Christmas in Atlanta

This year was my first year spending Christmas at the Jackson Farmhouse and away from my parents.

Before we left we had our own little Christmas here at home...

We bought ourselves a ping pong table! Got a great deal at Costco. I love that place! :)

I bought Dan a molecular gastronomy kit. Food nerd!

I also got him 2 Shun knives to add to his set (one perfect paring knife & one Santoku knife) and a marble pastry board for working with dough.

Dan bought me a bunch of things to get me started on my crafting. :) Wish me luck!

He also got me a pink Juicy Couture iPhone case (the iPhone itself was kind of a Christmas gift too). Love!

Dan made the "kids" some Christmas cookies. They loved them!

Baby Dan opening his gifts (one jacket from us and one from my parents)

Just what he wanted...He loves them!

Sissy opening her gifts

Sissy could care less, but she's going to love them when it's cold outside.

Christmas Tree at the Farmhouse

Stockings made by Dan's grandmother (except for mine)

My sister-in-law, her boyfriend and my mother-in-law

My brother-in-law & mother-in-law

In front of the tree

Dining Room

The "kids" got snuggies from their Uncle Chris! Too cute!

On our way home we stopped in Lufkin (city where Dan was born) to take a pic of Rudolph.

For more than 40 years, Rudolph the Red Nosed Pumping Unit has been ushering in the holiday season in Lufkin.

This full size, LUFKIN Mark 640 oil pumping unit is a fully operational unit painted red especially for the season. The working pumping unit is dismantled after the holiday season, repainted and sold to a LUFKIN Industries customer to become a working pumping unit somewhere in the world. After the holidays, the trailer will be utilized by a LUFKIN customer to transport goods across the country.

We had a great Christmas! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!!

Christmas Tree 2009

Christmas ornaments have become one of my favorite things to collect.

Last year I shared some of my favorites ornaments.

Just thought I'd share some of our new ornaments. :)

Our Christmas tree set-up for this year

Our "J" ornament

2 Chi ornaments from my mother-in-law

My friend Amanda sent me this cute little rolling pin ornament. :)

I love our 1st "family" ornament.

I don't know why it took me so long to get one. :)

This one is from Etsy seller dottedcrossdesigns.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

Snow Day 2009

Houston set a record Friday for the earliest snowfall ever. :)

Almost 1 year ago today we had another snow day...more like a snow night.

This year it was nice to see the snow during the day.

Looking out at the backyard.

Looking out of our garage

Down the street from our house we saw this car

and this house

I never knew driving in the snow could be so distracting. You've got snowflakes flying at your windshield and I find it's hard to focus on the road etc.

(I was in the passenger seat and not taking pictures while driving.)

Baby Dan was not a fan of the snow and preferred to stay nice and warm by the fireplace.

Our big snowball

I enjoyed our one day of snow, but that's it.

I'm ready for the warmer weather that's supposed to come to Houston this week. :)

In the mood for something sweet?

We're always making something sweet in our house. :-)

Dan made these delicious cream horns for my dad's birthday this year.

He was super happy with his "birthday cake". :-)

Dan tried his hand at Pumpkin Chiffon Pie and it was yummy!

Cinnamon Rolls anyone?

They were the best!

Yummy Maple Glazed Apple Bacon Doughnuts

Cupcakes for Parties

We should open up a cupcake business.

In August, we were asked to bake cupcakes for our friend's daughter's 1st Birthday Party. (We didn't do the toppers for this party)

Close-up of cupcakes. We made red velvet with cream cheese icing and vanilla with chocolate buttercream icing. They were a hit!

This was RiRi's special cupcake. :)

A few weeks ago my cousin, Lisa, had her baby shower and she asked us to bake some cupcakes too.

We made red velvet with cream cheese icing, pumpkin-spice with cinnamon cream cheese icing, and orange-vanilla with buttercream icing.

A close-up so you can see the toppers.

Thanks to my husband for the design work. I cut them out and glued them to the stick. :)

These are the orange-vanilla cupcakes (with candied oranges).

It was fun to do, but it's also a lot of work. I think we'll put a hold on our cupcake business. ;-)

Spending time with my nieces

This past week I had the pleasure of spending time with 2 of my nieces.

On Tuesday, I went on a field trip with my 4-year old niece and this weekend my 15-year old niece spent the weekend with us.

Sofia

She rode a horse.

We rode on a train.

She touched a cow and fed some cows.

She enjoyed a snow cone.

She picked out a pumpkin.

I'm so glad I was able to go on this field trip with her. We had a lot of fun!

Gabi

We had such a great time. We went out to eat, did some shopping, had snow cones, made pizza and played some board games & video games.

Dan taught her how to make pizza.

I think she did a great job!

She wanted canadian bacon and cheese.

She said it was better than some chain pizza joint. :-)

I'm so glad she still loves spending time with her Tia. :-)

I'm thankful for my family.