Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christmas. Show all posts

Friday, December 26, 2008

What do Cyborgs, a Flash, a Glowstation, Lipstick & a Coat Have in Common?

They are some of our Christmas presents!

What?  Santa surprised us with night vision eye goggles?  And an airhogs helicopter and a/h car that climbs up most surfaces! 

When they weren't flying or driving their airhogs, they were wearing their eye goggles.  


They had just one question.

They asked, "What is a cyborg"?  

These handy devices were even strapped on during Christmas dinner!   This became necessary since the dining room was dimly lit with Christmas candles and they needed to better see the fat versus the meat in their prime rib:)


It's just what I wanted -- a glow station.   Thanks Santa!  
He had seen this advertised while watching television at his grandparents, but none of us even knew what he was referring to, but thankfully Santa did.  He can draw in the dark and it will glow.  And they are also excited for the family's marble run, wii fit, etc. 


Dear Santa, I would like a pink ripstick please! Have you ever seen a  pink ripstick? Well Santa had!  Because it's a ripstick and it's the color of pink lipstick and since she was Sarah Palin for Halloween, Dad nicknamed  this "lipstick".  Did the snow stop her from learning to ride it?  No, the dining room and kitchen made the perfect oval and figure 8 to learn.  She was willing to fetch anything as long as she could ride it to get it.  She rode it so much that she got "sea legs". 

No name tags allowed!  With no gift name tags on this year, when it was your turn, you had to guess which gift was for you and who it was from.  It was fun to capture excited expressions on their faces.  It was scary when I discovered that the first 10 minutes we'd shot photos with no memory card in.  Yikes!  We missed the first moments, but still have fun ones to remember this day!  At first "the four" said we take too many, but if we didn't take one, would ask us to and they even grab it themselves as well, so you'll see more of us. 

We are wii crazy, as long as it's one that gets us moving!  Here the children excitedly open their combined Christmas/birthday gifts from the Austin-King's in California -- Outdoor Challenge.  




Thanks for my new camera flash that equals 1000 candles! 

This allows me to shoot rapid fire shots with the flash on. Amazing!  And I appreciate the new complete camera equipment carrying slingpack too.




And thanks for this new dress coat to keep me warm while walking out in this wind and snow!  
We stayed inside all day and played in our "boys -- blue wii and girls -- pink snowflake jammies". We never once stepped outside!  The good news is none of us shoveled on Christmas Day.  The bad news is all of us needs to help shovel again today -- especially after the Christmas Day blizzard and the snow plow filling the end of our driveway this morning! 

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Merry Christmas! Hyvaa Joulua!

We have posted a few of our family Christmas photos (work in progress) here. Leave us a note here in the comments section.

We are busy in the kitchen making
Joulu torttuja, piparkakkuja, pulla, kisseli, karjalan piirakka, porkkana laattikko, and so on. If you want some of the recipes visit us at http://maijaliisa.blogspot.com and search for those names as we have them every year on Christmas Eve.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Family Friends Fondue Fun



We seem to be doing little more than shoveling each day! Here the boys are having a go at it again.  We also had help each day from our neighbor Bro. Forsnes with his snow blower. Hallelujah!  



Actually we've made lots of preparations for family, friends, and the celebrations and parties of Christmastime.  Here we are joined for first fondue Click here to see what we dipped and into what? 




And then we enjoyed fun through games.  Each child's room, the living room and dining room table (once the fondue dishes were cleared, washed and put away -- Jann gave me the best present by washing up the dishes!) was a spot you could play a game fun.  The Johnson's brought Wise and Know Wise -- I think it's called.  It's a great game! Kevin have you tried this one?  One person reads to the group the beginning of a saying and each of the players writes the ending of the saying.  Next you pass your version in and then vote on which ending is most likely the real ending to a wise or sometimes bizarre quote.  I highly recommend this game.  I came from behind when I got everyone to vote for my ending in the final round.  

