Merry Christmas - a day late!

Yesterday was Christmas, so I'm a little late in my greeting.

We had a wonderful relaxing day! We started with breakfast - orange bow knots, scrambled eggs, and sausage..............
Then we opened our stockings - no wrapped gifts this year.....................
Then it was such a beautiful day, we actually sat outside on the patio and had coffee with the friends (we even turned the heater off at one point because it was so warm - quite a contrast to last year!)..................................
Christmas Eve was our traditional family dinner of flank steak before church. We had a guest chef in the house - he did an AWESOME job!
Today Nathan took Brandon, Emily and I shopping and out for lunch. What a treat - he spoiled us! He's so generous and enjoys treating others!

Tonight my brother and his family come in from Oregon to stay with us a few days, and tomorrow the whole Brim clan is coming over - fun times! I love having everyone together! I know how I love it when I have all my kids together - I can only imagine how my mom feels when all of us kids are together!

Almond Stick with mom.....................traditions!

Every year for......................years, I don't even know how many, my mom and I have done our part to fit into the dutch community, and we make almond stick.

My mom buys the ingredients, mixes up the dough and filling, and then brings everything to my house and we assemble them and bake (and sample :-) them. I know, you're thinking - Hey, I want in on that deal! I tease my mom and tell her as long as I can get her wheelchair up to the counter, she's not getting out of our tradition!! :-)
My mom makes the best - even real Dutchies say that! Her dough is SOOOOOOOOOOOO flaky and they ALWAYS turn out. Every year she says "I don't think they're going to turn out this year"- but every year they do.

I miss my dad on days like this - he would help mom haul everything in, and then he would sit down with a book and a blanket by the fire - ready to sample at any minute. He didn't love almond stick - but he liked it warm. Typing about him, makes me sit here and cry - so we'll move on - I miss you daddy!

We always do a double batch, that's 16 almond stick.

My mom rolls out the dough (the hardest part by far)............................(she can roll it out perfectly rectangle and the perfect size!)..................................
I put in the filling and roll 'em up................................

and the hardest job of all is for Emily :-)................................
My favorite thing about the holidays is the traditions...................sleeping by the tree on Christmas Eve, making almond stick, my annual goodies list, having the Brim gang over, having my family around....................we are blessed indeed!

Brownie Bites

Last week I mentioned that I made a new treat for one of our parties (at least new to me).

I had been at Treasury of Memories open house in their warehouse location and sampled one of these treats - OK - I took two - but who could resist!

I just took a boxed brownie mix and baked it in mini muffin pans(make sure you grease them well). Then I made buttercream frosting and used Creme' de menthe syrup (it's a torani syrup that you would put in a latte) and added the mint flavor. It also adds the green color as the syrup is bright green!
I used my accent decorator from Pampered Chef and piped the frosting on top and then I sprinkled with crushed candy canes. The only thing I would do different is, I would place the crushed candy canes on right away instead of frosting them all firsts and then going back to do that. The frosting had started setting up and the candy cane didn't stick so well.
Give them a try - they're awesome (and addicting!)

Last Sunday night

Okay - here are the pics from our evening with the College Age Christ Group! I can't show all the pics as some of those involved would be incriminated :-)

These group of people are a lot of fun....................................
In this pic, Debbie had just given each group a bag of misc. items and told them they had 10 minutes to make one person in their group a Christmas item ie: package, tree, toy, reindeer......you get the idea! Here is where they are all just beginning to brainstorm.......
This young lady happens to be an elf..................................
This young man is a Christmas tree.............................
It was great fun to watch, and I learned something new about my friend Debbie. She always offers to plan the games........................and now I know why..................................
......she's the one in the red sweater leaving the scene of the crime................she plans these games and then walks away......................SHE PLANS THEM SO SHE DOESN'T HAVE TO PLAY THEM! I always thought she was so gracious to be the game planner - but I've got her number now!! :-)

They did a gift exchange, and someone received.........basically, a snuggie for dogs, and just had to try it on Max!
I tried a fun dessert/cookie/bar to serve that night.............................next post!

Whew - I almost missed it...............................

Last night I had the FOLC board (Friends of Lynden Christian School) over for dinner.

Things went very smoothly, except the potatoes were a bit dry, the beans a bit wilted, .........I left them in the oven and turned the oven off..........but obviously too long.

It was great to sit and visit with everyone just about everyday stuff, play dutch bingo (you know - when you figure out who's related to who :-), and enjoy a meal together.

As usual I was busy right up to when they walked in, so I forgot to take a picture of the table.

I was busy serving, and then we went straight to our meeting. At one point, I thought "I need to get a group picture of everyone", but we were running late and could hear the snow/ice hitting the windows, so we barreled through, wrapped it up, and everyone headed home.

As I started cleaning up, I realized I hadn't taken a picture for my daily December album :-(. Sooooooo, I took a picture of what I could.............................................

I know, pitiful.........................but it will be on Day #14 in my book!
And last but not least....................HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUDY!!!!! Wish I could celebrate with you my dear friend! I hate how many miles are between us, but I love how close our hearts are! You are a precious encourager to me and I love you!

Busy, busy, busy...................

Thursday night was Emily's Choir concert.................
Friday night, Ken and Sal came for dinner and we drove around and looked at lights while we sipped white choc./peppermint lattes............................they are precious friends of ours!
Saturday Kim and Becky came by to work on a project and Kim helped me spruce up my tree! Thanks Kim - it was looking so pitiful.......................much betta'!!
Saturday night the Jansens and Raskes came for dinner. Dan made superb ribs, Jeff made divine appetizers, Kathi made an apple pie with a twist, the night was relaxing and the only thing missing were Brian and Judy:-{!!!!
Today my friend Kari was at church. She and her family have moved to Montana and it was SO good to see her. Kari is like my daughter - I love her so much!! She gave me a special necklace that has a charm that says "God Bless You" on it(she has one on in the picture. She said some very sweet words to me - this picture was after the tears!! Thank you Lord for Kari!

Tonight we had the College Age Christ Group over for dessert. It was a wild and crazy - insanely fun - party. Pictures to follow............................

catching up

Today my friend Karla came over for coffee. Sounds like something very ordinary, except we literally have not sat and visited for years. I sang at her wedding over 20 years ago, and our girls were very good friends when they were little, they went to preschool together - lots of memories!

It was so good to sit and visit, ( of course I took a picture for day 10 in my Daily December album). Chris and Karla are Foster parents and she brought their little guy along. I soooo respect what she does......it is a complete sacrifice and I pray that God will continue to bless them as they give of themselves. I was in a foster home for 11 months, so foster parents have a special spot in my heart!
I sat down yesterday and put together a few more pages in my Daily December album.......here are a couple of the pages. I'm really enjoying this project........it really is an instant gratification type of project - that's what I'm all about!!

Day 7.............................
Day 5............................

I finally got the downstairs decorating done and cleaned up by bedtime Monday night. Now I just need to get busy and do the tree upstairs. Em and I are planning on doing that after school today.