It was not a white Christmas here in Indy. God knows I love a rainy day, but I would’ve loved snow.
Weirdest Christmas weather I can recall. We even had a few open windows. I don’t know how warm it was, around 60F/15C. Strange.
Around midnight we were back outside, barefoot, gazin upon the full moon.
My family devoured my mother’s fudge, but I am an only, and therefore, I feel greedily entitled to hoard her fruitlings. She’s MY MOMMY!
I filled everyone’s stockings with candy, and I think it helped.
I let everyone look at the snow family she crocheted, though, so that’s nice.
How freakin adorable are they? The little one, he is French, non? Il porte une petite moustache, non? Tote dorbs.
We did all the dipping, the roll-outs, baking, icing, and sprinkling. We also did some cookie eating, so there are only about 100 cookies left now.
I’m still gonna make a Texas Sheet Cake and some chocolate chip cookies because this upcoming week we’ll have people in and out.
Some of us did a lot of dishes. Some of us did more dishes than Mama asked because listening, but Mama doesn’t mind when people do extra dishes because they didn’t listen well.
If clean the kitchen-destroy the kitchen-clean the kitchen-destroy the kitchen had been a game, I’da won.
My kitchen is big enough for Thanksgiving, but it’s not big enough for Christmas. How wonderful is life when your kitchen’s so full of cookies, you find yourself holding a hot cookie sheet without a place to set it down? That’s a wonderful life.
We watched movies, colored and gamed, snuggled, and slept-in.
I found myself slightly maudlin that Sissy wasn’t with us, but three out of four is still heartwarming. One day we may have an eerily quiet Christmas without any children at all, and one day there may be sixteen grandchildren and we’ll go deaf from all the squealing — You never know. It’s best to celebrate each day for what it is instead of complaining about what it is not.
For the days it’s not as easy to celebrate what is, may you have cookies and drink, and best of all, the imagination and gratitude to make the crappy bits better.
aren’t we lucky to have the boy one home?
what a joyous day it will be when all six of us are together again!
isn’t it nice that my husband is not in iraq today?
isn’t it grand that we live here? look at all the pretty trees! there’s a tree in my house!
perhaps one day there will be teleporters…
It was a splendid, if strangely warm, day.
Today, more rain, but ah, the chili’s on.
joeyfullystated 
“It’s best to celebrate each day for what it is instead of complaining about what it is not.
For the days it’s not as easy to celebrate what is, may you have cookies and drink, and best of all, the imagination and gratitude to make the crappy bits better.” It can’t be better said.
Here in eastern Pennsylvania, we eerily had the back door open while cooking and eating dinner. Recently I lived in Muncie, IN, for about eight years, so I know how strange it must feel there in Indy.
Happy Holidays.
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Thanks 🙂
I went to Ball State, and I contend if it’s hot here, it’s a tad hotter there, and if it’s cold here, it’s a bit colder there. It’s flatter and always windier, except when it’s not 😛
Happy Holidays to you, too!
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But it has never had a tornado (because of the bend in the White River it is proposed).
When I first moved there, I soon heard the joke told by Muncie-ites: “Muncie isn’t the end of the world, but you can see it from here.” ba-dum-bum-chsss
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Haha, Yup!
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The snow family is adorable. I especially like Fenchy. Warm and dry here. Not Christmas weather but I’m not gonna pray for snow cuz I did that once and that didn’t end well. Enjoy the holiday break. And yes, I know you’re the mom and I know how stupid that comment is.
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I do enjoy it. I also enjoy a lovely mimosa day when they return to school 😉
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It is not permitted to stand on Darth Vader as we like him. It was a beautiful time we had.
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I’ve been running my air conditioning & dehumidifier for days. Weird weather indeed.
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Joey, forgive my being late to the baking party. 🙂 it all looks and sounds delicious! Love the way you described the repetitive cycles of baking, cleanup, eating and repeat! It was definitely warm! My artist, single brother grilled steaks out, made “dirty” rice and green peas. We ate petit four’s and candy, along with cookies sent in a care package to Mom.
I do understand how hard it is to not have all my baby chicks in the nest. I am enjoying my Mom, cherishing having her to talk to and reminisce with. My youngest brother is in California with his wife visiting their son and family. I received all kinds of picture texts to show Mom of her great grandies from my kids. If you have seen all my posts, don’t feel any need to comment. I just wanted to share more decorations. I could have said “No comments needed!” 🙂 Have a great end of this week, Joey. Then, a happy new year, too!
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Happy New Year, Robin 🙂 Wishing you all the best!
