Say Cheese

Do any of you have kids that Just.Don't.Like. to have their pictures taken.  Period.  Don't even ask.


Gregg has always been "one of those kids".  I love this "boy" dearly, but can't for the life of me get him to smile for the camera ... and neither can sweet Kayla.

Maybe I'll get a smile ...

when Noah is born ???

Yes ...

this wild, hairy, bearded man was our "clean cut kid"

that served in the Army for 4 1/2 years.

I guess he is rebelling after all those years

of being required to keep his hair short.

Christmas Day

After a late night for Papa, Mama, & the Big Kids,

we let the young ones watch a movie when they got up,

and the rest of us rolled out of bed around 10:00.

We started the morning with ...

Strawberry Banana Smoothies

Cinnamon Rolls

Mama's Candy Cane Sweet Bread

After a leisurely breakfast, 

it was time for a bit of ...

Present Opening.

It took Papa a full 3 minutes (video-taped) 

to unwrap this present ...

layer #1 ... regular gift wrap

layer #2 .. gift wrap covered in clear box tape

layer #3 ... cardboard box taped shut

layer #4 ... an old comforter

present ... 4 big bars of Dark Chocolate from Ben

Elijah was THRILLED with his Nerf Gun.

Jeremiah sent Navy Attire for Josiah and all of the kids.

Ben bought his own truck this fall,

so Papa & Mama thought an Emergency Kit 

would be good for him to have.

Ben is wearing his new Grinch Pajamas.

Rachel got a couple of Barbie Dolls.

She was in need of a few more quiet time activities.

Sarah was very excited for her new Sewing Machine.

After everyone opened a couple of gifts,

we took a break from presents for a few hours.

Out came the Candy and Games for awhile.

"Adopted Big Kid" Jared came by

and we played a game of Hand & Foot.

Josh & Hannah came over for a couple of hours.

Don't you like Josh' sweater?

I asked him if the orange hat

was to keep him from getting shot.

After dinner ...

we headed back downstairs to finish the Present Opening.

Hosanna got a couple of movies.

Ben got a Plaid Shirt in the mail from Cassie,

and the new Glenn Beck Book from Gregg.

Mama's memory card was full before this present 
was fully opened; but Gregg loved his gift 
of all of our 1980-90s Children's Cassettes.

He bought a car recently that still has the old 
cassette deck, and since baby Noah is due in March,

we thought we'd pass along all of our old cassettes.

It was wonderful to have Gregg & Kayla with us for Christmas,

and good to have a visit from Josh & Hannah,

but we were so sad that the other Big Kids

couldn't make it home from around the country.

It's been a very long time since 

all of the kids were home for Christmas;

but we have usually only had one or two Big Kids missing.

This year, we were missing 4 Big Kids and 2 Spouses.  So sad!

Candy Cane Sweet Bread Recipe

Several of you asked for the recipe for our traditional Candy Cane Sweet Breads (in this morning's post).  The original recipe is from an old "orange-cover" Betty Crocker Cookbook.  However, they have a very similar recipe on their website, which can be found HERE.  




Here are the differences ...


Instead of 1 1/2 cups Buttermilk,
I use 2 cups sour cream.


Instead of 1/2 cup butter,
I use 1/4 cup butter.


Instead of 1/2 cup sugar,
I use 1/3 cup sugar.


The old recipe calls for No Baking Powder.


Instead of using both the apricots and cherries,
I used 3 cups cherries.


For the "glaze", the old recipe calls for a simple,
2 cups powdered sugar with 2 tablespoons water, icing.


I decorate the candy canes with cherry halves rather
than red hot candy.


I started making these 29 years ago, and last year was the only year that was "missed" due to our wedding trip to Texas.  I always make them the morning of Christmas Eve, and then Jim and I deliver them in the afternoon.  When we moved away from our old house 11 years ago, we had several families who had counted on these for their Christmas morning breakfast for 15 years.  They were sad to see us move (and not just because of the missed candy canes).  We now have friends who have gotten these as gifts for the past 11 years, and they always tell us how much they look forward to it.

Christmas Eve

Gregg had to work on Christmas Eve day, so he couldn't come up from Seattle until after work.  However, Kayla had the day off and wanted to spend the day with us.  So, Ben, Hosanna, and I headed down to Seattle on Thursday night and picked Kayla up after work.  We then stopped at Wal-Mart for a quick shopping trip on our way home, at midnight, and could. not. believe. how long the lines were.  Crazy!

Us late nighters slept in on Saturday morning, while Papa and the little guys got up at 6:15 to head to Wal-Mart for an early morning trip.  (The boys wanted to exchange gifts, and we hadn't been able to really find anything they wanted in our little town.  So, Papa agreed to an early morning trip, complete with hot chocolate and donuts after their gift buying was complete.)

The rest of us got up about 10, so that we could get busy with our day.

The younger girls worked on a puzzle,

while Mama and the big girls worked in the kitchen.

Sarah really enjoys the challenge of a good puzzle.

Mama made hot mochas for the big girls,

and flavored hot chocolates for the young ones.

Mama, Kayla, and Hosanna worked on one of our

Favorite Family Christmas Traditions ...

Candy Cane Sweetbread

Kayla hasn't done much baking,

so she was excited to learn from us.

Hosanna hasn't been too involved in the past,

when all 3 of the Big Girls were home,

so she was excited to make Candy Canes this year.

The finished project.

Wrapped up and ready for delivery to close friends.

Papa & Mama spent 3 hours driving around the county,

making deliveries and wishing our friends a

Merry Christmas!

We got home just in time to make 

Waffles w/ Strawberries & Whipped Cream

(a Christmas Eve Tradition).

Gregg arrived from Seattle 

just as we were gathering to eat.

After a yummy dinner, 
we opened our Christmas Eve Presents ...
New Pajamas for Everyone.

Then, we put the young ones to bed,

and played a game of Hand & Foot

(Kayla's first card game w/ the family).

It's always fun to have 

some of the Big Kids home.

Christmas Cookies

The week before Christmas, we babysat for some friends of ours.  The mama was really sick, while the papa really needed to go to work.  Thankfully, they knew who could handle 5 extra kids (ages 4-7) for 8 hours.

I knew that a few planned activities would help the day go better.  So, they played for awhile ... watched a Christmas movie ... played for awhile ... ate lunch ... played for awhile ... decorated sugar cookies ... played for awhile ... watched the Little House on the Prairie Christmas movie.

Aren't they all so cute?

We had a fun day, 

and were so glad that our friends knew 

they could call us at the last minute, 

to play with their kids for the day.

Please Pray ...

RAD (reactive attachment disorder) has tried to control our household for the past 4 days.  It is completely and totally out of control today.  Papa and Mama are tired ... exhausted ... ready for a break from RAD.  Praying for healing for our precious daughter who has allowed RAD to take over her life.

Praying for healing.

Praying for answers.

Praying for respite.

Praying for support.

Praying for a job so that we can afford to start therapy.
($500+ for the initial consultation, 
plus $150 for each ongoing session)

Praying for a breakthrough.

Praying for release from the enemy for our daughter.

Praying for peace in our home.

Praying for comfort for all of the siblings.
(It truly scares the boys.)


Please pray for our family today ...