Mmm. Cookies.

Christmas is almost here! Bryndi helped me make 8 dozen Christmas tree cookies last week. Well, she got to press down the cookie cutters, put the red hots on, and taste test everything anyway.

I love these girls of mine!

All I want is a sunset for Christmas

So Santa came to the Rec Center yesterday. Bryndi sat on his lap and he asked her what she wanted for Christmas. "Presents." Santa, "What kind of presents?" Bryndi, "Red presents." Santa, "Oh, and what would you like inside the presents?" Blank look. I asked her if she would like a tea set. Nod. Ask Santa if he'll bring you one. Bryndi, "Santa, will you bring me a sunset?"

Maybe I should mention Thanksgiving before Christmas is here.

This is Bryndi. She was a pilgrim for Thanksgiving.

She helped her Dad make pies.

These pie crusts were filled with the yummiest Buttermilk and Walnut pies ever!!

This is my birthday party at my parents house where we ate the pies. It was a huge success. About fifty people showed up and filled two rooms with a huge spread for dinner. Turkey, ham, rolls, yams, you name it. No expense spared for Ali's birthday party here and everyone was so thankful!

This is Bella. She had fun playing in the leaves.

This is the instigator of the leaf-frolicking.

Bella is totally attached to these two items.

Yep. Its the binky theme going on with this child.

These are the dozen roses Richard brought me last week for NO reason other than that he loves me. :)

Note to self

I thoroughly believe that once a year you should have a day to eat whatever you please! Watch what you eat on Thanksgiving? NO! Eat countless raspberry chipotle lil' smokies before dinner. Gorge on Dad's butter, brown sugar, and marshmallow yams. Enjoy those homemade rolls. Pour that gravy on the turkey, potatoes, and stuffing. Have three slices of pie? YES! But note to self: Don't ever step on the scale the morning after Thanksgiving! Did you really think you were going to have good news? Bad. Bad. Bad. Time to hit the treadmill!

New Toy

Can anyone guess by these pictures what I got as an early birthday present?! That's right! A Canon Rebel Digital SLR camera! Oh the things I need to learn about photography now!

This girl loves the camera!

I have been getting more and more adventurous with Bryndi's hair. She's getting better at sitting still!

Such a sad little dirty Bella face. But she was too cute at the same time.

Gingerbread Pancakes

I saw an ad for IHOP the other day that featured pumpkin pancakes, eggnog pancakes, gingerbread pancakes, and pecan pie pancakes. Uh....YUM! Well, I decided to make my own. I already make pumpkin pancakes frequently, so I decided to try the gingerbread pancakes. Of course I tweaked the recipe a bit to be healthier, but if you want the original it comes from this site.

It's worth it to make this just for the amazing smell that fills your kitchen!!


Gingerbread Pancakes
(From the Magnolia Cafe, Austin Texas)

3/4 cup liquid egg whites or 3 eggs
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon cocoa
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon ginger
1 tablespoon nutmeg
1/4 cup light butter, melted

Cream eggs and sugar together. Stir in buttermilk and water; set aside. In a separate bowl sift together remaining dry ingredients.
Stir egg mixture into dry ingredients, then mix in melted butter.
Add more water or buttermilk if necessary, but batter should be thick.
Cook until done on a lightly greased hot griddle or in a heavy skillet (turn once when bubbles appear on upper side and start to break).
Pancakes will be thick and cake-like in texture.
Makes 8 to 10 five-inch pancakes.

I made buttermilk syrup to go on top and it was divine! (and not the least bit healthy ;)

Buttermilk syrup
(from Michelle Lloyd)

1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 cup sugar
1 Tbsp corn syrup
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

Bring butter, buttermilk, sugar, corn syrup to a boil in a deep pot. Take off heat. Add baking soda and vanilla. The mixture will bubble up. Stir until it settles.

Halloween pictures are up!

Bryndi was a care bear this year: Bedtime Bear to be exact. She LOVED it. She would giggle everytime she put her costume on and say I'm a care bear! over and over.

I had to take this pic so you could see the little heart on her bum :)

Bella was appropriately a fairy princess.

She loved to twirl around with her wings on.

Richard was a gorilla. He makes a really good one and can scare even the older kids!

I put on a Harley Davidson bandana, leather pants, and a leather jacket. What a rebel... NOT!