Christmas Day, 2007:

This year we stayed home and had Christmas morning with just our family. Grey woke up to find his stocking stuffed with dinosaurs, bath toys, and a light saber. Santa left out this super fun Imaginext castle and a singing Rudolf the Red-Nose Reindeer. Grey really wanted a teeny-tiny reindeer from Santa and we had to have several talks about how Santa needed his reindeer to take toys to the other boys and girls and Grey agreed that a toy reindeer would be fine. One funny thing he said when he opened his stocking was "Silly Santa, these aren't tiny dinosaurs". I guess everything was supposed to be tiny this year! We had a great Christmas morning and enjoyed the family time. Billy's Mom, Mark, Gramma Holman, and Papa Lemons came over for Christmas dinner and we had the traditional Christmas meal. It was a wonderful Christmas and we hope you all had a great day!

Breakfast with Santa:



Grey's school had Breakfast with Santa. Billy and I both got to go and it was so fun to see Grey in his class. We were so proud of how well he behaved and how sweet he is with his friends. This year Grey asked Santa for a teeny-tiny reindeer.

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas:

This weekend we decorated for Christmas. Our outside of the house is still not very Christmasy, but the inside has finally come along! Billy was out of town last week in England, so we were very excited he was home. We spent Saturday resting up and just having good family time. On Sunday we got the trees decorated, put up our holiday decorations, and made yummy cookies. It was finally cold enough to feel like Christmas, so we had a fire going and enjoyed the time together.

The cookies are my new favorite Christmas cookie. They are so yummy! I thought I'd share the recipe:

Chocolate Candy-Cane Cookies:

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla
2-1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
4 squares BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate, melted
1 pkg. (6 oz.) BAKER'S Premium White Baking Chocolate
12 hard peppermint candies, crushed

PREHEAT oven to 350ºF. Beat cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add flour and baking soda; mix well. Blend in semi-sweet chocolate.
SHAPE tablespoonfuls of dough into 52 balls. Roll each ball into 3-inch-long rope. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheet, bending top of each slightly to resemble a candy cane.
BAKE 10 to 12 min. or until lightly browned; cool 5 min. on baking sheet. Transfer to wire racks; cool completely. Microwave white chocolate as directed on package; drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with crushed candies. Let stand until chocolate is firm.

These are so yummy. I'm having a very hard time staying away from them. So, if you are looking to try something new and sweet, I would definitely recommend them. And if you make them and decide you don't like them, let me know. I'll pick up any leftovers!!! :)

Tonight was Grey's Christmas Program at his pre-school. I was so proud of him. He did great! Grey's Gramma Dee, Grampa Mark, and Markey came to watch him as well. Here are the two songs his class sang. The first one is Away in a Manger, and the second is Celebrate Jesus. Enjoy!!!