'Tis The Season!

Well, it is here! The Christmas Season! For our family, the Christmas Season officially arrives with Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. And here he is!

Thanksgiving was lovely. I hope yours was too. 

Steve had a cold, so he was off duty. Flynn set the table, and Madison and I worked together to create a delicious meal we will eat for days! And, once again, I have a whole new level of respect for my mother, who for years took a huge turkey sitting in cold water in our sink and turned it into an incredible Thanksgiving feast without batting an eye! 

I hope you enjoy these fleeting days of this Christmas Season, my friends, doing whatever brings you and your family peace and joy. For our family, it is now cozy evenings together watching Christmas movies, simple suppers and festive desserts, Advent masses, lighting candles, and slowing down to savor every moment. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thank you for visiting.

Billie Jo

(Google for the images)

Thankful

 

Thanksgiving is here! And for the record, this will not be me—I wish it were. However, I will be in my cozy clothes with my hair pulled back, and that is okay.

Our table will not be this; I wish it were. Actually, we will serve buffet-style from aluminum pans we can put in the fridge for later. And that is okay, too.

I am happy to say that at my age, I realize this day isn't about the turkey being dry or the gravy having lumps. It isn't about football games and who sits where. It is about being thankful and mindful of and for all the blessings in our lives. That and pumpkin pie and coffee after all is said and done.

I am also thankful for this young lady. Our firstborn, Madison Marie, turned twenty-eight yesterday, and somehow, all those years disappeared, and I was in that hospital room on a dark and snowy night holding the baby I had dreamed of all my life. She is everything I wished for, and more importantly, she is everything she wants to be: caring, loving, confident, respectful, fun, responsible, and lovely. She loves her Nicolas and their pup Draper, her family, her job, cups of tea, watching Ina Garten, and buttered noodles. And we love her.

Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Have a cozy, fun, relaxing day. 

Thank you for visiting!

Billie Jo

Also, I post this every year. But if you want a super delicious pot of soup on your stovetop this weekend, save that turkey carcass! Wrap it up and put it in the refrigerator, and then, after a couple of days, make this turkey soup!

Ingredients:

1. Turkey bones 
2. One stick of celery, chopped
3. One onion, chopped
4. One large can and two small(15oz.) cans of chicken broth
5. One teaspoon salt
6. One teaspoon of poultry seasoning
7. One-eighth teaspoon pepper
8. One large can of water
9. One large bag of Kluski noodles

Directions:

1. On Thanksgiving, wrap turkey bones and any fat in foil and place in the refrigerator.
2. Put bones and fat in a large pot when ready to make soup.
3. Add celery, onion, chicken broth, salt, poultry seasoning, pepper, and water.
4. Cook at boiling, covered, for one hour.
5. Meanwhile, in a separate pot, boil the noodles. Then drain and set aside.
6. Drain bones, fat, and veggies until only broth remains.
7. Add cooked noodles, stir, and enjoy!!!!

* The broth comes in boxes, so I add what looks good!

Ho! Ho! Ho! or No. No. No.

Good Monday morning! It is Thanksgiving week, and that means turkey, stuffing, and all things Christmas! To start off this festive season, let's have some fun. Tell me if these things are a yes or a no for you!

First up: Peppermint Hot Cocoa

For me, it's a hard no. I love peppermint. I love chocolate. Yet, never the two shall meet!

How about a beautifully dressed turkey, carved and sliced at the table?

I would love this. I would love to see this on our table, as in the movies. However, the annoying, realistic part of me always wins out when I think of all the drippy juice and mess it makes. We always end up plating it in the kitchen and doing it buffet style. And honestly, it works just fine.

Ok. How about It's A Wonderful Life? Is it a yearly tradition for you?

Again, I want to say yes. I recognize it is a beautiful Christmas tradition for so many. I just don't like it, which is weird for me because I am all about old, classic movies and literature. This, however, is a no for me. 

Now, this is more my style. How about you? With children at home or not, do you still get nostalgic and watch any of these classics at Christmas?

Yes. Yes. Yes. And Yes for me. I rediscovered these when Madison was a baby; they are still part of my Christmas every year. There is something about watching Frosty or Rudolph that brings me peace and joy; for that short time, I am a kid again. I watched these special shows the one time a year they were on with my sisters in the cozy home my mom decorated so beautifully. And for the record, Rudolph will always be my favorite.

