Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Last Few Days

We have had a very full and lovely last few days. It is evening and the kitchen is dark but I wanted to show you the little darling one of my girls put under the tree for me. Ain't she sweet?


We spent two days baking. Four kinds of cookies and toffee too.





The girls start baking as soon as they can sit up at the table. I just make the dough and they, along with a neighbor girl who has baked with us for 11 years, roll out, cut out and decorate. I love it. I run a tough kitchen don't I?


My oldest bakes the gingerbread men every year. This year we tried a very old recipe which made the best we have baked yet. I will have to share it.


Christmas Eve came and we let the kids each open one gift of my choosing. Usually jammies or slippers or maybe robes.


My SIL wraps things so beautifully. This girl loves owls so her gifts were in owl themed wrap. I am more of a wrap in what's handy and slap a sticky bow on it kind of gal.








Despite having a head cold that hit me hard Christmas Eve, we somehow made it through a party that night and hosting almost 20 people on Christmas day. If my husband had not dived in big this year and helped me shop, wrap and get the house ready, I fear things would not have went as smoothly as they did. Hope you all had a Merry Christmas. We did and are now in our jammies watching TV and resting. Whew!

35 comments:

  1. What a beautiful family you have Elaine! I am so glad you had a wonderful CHristmas:>) Wishing you a blessed and happy New Year too.

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  2. God bless your beautiful family, Elaine. It looks like those girls are having so much fun even if you are a slave driver!;>) Blessngs-xo Diana

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  3. Love all your photos, but I especially like the one of you with your youngest. Precious! Merry Christmas to you.

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  4. It's so hard to sit back, enjoy Christmas ... and get everything done when you are sick...so I'm glad your husband stepped up and gave you a hand! Those gingerbread cookies look delicious...I love good gingerbread. And your toaster is so cool!

    Glad to hear that you and your beautiful family had a lovely Christmas.

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  5. Your girls are beautiful. Sounds like you had a wonderful day. I stayed in my jammies all day today also.
    Blessings to you.

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  6. Elaine, your girls look like they know their way around the kitchen and how to have fun. Precious family!

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  7. beautiful packages...beautiful girls. Love the cookie making with the kids. I think it says a lot about your family to have a tradition of baking that includes a neighborhood kid! I love it.
    When my kids were home, Elaine, I always had extras here that wanted to take up space on my couch. But they were never ever too lazy to help out either.(and if they were, they were quickly given a chore or the door) I never ever just let a kid loaf around at my house...I respected them enough to give them some responsibility in my home. :)
    Jammies and rest, sounds good. That's what we did today too.

    Pat

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  8. Oh ...P.S.

    I loved the little toaster! So cute and it fits right in with your kitchen.

    I ramble...Pat

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  9. Beautiful girls. Love the clock. Think your daughter would go to my blog and leave a comment letting me know where to find one. I love it. The cookies look great.

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  10. You have beautiful daughters, Elaine. Little Q. is the spitting image of you! Oh my, I'd love to see a pic of you at that age just to compare. And your SIL does wrap pretty presents. xo

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  11. Elaine,
    The girls are all so pretty! Just like Mama! I loved this post. I am glad you had such a nice Christmas. But sorry to hear you caught a cold. Take care of yourself, and rest. I stayed home all day today. It was lovely.
    Hugs,
    Kris

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  12. You do have a beautiful family. I love that you have taught them to bake. I never learned as a kid so my whole life I have hated baking. But lately, I am enjoying it more.

    I do hope that you are feeling tip top soon!

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  13. We always take a family vacation for Christmas and so I do the baking beforehand and take it along. This year we were flying so no baking before and we did no baking while we were away. That was the only thing missing for us for Christmas. There are certain things we only bake at Christmas. I guess I will have to do some baking this week.

    Hope your Christmas was Merry.

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  14. We always take a family vacation for Christmas and so I do the baking beforehand and take it along. This year we were flying so no baking before and we did no baking while we were away. That was the only thing missing for us for Christmas. There are certain things we only bake at Christmas. I guess I will have to do some baking this week.

    Hope your Christmas was Merry.

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  15. What fun! Your girls are sweet and your husband is a treasure!

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  16. Beautiful family, lovely traditions. Wishing you joy in 2013!
    Shawn
    p.s. feel better :)

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  17. How lovely! Glad you had such a wonderful Christmas. Happy New Year!

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  18. What a lovely family, Elaine. Looks like a great Christmas, and I'm in love with the Toast Master.

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  19. Your girls are all so beautiful and looks like everyone had a fabulous Christmas. I hope you have a very Blessed New Year. Hugs, Marty

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  20. I hope you are feeling better today! What beautiful young ladies with beautiful smiles! Love your little one with that sweet innocent look, too. And your aprons are all so pretty! Enjoy the rest of the week and your sweet family! Hugs!

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  21. Such a pretty family. Looking forward to that gingerbread recipe.

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  22. you have a beautiful family. Sorry about the cold though ( our grandchildren were all sick)Thank you for sharing at the hop xo P.S. I love gingerbread

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  23. Beautiful pictures. I think time in the kitchen with family is my favorite part of the season.
    Your daughters did a fantastic job with your gift! love it!

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  24. You have a beautiful family. I still do sugar cut out cookies with my grandchildren. Even my 16 year old grandson said, "this is a lovely tradition." Thanks for sharing. Wishing you and your family the best in the new year.

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  25. Elaine I enjoyed this post so much. Making cookies is always such fun! Your family is lovely and I know you had a great time despite the cold. Hope you've had time to rest!
    hugs, Linda

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  26. Absolutely loved the beautiful pics of your family!
    The "toast master" is just adorable!!

    May 2013 be the best ever for you and your family!

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  27. Blessings, Elaine!
    What a darling post. I love your pretty red toaster! Your daughter sure knows your style!
    Look at those delicious cookies! Those gingerbreadmen are wonderful. Your daughter did a perfect job. I can't get over how tidy your kitchen looks amidst all the activity. I'm afraid when I baked mine was in shambles!
    What beautiful girls you have been blessed with...all four of them!
    I hope you are feeling better and enjoying cuddling up in you jammies with your girls.
    Have a wonderful week, my friend!
    Carolynn xxx

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  28. Hi Elaine,

    You have such a beautiful family. The girls are gorgeous! I hope you are feeling better by now. I'm co-hosting this week with Katherine at Thursday Favorite Things. Wishing you all the best in 2013.

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  29. Lovely lovely family ....and those cookies don't look too bad either! :)

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  30. Your daughters are just lovely, Elaine! It certainly looked like everyone was having fun.

    Hope you are feeling better! Have a very Happy New Year!
    Carol

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  31. Im so behind from getting our harvest in & then Christmas...and now I have your cold!!
    I am in love with your toaster/clock too!!!
    And what about that recipe?? I dont care if Christmas IS over...I think gingerbread anything is good!

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  32. Oh Elaine, your family is just darling. And do I ever love that gift you found under the tree. My girls and I have a tradition of making candy every Christmas. Memories to cherish. I'm sure you agree! Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  33. Hi Elaine, forgot I wanted to ask if you knew where your daughter got your darling toaster? It is a toaster, right?
    Hugs,
    Jann

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  34. Hi Elaine, just popping back to let you know that I will be featuring you at Share Your Cup today.
    Hugs,
    Jann

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