this holiday brings! A Savior BORN to make atonement for our sins with His perfect life. Oh to really contemplate and meditate on what it meant for Jesus to leave his throne of glory and descend to earth on my behalf.  The true meaning of Christmas is a beautiful thought to behold.  Wishing you and yours the sweetest memories today!

ps. I'm coming to you from my shiny new macbook!!!!!!!!!!!!

winter gifts

Thank you for all your notes about our biggest Christmas gift this year (baby boy baking in the belly). 

As I look around, there are all kinds of little treasures to behold this season.

 
Yarn, and hooks, and very, very slow progress (year 3 of trying to finish) on our mitten advent calender.

 

Early celebrations with adorable creatures. (My niece Audrey with her doggie Hazel)

 
Christmas cards from beloved friends far and near.  Love passing their little notes and pictures in the stairwell each day.

Fresh off the tree citrus.  Hand-delivered from Arizona.  Thanks Gram.

Whipped cream on top of foamy milk on top of brewed espresso.  Yum.

Hearing this girl play (at her winter recital). She is getting quite good.  So proud.

The pondering of little minds (evident in their artwork) about the true meaning of Christmas.

Paper whites growing in my kitchen window.

 
Winter weather gear piled high by the front door.  Almost decorative.

Abundance, filling up the all the frosty corners. Hoping that little winter gifts surround you too.  

leaves, squash, and cookies

This was the view over the mountain pass as we traveled over to visit family last weekend. 

This picture was taken through the car window, at 70 mph, no photoshop...we were in total awe.  Our normal route was plagued with construction, so we went a different way across.  I'm glad we did.

 

A visit to the pumpkin patch, looking for just the right one.  It was quite a search.  Her pumpkin required just the right stem.

 

I required that we eat butter saturated, freshly plucked corn....and take several silly pictures.

(Uncle Alex and Aunt Marsha- or is it the other way around?)

Silly, borderline inappropriate pictures.

Hannah was not amused.

And now for the cookie recipe some of you requested, there is butter involved. Lots of it. You've been warned.

Pumpkin Chocolate-Chip Cookies:

2 1/4 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 baking soda

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (I always just use cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves- a pinch of each)

1 cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

16 oz can of pumpkin

1 tsp vanilla

12 oz chocolate chips

Mix dry ingredients together in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Next add pumpkin and vanilla.  Gradually add dry ingredients and mix until combined.  Stir in chocolate chips. Spoon onto a greased or parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 375 for 12 minutes or until done.

Enjoy!!