Monday, December 22, 2008

4th Advent Sunday

As you can see here, "Father Christmas" -- he still likes to "be" someone and that's who he was right then --  poses in front of the lit advent candle holder.  It's the 4th Sunday before Christmas so all 4 candles can be lit.  The basket was made with love by Mr. Bengts arthritic hands years ago.  We look forward to this tradition each year.  Even Elder Uchtdorf mentioned it in his Christmas Devotional address this year. 


Our boys are making their pulla boys for Christmas morning.  They're also making ones to take to Mummo and Papa, since they started the tradition. 

We'll eat them with "Polar Express" hot chocolate, the orange from the toe of our stocking, some quiche and leftover ham for protein and stocking candy:)


Andrew is burning one of the two candles he made in 5th grade
 for Christmas. He had to make his own candle holder too as all of ours were too big. David also made a set for Mom and Dad.





Katriina stirs the pretend "riisi puuro" rice porridge looking for the lone almond with the Finnish elves. At Mummo and Papa's tonight we had our traditional rice porridge instead of waiting until Christmas. First Andrew and then Matthew got that lucky almond -- oops pecan -- since I couldn't find an almond to put in. First Andrew scooped it up in the first scoop, but put it back since he'd scooped so deeply. Then it came up in Matthew's scoop. So it's extra good luck for both of them all year!



Matthew played some Christmas songs he taught himself (plays by ear like his Dad)  for Mummo and Papa.





David shovels the driveway upon our return.  Notice the figure 8 he is making?  
We all helped shovel at different times today -- before church, after church, on the way to Mummo and Papa's, when we got back, when we left for caroling, when we came back from caroling -- it just kept snowing and snowing!




We joined the  Thomas's and Johnson's caroling again this year going from house to house in the neighborhood.  It was snowing the whole time! 

Maria treated us to several varieties of her Swedish Christmas cookies with hot chocolate to warm us up. Yummy!

Monday, December 8, 2008

Sleeping under the Christmas Tree

Katriina loves looking up at the lights from under the tree. I started this with her her first Christmas when she was almost one. I'd get underneath with her and still like doing so.
Notice the Christmas pillow cases Mummo made for us all about 5 years ago?  Our kids still use theirs every year!
Will the elves visit tonight?
At first Matthew was hesitant to sleep under the tree this year since last year's tree fell over on him the night we put it up!  It was our first year getting a real tree from the forest and it wasn't in straight.  This one is great, but also I bought a better stand for it:)


Sunday, December 7, 2008

Decorating the Tree - Take 1

Matthew hurried to get in on putting his first ornament on the tree.  He was the last in the shower on Sunday morning. 


Notice the light blue LED lights?  Take 2 -- We had to take them off and put plain white lights on.  Our tree is actually gold and red now.  Take 3 -- should be when I replace the bottom strand that burned out, but since it's the bottom and we've had a hectic schedule, I have yet to do that and may not:)

And the angel this year is named Moroni.  

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Choosing our Christmas Tree

Off we raced to purchase a tree this year, after the rest of the family left for home, after Matthew's baptism.  Lone Pine had beautiful options.  It made it so much easier, but not nearly as fun.  Their gift shop had this cute item. 

A family pose in front of our chosen one.

David's glad we stayed away from the Merkle tree -- bottom limbs cut off!

safely loaded on  top of the minivan.
and safely in the house!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

We're crazy for Krazy Cake!


My kids are crazy about snowmen and penguins this time of year. I found some great penguin and snowman silicone cupcake pans in the after Christmas sales and needed a good dense cake recipe to make them up with.  I chose Krazy Cake or Wacky Cake as some call it . I got the recipe from another Mom whose son used this recipe in our Cub Scout cake contest last year.
Krazy Cake

In a large bowl, stir the following ingredients:

2 C sugar
3 C all purpose flour
1/3 C cocoa (I like Dutch processed when I can find it)
2 tsp soda
1 tsp salt

Add the following ingredients (don't stir until all wet ingredients are
in the bowl):

2 C cold water
3/4 C oil
2 Tbsp vinegar

Mix all ingredients well. You can stir by hand - an electric mixer is
not necessary. Pour batter into a well greased 9 X 13 pan and bake at
350F for 25-30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

Friday, December 21, 2007

The A-K Christmas Cookies are Here!

