Santa!!!

First Christmas with 2 kids (2007)  I can't believe how big they have grown!

This year has been the best year for Christmas with the kids so far. They really understand the whole concept of naughty and nice and really thought about what they wanted from Santa. When they went up to talk with Santa they were both so polite and only asked for the one thing that they really wanted. Santa was a little shocked considering that the little boy and girl before them actually had a two page typed list of the things they wanted.

Ginderbread Trailer Park in "Thor-nado alley"

We began constructing our annual gingerbread house this year and encountered some serious structural issued due to the inadequate hardening of our royal icing. We decided to adjust fire after about 30 minutes and change our vision.

Bean with her brightly decorated tree, gingerbread girl and snowman.

Thor seems surprised but its just his difficulty giving a genuine smile to the camera these days.

Here is the top of our Gingerbread Trailer. So much easier to put together and if its decorated slightly gaudy- no one in the neighborhood judges.

Mission complete! Casa de Nielsen is a magnificently decorated holiday centerpiece. Until.......

Nope, still beautiful. And then......

Thor slipped and his chin crashed into the roof of our trailer. It was like nothing I have ever seen. Thankfully I was well rested and already had my expectations of a perfect gingerbread mansion thoroughly dashed. After checking to see if he was ok I just laughed. Baleigh was crushed and kept saying "but its not beautiful anymore". I felt bad for her because she had worked so hard on making it just so.

Thanksgiving Time 2011

The week prior to Thanksgiving Jake's mom Diane came to visit us for 2 weeks. It was fun having an extra adult in the house. Jake and I managed to get out to see the new Twilight movie together which was so nice and we even got out to do a little Holiday shopping.

Its so convenient having a second vehicle so that we don't have to juggle who is going to have the car when. Everyone was able to go do fun things while I took the bike to work - luckily here in Texas there is only about a 2 week span of time when riding is out of the question. Jake and Grandma D. and the kids went to the Circus, saw Happy Feet 2, and went to 2 story times during the week while I was at work.

Thanksgiving was the typical feasting day we have come to know and love. I did very little prep this year and we still managed to eat by 12:30PM. We had a 13 lb turkey, stuffing, corn casserole, waldorf salad, mashed potatoes, gravy, potato buns (Jake's Mom's family recipe), and cranberries in a can and pumpkin pie. We discovered that Baleigh LOVES cranberry sauce when she at an entire can by herself. Good thing I got two cans I guess. Next year I am hoping we are home and I can host a giant family get together. I have been dying to do this for years and I may just get my chance- hope our house is big enough for ton of people.

We watched Christmas movies and lounged around all day. And for several day afterwards. It was so nice to just relax.

We went to see the Nature In Lights on Baleigh's Birthday and she cracked us all up with one of her comments. The picture below is of the entrance that has lighted decorations over the road. Baleigh's response was "look at the floating mustache!"

                                                 The "Floating Mustache"

Our Baleigh Bean is 4!

 Riding her new big girl bike. She loves it!

 Planting corn at story time.

 Sharing cupcakes with the kids at story time. They were a big hit!

I know the candle says Three - we just couldn't find the 4 candle.

Whataweekend!

 This past weekend I had 4 days off and it was glorious! The kids and I finished painting our nativity set that we started earlier this year. The kids did everything but the wise men ( I snatched those guys up). Baleigh was so proud of her baby Jesus and Thor created the most technicolor angel in existence- I'm sure of it! Both of them are getting quite good at painting and following directions when it comes to these types of activities.

We followed that activity up by throwing together some delicious home made pizza. The kids rolled the dough out, spread the sauce and topped it with the cheese and pepperoni. Baleigh even measured out all the ingredients for the pizza dough- then we just hit the switch and let the dough hook put it all together for us. She is becoming quite the little chef. She helps Jake made dinner every day and LOVES getting to assist in the kitchen whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Saturday we broke out the wooden letters that Grandma Jill had sent down a while back along with some paints. Both kids had a ball painting their T and B a rainbow of colors. They packed them away to hang up in their new rooms in their new house when we get there. They both are super excited to be moving close to cousins and to a new house. They talk about it quite often so I think when the time comes they are going to really enjoy the move.

Sunday afternoon we decided to start with our Christmas baking even if it was 80degrees outside. We made a few Halloween cookies since we never got around to those at Halloween and Grandma Cori had sent some cool Halloween cookie cutters. We went old school with the decorating and I mixed up egg whites with food coloring and we painted the cookies. They turned out quite well. This is a little trick I remembered my Aunt Nancy showing us way back when. I have very vivid memories of a home school meeting at her house where all the kids got to cut out pumpkin shaped cookies and paint them like Jack O' Lanterns. Its funny the things that stick in your mind.

Today we just spent chilling and not doing much of anything but it was the perfect way to top off 3 days of what appears to be a ton of painting. It didn't start off with that as the plan I can assure you- Anything to keep the kids busy and out of trouble. : )

I did manage to sneak in a lunch with a good friend before she left for deployment today. I am going to miss having her around. She was one of the few people I am close with down here. I hope that our lives cross paths again in the future.

Trick Or Treat

Trick or treating was an absolute blast this year. The kids had a ball running up to houses begging for candy and Baleigh was consistent in announcing what she got and that she said "thank you" every time she ran back to us at the end of the driveway.

This is our little Ben Tennyson and Princess Bubblegum. Couldn't ask for more beautiful children.

A different kind of Christmas

Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods -- merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is! It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local American hair salon or barber? Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some health improvement. Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a book of gift certificates. Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course. There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day. My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is struggling to get his repair business up and running. OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes. Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre. Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands. Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to burn, leave the mailman, paper carrier, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip. You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.