Happy Holidays!

Just stopping in for a few minutes to wish everyone Happy Holidays from our family to yours!! Here's a poem that I just love! Enjoy!

'Twas the Night Before Christmas' Mom Style!

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the abode,
Only one creature was stirring, she was cleaning the commode.
The children were sleeping, all snug in their beds,
While visions of X-box 360 and IPODS flipped through their heads.

Dad was snoring in front of the family TV
With a half-constructed bike propped up on his knee.
So only Mom heard the reindeer hooves clatter,
Which made her sigh, 'Now what's the matter?'

With toilet brush still clutched in her hand,
She descended the stairs and saw an old man
All covered with soot, which fell with a shrug'
'Oh great,' muttered Mom, 'now I have to clean up the rug.'

'Ho! Ho! Ho!' cried Santa, 'I'm glad you're awake---
My gift to you was especially difficult to make.'
'Thanks Santa, but all I want is time alone.'
'Exactly!' he chuckled, 'so I've made you a clone.'

'A clone?' she muttered. 'What good is that?'
Now run along Santa, I've no time to chat.'
Then out walked the clone, the dear mother's twin,
Same hair and same eyes, the same double chin.

'She'll cook and she'll dust, she'll mop every mess,
You'll relax, take it easy, watch the Young and Restless.'
'Fantastic!' mom cheered, 'My dream has come true!'
'I'll shop and I'll read and I'll sleep the night through!'

From the room up above, the youngest did fret.
'Mommy come quickly----I'm scared and I'm wet!'
The clone replied, 'I'm coming sweetheart.'
'WOW!' the mom smiled. 'She sure knows her part.'

The clone changed the small one and sung him a tune
As she bundled him up in a blanket cocoon.
'You're the best mommy ever---I really love you!'
The clone smiled and said, 'I love you too!'

The real mom frowned and said 'Santa , no deal!
That's my baby's love that she's trying to steal.'
Smiling wisely Santa said, 'To me it's so clear,
Only one loving mother is needed right here.'

The mom kissed her child and tucked him in bed,
'Thank you so much, dear Santa, for clearing my head',
Knowing time goes too fast ,and it won't be too long,
That her children will no longer need her cradle nor song,

The clock on the mantle then began to chime;
Santa whispered to the clone, 'It works every time.'
And with the clone at his side, Santa said,' Goodnight
Merry Christmas, dear mom, you will be all right!'

Buckeye Balls!!

I've already made two batches of Buckeyes. Oh how I do love these!! I can't remember a time that my mom didn't make these around the holidays. So yummy!

1/2 cup butter, melted
1 pound confectioners' sugar
1 1/2 cups peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
1 tablespoon shortening

Combine the melted butter or margarine, confectioners' sugar, peanut butter and the vanilla together and mix well. Refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. Roll into 1 inch balls and place on waxed paper.
In the top half of a double boiler melt the chocolate chips and shortening, stirring constantly. Use a toothpick to dip balls into the melted chocolate, leaving a small uncovered area so balls resemble buckeyes. Place balls on waxed paper. Use fingers to blend in toothpick holes. Refrigerate until chocolate is firm. Enjoy!

Whirlwind

What a whirlwind the last couple of weeks have been! Last week was just insane. We had two class parties at the kid's schools; one on Tuesday and the other Thursday, Portraits for Isabella on Monday, Portraits for all 3 on Wednesday, my Christmas Card Party Tuesday evening and smack dab in the middle of the week my sweet husband and I actually had an evening to ourselves! We went to the opening of a new club downtown (the owner's wife is a friend of mine). It was nice to get out of the house alone and enjoy each other's company. We had dinner out before heading home.
Here is one of the photos the local newspaper took...Finally, a nice picture of the two of us that I didn't have to take myself!


At the end of the week we surprised the kids with a trip out of town to one of the theme parks right outside of Orlando! We had a great time... it was nice to unwind and just enjoy each other!

I need to desperately finish my Christmas Cards, ship off some stuff that has been put off for one reason or another and well, my laundry is piling up!

I'll share a few layouts, they're from a couple of weeks ago since I haven't had much time to work on anything! This first one is of the cupcakes from my oldest's birthday party last month. This is using the Heidi Grace It's My Birthday line.



And next is my little cutie!!



Well, I'm off to run some errands... Hubby made Chili in the Crock Pot for dinner tonight...I hope to make it home before they've devoured it all! :D