More baking!

Christmas is over and I will try to catch up!

The kids helped me with a lot of my baking before Christmas! 

We decided to bake Spritz cookies...because they LOVE the cookie press!

We decorated them with colored sugars.

The boys lost interest but Emma Taylor made the pretzel treats.

 We also made gingerbread snaps.

We also had time to catch The Peanuts Movie.

We enjoyed all the treats during the holidays and, of course, left some for Santa!

Christmas stuff!

More baking this weekend and I had a little help in the kitchen!

I just used the recipe on the back of the baking mini M&Ms.  They are good, though I prefer regular chocolate chip cookies. 

I also made microwave carmels.  They only take 6 minutes...easy!

Last year I made delicious carmels by a recipe my friend Sherry gave me that were cooked on the stove.  They were perfect!  This year I made a pan of them and they never quite set up.  I was so disappointed as they are better than these microwave carmels.  Still...the microwave carmels are good.

Cameron wrapped his dad's gift and did a great job.

Emma Taylor and Harrison spent the afternoon with us yesterday while Heather worked.  I don't know if I mentioned that Heather is working at Academy Sports in addition to her subbing job.  School is out now so she will not be subbing but is putting in a lot of hours at Academy.

They were counting their gifts and checking them out.



Emma Taylor wants to bake Spritz cookies this afternoon.  They love the cookie press!

Pecan brittle and pajama day!

I spent the entire day yesterday making 11 batches of pecan brittle.

I sent half of it to work with Ben and also spicy pretzels.  I did this years ago and now they have come to expect it.  Lesson learned!  They seem to enjoy it so I guess I'll keep doing it.

Today was pajama day for Cameron at school.

His mom bought him these footie pajamas and he was so proud to wear them.  He was very excited when he left for school this morning!  It was also his class party so he'll be high on sugar when he comes home this afternoon!

Marie's Birthday and Painting Christmas Ornaments

Yesterday was my friend Marie's 70th birthday.  She graduated with Doug and we tease her about being so much older than Doug.  She's such a good sport and a dear friend.

Friends Sharon, Betty and Sarah joined us for lunch at Sweet Tea and Biscuits.

Good to have Betty out and about as she's still having a very hard time with her back pain.  Lunch was delicious!

Heather and I took the kids to paint Christmas ornaments at Wet Paint after school.  We are running a little late in getting them done but they have assured me they will be ready before Christmas.

I'm anxious to see how they turn out. 

The naughty elves of theirs have been up to no good.  Cameron's elf, Timmy, got into the carpet cleaner and made snow angels.

Emma Taylor and Harrison's naughty elf, Snoopy, got into the glitter and made a smiley face on the counter.

Wonder what they'll get into next!

So proud of Cameron!

Cameron made his profession of faith yesterday at church.  He asked Jesus into his heart earlier into the week and met with the children's minister at church.  He went forward yesterday to join the church.  Doug, Ben and I also moved our letter to this church.  He's pictured here with our pastor, Jimmy Henry.

He is anxious to be baptized, though we will probably do that early in January.

I love to see him carrying his Bible...such a big boy!  We are so proud of him for making this decision, the most important decision he will ever make!

Emma Taylor's Chorus Concert

Tuesday morning was ET's chorus and band concert.  They all did a really good job!

She and her friend KK before the concert.

How pretty they looked in their chorus dresses.

She also found out recently that she made the archery team!  It will be interesting to see them compete.  She has her own pink bow and loves to shoot.  Her school has had a very good archery team in the past years and I'm sure she will be an asset to them!

We are heading to Columbus to have lunch with friends Danny and Diane.  Hope you all have a very happy weekend!

Peter's Pottery

Three of my friends and I went to Southaven on Sunday afternoon to Peter Woods' open house.  Peter is the founder and owner of Peter's Pottery.  For those of you who aren't from the area, Peter makes beautiful and functional pottery.

He has opened his house for the past four years as a fundraiser to Wings Breast Cancer Foundation.  His sister passed away from breast cancer and this open house is a tribute to her. 

His house is big and beautiful, around 4,000 square feet, and in a lovely neighborhood of equally beautiful homes!

A welcoming entrance.

I went with friends Jane, Nancy and Betty.  We had to have our picture taken with Peter, of course!  Nancy used to sell Peter's in her booth at Joyful Creations and she and Peter are good friends.

The staircase welcomes you as you enter.

A great view of the entry from the stair landing.

And also a beautiful view of the living room from the other side of the landing.

Wine was served in the living room.

Fruit, chicken salad, shrimp cocktail and little tarts were served in the kitchen area, much of it served in Peter's Pottery.

The dining room.

Our tickets were put into a drawing for this Peter's nativity set.  How I would have loved to win it.  I'm still waiting for the call!

The keeping area.

It was a gorgeous day and we elected to take our food outside and sit by the pool.

There's a cute little pool house with lots of Peter's Pottery in it.  Even the pendent lights are Peter's!

It doubles as a guest house with a Murphy bed in the big piece of furniture.

There was a Christmas tree in absolutely every room except the bathrooms, each one different but beautiful.

What a fun day!

I've been gone every day this week so today I hope to actually get some presents under the tree and finish decorating!  I know you are all very busy as well.  Christmas is just two weeks away!