The 6 Zees

I was out looking for a birthday gift for a friend and came upon this cute little thing.  I fell in love.

Its a cutting board with a cheese knife.  I had to have it!  Now I have to go get some cheese and crackers ;)

Earl:

He's hiding by Rachel's bed.  They had a hard time finding him this morning.

Advent Calendar:

Visiting Santa

Earl:

Laura is afraid of Earl, so Earl decided to sit by her bedside overnight ;)

Advent Calendar:

Watched The Polar Express

Earl:


Advent Calendar:

I left instructions with Eric that I wanted Earl to have shoes.  I wanted something that would cover his bandaid (an unfortunate accident with a light bulb last year), but Eric found these lovely ski (?) boots for him.  Guess The Designer Elf needs to come a callin'.

The girls thought his boots were extra cool so they decided to add a necklace.  He is comfortable with his manliness...

Earl:

Frisky Earl got himself a girlfriend.

Advent Calendar:

Christmas Card pictures taken.

Earl:

No peeking kitty cat!

Advent Calendar:

The girls read stories to each other out of this book:

Earl:


Advent Calendar:

Homemade Cocoa and Cookies, while watching Christmas Vacation.

Found these great looking cookies at Bashas.

Helping me make the hot cocoa.

I had the smaller one in the middle, the gingerbread.  Nummmnummmmnummy!

Earl:

Hanging out in Lauras room

Advent Calendar:

Gingerbread House:  Stage Two

I wasnt home and the camera was in my purse so I missed getting pictures of them decorating the house.  But Eric took a couple with his cell phone.

Eric did the front door. I love the pistachio flowers and the vanilla wafer bush, and the raisin walkway.  And yes he did use fondant for the door, window and path!

Rachel's side

Taryn's side

Proud house builders.  (I cant believe it stayed in one piece!!)

Earl:

Trying to stay cool

Advent Calendar:

Gingerbread House:  Stage One

I laughed at him, thinking there was no way a gingerbread house could stay together long enough to decorate.  He did something I have never done before.... read the directions.

And he used soup cans to keep it together so they dry.  We have to wait for it to dry??

Then he left it overnight (!!!!) before decorating.  And guess what?  It stayed together overnight!  So impressive!

Earl:

Getting his notes together for Santa

Advent Calendar:

CHOCOLATE!

Earl:
Advent Calendar:

We watched a Christmas movie.  It was awful!  It had Marcia Brady in it...  We had pizza and popcorn while watching.  The adults had beer ;)

Earl:

Mischievous Earl getting into the marshmallows and doing some building.

Advent Calendar:

I read to the girls How the Grinch Stole Christmas and then we made Grinch Cookies.

Earl:

He's Baaack!

Advent Calendar:

The girls were to write their wish lists and then we were going to read the story about Earl.

Rachels Wish List

Taryns Wish List

Rachel also drew a picture for Santa so Earl can take it back with him.

Since half of our family had to work Thanksgiving, we decided to have our Thanksgiving that Sunday.  Boy am I glad we decided to wait.  It was the most perfect Thanksgiving ever for me.  All the food turned out great, and it was completely stress free.  What a fantastic day!!

I made a dutch apple pie.  I found a clearanced apple peeler/corer/slicer at Bed Bath Beyond and couldnt wait to use it.  It was the easiest apple pie I have ever made!

Garrett wanted pumpkin.  He gave me a list of foods he had to have.

Making my mother-in-law's famous stuffing.  It turned out just the way she makes it.  I was in heaven.

Thank you Pinterest for this great idea for a veggie tray.

Eric making deviled eggs.

The menu and schedule.

Garrett and Rachel making the meat and cheese tray.

Taryn working hard on the Playdough Desserts.

Daddy got a great ice cream for all the hard work he was doing.

Time to snack.

Laura making the cranberry sauce.

Making biscuits.

Garrett resting after his culinary experience.  Watching football.

We had to cook our turkey out on the balcony since we dont have much kitchen space.

Gorgeous!  And the turkey isnt half bad either.

My biscuits.

Our beautiful table, with my china <3 p="p">