Sticky Hugs and Kisses

There is very little I love more than when a toddler comes up and wants a hug and lays a big sticky kiss on your cheek.
Today I got to visit some of the kids I looked after before I moved. First was a visit to "Gooberoo". She was sleeping when I got there and woken up by her cousin so she was a big crank at first, laying an epic tackle on her cousin (about the same age) who dared to touch one of her toys. Once she calmed down she seemed happy to see me, even cuddling up on my lap to watch Tinkerbell while her cousin played.
Then we had some supper and I headed out to visit "Curly" and "Moe" but not before getting big hugs and sticky kisses from Goober and her cousin.
Curly and Moe seemed excited to see me and I got a whole bunch of (slightly less sticky) hugs and kisses before they went off to bed and I had a nice chat with their mom.

I miss all the kids I worked with but I miss these three the most. With their cuddles and the sticky kisses and hugs.

2 More Down

I have completed the cherry snowballs...this is all. Eva you better like goodies, I underestimated the quantities of these recipes....8 cups of flour should have been a hint.

Baking Frustration

Let me preface this post by saying ARRRRGGGGGG!!!!!!!

I've never done Christmas baking before, Up until this point I've really only baked one thing at a time for specific occasions as I personally have no use for sweets once they're baked. But this year I felt the pull of domesticity and decided to bake for some friends that mean alot to me. I never thought of how much work it is to bake 2 or 3 recipes in a day! It's not easy, especially with cut cookies where the dough has to be rolled from, what can only be described as a cold hard chocolatey rock, into a flat sheet. And alllll the dishes!!!

That said I did like it for the most part.
So far I've made:
Snickerdoodles
Eggnog cookies
Chocolate Sugar cookies
Cranberry Pistachio Shortbreads
Peppermint Bark

I'm hoping to also do some Rocky Road S'mores bars and Cherry Snowballs but we'll see, I'm not sure how much time I'll have tomorrow with Colin coming over and packing to leave on Saturday as well as dropping by a party for a friend from church who is done school and is moving back out east.

I'm excited for New Years, Colin is coming here to have a Turkey Dinner with us, Then we're heading out to his town for a party with his friends.

The most awesome balloon animal EVER

Birthday Cake for Breakfast and snow!!!

My birthday is magical, it ALWAYS snows on my birthday.... yes my birthday is in december so it's not huge magic but to me it's amazing. I LOVE the snow, it's sparkly and beautiful and fresh. Big Royal hadn't seen any snow yet so I wasn't sure it was going to happen but I stepped outside late last night and there was a light dusting of snow on the ground, it wasn't much but it was enough for me.
This morning I woke up to the quintessential winter wonderland. snow falling lightly, snow covering the tops of the branches in the trees, green grassy lawns replaced by sparkly white snowy ones.
I LOVE SNOW!!!

For the past week or so I've been very good, generally I tend to snack during the day, pringles are my weakness, but this week I've been good, eating at meals only (pretty much), eating moderate meals, stopping when I'm no longer hungry, plus I haven't had anything to drink but water for almost a week. I don't know, it wasn't something I planned at all, It was more like a hey, I haven't bothered to make juice or buy snacks and I'm ok, I like water as long as its bottled or cold cold cold.
But today I had cake for breakfast, I'm going to use the birthday excuse and give myself a break. Technically I was my dads birthday cake but since I didn't have one (I don't generally like cake or sweets) But todayI woke up and decided I wanted cake with milk. And it was yummy. So today I took a pass, cake for breakfast. That is how I roll today LOL

Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays

I'm not a fan of birthdays, I never have been. I don't dislike them but I don't really get that excited.
Yesterday was my dads birthday, I got him a book, took him to lunch and made him dinner and a cake. After dinner I kicked his butt at scrabble TWICE! It was nice.
Sunday is my birthday and aside from going to church I really don't have anything planning. Money is tight this year so I'm not expecting anything really. I might go to my aunts for dinner but since I don't know anyone in Big Royal, my real birthday celebrating will happen when I go back to Little Holland with my sister and mom.

I'm excited to go home for Christmas, I'm driving down with my dad on the 19th to have a Christmas with my sister and from there I'm going to Sarnia for a few days with PD and K before heading back to Little Holland for Christmas. Then I'm taking the train back here on boxing day for Christmas in Big Royal with my dad.

It will be my first Christmas since my parents separated so it should be weird. I've debated going back to my old church while I'm home, I love my new church so much and last time I went back I didn't feel like I belonged anymore, I didn't know the new pastor and most of the people i knew there weren't there, I might ask if Peeps is going to Woody and go with him. Who knows.

Today I'm gathering the ingredients I need for my Christmas baking, I've decided that instead of giving them to friends I'm going to give them to people who have really made a difference in my life.
This years goody menu includes Rocky Road S'more's bars (Yummy) ,Snickerdoodles, Eggnog cookies, Chocolate chip pistachio cookies, among other yummy treats :) I can't wait to start baking. Ava! you're first on the list!