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What a wonderful day you had. Cookies and family! What a wonderful combo. There is a bunch I could say but nothing that would really matter. I am so glad that you and Mister have kids and candy and cookies. Merry Christmas to all and to all a Good Night.
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Thank you, Benson 🙂 We always enjoy your comments!
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The kitchen Olympics–I like that. I’m sitting in chaos surrounded by sprinkles and the remaining unfrosted cookies. I’m trying to bribe my son to eat carrots…but he sneaks the cookie reward when I take out the garbage.
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Haha! It’s too hard to resist when it’s all over like that 😉
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Bribe to eat carrots? This is why graters were invented. Cooked grated carrots can go in mashed potatoes and make them magic potatoes. They can be deposited liberally, and unavoidably, in soups and stews. But–best of all–they can be baked into cookies and muffins, with a bit more salt added to cut any bitter.
(Have you tried him on the baby ones steamed soft in water in the micro, with a tiny bit of honey or agave atop afterward? )
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Child doesn’t eat human food. The only vegetable he will touch is a corn chip. Sad, but true. I might try the cookie route. But by the time you add the sugar, it sort of defeats the purpose. That, and I would likely eat all the cookies myself. 🙂
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I do understand. And I’d be right there with you, scarfing down all the cookies. I made six healthy muffins today, including carrot puree to health them up, then, because they tasted so healthy, liberally coated them with cream cheese-and-maple-syrup frosting. Three gone so far.
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Lawd. Maple syrup icing. *wants now*
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I’ll eat a spoonful in your honor.
😛
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God love ya!
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Right? I wanted to say from what I’ve read about your son, getting him to eat anything is prolly a big deal!
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Now if only he’d stop chewing his coat collars into shreds.
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One can hope. My son went to town on his bottom lip and chin one winter, led to secondary infection.
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Augh.
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Reading this post caused me to run into the kitchen and raid the cookie tins! Curse you!!! (and Merry Christmas too).
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🙂
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The cookie baking is a lot more organized now. I miss the mess that the kids made when they “helped”. ☺
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Mmmm cookies!
I’m glad you had a nice Christmas. Our was warm and rainy as well!
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Warm & fuzzy feelings abound in this post! Love it!
And I’m glad you pointed out that the little snowman is French. I was thinking maybe it’s just me…
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We were one down this year but we had a great time….our daughter Google chatted with us while she ate her breakfast and we ate our dinner. We had the spring weather and finally turned on the air conditioning because everything was starting to feel damp from the humidity. The weather would have been much appreciated without the humidity. I like the snow family. Things given to us handmade by our loved ones are the best presents/decorations.
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I needed a dose of “bright side” this morning, and here it is. Thanks for this! 🙂
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Sounds like you had a wonderful Christmas, I love that little Snow family too. We have had rain here and it has been very mild. Very odd weather but it didn’t matter. we all had a rosy glow from stuffing so much food! Those cookies looked great, and it was great that you had the kids helping you make them 🙂
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My first Christmas back in the States in 7 years, and still no children in sight. But next year, we won’t be in Iowa. We should be in Michigan and will gather some of the flock together. And definitely, reinstate the baking tradition. I am enjoying just being in the swing of making meals again and trying out new recipes in the process. Am looking forward to doing some baking. 🙂
The Snow family is awesome. I may actually make a Christmas quilt next year, but no promises yet.
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I think it is darth, and you killed him….the force is way strong…
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What a warm (no pun intended) and cheerful looking Christmas. I love the little French snowman, in particular, but everything looks lovely and cozy.
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Thanks, Luanne, it was a lovely and cozy day 🙂
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Sounds like you had a spectacular holiday. My cookies are gone, I have a little candy left, and will need to go to rehab to get over my sugar high of the past couple of weeks. 2016 and Greek Yogurt are in my future. 🙂
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Right? Enough sweets to make you want a salad!
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Weather has been crazy even for Indiana standards! 12/23 it was 70 and we had tornado warnings, then six freaking inches of rain all weekend with temps still in the 50s, this weekend it’s finally going to dip below freezing at night.
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Joyful baking and yummy treats. So happy for you.
Going now to get my last piece of gluten-free matzoh, spread it with butter as best as I can–it’s tough, since rice-only goods crumble in a gentle breeze–sprinkle it with garam masala and stevia, and enjoy every yummy second of the 30 it will take to eat it.
I am so glad your kitchen was overflowing with goodness. Eat a piece of gingerbread for me. (Can you hear the second half of that sentence I am so mature I didn’t say?)
😥
The snowpeople are VERY cute.
🙂
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Gluten-free matzo kinda makes me feel sad…but then, with enough butter, surely anything can be delicious?
Yes, I can hear the second, silent end to that sentence.
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Ha ha ha!!
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