New Poll Question

Being the holiday season, many families have different traditions and ways of celebrating the holiday especially with their children. I, personally, have never taught my kids to believe in "Santa Claus" however I know other people who do and feel that telling your kids there is no such thing as Santa Claus is just mean. What do you think? I know that many of the movies today are around the theme of "if you just believe" (ie. Polar Express, Miracle on 34th Street)...
What do you think? You can vote below, scroll down and keep scrolling to the end.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

These pictures were actually what I woke up to two days ago (Tuesday) but I've been so busy the past few days that I'm just getting them posted. Beautiful!




Our house from the road


Closeup of the frost


A street close to home, I love all the trees lining the road



an ornamental apple tree






The past couple days I've been busy wrapping presents as starting this weekend I'll be working a lot and won't have time to do this then. The kid's last day of school before Christmas break is tomorrow. They are so excited, only five more sleeps before Christmas!

Christmas At Our Place

Voila our Christmas tree! The decorations are mostly Disney characters and also some homemade ones by the kids as well as "special ones" to represent specific special occasions.









My nativity scene. I love Precious Moments and since I didn't have a nativity scene(until this year), my mom thought this one "had my name all over it" and I needed it for my collection.







Our stockings hung by the fire with care.












I got a garland this year and it matches the candle holder (pic coming up). Looks much nicer in real life than the pic does here. :( Peacock feathers and gold fruit -very pretty.








View of candle holder from the top










Candle holder from its spot on top of baker's rack.










Christmas advent picture that Wynn got from Sunday School. Cut out one picture per day up to Christmas and stick it on the big picture. On Christmas see "Who Is Coming?"










Another craft Wynn made at Sunday School. "Each evening after prayers are said, Take off one link and hop into bed. When only the star is left to shine, Then you will know it's Christmastime!"

Refreshments are served. I have so many recipes that I like at this time of year. But have narrowed it down to 3 that are specific to moi. First I'm going to share our brunch with you -

Potato Picante Pie (make the night before)

5 eggs
2 1/2 cups frozen (shredded) hash brown potatoes
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monteray Jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2/3 cup picante sauce (salsa)
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 tsp. salt
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

In a bowl, beat eggs. Stir in hash browns, cheeses, sauce, onions, and salt. Pour into a greased 9" pie plate. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 degreees for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until center is set. Serve with additional picante sauce if desired.
Makes 6 servings

During the day, many appatizers and dainties are available to munch on. One of my favorite and very simple to make is called -

Surprise Spread (serve with crackers)

1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Mix above ingredients well and spread on a pizza pan or glass dish the size of a pizza pan.

1 cup seafood sauce
2 - 4 oz tins broken or cocktail shrimp
2 - green onions (chopped)
1 - tomato (seeded and chopped)
1 - small green pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 cup marble cheese (shredded)

Spread seafood sauce on cream cheese. Layer shrimp, green onions, tomato, pepper, cheese.
Serve with crackers & Enjoy!

[OK, one more appetizer that we just love to eat, many of you probably have your own recipes as it is so popular but here is the one I use -

Mushrooms Neptune

1 pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese

1 can (113 g) shrimp, drained

1 can (113 g) crabmeat, drained

2 green onions, finely chopped

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp lemon juice

dash hot pepper sauce

30 large mushrooms

In large bowl or electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add shrimp, crab, green onions, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, lemon juice, and hot pepper sauce. Beat until fluffy. Remove stems from mushrooms. Spoon cheese mixture into mushroom caps, filling generously. Place caps onto cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. Serve immediatley.

Yield: 30 mushrooms]

I love shortbread and eggnog at Christmas time but since I moved out to Manitoba (about 11 years ago) I have developed a new holiday favorite -

Vinarterta

Dough layers: Filling:
1 cup (250 g) butter 2 pounds (900 g) pitted prunes
1 cup (250 ml) sugar 1/2 cup (125 ml) sugar
2 beaten eggs 1/2 to 1 tsp (2 - 5 ml) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
2 tsps (10 ml) baking powder
4 cups (1 L) flour

Dough layers:Mix as cookie dough - cream together butter and suger. Add the eggs.
Sift dry ingerdients together. Gradually blend in to butter and sugar mixture. Chill well.
Roll dough into 6 flat cakes 8 to 9 inches (20 to 22 cm) in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Use pie plate or dinner plate to cut circle. Poke with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 8 - 10 minutes.
Filling:Boil prunes until well cooked. Add sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Spread between layers. Let stand 24 hours
Vinarterta may be iced with butter icing.