Each year our dear friends, whom we no longer live near, still UPS us a plate of their Christmas cookies. I just counted 15 varieties on the plate!!! They have been baking one type a night since early December. Then they freeze them and finally arrange them nicely on a plate and deliver them. Our family always anxiously awaits their arrival and love this tradition.

Saturday, December 1, 2007

Merry Christmas Tree!

We'd never taken our kids to cut down our own Christmas tree before, so on the advice of another family, who'd done it, we decided it would be fun. Later we found a few others in our neighborhood who have had this tradition, or have now started it as well. I think we've started a Christmas tradition as you can see and read about below:


Merry Christmas Tree!

Dashing through the snow
In a Ford 150 sleigh
O'er the steep hill we go
Sliding all the way
Through the forest we sing
Making kids spirits bright
What fun it is to ride and bring
A Christmas tree home tonight
Oh!
Jingle Bells,
Christmas tree smells!
It's snowing all the way
What fun it is our 12 footer fits
In our Ford 150 sleigh, Hey!


Saturday, November 3, 2007

Just click here and bam the cookie recipes appear!

I love quick access to recipes online. That's why I post mine on my blog.

This is good to keep handy with Christmas coming.

So just click on the red title above or click on the individual recipe below and bam the cookie recipes appear!

Special thanks to my blog mentor J.C. for showing me the codes to use to get this to work.


