"You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit."

My daughter came home from school today saying this familiar phrase: "You get what you get, and you don't throw a fit."  I had heard these words muttered many times by teachers when kids complain. The only problem was that she was getting some of the words mixed up.  By the time she said it to my husband that evening, it came out as, "You get what you get and don't throw sh#$."

Yikes!

My husband was horrified and asked my daughter where she heard such horrible words.  She promptly talked all about a teacher at preschool.

Later that evening my husband confronted me about our choice in preschools citing the little phrase our daughter had learned from a teacher there.  I laughed and explained that she got the words mixed up.  My husband was relieved when he heard me state the phrase correctly.

I love the sweet and innocent words that come out of the mouths of preschoolers!!

Cookies, cookies and more cookies!

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find the recipe for these beautiful cookies here

My girls and I attended a wonderful little holiday party today.  The party was a cookie decorating party hosted by a sweet friend.  The hostess provided the sugar cookies and each attendee brought a different type of decoration or frosting.  The kids loved decorating and eating cookies that they decorated.  The kids ran wild together after eating their decorated cookies.  It was the perfect holiday get-together for 10 kiddos that are all 4 and under.

Meanwhile, back at home, we have been baking like crazy.  With the addition of great-grandma the past few weeks, we have certainly enjoyed baking with her.  Here are some of our favorites (these are definitely holiday-gift worthy!):

Candy Cane Cookies

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this one is a classic from Betty Crocker

-makes about 4 dozen -

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter 
• 1 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• red food coloring

Procedure

1. Heat oven to 375 F.
2. Mix butter, sugar, egg, and flavorings thoroughly. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting; mix flour and salt; stir into the wet mixture.
3. Divide dough in half; blend red food coloring into one half.
4. Roll a 4-inch strip from each color. For smooth, even strips, roll them back and forth on a lightly floured board. Place strips side by side, press lightly together and twist like rope. For best results, complete cookies one at a time--if all the dough of one color is shaped first, strips become too dry to twist. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Curve top down to form the handle of the candy cane.
5. Bake about 9 minutes, until lightly browned. While still warm, remove from baking sheet with spatula; if desired, sprinkle with a mixture of sugar and/or crushed candy canes.

We also made these delectable treats from i am baker

Oatmeal Cranberry Chocolate Spice Cookies!

They are fabulous!

You can find her yummy recipe here.

This afternoon we will attempt Key-Lime Bars from this month's issue of 

Coastal Living.  I love holiday baking! 

I need to start packing some of these treats up and bring them to the neighbors.  

Otherwise, they seem to end up in my belly!

Fresh air

"I must get out and breathe the air deeply again. "

-Gustav Mahler-

I love the fresh air of Autumn.  It is cool and crisp.  There is something so refreshing and cleansing about the cool breeze that blows through an open window.  It freshens the house and the folks inside.  I eagerly throw open the windows in the morning to breathe the chilly air.

NOW, I understand that this is a cardinal sin among allergy sufferers (like some members of my family).  Who could really forego the fresh morning air blowing in because of a little sneezing?  I know, I know, allergies are really a killer for some but the outside air energizes me and my home.  

Are you as energized by the outside air as I am?

The long weekend

Over the long holiday weekend, we partook in the usual festivities...

We looked at a naked bird before it was fried.

A gingerbread house was built with Busha.

Books were read in the arms of a great-grandmother who doesn't mind reading the same book over and over and over...

Bits of the upcoming holiday began to appear.

We all baked cookies...from scratch.

We watched these 90-year-old hands work magic with flimsy cookie dough.

Sweet treats began to appear.

And many sweet memories were made.  

Warm and Cozy: Easy Pumpkin Muffins

This is the easiest and tastiest recipe I know!  I love easy recipes that you can easily commit to memory.

These are perfect for the holidays and great to have around with family and friends.

This is a 2 ingredient recipe:
1 can of Libbys pumpkin
1 box of spice cake mix (or chocolate)

1. Mix the cake mix with the pumpkin.
2. Don't add anything else!
3. Grease muffin tins or use muffin liners
4. Fill muffin tins about 2/3 of the way full
5. Bake at 350 degrees for about 18 minutes (this is the package instructions for the cake mix) or until a toothpick comes out clean.
6. Cool on a wire rack
7. Serve with a homemade cup of hot cocoa or peppermint latte!

It is the perfect treat on a cold morning!

BONUS!!  This is a Weight Watchers recipe so it is also fairly low in calories.

Did you know?

I love Shutterfly!  I have used them for years to create on-line photo-books.  It is a great way to preserve those sweet memories and create lasting books for your children.  I have made birth-story books for both my children and plan to share them when they are older.

The holiday card selection at Shutterfly is adorable, affordable and so much more updated this year.  They must have hired new designers.  The designs are so fresh and modern...just my style.

Here are some of my favorites:

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Wouldn't this be the perfect birth announcement for Christmastime?

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I love the Nordic color schemes of red, white and green mixed with darling pictures of children.

Did you know that Shutterfly is offering a little perk to bloggers this year?  Check it out here!

Thankful...

I am so thankful for the little girl who recently wore this around her neck at a Thanksgiving Feast at her school...

I love the honesty and true feelings that abound from the heads and hearts of little ones.