JAMSquared

It’s been a while since you’ve seen a card posted on this blog, almost 3 months. I haven’t stamped much since Jessica was born. These Christmas cards, sent to 72 houses across America, have really been the only cards I’ve stamped. I actually started these cards back in August with the intention of finishing them before Jessica was born, but I only finished stamping and cutting out the little red trucks prior to her birth. James wants me to go the easy route for 2010 and make photo Christmas cards (like the birth announcements I sent out). I enjoy making Christmas cards almost as much as I enjoy receiving Christmas cards, but maybe he’s right. This years cards didn’t go out until after Christmas, so maybe I should go the photo card route or trim down my list of recipients. What do you think?

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Time for a Tree (wheel), Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Real Red
Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke

Wednesday, December 23rd

For Jessica’s first Christmas, we traveled to Midland. The trip was about 7.5 hours, which normally takes us about 6 hours (when we stop for lunch). We stopped in Eden for lunch and to feed Jessica. We stopped again in San Angelo so Jessica could meet her Great-Uncle Chuck. About 20 minutes from my parent’s house, we had to stop again, because Jessica didn’t want to sit in her wet diaper any longer. Except for the strong winds and rain the last hour of the trip, it went relatively smooth for Jessica’s first long car trip. After arriving and meeting her Aunt Sarah, Uncle Brian and cousins Cameron and Trevor for the first time, she went down for bed.

Thursday, December 24th

What do 8 adults, 1 toddler and 3 babies equal? A chaotic but wonderful Christmas Eve. The day was spent enjoying each other. The guys and Aspen put together a puzzle. My Dad, Sarah, Julia and I ate lunch at Taco Villa (nacho fries, yum!) and then took lunch back to the house for everyone else. Some naps were taken and not just by babies.

Everyone except my Dad, James, Jessica and I went to the children’s service at St. Ann’s. We then ate dinner and my Dad left for choir practice before the 8 o’clock and midnight masses. Normally, we would have opened all the gifts together Christmas Eve, but with my Dad in the choir, the little ones going to bed and an over-abundance of gifts under the tree,  the adults opened most of their presents and some of the babies’ presents after dinner. My Mom and I then went to midnight mass (held at 11 o’clock with 30 minutes of music beforehand) to watch my Dad sing in the choir. James was going to go with us, but since Jessica had been fussy being put to bed, we didn’t want anyone to have to get up to soothe her should she wake up. Of course, she didn’t wake up.

Friday, December 25th

The morning started out with all the babies in the matching sleepers my sister got for them. Jessica (10 weeks old), Aspen (4.5 months old), and Trevor (7 weeks old) looked so cute. Cameron (21 months old) had to of course join Papa and the babies for some photos.

We also took a number of photos with just the 2009 cousins. It is quite difficult to get 3 babies to smile at the camera. I think Aspen wanted more room.

Jessica got some great presents: clothes, books and toys. Daddy opened most of them for her as Mommy was busy photographing the opening of gifts.

Even though she didn’t technically open any of her presents herself, she decided that opening presents was tiring and decided a nap in Papa’s arm was in order. See that little headband with the red bow? That goes with the cutest little sailor outfit she received and will be wearing this summer.

After getting Jessica dressed in her Christmas outfit, we went over to James’ parents’ house to have lunch and open gifts. Jessica got to meet her great-grandparents and Aunt Tami for the first time.

Saturday, December 26th

After breakfast, Cameron convinced his Uncle James to take him for a walk in the new wagon Santa brought him. Of course, it didn’t take much convincing since it was James’ idea. His wagon is pretty deluxe. It seats two with cupholders for each and one of the seats opens up to hide some toys.

After lunch, Sarah and her family left to return home. Jason, Julia and Aspen had left before James, Jessica and I woke up. They are early risers. I’m so thankful that Jessica is not an early riser. Of course, it helps that we put her to bed 1-1.5 hours after Aspen goes to bed allowing her to sleep 1-1.5 hours later.

Sunday, December 27th

We went to church with my Mom (Dad left early to sing in the choir). After lunch, I went with my parents to visit my grandmother, who is in the later stage Alzheimer’s unit at Manor Park. I’m so glad my Grandma has such a nice place to live. After that, we went to visit at James’ parents’ house.

Monday, December 28th

After breakfast we hit the road. Jessica did fabulously in the car.

This year’s Christmas party occurred on the afternoon of the 20th, a little later than years past. I thought I might need some extra time to prepare. It worked out great, since the cookie baking extravaganza was the weekend before our party and the girls let me take more of the cookies than they did, so I could stock the party buffet. And boy was it a well-stocked party buffet. Besides the 7 different kinds of cookies, we had steak and cheese empanadas (Costco), cocktail franks in a blanket (Costco), spinach florentine dip, queso, chips, veggie/fruit tray, cheese/cracker/summer sausage tray, rolls (Aric), Valdosta Nut Blend (snack mix containing pecans with sweet cranberrieds, black pepper and orange zest from Costco), pecan brittle (Kristy), and a Chocolate Mint Torte. Aric and Kristy came over early so Kristy could help me set up the buffet. We are truly blessed to have such good friends.

The turn out was really great. We had 23 adults and 9 kids, not counting ourselves, join us for the come-and-go festivities. It is so nice to get together and visit with family and friends. Jessica enjoyed the party, even though she was asleep for most of it; first on Stephanie’s shoulder and then on Evalyn’s shoulder. She wore her Christmas outfit and it was probably a bit warm, so that combined with the comfy shoulders made for a sleepy Jessica.

On Saturday the 12th (the same day we did our Christmas photo shoot), Kristy, Stephanie, Paramjit, and I baked cookies in Kristy’s kitchen. Kristy made us each a neat apron with our initial on the top. We each picked two recipes to bake, although we only ended up baking 7 cookie recipes. We were there for about 10 hours, although that time did include lunch, dinner, and a photo shoot. Next year, we will not pick 5 recipes that require rolling out.

The two recipes I picked were Chocolate Mint Wafers and Confetti Cookies. The Chocolate Mint Wafers were tasty, but I’m not sure I will make them again. The recipe for the Confetti Cookies came out of my Nanny’s recipe box. They were extremely tasty and I will have to make them again soon.

Confetti Cookies

Source: Nanny’s recipe box

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup shortening (I used butter-flavored)
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup cut-up small gum-drops (technically, I used spice drops)
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

In large bowl, cream sugars, shortening, eggs and vanilla. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt and baking soda (do not sift). Add to creamed mixture. Stir in gum drops and pecans; mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. If desired, dot tops with additional cut-up gum drops. Bake at 350°F for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Yield: 5-6 dozen

Jessica observed our mad baking skills from her spot on the bar in her bouncer. Thanks Nick for providing the pictures.

About two weeks before Christmas, Aric and Nick took some portrait type photos for us. I was very excited about the photo shoot, especially for my plan to make Jessica a Christmas present. All the photos turned out great, but the following are the best ones. The family photos were taken in front of Aric and Kristy’s super tall Christmas tree. The photos of Jessica were taken in the make-shift portrait studio set up on the pool table.