We had a wonderful Christmas.

Lots of food, laughter and family.

Hope yours was just as great!

Christmas Menu...

I couldn't decide what to have for Christmas dinner.

It always seems we have the same meal for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.

And I just can't do it anymore.

I can't.

So, I asked my facebook friends and they gave me some good ideas.

Then I asked my husband....

and you know what he said?

TURKEY.

Again.

But to mix it up, I just got a turkey breast.

We threw away some turkey from our Thanksgiving dinner.

So here it is:

Like you care, I know.

But still.....

Garlic and Herb marinated turkey breast.

Marinated steaks that we are going to grill.....in DECEMBER.

Oh yeah.

Scalloped potatoes (thanks Angela for the idea.)

Sweet potato casserole.

Green bean casserole.

Deviled eggs.

Cole slaw.

Biscuits.

Carrot Cake.

Cherry Cheesecake.

Oreo Truffles.

Chocolate covered pretzels.

Buckeyes.

There could be more that I am forgetting.

Sound basically like Thanksgiving?

Yeah, it is.

Maybe next year I will be brave and true and branch out.

The question remains:

WHAT ARE YOU EATING FOR CHRISTMAS DINNER??????

I am apparently.....

too old to be pregnant again.

It started out with this stinkin' pregnancy sickness.

Oy.  

I don't know if it was magnified this time, but I was in bed for days.

That is over, thank God.

Now I have the blessed migraines.

Oh yes.

They are a joy.

There is medication for those, but it just takes the edge off.

And I have this pregnancy mask all over.  

Never had it before.

Its weird.

I don't want it on me anymore.

I can't walk up steps.

I had gotten really good at running up our stairs.  

I may have been overweight, but I always made it a point to RUN up the stairs.

As soon as I found out I was pregnant, the running turned to walking with heavy breathing.

And now the walking with heavy breathing has turned to moaning and groaning all the way up the stairs.

Now I have to sit down when I reach the top.

Oy.

I'm uncomfortable.

I hurt.

I don't like being pregnant.

It doesn't feel like a miracle right now.

hehehehe!

Though I know it is.

I know I am so blessed to be able to bear children.

And I do thank God for that.  

Nostalgia....

And it happened at Starbucks, I am ashamed to say.

I know most of you will find that odd, knowing my love for Starbucks.

We have a bit of a job offer....

in a land far away.

It's cold there.

They make cheese.

They pride themselves on cheese.

Of all things.

Care to guess?

Anyway, so today is Chloe's 8th birthday and as is our custom in the Snow household

they get a trip to Starbucks on their birthday.

I buy them a cream based "coffee."  

They think they are being caffeinated and act like wild animals the rest of the day.

No caffeine enters their bodies.

Jokes on them

So, Chloe and I were sitting there discussing her life.

How she likes it.

How we could improve it.

Ha.

and so on.

I started looking around at "my Starbucks."

The one where "I want to go where everybody knows my name."

And I got to remembering all the trips I've taken there.

Some with a kid or two.

Last year when both Ben and Chloe were at school (what glorious days those were), I would

have to take both Ty and Iz there.

The barista's always knew what I wanted.

What if the barista's in this far away land are mean?

What if they stick out their tongue at me and say 

"NO, we cannot make a Grande Peppermint White Mocha Frappucino Light AND with whip?"

How will I live?

What shall I do?

Will someone hold my hand?

It seems a good part of my life was spent there these last 3 or 4 years of living in this area.

WAIT!

A good part of my life WAS spent there.

I'm so sad.

I want to go grab the door and hold on for dear life while shouting "I can't leave them they love me."

Though, I know they really don't.

Do they?

So, there is my story of the day.

I think I will go back and just say "HI."

I'm sure they would love to see me.

Gardening with Grandma.

A few of my favorite things to hear....

Maaaama, can you kit (kiss) my cheek?

Maaaaama can I peep (sleep) by you?

Maaaaama, can you stratch (scratch) and rub my back?

I love that my 2 year old is getting independent enough to want to go out to the garage with Daddy

and yet, he still needs his Maaaaaama!  

I wub him.

Smitten, Story time and a Christmas House....

Meet Emily.

She's sitting between Isaac and Titus.

It's story time at our house.

Chloe has to read to someone, and these three looked really into it.

Now they notice a camera...

and must cheese.

Notice Isaacs arm....

I think he and Titus are in love with lil' Emily.

She's pink.

These boys just don't know how to handle pink.

I get to watch her for a while.

She is just a lil' blessing in this house with a lot of boys and loudness.

She's quiet.

Petite.

Sometimes shy.

But when she giggles, its straight from the belly!

She's absolutely adorable!

These two were enjoying the Christmas house under our tree.

I couldn't resist taking a pic. 

They are so into it.  Awwww!

Hope you are enjoying your Christmas season.

Duggar Laundry Detergent

I finally tried this after much thinking, praying, thinking, realizing how poor we are quickly becoming, and more thinking.

I love it! 

It was so easy to make.

And it even smells good without any oils added to it.

Grab a bounce dryer bar from the store and that will last a good 3 months and you won't have to go down the laundry aisle for a while.

My towels smell nice and fresh, which I think is a good indication of a laundry soap.

Thanks to my dear friend Angela for encouraging me on in the ways of large family living.  

And Jaime for encouraging me to blog about laundry soap, as I have nothing else going on in my life right now worth blogging about.

Hopelessly bored and into doing laundry,