1-2-3 Cookies
7 Layer Cookies
Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies
Almond Crescent Shortbread
Amish Sugar Cookies
Andies Candies Cookies
Angel Crisps
Angenets
Applesauce Cookies
Apricot Fold-Overs
Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles
Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems
Bakeless Dream Cookies
Banana Drop Cookies
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World
Biscotti
Biscotti
Blueberry Cookies
Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies
Bronwnies
Brown Sugar Shortbread
Brownie Cookies
Brownie Delight
Brownies
Buccaneer Snowballs
Buried Cherry Cookies
Butter Cookies
Butter Nut Balls
Butterballs
Butterscotch Haystacks
C.O.P. Cookies
Candy Cane Cookies
Candy Cookies
Caramel Shortbread
Cheesecake Brownies
Cherry Buns
Cherry Crowns
Cherry Winks
Chewies
Chewy Noels
Chinese Chews/Haystacks
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Chip Meltaways
Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies
Chocolate Christmas Trees
Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares
Chocolate Crinkles
Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies
Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake)
Chocolate Snowball Cookies
Chocolate Streusel Bars
Chocolate Sundae Cookies
Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars
Choco-Scotch Crunchies
Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe
Christmas Crackers
Christmas Crunch Bars
Christmas Ginger Snaps
Christmas Macaroons
Christmas Mice Cookies
Christmas Shaped Cookies
Church Window Cookies
Coconut Cookies
Congo Squares
Cookie in a Jar
Corn Flakes Cookies
Cornflake Christmas Wreaths
Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal)
Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling
Cr me De Menthe Chocolate Squares
Cr me Wafers
Crescent Cookies
Crispy Crunchies
Date Nut Balls
Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies
Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies
Disgustingly Rich Brownies
Doodles
Double chocolate chip cookies
Double-Chocolate Crinkles
Eatmore Cookies
Eggnog Cookies
Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies
Elves Quick Fudge Brownies
Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe
Emily's Best Brownies
Famous Oatmeal Cookies
Firemen Cookies
Fluffy Shortbread Cookies
Forgotten Cookies
Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies
Fruit Cake Cookies
Fruitcake Squares
Fry Pan Cookies
Gems
Ginger Cookies
Ginger Crinkles
Gingerbread Baby
Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing
Gingerbread Men
Gingerbread Men
Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies
Glory's Golden Graham Squares
Glory's Sugar Cookies
Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops
Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies
Grandma J's Butter Cookies
Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies
Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies
Gum Drop Cookies
Gumdrop Gems
Haystack Cookies
Ho-Ho Bars
Holiday Cereal Snaps
Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies
Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars
Holly Cookies
Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls)
Ice Box Cookies
Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies
Italian Cookies
Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs
Jam Bars
Jessica's Famous Brownies
Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Jubilee Jumbles
Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms
Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies
Kentucky Colonels
Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling)
Kifflings
Kiss Cookies
Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers
Lemon Angel Bar Cookies
Lemon Bars
Lemon Cake Cookies
Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies
Lemon Squares
Linzer Tarts
Log Cabin Cookies
Luscious Lemon Squares
M&M Cookies
Magic Cookie Bars
Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies
Melting Shortbread
Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies
Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies
Mincemeat Cookies
Mincemeat Goodies
Molasses Cookies
Molasses Forest Cookies
Molasses Sugar Cookies
Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies
Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies
Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies
Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies
Monster Cookies
Moravian Christmas Cookies
Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies
Nitey Nite Cookies
No Bake Chocolate Cookies
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
No Bake Cookies
No Bake Cookies
No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
No-Bake Cookies
Norwegian Sugar Cookies
Nut Balls
Oatmeal Bars
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies
Oatmeal Coconut Crisps
Oatmeal Cookies
Oatmeal Scotchies
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies
Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk
Ooey Gooey Squares
Orange Slice Cookies
Parking Lot Cookies
Peanut Blossoms
Peanut Butter Bars
Peanut Butter Blossoms
Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies
Peanut Butter Chewies
Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut Butter Cookies
Peanut butter fingers
Peanut Butter Reindeer
Peanut Butter Surprises
Peanut Marshmallow Cookies
Pecan Puff Cookies
Peppermint Snowballs
Peppernuts
Persimmon Cookies
Persimmon Cookies
Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins
Pfeffernuesse
Pffefferneuse Cookies
Pineapple Filled Cookies
Pizzelles
Potato Chip Cookies
Potato Flake Cookies
Praline Cookies
Praline Strips
Pterodactyl Nests
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin Cookies
Queen Biscuits
Quick Cookies
Raised Sugar Cookies
Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars
Raspberry Meringue Bars
Really Peanutty Butter Cookies
Reese`s Brownies
Reese's Peanut Butter Bars
Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies
Rich Lemon Bars
Ricotta Cheese Cookies
Royal Almond Christmas Bars
Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies
Russian Tea Cookies
Russian Teacakes
Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies
Sand Art Brownies
Santa Claus Cookie Pops
Santa Claus Cookies
Santa's Butterscotch Melts
Santa's Shorts
Santa's Special Squares
Scotch Cakes
Scotch Shortbread
Scotcharoos
Scotcheroos
Seven Layer Cookies
Short Bread Cookies
Shortbread
Skor Squares
Snicker Doodle Cookies
Snickerdoodles
Snickerdoodles
Snow Balls
Sour Cream Apple Squares
Sour Cream Christmas Cookies
Special K Cookies
Spice Cookies
Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie
Spritz Cookies
Stained Glass Window Cookies
Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Sugar Cookies
Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies
Swedish Sugar Cookies
Sweet Marie's
Swiss Treats
Taralle (Italian Cookies)
Tea Time Tassies
Texas Brownies
The Best Shortbread in The World
Thumbprint Cookies
Thumbprint Cookies

Toffee Squares
Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies
Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies
Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
Vanilla Waffer Balls
Walnut Butter Cookies
Walnut Crumb Bars
White Chip Chocolate Cookies
Wild Oatmeal Cookies
Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies
Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms