Ugly Sweater

Joel is helping with the youth group at our church this year. It's a bit out of his comfort zone but he is showing up and helping where he can. Last Sunday night they had their Christmas party and everyone was suppose to wear an ugly Christmas sweater. We didn't have anything here and I couldn't find anything at Goodwill so I turned to a friend and asked her if she had anything we could borrow. Sure enough she came through for us and Joel was able to wear this funny gingerbread man sweater/shirt. I think it was actually homemade which made it even more funny to wear! Joel didn't win the contest but he got several comments on his gingerbread man shirt. He was a good sport!

Christmas Photo 2015

Oh goodness you know my strife and getting these girls to get a good photo taken...well they strike again! Last week one day after school Maya wanted to try on her Christmas dress. So I said oh great Cora lets get your dress on too and take some pictures. I was thinking we could finally get a good Christmas picture to send out. After about 2 hours of chasing them around, bribing them, and a few wardrobe changes, I finally just gave up. We have a saying from the Vermeer side of the family "we done the best we could" and folks that's where we are at. The picture you'll most likely get in the mail in a few days is just that. Not great but it will have to do. Once again I feel defeated when it comes to these two girls and photos.  And yes I realize I'm being overly dramatic.

 See what I was dealing with? 

I'd get one of them separately but not together

Cora is smiling here but I could not get her to smile with the two of them together.

At one point Maya brought in these blue chairs but this was not the "look" I was going for.
Although now I'm thinking this is the photo we should have gone with. 

Anyway we hope everyone has a great Christmas celebrating the true meaning, which is not making sure you have the perfect card to send out to family and friends. We are getting excited for Christmas around here. We will be in Ohio with the Seitz crew for a few days over Christmas and then will do a quick stop in Michigan and Chicago for a few days the week after with my side of the family. Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and many blessings in 2016!

Christmas Program

Maya had her Christmas program at church on Sunday night. The 3K - 4th graders performed a play called "A Star is Born." Everyone did such a great job. I think Maya wanted to be the "star."  These programs are always so hard for me as a parent. Maya is such a wild card I never know what is going to happen when she is up in front of people. She knew the songs and all the dialogue by heart. If anyone would have been sick she could have stepped right in and played their part. Maya loved it and had a great time and hopefully she'll take the true message of the program and ponder it in her heart and continue to learn and understand who the real "Star"is of Christmas.

Here is a bit of the set and the"star" at the end of the program.

Cora stayed in for part of it but wanted to go play in the nursery once she realized she'd need to sit and be quiet. Here they are after the program together at the front of our church. It's decorated so beautiful for Christmas.

Recipe InSeitz - Mint Oreo Frozen Dessert

It's that time of year again when things get busy and there are lots of parties and dinners to attend. It's fun but it can get a bit nuts. At Christmas time I am always drawn to peppermint. This dessert is one of my favorites and since you can usually only get peppermint ice cream around this time of year it's about the only time I make it. We had dinner with some friends tonight and I brought this dessert to share. It's a fun one because it's a bit different than the usual Christmas cookies that are usually brought for dessert at this time of year.

Mint Oreo Frozen Dessert

30 oreo cookies
1/2 stick of butter melted
1/2 gallon of peppermint ice cream
1/2 jar of hot fudge ice cream topping
whip cream (optional)

Crush cookies and reserve 1/2 for topping. Combine rest of the cookies with melted butter and pat into a 9x13 pan. Soften ice cream and spread over the oreo crust. Then top with the rest of the oreos and freeze for a few hours. Once you are ready to serve drizzle some hot fudge ice cream topping over the top and you can also top with some whip cream and serve. Yum!