His "Wady"

It all started a couple weeks ago.  When I talk to JJ about I'll say things like:  Say hi to the nice lady!  We're taking a lady some food.  and The lady's foot hurts.  One day he asked about his "wady" and I asked him who she was.  He said, "You my wady!" and that's what I've been since then.  Many times thoughout the day he'll remind me that I'm his "wady" and every time I hear it it's like the first time.  I know my little man won't be this sweet forever so I cherish these moments we have and will always remember the days he called me his "wady".

Eggnog

I have never been a fan of eggnog.  I try drinking it every year thinking that maybe I'll like it but my dislike of eggnog has always remained the same.  Until now.  I used eggnog in the Eggnog Cheesecake I made for Christmas and have had quite a bit left.  I hated to throw it away but certainly didn't want to drink it so I hung on to it hoping to find something to do with it.  I looked at it the other day and noticed that the expiration date was coming up.  That lit a fire under me and I searched for some good eggnog recipes. 

I started with Eggnog Cupcakes.  The recipe I used is from Annie's Eats.  I remembered reading about it and decided to give it a try.  I'm  so glad I did!  These cupcakes are delicious.  If you love the flavor and spices of eggnog, you'll love these cupcakes.




I made 2 batches of the cupcakes and still had some eggnog left.  After finding such a great recipe I knew I couldn't throw the rest of the eggnog away.  I had to put it to good use!  Next are Eggnog Cookies.  I found the recipe HERE.  The only change I made to the recipe was to use 3 1/2 cups of flour instead of 4.  These cookies are wonderful and addicting and I highly recommend them!



After these 2 recipes, I will never snub my nose at eggnog again. In fact, I plan on buying it every year so I can add these fabulous recipes to my Christmas baking!

The Season of...

FOOD!  You thought I was going to say giving, didn't ya?  Well, Christmas is definitely the season for giving and for remembering Christ's birth (first and foremost) but I believe it is also fair to say that the Christmas season is also a season of food.  Tons and tons of food.  Yay for me!  Anyway, it's been awile since I've posted about things I've made (gasp!) so here's an update.

The appetizer we had for our Christmas Eve dinner at my parents house was Festive Crab Cups.  A new recipe for us.  Mini phyllo cups are filled with a cream cheese crab mixture and topped with cranberries.  Great combination!


One Christmas Eve dessert was Chocolaty Peppermint Cupcakes.  They were rich but good.  I'm not a fan of frosting (you're in shock, I know) so I didn't care for the frosting but I liked the peppermint and chocolate together.


Our other Christmas Eve dessert was this Eggnog Cheesecake.  Another new recipe.  It's a no-bake cheesecake and the texture is between a cheesecake and a pudding.  Very good.  Hubby LOVED it.


I took this Coffee Cheesecake to our Sunday School Christmas party.  Coffee flavored cheesecake topped with ganache and chocolate covered espresso beans.  Hello!  You'll stay awake all night on that one!  It was very good though and I got rave reviews.


My most favoritest (yes, I know that's not a word!) cookie.  Orange Cranberry Cookies.  So good, people.  I can't even tell you.  You have to taste them for yourselves.  And everyone I've ever given them to loves them as well.  I made these last Christmas too.  Oh, I've never bothered with the glaze that the recipe calls for.  They totally don't need it!


Lastly is another new recipe (surprised, anyone?).  Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cupcakes with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frosting.  You can thank Amanda for this one.  I saw it on her blog and knew I had to try it.  I've never been a cookie dough eater but this. is. good.  And I know I said I'm not a frosting person but I love this one!  You must try it!

Christmas Day

We had a sweet Christmas morning, just the 3 of us, and then went to Hubby's parents house later that afternoon.  Another fun day!

Our Christmas tree before the damage was done.  :)


Being so patient!


And his favorite gift was (surprise, surprise) the guitar!




Another favorite was the snow/leaf blower.


Opening the gift Uncle Joey and Uncle Nilo got him.  Dinosaurs!


The gift he got from Mimi and Papa.  Jungle animals!


Just being cute.



Playing on the floor with Uncle Nilo.



We, of course, had to bring his guitar with us.  The picture doesn't show it but Uncle Joey is playing his guitar and singing and Uncle Nilo is singing as well.  JJ joined in the jam session!




We were blessed with another good Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Every year we spend Christmas Eve with my family and Christmas Day with my Hubby's family.  This year was much like any other year.  Days spent with family, eating lots of food, and opening presents.  And it was perfect.

Mom and I working on our Christmas meal.  JJ stopped in for a quick visit (that's who Mom is making the funny face to).



Patiently waiting to open presents.


Hanging out with Uncle Andrew.


JJ's job was to pass the presents out.


His first piggy bank.  I don't know what I was thinking (I guess I wasn't) but this is the only picture I have of him with a present.  He received many more presents but I just don't have pictures of them.


Watching Grandma and Grandpa open their presents.


Mom made matching aprons for JJ and me.  Everytime I'm in the kitchen (which is a lot!) JJ wants to be there "helping" so matching aprons are perfect!


My parents had a surprise for JJ this year.  After opening up all of the gifts they told JJ to look under the tree outside.  Of course, there was a gift waiting just for him. 


Playing in the wrapping paper was just as much fun as opening the gifts!


JJ took these 2 photos.


Mom and I started the tradition this year of making Pecan Rolls at the end of the night.  The next morning all we have to do is bake them and we'll have pecan rolls for our Christmas morning breakfast!


It was a wonderful day.  I'm so glad my brother got to come home and spend Christmas with us.  It wouldn't be the same without him.  Last year we all spent the night due to a blizzard that came through.  Fun memories.  But I'm glad it didn't take us 6 1/2  hours again to get to my parents house this year!

December 2010 Family Photos

A girl Jorge worked with years ago has recently started a photography business and offered to do some family pictures for us.  We, of course, took her up on the offer and met up in Norman exactly one week before Christmas.  We thought a picture of JJ from the photo shoot would be a great surprise present for our parents.  It was very cold outside that day but I'm so glad we took the time to get them done.  I didn't post all of them but there are still a lot of pictures here.

{this is the one we printed and framed for our parents}