A Week of Christmases: Christmas Eve

I have so many pictures to get through and memories I don't want to forget! Each day this week will be a different Christmas we celebrated! Yippee!!

Christmas Eve at our house has changed in the last few years. We used to have the kids' Christmas program on Christmas Eve, but since we've moved, our churches have instead had Candlelight services on Christmas Eve.

This year, we had an early supper of Papa Murphy's pizza, Mini Murph's for the kids and something more adventurous for Matt and I! We went to church and then came home for new pjs, snacks and off to bed! Matt and I were ahead of the game this year and already had ALL of the presents wrapped before Christmas Eve. I don't think this has ever happened before, we're typically wrapping into the early morning!

Food Friday: Chicken Tortilla Soup

Warming, hearty, excellent the next day, these are all attributes this soup has. Matt and I loved it, the kids not so much, but they got quesadillas instead!

Chicken Tortilla Soup
from Pillsbury

1

lb boneless skinless chicken breasts

1

medium onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)

1

can (10 oz) diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained

1

can (10 oz) Old El Paso® mild enchilada sauce

1

can (4.5 oz) Old El Paso® chopped green chiles

1 3/4

cups Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)

1

cup Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers™ Extra Sweet Niblets® frozen corn (from 12-oz bag), thawed

3

teaspoons dried minced garlic

2

teaspoons chili powder

1 1/2

teaspoons ground cumin

1/2

teaspoon salt 

 

4

soft corn tortillas (5 to 6 inch), cut into 1-inch strips (I did not add these to the crock pot. I cut them up, toasted them and then added them as a garnish)

1. Spray 3 1/2- to 4-quart slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken in slow cooker. Add all remaining ingredients.
2. Cover; cook on Low heat setting 6 to 7 hours.
3. Remove chicken; shred with 2 forks. Return to slow cooker; stir well to blend

Snow Day!!

One week ago today, the kids got their first snow day of the year. I think we'll have more days off here this year than we did the last two winters in Minnesota combined. Missourians are weanies when it comes to snow and cold!!
We spent the day playing outside, sledding and baking!

This is Rayna, she lives across the street from us. She had never been sledding before. Something I just can't comprehend. We decked her out with snow pants and warm gloves shortly after this picture.

His gap is bigger! Tooth number 2 came out the night before!

Down she goes!

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

This is from last Friday night's date night. We got a sitter for the kiddos, the first since we've moved to St. Joe. I found this picture on my camera over the weekend. It was great to see B smiling and happy. We've had a pretty rough road with B's liking of babysitters. We will definitely be calling this one again!

Merry Christmas

From our family to yours!

 New Christmas Jammies Tradition

Even Annabelle got into the spirit after her Sugar Cookie Spa Day

Lazy Sunday Christmas Creation

We finally got to build our gingerbread house this weekend. Matt even helped the kids by building it, so they could decorate. Next year we'll buy more than one house!!

This was right before she tried to take a bite out of the roof!

Building his snowman

B helped by eating the royal icing and marshmallows

CONCENTRATION!!

Food Friday: Snow Ice Cream

We made this yesterday before the snow gets all yucky! Super fun for a snow day lunch dessert!

Mix:

8c. FRESH Snow 

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 t. Vanilla.
 

The alternate recipe is to mix 1c. Milk, 1/2 t. Vanilla, and 1/2c sugar. Then blend in 4-5c of fresh snow. 

Christmas Throwback

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Wordless Wednesday

Beautiful Sounds

She was sad, but we made it through!