Baking, Broken Fridge and Break Dancing!

We did our bake-a-thon on Saturday as planned. We didn't get as much done as I had hoped. The kids were home as well as Bentley so it was a bit difficult to keep them busy. Amy wouldn't go for a nap because she was so curious about what we were doing. I think part of the problem was that I kept giving her bits of chocolate and candy cane. How can I resist when she looks up and says "peas?" We got two kinds of cookies done, breton brittle and peppermint bark done. I still need to make some yummy lemon bars. Bentley made some chex mix tonight and it was good! Jake and I also made rice krispy squares with the red and green holiday rice krispies. I have to remember to pack one in his lunch or I'm in big trouble!

A couple of weeks ago the fridge was acting up. Frozen veggies and fruit on the bottom and warm milk on the top. Plus, in the freezer the ice maker wasn't working and all the ice melted inside. Since the bottom half was still very cold, it froze all the water in to a lovely ice sculpture inside the door (picture a frozen waterfall). Mr. Fix it guy should be coming this week to change the circuit board. We can't believe that a four year old fridge would break down like that already! Thank goodness we have a 20 year old Kenmore fridge in the garage to use in the meantime that is still kicking...hmmm what's wrong with that picture? Oh, well...one step closer to the fridge I really want....just need to save a bunch of money to buy it!

The last week or so has been busy with work and the baking session and the birthday party on Sunday that Jake went to. He went and learned how to break dance. All the kids put on a little demo for the parents at the end of the party. Looks like fun and could burn off some serious pent up 6 year old boy energy! He got a cd with the breakdance music on it as a party gift. Very cool.

I gathered up some donations to give to the school Christmas Bazaar. The idea is for the kids to go "shopping" at lunch time and buy gifts for their family members from all of the donated items from all the families. The money raised went to the food bank. So, what did Jake pick out? A nice blue truck and a Rescue Hero... I wonder who those are for? What a kid....

Bentley is off for a few days, so we get a bit of a break from the early morning routine. It's exhausting. It's so nice when we don't have to get the kids up at 5:45 am to get out the door on time. This week is the last week before the two week Christmas break.....only 10 days until Christmas Eve!!

I love this Christmasy time of year!

There's always so much to do. We've got the lights on the house, the decorations up, my poinsettia arrived and my cards are all waiting to be addressed. I've got a baking day planned with mom and Kristin soon. I've done some shortbread already and some lemon squares, but we have the rest to do...gotta have Breton Brittle and Candy Cane Brittle! I'll post some pictures when we make it. I am going to pack it up as gifts for the neighbors as well as keep some for us to enjoy!

I decided that I want a real tree this year. I like the smell of them and we are going to try and plant it in our yard somewhere and see if it lives! I'm thinking it won't, but we'll at least give it a try. I even have plans to do a popcorn and cranberry garland for the tree. I've never done it before but I think it might be fun. I also want to make gingerbread men to hang on the tree as ornaments....I think I am secretly hoping the kids will nibble on them and I can see the cute little teeth marks they leave behind when they think they are being sneaky:)

Jake has been practicing at school for the annual Christmas concert. It's on the 15th this year. His class is singing "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree". Can't wait to see that! He's been singing it for the last week or so.

We have a couple of Christmas parties and a birthday party this month to attend. I still have a bunch of shopping to do for both the party and Christmas. I am usually much more organized by this time, but I guess being back at work full time and having two kids instead of one make things a bit busier. I'm not stressing about it though. It always works out somehow!