Merry Belated Christmas, A Happy New Year and A Fun Christmas Story

I thought I'd stop by with a note to say I'm sorry we missed wishing you a Merry Christmas, but I'm getting in an early Happy New Year unless you're down under and then I'm just on time! 

I love Christmas Day!  The kids are always so excited and we just love to watch their faces light up.  We spend Christmas morning at home and then go to my mom's for Christmas dinner and presents.  Things were a bit rough, but when you take for granted you always have yeast and flour and those things are somehow missing from the pantry shelves you become inventive to make rolls.  So I sent Hoss to my sister's to procure flour and found some yeast in the back of the cabinet that may been a wee bit past expiration date.  No worries the rolls turned out amazing.  

We made it to my mom's a wee bit late, but all was good.  Things turned a bit interesting when the gifts began to be unwrapped.  I was helping keep the kids stocked with gifts and had not opened a few of mine.  When I finally sat back and began to unwrap I received some nice cookie sheets and a few other gifts, but the one that took my breath away, the one that really made me beam as bright red as Rudolph's nose was this....

And not in a good way.  You see my lovely vanilla mom provided this gift to me and my sister.  Both very vanilla folks.  They had no idea what Hoss would do or think once he saw what would turn out to be more for him than me.  I quickly thanked my mom and shoved it behind me trying desperately to tame my coloring and not show Hoss.  Thankfully no one was worse for the wear until we arrived home.   Hoss was super excited when his eyes feasted on the bounty before him.  

I know your HOH's would drool too!  So which implement do you think drew his eye?  I'll let you all decide and you can comment below.  Also, just so you know some will be in our kitchen, cannot have my mom thinking her gift went to waste.  Hoss can be so generous sometimes, lol!

Have a great New Year's and stay safe!

Love,

Hoss and Baker

A Sweeter Approach to Sunny's Meme

Abby over at Finally Finding Me suggested I might just do this meme.  Seeing I'm exhausted, sick in bed for like the third day in a row and the meds make me alert, but unable to function except to keep me bug eyed, it is an AWESOME time to do a meme.  So I will do the bestest I can under the current circumstances and if things seem wonky, they are most probably are!

1. What was the last thing you put in your mouth?  

This, my friends, looks almost identical to what our oldest son

 brought down to me a short while ago, he claims it's his new specialty.  

Peppermint hot chocolate.  Yummm!

2. Where was your profile picture taken? Our front porch.

3. Worst pain?  Last c-section I had, as I came down with complications afterwords.  No fun at all.

4. Favorite place you've traveled?

Cades Cove in the Smoky Mountains, particular favorite is Abram's Falls.

5. How late did you stay up last night? Um, maybe 9:30?  I was exhausted.

6. If you could, would you move? We would love to move out into the country.  Would love more area for the kids to explore.

7. Favorite toy as a child?

A snoopy dog similar to this one.

8. Favorite TV show as a kid?

Saturday morning cartoons, especially these two!

9. How do you feel right now? Um, no one wants to know that, so I'll say fair to middling, but more like death warmed over.  Thanks for asking.

10. When was the last time you cried?

Watching this movie about a month ago.  Hoss and I were both blubbering at the end.  Highly recommend it if you like a good documentary.

Though there are a few spankings lately that have made me rather teary.

11. Who took your profile picture? One of our sons.

12. Who is the last person you took a picture with? The whole family.

13. What's your favorite season?

Autumn

14. If you could have any career, what would you pick? Being a mom and I'm doing that!

15. Do you think relationships are worth it? I've learned something from each and everyone, so of course.  The other thing about this one is, you never know what you're going to get: a one chance meet or a life long friend!

16. If you could talk to ANYONE right now who would it be? My Grandma.  She's gone and I really miss her cooking, her wisdom and her comfort.

17. Are you a good influence?  I have no clue.  Maybe?

18. Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Yes, if you have ham and a thin crust.

19. You have the remote, what are you watching right now?

Christmas movies right now, 

but normally I do not watch anything very often.

20. Who do you think will play along? 

Seems everyone else has, maybe Amy needs to give it a go or Ella.  

They both usually know how to make us giggle.

Sunny additionally asks one new question: 

Do you open presents Christmas Day or Christmas Eve.? Kids get to open a gift from a sibling on Christmas Eve and then everything else on Christmas Day.

Abby’s question is: 

Do you have a favorite Christmas decoration?

I love the handmade ones from the kids.  

Thanks Sunny for the meme and thanks Abby for suggesting I participate.  I needed a wonderful distraction this afternoon!

--Baker

Friends

Blogland seems to be having a bit of a rough go at it this Christmas season.  Between Roz's mom's passing and Lindy's health situation we've had a rough couple of weeks, you all.  So I'm just dropping in to offer some encouragement.  When things are rough, I love to try and find something to giggle about, or use my words to lift someone else up.  So most of you know I love memes, so I've listed some to help cheer the spirit and also to remind you to continue to pray for our dear friends.

 Particularly for our own Scrappy Doo, Roz

And for Lindy from Down Under!

(sneaking Abby in here as well)

And just so you ladies know....

Hugs and prayers!  Thankful to call you friends!

--Baker

Great Online Cookie Exchange

Hey, you all, it's time for the Great Online Cookie Exchange.  I have never participated before, but with a name like Baker I thought I'd better live up to the name.  So I have posted below a yummy recipe for lemon bars.  If you have any questions please feel free to either email me or leave it in the comments.  

