Date night

 As we drove away, the kiddos chorused, "Stay out till 1am!"  Yeah, we can't make that anymore!  We went to Bd's Mongolian BBQ.  Oh, was that good!

 Another of Brad and Mari's favorites shared...Caribou Coffee.  Other customers were hard at work studying...not us!  We sat by the fireplace and enjoyed fellowship...really, we were enjoying our conversations...even though it looks like we were debating or enduring.  Ha ha ha!

We didn't quite make it to 1am...it was more like we were heading home at 10:30pm.  Yawning...but still awake...and this time, the caffine didn't keep me awake! Yahooo!

On the seventh day of December...

it is all about Chevy...and some unplanned issues to deal with that he has caused me!  (Once again...you have to creatively fit the words to the tune and vice versa)  He's cute, isn't he!?  He had a spa day...that ended up costing me twice what I was planning on.  The gal was looking him over and found "flea dirt".  Eeek, I treated him...I explained I had found a flea on him.  Oh...and we had moved into a home in which the previous owner's also had a dog. (Duh)  Didn't think about fleas on our cleaning day...could have treated before all the furniture came in!  Drat!  She explained that the fleas were bad this year due to the mild winter last year.  Then I remembered the problem with fleas from years ago...Michigan soil...sandy...fleas thrive!  Double drat!  So...a special flea bath and a can of treatment equaling the cost of my initial spa plan...Chevy is all purtied up and I got the house, rugs, blankets all treated, washed, and vacuumed.  I can't stop itching now...maybe I need a flea bath!  I was fine this morning...but then our nice, new groomer lady showed me we had a little problem.
Isn't that something....sometimes....someone has to point out that we have a real problem before we know to deal with it!  My day got changed around...but I was able to take care of things before we all were suffering from the affects of fleas. 

Oh for the love of carbs!

 1/2 teaspoon of yeast...that is all!  Mix the ingredients and let sit for 12-18 hours.

 This morning...ready to knead and let raise for an hour or so.

 Rested, raised, and ready to bake...in a pre-heated dutch oven with a lid.

 I sprayed the hot pan with cooking spray...afraid it would stick!

 40 minutes to bake with the lid on and 10-15 with it off.

The house (well, trailer) smells divine!  I am exerting will power to not cut into it...and save it for supper!  An artisan looking loaf of bread...thanks again, pinterest!  We'll let you know how it tastes!

On the sixth day of December

making Christmas cards, doing a Christmas project...for school, listening to Christmas music, enjoying....all...the lights....

Santa Claus came to our town last night! Really...we saw him!

 Every year our city has a tree lighting, special activities for families, and Santa comes with a police escort!

 The local high school band played several Christmas carols and songs.  They sounded great!

 The mayor kept moving around and every picture was blurry.  Uncle Brad is standing next to him ready to have a word of prayer...yes, prayer!  For the last several years, he leads the singing of fun Christmas songs and carols with those who have gathered.  There was a good group from our church to sing with him...his back-up singers...ha, ha, ha.  The mayor introduced us as the "entertainment for the night" which made us laugh.

 Teddy and his friend were asked to countdown as the microphone was popped in their face..."you know how to count backwards, right?!"  The lights came on and the lead singer started "You Better Watch Out..."

 Santa couldn't seem to stand still either...turning and waving and such...maybe he was making sure the reindeer that pulled his sleigh was cared for...or the two guys that helped push the sleigh were breathing ok!

We headed into the community center that was all set up with a place to see Santa, tables with kid crafts, and as Ted called it "an open bar" which was hot chocolate, water bottles, and treats.  We stood and sang carols for awhile as people came in and found a place.  There were MANY people that came!  What a neat opportunity to touch the community and city leaders!

On the fifth day of December...

shiny, sharp Christmas pencils for our hard-working students.  It is more fun to work with festive tools!

"Turn off your pinterest app and come to bed..."

 But after another successful recipe try-out...I don't think he really means it!  Ha ha ha!

 Have you tried the chocolate Chex cereal?  YUM with just milk poured over it!  BUT...

 add caramel, two kinds of chocolate, and a sprinkling of sea salt...and it is...well...very good!

I won't write the original name of the recipe...but Sticky-pile-of-sweetness works for us!

On the fourth day of December...

carols played by Ashlynn.  I love listening to the girls play!  Ashlynn is adding to her Christmas repertoire this year..."O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"...and it is lovely.

On the third day of December...

I'll have a little fun...with a special treat for my funny sis!  Is Santa shushing or correcting?   Naughty or nice?  Dirty or clean?  Loud or quiet?  Funny or Serious?

On the second day of December...

     pi--zza for supper!  

It has fast become our Sunday night tradition.

On the first day of December...

 we begin to spread some cheer...with Christmas card-making...

                                                                        artificial deer lighting...

                                         crazy Elf watching...while eating supper in the living room...

                                                             and finally drinking our dessert!  (In order for the words to fit the music and the music to fit the words...you have to really be creative!)

It was a busy day for the kiddos...Christmas program practice, chores, and shopping with Dad.  It was fun to crash tonight and enjoy an evening at home.

Since my sis wasn't thinking about pictures...

 and I was...I will post for her!  We had our Ladies Christmas Brunch and Glove Exchange today.  I dressed up a pair of plain gloves with beads...does it look like a snowflake?  The gal who picked them thought so! 

 We didn't have snow on this December 1st...but we had fog!  So glad to not see a rudolph though on our little drive on country-like roads.

 Such a neat idea...have different ladies decorate the different tables!  Each different with unique touches!  I contributed the peppermint and snowflake table.

 Love this one...she cut a rectangle tablecloth into strips...a great alternative to having to go on a special trip to the party store for a round one!

                                                       The little angels were handmade favors.

                                                                                 Snow....

                                                                              Trees...

                                                                      Poinsettias...

                                                                      Snowmen...

 All sorts of special packages...holding a wide variety of pretty gloves and mittens.

          French toast bake, egg bake, baked oatmeal, chicken salad or ham and cheese croissants, cheese and crackers, fresh fruit, juice, wassail, coffee, and hot chocolate bar.   The teen girls helped serve and were so sweet.

                                                       All the places were filled, save two!

 Mari talked about "What is Christmas?  What does it mean to you?  What memories are you making for your children and grand-children?"  Listening to this group of ladies sing "Away In a Manger" brought chills...it was beautiful!  Then we played the Glove Exchange Game.  The room burst into laughter when Mari said that her sister said that it could also be called the Dirty Santa Game.  I turned shades of red while shaking my head "NO, it is called the Naughty Santa."  We had a fun time!  Lots of plotting and stealing cute gloves and mittens!
We chatted as we cleaned up, "Put a microphone in front of me and you never know what you will hear!  I'm not good at public speaking."  I beg to differ!!!

 A nice way to start the month of December!  And when it was time to leave...the fog had burned off!

I was one of the "naughty ones" who stole these glove-mittens...I liked the flower, fingers are free for the iphone, and they will match my new coat!