Living Life One Cheerio at a Time

I love the traditions we have at Christmas.  I've tried out a few and they have fallen by the wayside, but some have stuck. Traditions I've not kept... Having the children buy gifts for one another....too many kids, to much hassle Opening a gift on Christmas Eve (this is one from my childhood) 4 gifts only (something to do, read, wear, and fun)...I try but I'm much better at sticking to a budget. Sorry some kids get 47 gifts and some get 1. It evens out in the end. BUT the teacher in me always gets them a book.... Traditions we've kept... Going to a Christmas Eve service Getting a new Christmas ornament each year for each kid that signifies something special from that year. Baking sugar cut out cookies from the recipe that my Jr. Church leader used to make when I was a kid. So this year, I decided we'd do something new. I'm really trying to instill a servant's heart in my kids. And t...

Today is the 10th and the challenge is finding beauty in the ordinary for 10 hours. Well I always like to make up a few of my own rules and so I added a few more pictures. I am Linking up with others' beautiful days  Here ... Lunches Coffe to go First time I made eggs in a muffin tin. Loved the idea but wouldn't pair it again with a blueberry bagel. Although the mini bagel was the perfect size.  A morning game with the bus stop gang What was really going on...unfolded laundry and 3 games spread out Cbs leaders council  Heading to preschool #2's orphan socks  Updating this craft for this house Cookie social at #2's school...snicker doodles A fancy apron  Dance party A ballerina  Someone wants fancy hair for her Christmas program tomorrow 

Sooo.... I've not been happy with my chocolate chip recipe.   So I've been scouring Pinterest and experimenting.  Let's be honest the hubs and the kids haven't minded too much!  But I've finally come to a perfected cookie. The hubs likes a more cake like cookie. I on the other hand like a crispy one that holds up in a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of milk.  I will share this joy with you. I basically use the toll house chocolate chip recipe with a few changes. 2 1/4 cups flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 cup butter (1 stick) 1/2 cup crisco 3/4 cup brown sugar 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups chocolate chips (or 1 cup chocolate chips/1 cup m & m's) Preheat oven to 375*. Add dry ingredients into a bowl. Beat sugars and butter/Crisco until creamy. Add eggs one at a time.  Gradually add dry ingredients .Stir in morsels. Place on lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 9-11 minut...

Annual cookie baking has begun. It took us a few days to finish all the fun. We rolled out dozens and dozens of sugar cookies.  Then the frosting and decorating...or as we like to refer to it as sugar coma inducing time. the VERY serious supervisor of the elves Nothing like purple, yellow, green and blue to say Merry Christmas! The frosting is thick and the toppings are too! Lots of sugary fun! Even though this may be a crazy time of the year taking time to make these memories with my kids is so worth it all. Merry Christmas to all our family and friends from the Cheerio gang!

A nagging thought. Your heart beats a little faster. You can't ignore it. You don't know where it came from or why, BUT you know who. It's the urging of the Holy Spirit. It doesn't always make sense to you  or it isn't always convenient. That was last Thursday for me. Well, lets be honest I may have been ignoring that voice for a few days. I had a plan and THIS was not working into the plan. Besides do you know how crazy Thursday's are for me? They are super busy and I barely make it out of the door alive or in one piece. I am on my way to Bible study as soon as I get the older two on the bus. I usually throw dinner in the crock pot (if I don't forget) and I have to make lunches for the littles to eat in the car ride home. I mean it is CRAZY! I was making bean soup and forgot to soak the beans the night before. This urging was just going to have to be ignored. But that would be disobedient. So I thought if I get all this stuff done I could possible do...

Today was a snow day for my kids. It was cold and blustery so we needed to make up our own fun. We did some crafts and cookies. We didn't go anywhere but Jesus came out and found himself so great photos opportunities. Jesus photo bombed the middles that were enjoying there 456th trip to time out. Always catch up on all the traveling and non traveling Jesus posts here....