INGREDIENTS:

Crust
2 sticks of butter
2 cups flour
1/4 to 1/3 cup lemon juice
1/2 to 2/3 cup powdered sugar

Filling
4 eggs
1/2 cup lemon juice
2 cups sugar
4 tbsp flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS:

Melt butter. Add powdered sugar, lemon juice and flour. Mix well. Press into bottom of 9 x 13 pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes at 350 degrees.

Beat eggs slightly, add lemon juice and vanilla. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Mix with egg mixture and pour on top of hot crust. Bake 25 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and sprinkle with powdered sugar. 


Lindy at Downunder Dreaming, http://donwunderdreaming.blogspot.com/did a gluten free variety trial run for me as well and simply substituted gluten free flour in place of the regular flour I used and a dairy free spread instead of butter.  She attested it was super yummy.  Here is her pic she sent me (without the powdered sugar).

Others participating blogs:

Baker (You are here!)

Bleue

blossom

Bogey and Bacall

Cat

collaredmom

DelFonte

Ella

Greengirl

Jz

Katie

Kelly

Lindy

Mrs. Fever

Ms Dixie Wrecked

nilla

Olivia

ronnie

Ryan

Sassy

selkie (recipe here)

Thank you Jz for hosting this fun event!  Thanks Cat for helping me figure out the whole computer techy stuff.

I'm suggesting to Hoss we do this, pretty sure he will veto the ice skating and the snow angels, lol!  He'd probably also recommend I make the cookie dough, but the snuggling, well, I'm certain he would not turn me down for that!

Thanks for stopping by and I'm sure with the time zones the posts will most likely show up at different times, just in case you are wondering.  Hope you find a few to try out for the holidays!  Happy baking!

--Baker

I Said No, and No Means NO!

Okay, so I know the title could mean a number of things, but I’m pretty sure not what any of you are truly thinking.  See Sunday afternoons around here can be pretty hectic or very relaxing depending on what is going on.  Sometimes we are rushing around trying to get ready for the week.  Sometimes we are just chillaxing (I know that is hard to believe, but every so often it happens) and taking the day slow.  Church, a little football game on tv, a nap.  Those kind of things. Sometimes one of us is grocery shopping, helping kids with last minute school or sports related stuff, making sure everyone has laundry for the next day, etc.

Well, this past Sunday, we had one of those where I was doing stuff around the house and Hoss was watching tv and napping intermittently (it was one of those times when he needed the extra rest as he had worked the night before as well as that morning).  I received a phone call while grocery shopping.  Oops, I forgot to wake him up from his nap at 2:45.  Okay, no worries. Kids woke him up (ugh! That could be good, could be bad, but he seemed in a good mood.)  I said I was on my way, but then I got distracted and took longer than I expected.

I arrive home asked the kids to put the groceries away and went to check on my man.  Let’s just say Hoss was very ready for me to be home and not because of the kids.  So, door was locked and things began to happen.  Very nice things (says Baker blushing).

Knock, knock….

(No, it’s not a knock, knock joke!)

“Yes!” I call through the door in the middle of…..

“Mommy!”  followed by our youngest going on about some very minor insignificant thing.

“Go upstairs, tell so and so, mommy’s busy right now!”

“Daddy!”  (smart kid!)

Hoss laughs, “Listen to Mommy, go tell….”

As soon as we hear his little feet pad back towards the stairs we resume the very nice things.  Whispering softly back and forth to one another, giggling softly.

Knock, Knock…..

(No joking, it had been less than two minutes!)

“Mommy!” frantically yelled through the door by our youngest daughter.

“What?”  I yell just as frantically desperately trying to multi-task.

“B ran over my hand with the wagon!”

“Are you hurt?”  We both pause here.  No real crying going on, just a few recovering hiccups (and that was from Hoss--Just teasing, he was fine.)

“There’s a little skin coming off!”

“Okay, go see if R can look it over!”

“Okay!”  She runs (she’s always running) up the stairs.

Ah, where were we?  Oh, yes.  More sweet caresses and oh, so many delightful things and the words, that man knows how to….

Knock, Knock….

(Are you kidding me!)

“What!”  This time the niceness in my voice has totally worn off.

“Can I have something to eat!”

“Yes, and please tell everyone else that Mommy and Daddy are busy!”

Sigh!  That should take care of things as we hear him yell it to his siblings on his way upstairs.  Hoss smiles at me.  I smile back at him.

“I love you!”

“I love you, too!”  Much fun commences and things are heating up nicely.  He strokes my cheek, kisses me gently then more passiona…..

“Mom!”

Banging on the door.  (We are going to have one less child by the end of the day!  Just joking, but oh, my, our patience is......)

“Mom!”

“NO!” We both holler through the door “Seriously, go upstairs!”

“But I….”

“No!  No, means no!  Now go upstairs!”  Frustration definitely apparent in my voice.  Footsteps sprint to the stairs.

We look at each other and giggle.  We then proceed to finish what we started.  Softly.  Lovingly.  Quietly.

Like I said, not what you expected, but it is what it is….

I love our life.


--Baker

Prayers for Roz

Good Morning, Everyone!

I received an email last evening from our sweet Roz, http://roz-inhishands.blogspot.com/ informing us that her mum had passed away this weekend after a massive stroke the weekend before.  Please join Hoss and me in sending hugs, our love and prayers to Roz, Rick and their family as they go through this difficult time.  The funeral is scheduled for this Thursday (New Zealand time).

With our deepest condolences....

Much love--Baker and Hoss

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just a thought.....

Or two, or four, to amuse you!

Regardless how you spend your Thanksgiving we hope it's a good one!  

For all of those who this is just a normal day for you, have a lovely one too!

Hugs and blessings from Hoss and Baker