Home After Christmas

I am getting back to daily life after our typically well traveled Christmas. For us it means all the weeks leading up to Christmas we try to squeeze as much work, friend time, local family events and spiritual balance into them as possible so that we can spend time our sons if they are available...they live out of town so we are the travelers. 

We spent the week with our younger son and family arriving in time for the youngest granddaughters 5th birthday. The kiddos grow up so fast-we're so glad we are able to spend moments where we can.

The party was themed around teddy bears this birthday with lots of fun balloons, gifts and Lauren made yummy cupcakes too! 

Teddy Bear Balloons

Presents piled high!

 

Waiting to open presents

I pick this one first.

Making cupcakes :)

Here are a few of our shared moments...

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The balloons lasted all the way through Christmas!

Part of the time the family shared the sickie bug...what a thing to share! 

So far Tom & I have avoided it, we'll see. 

Cooking up something special

While shopping at Michaels Crafts  I was sooooo happy to come across some Gingerbread House cookie cutters since I've been thinking about making a Gingerbread House for weeks.  I don't have a favorite gingerbread recipe but I think I've found a yummy one here.

While the gingerbread sounds absolutely scrumptious there are many other worthy recipes too...I liked the apple pie in a canning jar...mmmm!

Speaking of pie here is another site with a yummy sounding not a pie but "tastes like" dessert...Pumpkin Pie Bars.