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Friday, December 30, 2011

You have to try this.

So I stumbled upon this recipe when perusing the blogs on my sidebar a few days before Christmas.  The title of her post was Toffee Crack.  It took me a while to figure out.....but she called it this because it is so good and addicting....I guess like crack is?  Anyway- I didn't think much of her title.....but the recipe is SO easy.....AND I had all of the ingredients were sitting in my pantry.....AND it looked so good.

And it was.

I have some pictures missing of the entire process, but you can go here to see the step-by-step.


But anyway- you place a layer of saltines in your cookie sheet.....

Melt 1 stick of butter in saucepan.....then add 1 cup of brown sugar and just mix until combined.

Then pour the melted butter/brown sugar mixture over the crackers.  Spread it around so all of the crackers get all of the goodness.

Then place in a 350 degree oven for about 5 minutes- until it's bubbly.



Take it out....pour a bag of chocolate chips over the top.  Let it sit so the chocolates can melt.  Then spread around until smooth.


Then place in fridge until it hardens. I just left mine over night because it was late when I made it and I was ready for bed.

The next morning I took it out of the fridge and broke it apart into pieces.

I made this the night before Christmas Eve and took it to my mom's for Christmas Eve breakfast.  All but a few pieces were eaten.

So I made it again for Christmas day.  We ate too much and there was a lot leftover.

So I took it to work with me the day after Christmas and it was gone!  Everyone loved it.  And as a matter of fact....one person even commented when I opened up the container that it was called 'crack.'  That's when it all really came together for me.  ;)  Anyway- it was a hit.

With my first bite, I thought, "OK- this is good.  But toffee crack?"  But then it was like....I could not get enough.  And I would go back, 'just one more time'....about 5 times!

Needless to say- this is the only picture I got of it.....
 


Make this soon!  You won't regret it.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Parker's first Christmas Choir Concert

Tonight was Parker's first choir concert at church.  It was just the preschoolers (ages 3 and 4).  They were just precious and did such a good job.  So sweet to hear their little voices singing praises and sharing His word.

I'll keep this short, but here are the pictures for memories sake.  I wasn't in the best position for pictures of Parker, and they are very pixally due to the lighting, but I love them anyway.  Geoff was in a better position which was good because he was taking the video.

Parker waiting in the choir room before 'showtime'...



We had a great turnout with all of the grandparents and Aunt Sis's family.










Parker, unfortunately had her Lovey....but I guess it was the way it should be.


She did, however, put her down for the final song to do some of the hand motions.






Our 'Gingerbread Day'...

I think it was one day last week.....we had another advent activity.

Our 'Gingerbread Day'.

One day last week....Parker wasn't feeling the best.  I had been working what seemed like a lot (but it's really always the same amount of time....just falls better sometimes).  Anyway- I wanted us to have a fun day.

Being inspired by things like this and this....I wanted our elf, Fred, to be a bit more 'magical'.  Perhaps it would make her feel better?  ;)

So soon after waking up....she found Fred and cut down the advent number for the day...

The note inside....



And Fred....swinging from our kitchen light.  I wanted him to be over there because he'd be right there in the middle of our projects for the day....

He even left money for donuts....also a part of- 'making her feel better'.



I made the swing the night before by hot gluing mini clothespins together and then hot gluing red felt around that.  And used the hideous yellow string.  Hindsight 20/20....it would have been much easier and neater if I had used a mini matchbox.  But this worked nonetheless...



The note Fred left.





Stinker doesn't want me to take a picture of her....


Messy stinker, that is...




Parker watched the new Barbie 'Perfect' Christmas movie.  It's seems like it's kind of long, but she loves it.



On this day- we were in no hurry.  I had to catch myself because I would go to sit down in the living room....and instinctively- I would want to get up and pick something up...make something....write a note about something to remember to do later.....just something.  Seems like we're always in a hurry to go to the next place or do the next thing....and this day we just let it ride.  We needed this.  And it was wonderful.  Days like this don't always work out how I plan them in my head....you know- the impossible expectation of the 'perfect' day with your family- no fits, no arguments, no tantrums.  And while this day was sure to contain some of those things....I honestly can't remember them now.  What I do remember was that it was one of the best days we all had together.

Clean laundry piled on our couch and all.  ;)


The taking off of the ornaments daily....





Trying to just take some snapshots like I used to.  I miss it, but days...even weeks go by without a click of my shutter.  Which is fine....and has to be accepted in this fast-paced life.  But I do miss that I took and caught so many things for Parker, and while Grace may still have a tons of pictures....nothing like her older sister.

So I'm laying on the floor trying to take a cool shot of the tree (didn't happen)....I took one of our reflection from our plastic silver ornament.  Grace bouncing all over me.  And Parker dancing around in my orange and white chevron skirt from Old Navy- their current favorite dress-up dress.  Geoff's sitting on the conch doing something.





one of my most favorite ornaments....




So in honor of our 'gingerbread day'....we, of course, had to build a gingerbread house.










This is about all Grace did....



I don't think our gingerbread houses ever had this color fondant....but we were able to cut out a few shapes from it..




The front...


The side...


The back...we had an icing mishap....so this was the best we could do to cover it up.  ;)


The other side.  Parker requested the icing on the bottom and placed the green candies their specifically to make the bushes....



____

The girls played so well together after this activity that Geoff and I were both able to get a few things done.  I was able to make lunch and clean up.





And a few gingerbread activities....tracing the line, a number puzzle.  All found here.

















 _____


I was going to have a 'nativity day' but due to our schedule...our nativity day is just being spread out over a few days.  And then I have a candy cane day planned.  So stay tuned!

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