More stocking fun

I've had a couple of people ask me about my dad's fun stocking tradition that I posted from last year. If you missed the post, it was about how my dad hides money in our stockings every year. It lists some of his past hiding places, like the time he drilled out a chocolate, put the large bill inside, and rewrapped it. He works hard to make it extremely difficult to find. The hunt is a whole long event in which the adults rip through their stuff trying to figure out my dad's hiding places.

This year David's money was inside a sealed hard plastic package behind a key chain tool. It was sealed, I tell ya. Like that melted plastic sealed.

I can't remember my brother-in-law's, but my sisters was inside a stuffed Christmas door hanger. He had ripped the seam and stuck the money inside and hot glued it back together.

Mine was the hardest of all this year. After ripping open every package in my stocking and searching for probably 20 minutes or more, I was completely stumped. My dad handed Riley a little metal stick thingy and told her to give it to me and tell me to go fishing.

I finally figured out that it was inside a bottle of lotion, rolled tight and sealed in plastic with a magnet attached to the top so I could fish it out.

This was the most creative a difficult so far. I am scared for next year.


Those high IQ types just can't do anything the normal way.

I just need you to see this...

Cole's cookie for Santa.

We would like to take this opportunity to apologize if he didn't seem hungry when he got to your house.

Can you hear it?

Lord help me.

It seemed like an innocent enough gift. But it is after 11pm and Klaassen Guitar Hero World Tour is going strong. It's loud. They are upstairs in the playroom with the door shut, and it is still loud.

Those of you who don't know us well may think I am referring to my children. Those of you who know better know that I am also referring to my husband. He is on the mic. Yes, he is. Garrett is on the guitar, and Tyler on the drums.

They are all rock stars. Some more gifted than others, but all rock stars in the deepest depths of their hearts.

Oh, wait, I think I just heard "THANK-YOU-OK-LA-HO-MA-CI-TAY!!!!!"

Now if I can just make it through the encores.

Then I'll see if I can sneak backstage to flirt with the hot lead singer at the afterparty.

Aren't they a lovely couple?

These little friends, too.


And this is a favorite...

And I also love this one...

Looks like someone else does too...

Uh, oh.

Santa?

Santa? Don't go.Oh...ok.

Sniff, sniff

Have a great Christmas, everyone!

They just grow up so fast...

One day he is just a sweet little boy. The next day he casually enters the room sporting a chest full of curly brown hair, and not even a hint of a smile.
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Believe me when I say to you: You just never know what you are going to get with this one.

Bakin' with Buddies

What's more fun than a Christmas baking day with friends? That's what we did yesterday for school. It was...um...home ec. And...math, yeah-we doubled recipes. Oh, and socialization. Cause you know how unsocialized these homeschoolers are, good grief they never even see the light of day! They don't even know other children exist! Their only friends are the goats they milk to make their own yogurt! It's awful. Horrible I tell ya.
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Here are some children who look like they know what they are doing. This is right before they accidentally left the lid off the blender and exploded crushed oreos all over the house.

We made pretzels with kisses and M and Ms on them...

And oreo balls...


And a very serious batch of chex mix...


And peanut butter cookies...

And Amy removed Cutie's stitches on the counter...what? You guys don't do that on baking day? You should. You really should.

Because he asked me to...

and we are staying home for the rest of the day.

Stay tuned for body piercings.

Can anyone help me figure out why I can't get anything done around here?

Christmas fun

During the few weeks before Christmas, we spend a good part of our days having fun doing Christmas activities. I don't feel bad at all for going a little light on the academics for a bit in the name of making Christmas memories with my kids. Don't worry, they are still doing math and writing, and I feel confident they ain't gonna lose all them smarts they been a learnin', kay?

Today I'm sharing how we made Kiss Countdowns on my other blog.

These are very easy. And fun because you get to eat a chocolate every day. And you don't have to keep answering the question "How many days till Christmas? I'm not asking because I want presents, Mommy, I know Christmas is about Jesus being born, but how many more days till we open presents?" I am certain you know the drill.

Every day I plan to post on Fireside about a Christmas activity we did that day. You guys let me know if you have any great ideas, too. That way we can all share and have a grand ol' time.

Christmas is fun. It's really fun.

Have you had them???

Wasabi Peas.

They are a crunchy, spicy perfection from God.

And somehow they have slipped past me until today. For that I have deep regrets. But it's ok, I have my whole life ahead of me.

They sit on the second shelf of my cabinet and call my name as I walk by. "Deleise, come eat me. I have the salty crunch you desire. And I might even be healthy...we aren't sure."

And I run to them because who am I to argue with a pea that has Asian wisdom?

All I know is if these things are actually considered vegetables, my food pyramid is about to do some balancing out.