Gingerbread Competition

Last Thursday, we went over to Pam and Joe's for a little gingerbread competition!  Peter ate so much candy that night but he had a blast! We decided that it now has to be an annual event!

Jack trying a candy cane! He was a little young for the competition!

Peter helping decorate Grammy & Grampy's house.

I turned my house into a business, haha

Gram's gingerbread house

Cyn's

All of us who had fun! Katelyn got the most votes on facebook, my sisters even voted for hers!

Saturday Christmas

Saturday Christmas!! Every year since we are live apart, on the Saturday before Christmas we celebrate all together. We enjoy a big italian dinner, alfredo, stuffed peppers, meatballs and more. This is everyone this year, Jack and Allie are celebrating their first Saturday Christmas!

Sisters

Allie J

Gift opening begins!

Just what Jack wanted :)

Gwen watching Peter open his new Thomas bridge!

Laura relaxing in the Santa snuggie :)

Playing with some of his new toys!

Ending the evening with gingerbread house decorating, another great Saturday Christmas!

Menu Plan Monday

Christmas is coming!!!! Wow, can't believe when I write my next MPM, that Christmas will have passed! We've got a busy week so I'm trying to keep most evenings easy! I'm hosting all my daycare kids and parents for a party on Tuesday! On Friday night, Ben, Bethany & Mackenna will come over to celebrate Christmas Eve Eve! It's an evening I'm excited to have the kids enjoy for many years to come! Merry Christmas to all and to all a good week :)

Monday: BLT's
Tuesday: Feels Like Home Christmas Party! Lots of good food!
Wednesday: Crockpot Roasted Chicken
Thursday: Breakfast for dinner
Friday: Christmas Eve Eve! Our holiday celebration with The Siemen Family !
Appetizers
     Cheese & Crackers
     Bacon Wrapped Scallops
     Brushetta
Dinner
    Stuffed Peppers (blog post to follow)
    Garlic Bread
    Garden Salad
Dessert
    Cake in a bowl (blog post to follow)

Merry Madness

Last night was Merry Madness! It is a great event in the Old Port. The stores all stay open later and serve wine, cider and snacks. I look forward to it every December! Kelly, Kati, Mara and I met first at The Grill Room for dinner. My new favorite drink...the Ruby Slipper, YUM!

This is Mara, Kati and I at MM 2008. Last night Kati and I realized it was our 6th year going! It was a snowstorm the first year, we had a blast and said we'd do it again the next year. Mara started joining us in 2008 and  Kelly joined us this year!

After we left The Grill Room, we got our refreshments out!

Look who we ran into! My sister-in-law Cynthia has also gone for a few years now!

MM 2011 group

Always love looking at these trees at Christms time!

The Christmas Photo

You know me.. I love holiday traditions! The year was 2007. We were newlyweds and had just moved into the house a few months earlier. Pete was working the night shift and I was enjoying some Christmas movies and having some wine when I came up with this idea to put Bela in antlers just like Max on the Grinch Who Stole Christmas! She did not want to participate but I managed to get her to pose long enough in front of the tree to get a picture(not a great one). She was 6 months old.

Year 2, Bela was not amused but if you dangle some cheese in front of her.......... clearly, she'll do anything :) 

Year 3 brought along the birth of Peter and for December of 2009 I had 2 year old Bela and 8 month old Peter. That year, I remember taking it while Pete got called into work  for a snowstorm to plow... at this point he didn't know I had even made Bela pose for the past 2 years, LOL!

2010 got a little harder! Peter decided he wanted to wear the antlers, so I put Bela in the Santa hat!

2011.. The birth of Jack in March only adds fun to the photo! However, do you know how hard it was to get all three looking at me!! Trying to make silly noises, ring a bell and tell Bela to stay all at the same time! I was sweating by the end of this photo shoot!! How many years will I be able to convince them all to pose!

Merry Christmas from the Wescott's!!!

Menu Plan Monday

Another great weekend! I love to have weekends that felt relaxing but also are productive, we got so much stuff done! Trying some new recipes this week from my Taste of Home magazine and enjoying 25 cent wing night. We went last week for the first time in months, you can't beat feeding a family of four for under $20! Busy week ahead, present wrapping, last minute shopping and our Christmas celebrations start on Saturday! Can't wait! Have a great week!
Monday: Potato Latkes
Tuesday:  Wing Night at Stockhouse
Wednesday: Orange Ginger Chicken
Thursday: Pot Roast
Friday: We've got a babysitter! Dinner out!

In Search for the Perfect Christmas Tree

For the past 5 years, Pete and I have gone and cut our Christmas tree down. It has been on the blog before. This year, Ben & Bethany were able to join us. The group has grown thanks to Mackenna and Jack. We were excited for the tradtion to start for them!

After searching for a tree for a bit, we found one!!

Peter cut down the tree while the boys watched!

Guess what Peter's favorite part was? Your right, the tractor!

Group Shot.. the best we could get!

He had a great time :)

College buddies and now Dad's :)

We then headed over to the Siemen's house, Jack was excited to see Mackenna's toys!

Bethany getting our Christmas cocktail ready! Another great holiday tradition!