For more Christmas Tour of Homes go to Boomama's blog.

Christmas Tour Of Homes

Oops! I posted my place this morning however, I'm still trying to figure out how to change to date of a post to the date posted if you started early (before the post date). Help, anyone you knows or can help me.

Christmas At Our Place

Voila our Christmas tree! The decorations are mostly Disney characters and also some homemade ones by the kids as well as "special ones" to represent specific special occasions.









My nativity scene. I love Precious Moments and since I didn't have a nativity scene(until this year), my mom thought this one "had my name all over it" and I needed it for my collection.







Our stockings hung by the fire with care.












I got a garland this year and it matches the candle holder (pic coming up). Looks much nicer in real life than the pic does here. :( Peacock feathers and gold fruit -very pretty.








View of candle holder from the top










Candle holder from its spot on top of baker's rack.










Christmas advent picture that Wynn got from Sunday School. Cut out one picture per day up to Christmas and stick it on the big picture. On Christmas see "Who Is Coming?"










Another craft Wynn made at Sunday School. "Each evening after prayers are said, Take off one link and hop into bed. When only the star is left to shine, Then you will know it's Christmastime!"

Refreshments are served. I have so many recipes that I like at this time of year. But have narrowed it down to 3 that are specific to moi. First I'm going to share our brunch with you -

Potato Picante Pie (make the night before)

5 eggs
2 1/2 cups frozen (shredded) hash brown potatoes
1 cup (4 oz) shredded Monteray Jack cheese
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
2/3 cup picante sauce (salsa)
2 green onions, sliced
1/4 tsp. salt
6 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

In a bowl, beat eggs. Stir in hash browns, cheeses, sauce, onions, and salt. Pour into a greased 9" pie plate. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake at 350 degreees for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with bacon; bake 5-10 minutes longer or until center is set. Serve with additional picante sauce if desired.
Makes 6 servings

During the day, many appatizers and dainties are available to munch on. One of my favorite and very simple to make is called -

Surprise Spread (serve with crackers)

1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise

Mix above ingredients well and spread on a pizza pan or glass dish the size of a pizza pan.

1 cup seafood sauce
2 - 4 oz tins broken or cocktail shrimp
2 - green onions (chopped)
1 - tomato (seeded and chopped)
1 - small green pepper
2 cups mozzarella cheese (shredded)
1 cup marble cheese (shredded)

Spread seafood sauce on cream cheese. Layer shrimp, green onions, tomato, pepper, cheese.
Serve with crackers & Enjoy!

[OK, one more appetizer that we just love to eat, many of you probably have your own recipes as it is so popular but here is the one I use -

Mushrooms Neptune

1 pkg (8 oz/250 g) cream cheese

1 can (113 g) shrimp, drained

1 can (113 g) crabmeat, drained

2 green onions, finely chopped

1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1/8 tsp garlic powder

1 tbsp lemon juice

dash hot pepper sauce

30 large mushrooms

In large bowl or electric mixer, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Add shrimp, crab, green onions, Parmesan cheese, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, lemon juice, and hot pepper sauce. Beat until fluffy. Remove stems from mushrooms. Spoon cheese mixture into mushroom caps, filling generously. Place caps onto cookie sheet. Bake at 425 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes or until puffed and lightly browned. Serve immediatley.

Yield: 30 mushrooms]

I love shortbread and eggnog at Christmas time but since I moved out to Manitoba (about 11 years ago) I have developed a new holiday favorite -

Vinarterta

Dough layers: Filling:
1 cup (250 g) butter 2 pounds (900 g) pitted prunes
1 cup (250 ml) sugar 1/2 cup (125 ml) sugar
2 beaten eggs 1/2 to 1 tsp (2 - 5 ml) cinnamon
1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla
2 tsps (10 ml) baking powder
4 cups (1 L) flour

Dough layers:Mix as cookie dough - cream together butter and suger. Add the eggs.
Sift dry ingerdients together. Gradually blend in to butter and sugar mixture. Chill well.
Roll dough into 6 flat cakes 8 to 9 inches (20 to 22 cm) in diameter and 1/8 inch thick. Use pie plate or dinner plate to cut circle. Poke with a fork. Bake at 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 8 - 10 minutes.
Filling:Boil prunes until well cooked. Add sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
Spread between layers. Let stand 24 hours
Vinarterta may be iced with butter icing.

For more Christmas Tour of Homes go to Boomama's blog.

