Painted Panda

Here is Curly Girl's first painting!



I think she did a great job!

Curly Girl was nervous about using paint. Today, she took it to school to share and the prinicpal saw it as she was getting back in the car after school. After speaking with her a couple minutes, he came to the window and asked me if it was a paint by number.
When I said no, he was amazed and gave Curly Girl a big hug!

Ice Cream Cookies!

Last month I meant to post this but time got away from me so I thought I would do it today.

I make these Ice Cream Cookies each year for Christmas. They are soooo good!

Ice Cream Cookies

I DOUBLE THIS RECIPE!

6 tablespoons softened butter
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 beaten egg yolk (important)
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup all purpose flour
candied cherries

Cream butter and sugar, add egg yolk, vanilla and flour and mix will. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Press one half of a cherry into the center of each cookie.

Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. You'll get 30 cookies.

Several years ago, I started also making them at Halloween and shaping them into Monster Fingers. They look so creepy in the apothecary jar.....

For monster fingers:

add a couple drops of green food coloring into the dough. Then, using a smaller amount of the dough, form it into a cigarette shape. Then sort of squish it on the pan, using the cherry as the fingernail. Take a knife and make 4 little slashes where the knuckle would be.

Here is what they look like before being baked:



Bake the same way. You'll get 22-24 monster fingers.

Here is what they look like after!

Holiday Traditions.......

This time of year always makes me think of Holiday Traditions and I love to hear how other people celebrate the season.
I thought it would be nice to share our traditions with each other. Maybe we can 'borrow' each other's ideas and add a new tradition this year for our own families.

Here are a few of ours:

1. We try to find a holiday play...preferrably one cast with children.
In Fort Worth, we went to Casa Manana each year. One year, we went to see a Christmas program showcasing the Rockettes in Dallas.

While in OKC, we went to see a children's play and then afterwards, took in the lights at the Riverwalk. Last year, we went to a children's play in New Orleans. We always try to go to the showing closest to Christmas Eve.

2. Each year since the kids were born, I buy a new Christmas book and put it in a basket with the others, near the Christmas Tree. Then all through the month, we read them one by one...trying to get them all read by the end of the month!

3. We go out at least once and check out local Christmas light displays. We make hot cocoa, climb into Dean's SUV and drive around looking at Christmas lights. We try to go on a cold clear night....which was easier to do in OKC and DFW than here in Louisiana!

4. I make the kid's pjs each December. I make several pair and put them on their beds for them to dive into after school. They always get excited because they've been picking out fabric all year long so they usually have a lot of new pjs!

Then I make each one a special pair that I wrap up for them to open Christmas Eve.

So what are some of your Holiday Traditions...?

A Hot Mama apron for ME!

I got my Hot Mama apron from Christy!

YEAH! It is sooooooo cute.

It has wide, extra long ties so I can wrap it around me and tie a big bow in the front. The ruffle is so sweet with the ric rac added.
I've really enjoyed wearing it this week........it is VERY cute on!

Christy also included 5 beverage napkins, cocoa mix with a teensy whisk, an embellished tea towel and a tin of safety pins!

Thank you Christy!

Halloween.......

Curly Girl had an interesting class project this week.
They had listened to some music for her music class and then were to 'draw' death.
Of course, she drew an interpretation as only she could..........I love it.

Now a question to you, dear readers, can YOU see where "death" is?

Renaissance Festival...

A dear friend of mine had her son's 6th birthday party at the Ren Fair in Hammond this past Saturday.
We went and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dean and Ripstick boy were 'almost' convinced to dress up next year....after seeing Ethan and Rachael's outfits! They looked AMAZING!

Here, the birthday boy and friends are waling on the "Pirate Master" .......I think they won....

Notice Curly Girl and Ripstick Boy are just watching the frenzy! I think they were horrifed at how quickly the little ones took to beating the heck out of the guy!

AVAST!

Queen Elizabeth getting ready to 'Knight' all the kids!

Curly Girl taking a spin....

This guy was juggling fire, a real sword and an onion while rolling on a giant bouncy ball. And then he started eating the onion........



We took alot of photos but no clear ones of just Rachael and Ethan....so this one will have to do:

THE END.......

All tuckered out......

Here are my two little ghosties before they hit the streets with Dean.......they forgot their chains in the photos.......

And here they are in their new Halloween pjs I made them.........



Frank's Fingers......


And you gotta have a little bit of Ghoul-aid.......



Green little children walked from my door.
Candy again? Please no more!
Ghosties and goblins and witches all cried
We want to go home, we are all very tired..........

So I turned off the music , the lights are off too
I blew out the candles and said my last "BOO!"
The kids then sat on the couch with their loot
As I thought about making a nice cup of soup.

Here is hoping you had as much fun as we did.....
Until next Halloween... when we can ALL be a kid!