The Joys Of Family and Hearth

This is Zeke! He is a lionhead bunny!!! Isn't he adorable!!! From Our Home To Yours!

We celebrate our family Christmas on Christmas Eve. We host an Open House all day, and we encourage people to come by at any point for a quick bite to eat, or some coffee or tea! :) In the afternoon, we had a choice of two soups Chicken Tortilla or Italian Sausage.  We also had a Cold cut tray, pickle and olive dishes, some deviled eggs and an assortment of cookies, tiger butter and fudge. :)   Some friendly kids crafts!   A beautiful centerpiece sent from my Aunt Patty!   Our friend, doing a craft.   Kids working on the gingerbread house, someone is not happy!!! A tray of fudge and tiger butter. We had several visitors for lunch. I love when people come and spend time occupying the children, by doing crafts with them, building the gingerbread house, etc.   No TV running, no one looking for outside entertainment, but just truly enjoying each others company. Young and Old, People who have know each other for years, and people who have just met...

Yesterday, we put on the Christmas tunes, laid out all our ingredients, and then began our baking extravaganza!!!! do you see that cutie peeking out from behind the butter! :) And a little coffee to help to keep the baking going! So after several batches of Chocolate chip, Oatmeal, Shortbread, Tiger Butter, Fudge, and Cinnamon Rolls! We ended the night exhausted! But happy to have alot of goodies for Christmas Dinner and for sharing! :) From Our Bella Cucina to Yours!

Every year, we as some point head out to see the outdoor decorations in the local neighborhoods. When my older children were younger we use to get Mc Donalds and drive around and view lights, bigger companies use to have light shows. When hubby and I were dating we use to go to a big farm that did a wonderful light display.. but I digress, none of that is happening anymore more. Because McDonalds is not healthy for you and because my kids all get sick from it, we cancelled our regularly scheduled pizza night this past Friday for "McEmmons" night. I made bacon cheeseburgers, homemade fries and packed it all in paper lunch bag, with juice boxes. We loaded up in the car and had our meal while looking at all the different lights. Then we headed down to a neat store called Tractor Supply.. We had a blast in there!!! The kids had a wonderful time.. it's these time of memories and traditions that will be passed down from my kids to their own. I look forward to watching t...

The holiday, especially Christmas can be an overwhelming time of busyness and time constraints. There is so much to be done and what seems to be such little time. Here's some tips to keep the holiday from becoming and overwhelming mess, and to keep you from becoming that mom you don't want to be. Make sure you have your menu planned, now if you don't follow a menu regularly this is week to give it a try. You will thank yourself later, when you are able to feed your family great meals among all the last minute stopping! Keep a list, of what needs to be done. I create on big list and I add and cross off as the week goes on. Make sure you school schedule is light,NOW is not the time to introduce and new concept or something that is going to take over your day. Be happy!! Keep it light!! We have a continues stream of Christmas music playing and lots of holiday movies to choose from. Use paper!!! I don't often use paper plates and such, but this week I do! When ...

Upon entering our home the first thing, you will see is our Christmas Tree! :) There is also a wonderful pine garland going around the room. This shelf hangs on the opposite wall, with a beautiful garland of PEACE that my friend Christine made for me, just this year!!! I love it! A family favorite below. A gift from a relative many years ago.    The Front Door entering into the house. A beautiful wreath made by friend Theresa.  This is some cute stickers, I got last year after Christmas at Wal-Mart for 2.00...  I got this many years ago from Avon. Some of the children's stocking hanging here. We have them hung through out the house in a couple different locations. :) Upon entering the kitchen, there is fresh pine hanging from the beam that goes across the whole kitchen. The Dept. 56 house grace the top of our cabinets. Hubby and I have been collecting them for years, but have had to stop due to lack of room. We love the 50's feel of th...

After two years of my dining room table being in storage, and my "dining room" being everything from a big empty space, to a formal living room, classroom, sewing/craft area, I have brought my dining room table home! yeah!!! I missed it much!! Now we were just eating our meals at the kitchen island, but as my "baby" is getting older and no longer in a high chair we needed our table back. SO each night my little girls set the table, from dishes to silverware and glasses. I love watching them have fun with it. We are trying to encourage the correct way a table should be set, but sometimes our silverware is on our plate with a "fancy" napkin! or We have glasses on the left and silverware on the right, but most of the time it's done properly! :) Each night we light the candles, cheap little candles..but this is a big deal in our home as to who gets to light them! :) From the oldest to the youngest everyone wants that special job! Once we're seate...

With a large family we can run through a box of hot coco in one sitting. SOoooo the easiest thing to do is to make it all in bulk and keep in a container to use. It's way cheaper and super delicious!! Along with using some of the mixes below, they make great gifts for teachers, neighbors, bus drivers, and friends. You can use a mason jar with an oak tag for directions, or just print a sticker! Make them your own! Personalize how you wish, We had dipped plastic spoons in chocolate let it harden and attach to hot coco mix. Candy cane can be added as well. :)  Here are some ideas: Hot Coco 1 8 Qt box of Non-fat dry milk 1 6 oz jar of nondairy creamer (aka Creamora) 1 lb Powdered Sugar 1 16oz container Nestles Quik Mix all together store in airtight container, use 1/2 to 3/4 C mix to hot mug of water. Here's another Hot Coco, I really like this one. 1 C Coco Powder 21 oz of Creamora 2 lb box powered sugar 1 large box of instant pudding. you choose choc, or vanilla ...

Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday!! I love all thing Christmas, the decorating, the baking, the cooking the ministry to others. All of it. Here's some some of the decorations we have going on.  The front door to our home.  My oldest son did all the outside lights this year. :)  A swag my daughter made from the free tree scraps we took from home depot. Now we need to find a place to hang it. :)