Next, how do you feel about eggnog?

Are you ready for this? I have never tried it and have no idea what it is, so I am open to any and all opinions!

Molasses Cookies

If you have never eaten a soft, chewy molasses cookie right out of the oven, you must make that a priority this year. There are many kinds of cookies at Christmas, but these are the best. And they are highly underrated. My mom used to make them, and now Peyton has perfected them. They taste like Christmas to me.

Finally, are you ever too old for Santa?

In a word, no. I am fifty-five years old, and on Christmas Eve, I still search the skies for Santa and his reindeer and listen for the sound of his sleighbells.

Please share your answers, my friends!

And have a cozy Monday.

Billie Jo

( Google for the fun images. )

The Friday Before It All Begins

Happy Friday, my friends! First, Flynn would like to thank you for all the Happy Birthday wishes! She enjoyed reading them as you posted and was so excited! Thank you again for your thoughtfulness. She had a great day.

And now, here we are. It is the weekend before Thanksgiving—the weekend before it all begins! We all have different ways of celebrating these upcoming weeks, and the planning and preparation begin now, if not already. Through the years, I have found that during this time, I am mainly like Buddy...

But sometimes, it all seems too much, and I feel more like Clark Griswald for a moment.

It is important to admit that among all the happy, cozy, festive, family, shiny posts you will see in the upcoming weeks, moments like this one exist. And that is ok. Even if we pledge to cut back and show ourselves some grace, we will have moments when we are overwhelmed. So keep that in mind, and enjoy your home and your family this Christmas season, even if you run out of tape during a late-night wrapping frenzy, forget to buy the special Cranberry Sprite, or if a couple of the bulbs on your prelit tree burn out. (That last one is tough for me!) Your family will remember you and the wonderful Christmastime you shared together.

Remember to stop and enjoy some special things we wait for all year, like Christmas music in the background or a few fun Christmas movies after dinner. In addition to the classics, Rudolph will always have my heart; here are a few of our favorites for the older family members.

This airs on Roku.

Love this one.

This is so good!

And this is new this year!

This weekend, we are decorating our home for Christmas! It is our first in this house, and we are anxious to see how things look. I already did our bedroom and decided to add a soft blanket and some comfy pillows to the quilt we already have. I like the look, and I can keep it up after Christmas.

When the kids were young, we decorated the entire house the day after Thanksgiving. I would carry the tubs up from the basement, and we would turn our home into Christmas as if Cinderella's Fairy Godmother did it with her magic wand. I'm a bit older now and not ashamed to say I do more of this!

And look! Dunkin' has their Christmas cups!!!! Yay!

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends. And remember to thaw your turkey!

Billie Jo

Google for the images.

Fifteen

Flynn is fifteen! Yesterday, the baby that made our family complete turned fifteen. We had the best day celebrating her, culminating in a delicious dinner, complete with cake, presents, and games. Before I share all that, allow me to indulge in a few photos of my baby Flynn.

Flynn is laidback, easygoing, fun, intelligent, sensitive, thoughtful, and funny. She likes her new pup, Marty, frozen pizza, Dystopian Movies, pajama pants, being home, playing video games, and studying biology. She has a unique and amazing relationship with each one of her siblings, as well as Nicolas, Christopher, and Kyrstin. She won't eat rice or tomatoes and could listen to music twenty-four hours a day. She is the embodiment of God's answer to our prayers.

We celebrated with her favorite things, Taco Pie and Chocolate Cake. Then we played a trivia game all about Flynn, and we were so happy that Peyton joined us by phone! 

Madison made the delicious cake, Steve and Kyrstin helped assemble the taco pie, and Rhett supplied the comedic entertainment. I sat back in amazement that the little baby I held in my arms yesterday was now fifteen years old, content in the knowledge that I had enjoyed and appreciated every single moment. 

I want to remember:

Peyton asked Flynn last week what she wanted to do on her birthday. Without missing a beat, Flynn replied, "Stay home and receive gifts!"

Mission accomplished.

Happy Birthday, Flynn Grace!

Love you!

Have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends!

Billie Jo

Taco Pie