Girls Road-Trip

The girls and I loaded up the van last week for a little road trip. We headed down to Sylvania to see MamaCain and my mom's sister's family . We drove 3 1/2 hours to Sylvania, so by the time we arrived at the restaurant the girls were ready to get the sillies out.
The family enjoying some good old southern home cooking!
My mother and my Aunt Linda!
By the time we finally arrived in Evans at my parents' house, we were wiped out from the road trip! The girls always enjoy "playing" the piano. Baba played us some Christmas songs while we sang along. Hannah cracks me up about the way she carries a bag.
Hannah taking a much needed nap on Baba.

While we were in Evans, we drove over to Dearing where Mark's sister and her family lives.
We went to Aunt Shari's house for a domestic bread making lesson. Hannah was more interested in the keyboard and mouse more than anything else.
Sarah and cousin Elizabeth feeling the grain before Aunt Shari pours it into the mill to be turned into flour.
Aunt Shari pouring the grain into the Whisper Mill.

The grain came out as soft wheat flour.


The girls added some honey, salt, and a few other ingredients before kneading it into a dough ball.
The girls playing while the bread is kneading. It took a total of about 2 1/2 hours from start to finish.
This is the dough after it had been kneaded.
Aunt Shari divides the dough into fourths in order to make four loaves of bread.



The girls enjoying some yummy pizza while we wait on the bread to bake.

There it is - beautifully golden brown and delicious with some melted butter!


The girls had a great time playing together! Thank you Aunt Shari and Uncle Todd for allowing us to come visit and have a domestic day!!!

Winter Wonderland

We woke up the day after Christmas to a winter wonderland outside our windows. It was absolutely beautiful!
Sarah was desperately awaiting the opportunity to run outside to jump and roll around in the snow. So, Mark and I bundled the girls up and ran outside for the fun!







Sarah's friend came over and Mark made them real grape snow-cones! The girls were loving it - pure grape syrup.

The girls finished their homemade snow-cones and came inside to warm up by the fire. They were literally freezing after eating the snow-cones, but it was well worth it - I am sure!

Christmas Eve Traditions

We spent Christmas Eve at our home making our traditional Jesus Birthday Cake. This year I found a really cute idea on-line (http://www.bukisa.com/articles/392504_bake-a). As you can see, Hannah was not happy about leaving the M&M's on the cake. She wanted to eat all of them instead. Sarah was of course, dressed in her fanciest dress-up dress, "Princess Tangled," that she just received from her cousins Trey & Morgan.
We obviously made the cake in the shape of a cross. We used chocolate cake mix, which represents the sin in our lives. Then we iced the cake with fluffy white icing to represent Jesus wiping our sins away white as snow. We put red M&M's representing the blood Jesus shed on the cross for our sins. I cut out an orange angel using a cookie cutter and fondant to represent the angels proclaiming Jesus' birth. I also cut out a yellow star using fondant to represent the star that the 3 wise men followed to worship Jesus. Finally, we sprinkled green sprinkles over the top of the cake to represent the eternal life we receive from Jesus. I also put evergreen clippings around the bottom of the cake. I removed them after Mark mentioned the possibility of bugs - EEKKK!!!!
Our family tradition has been to sit around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and listen to Mark read the Christmas story. It was so special this year, because Sarah is really starting to ask more questions and be inquisitive about the real meaning of Christmas. We can tell that the Lord is doing a work in her heart. The three most important people in my life cuddling on the couch watching Rudolph, eating popcorn, and sipping hot chocolate on Christmas Eve! Love it!!!
We had a white Christmas. The snow started falling around 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Day and continued through the night and into the next day. It was truly beautiful! It has not snowed here on Christmas Day since 1882.

Christmas In Evans

We celebrated Christmas in Evans on Christmas Eve with the McGregor side of the family. My mother decorated her tree with some beautiful red and green mesh ribbon and large gold ornaments. I have to say the tree was definitely eye catching.
The Christmas tree made quite a statement in the family room. I really enjoy decorating, so I like to take pictures of beautiful things. Nicely done Baba!!
Hannah was posing in front of the tree with her Christmas shirt and tutu skirt! So precious!
My girls posing together - saying "Cheesssssseeeeee"!
My brother and I posing with our kids. Merry Christmas 2010!

Baba posing with the grandkids - not sure why Papa wasn't in the pic.
We had a fabulous visit with my family celebrating Christmas!

Homemade Puffy Snowflakes

I took the girls to Chick-fil-A the week before Christmas for a little fun in the indoor playground. Hannah went all the way to the top with Sissy's help of course. Then, I had to climb up and rescue Hannah several times. Forget the 3 and under rule - right!
I found a great tutorial on someone's blog about how to make puffy snowflakes. So, Sarah and I decided to have a crafty afternoon.
I used card stock to cut out snowflakes. Then, we mixed shaving cream and glue to make the "puffy" part on the snowflakes.
Sarah finally got her hands into the mess and covered each snowflake with the goop.



Then we sprinkled silver glitter on each snowflake.
We dried them overnight - front and back. Then hung them in the kitchen windows for some winter decor.

Sarah and Hannah being silly at dinner one night.

Flour Fun

We started off the day with Sarah's show-n-tell this morning at 9:30. She wanted to take Hannah in today for letter "H". It was my first visit to the classroom without it being some sort of event. I really enjoyed being there and seeing Sarah in her classroom environment. I can tell she savors being with her friends and teachers.


I read this book to the girls yesterday, so we decided to be "Martha Stewart-ish" and make homemade gingerbread cookies.
We immediately started making homemade gingerbread cookies once we arrived home and while Hannah was napping of course. It was already messy enough, and I didn't need Hannah spreading anymore of the mess.
Sarah adored playing in the flour and rolling out the dough.
As you can tell the table was pretty much completely white by the time we finished.
There we have our first gingerbread man cut out.

Hannah woke up just as we were finishing up, so she was able to take in some of the gingerbread fun.

The girls savoring their warm freshly baked gingerbread cookies. I have to say, I was reminded why I go to Publix to buy cookies. I am much more of a "Sandra Lee" semi-homemade kind of girl rather than a "Martha Stewart." All in all - the girls and I had a good time making Christmas memories!