I Need These

Yup, another giveaway. I can't imagine actually having $200.00 to spend just on jeans. Maybe that is what I have to do rather than be the scrooge that I am about shopping for myself. To find out out I'm talking about, go to this site. I rarely ever get out shopping for myself, thus the reason I wore maternity jeans for the longest time. Perhaps a place like True Jeans is what I need, rather than the bargain shops that I usually go to. And wow! $200.00 on a jeans shopping spree - I still can't get over that. Considering the most I've ever spent on a pair of jeans (for myself) would be $40. I wonder if you can buy the shape/figure of the model in the jeans you purchase....now THAT would be priceless!

He's so excited :)

My six year old has his first loose tooth! On the way home from school, Wynn announced, "I have some exciting news to tell you! But since you are cold, I'll tell you my exciting news as soon as we get home." (The tempurature was dropping as we were walking home from school, so yes I had asked everyone to walk quicker as mommy was getting cold!) True to his word, as soon as we got in the door, Wynn told us he has his first loose tooth. The front right one on the bottom, and we all got to wiggle it. Many other kids in Wynn's class and his cousin who is 2 days younger than him have all had their first loose tooth long ago, some are even missing two. How old were your kid(s) (if applicable) when they got their first loose tooth?

A Busy Weekend

Whew! Am I glad that weekend is over...now we can slow down a bit. :) Cliff & I went to his work Christmas party on Friday. Saturday afternoon, Autumn had her winter show for rhythmic gymnastics and Wynn also had his Christmas sleepover that day for Beavers. Then, on Sunday (before I returned from the sleepover with Wynn), a friend came over to start painting the walls of the hallway and staircase as the walls are so high and I really had no idea how "I" was going to do it. I don't have pics from the party but I must say that Cliff sang Kareokee (not bad I must say) and I danced some. (Probably a good thing I don't have pics of that! :)!) I also don't have pics of the painting as it is still in process, instead I'll post pics of when it is done. However, I DO HAVE pics of my kids and their w/e activities.
AUTUMN: (sorry I didn't get the pics edited yet, hope they are not too dark)






WYNN:


Making Christmas crafts


Rolling out their personal pizza crust


A little bit of tomato sauce then toppings


It's done & looks good...Let's eat!


Storytime around the campfire


Breakfast time - making breakfast burritos


Stick the tail on the beaver

Blog Party

You are invited to a party that is having a very special blog giveaway. Go to Tamara's site and read about her story of three years of blogging and the story of the angel bear she is giving away. It really touched me - don't forget your box of kleenex. And while you are there leave a comment to encourage Tamara too.

Free Candle

Yup another giveaway! :) Vanilla Spice, that's the one for me. Which one is your favorite? Go to this site and check them out and enter yourself in the giveaway. Don't forget to enter your name and mention you heard about it from me. Good Luck!

Walking With The Dinosaurs

I know that I'm kind of late getting these pictures posted. Especially considering the show was Nov. 30th. No excuses, I'll just get to doing that right now cause when I give my word, I do WHAT I say I will (just not always WHEN I say I will) *embarrased smilie*



This is my gang anxiously waiting for the show to start.








Liam showing off his dinosaur shirt. "Soft & Fuzzy"..."Boy is he in for a surprise!"










No Picture Available (mine didn't turn out) - The Triassic Period. The environment was very harsh, with deserts and dry wilderness. There was no grass and no flowers. There were no dinosaurs at the beginning of the triassic but many amphibians and reptiles. At the end of the period, the first sauropods appear.





The Jurassic Period - The continents shift and the climates worldwide become wetter and warmer. The deserts retreat and are replaced by lush forests and vast open fern prairies.






The Stegosaurus - at 9 meters long and 4 meters tall, this is one of the most easily identifiable dinos.







Mass fire burning and killing all the vegetation









Rain has put out the fires but there is no vegetation so many of the herbivores dinosaures died out.


















The Cretaceuos Period - the continents continue to break up and there is more bodies of water forming and the sea levels were high. In the skies, the Pterosaurs were common. Dinosaurs on land continued to diversify and dominate the landscape. New species of herbivores emerged and new carnivore groups developed.




For the first time, flowering plants appeared and became the dominant flora.


















Here comes mommy T-Rex! That little guy in the corner would be her baby that the other dinos are cornering...

















Mommy T-Rex and baby. T.Rex was one of the largest terrestrial carnivores of all time. It stood approx 4-5 meters high, was about 12-15 meters in length and roughly 6 tonnes in weight. It was one of the last dinos to exist prior to the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event. It's not certain what caused the demise of the dinos but the most widely accepted explanation of the mass extinction of animal and marine life at the end of the late Cretaceous is the collision of a meteor into the earth.