This is our enormous 11' 4" tree! We pitched in with Nahshon's parents, since we are still sharing a house. But they let us pick the tree and decorate with our own decorations this year. So much fun!
Yes, we needed a ladder to decorate it! Terryn was soooo excited to climb the ladder! We used put about 600 lights on it and still have some branches left at the bottom. My favorite is the clusters of ornaments around the bottom of the tree where the kids decorated. It is custom!
Here's the tree in the house. There's Grandpa Paul playing with Liam :-). Nash had to climb over the banister to put the top on and the tree is tied off to the wall and rail so it doesn't fall over. We even had to get a bigger stand for it.
Every year we spend one December night light-hunting (we missed you this year Kenda). We put the kids in their pj's since they often fall asleep before we get back home. In one abundantly lit neighborhood Terryn said, "Oooooo, Christmas!" There's just nothing like it!
Got this info in an e-mail from a friend. Here is what she said:
"Fred Meyer is having a frame sale until Wednesday. All of their collage frames (basically any frames that holds more than one photo) are 50% off, plus there is an additional 15% off coupon in the add from today. So I got a frame that was originally $21 for $9!!! Just make sure when they ring them up that it takes off the 50%. "
Excellent!
Terryn - "Yucky!" (pointing to an oddly colored raisin in his oatmeal - one of those golden ones)
Nahshon - "It's not yucky. It's yummy."
Terryn - "You eat it."
So, I have a few recipes that are crowd favorites & that I have promised to share for some time. Here is the first one:
GERMAN CHOCOLATE COOKIES
(have no fear, there is no coconut in them)
1 German Chocolate cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup oats
2 eggs
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts (optional - I never use them)
Combine all ingredients. You will think it is way too dry, but just keep mixing it. I use an ice cream scoop to put them on the pan. Bake in 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes. I cook them for 10 minutes, leave them cooling on the tray for 10 more, then move them to a parchment papered cooling rack to cool completely.
Merry Munching!
