Christmas............and more

Christmas eve is the Kuhlman Family celebration. I must have taken 10 shots to get this picture........all the Great children!!!!!!!!!!!


Standing are Alexander, Lawson, Xavier.
Kneeling are Andrew, Allison, Reagan and Piper. Playing around - Lawson, Andrew, Xavier and Alexander - Reagan is watching.......those boys can be something else!!!!

Chris had a nice dinner for lots of family - good times together.

Christmas morning at our house. Santa brought a tube for sledding.

Allison got Hogwarts castle - a lego version to go with many other Harry Potter legos that she has.

Andrew got a skateboard.........

Alexander liked the hat that Santa brought........

Later in the day, my parents, sister and family came. This is JR joining in a Harry Potter lego game.

The children and their greats...........always creating great memories.

Ashley and Alex left for Ohio on Monday.

The bin of puppets came out and we were entertained by a show.........this is the final bow.

We got outside to use the new tube - great fun.............until we hit a tree!!!!!!!! We are all ok - more weight on the tube =going further into the woods!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just fun!!

We have 2 sleds too............Alexander uses one of them as a snowboard - until he crashes!!!!!!!!!

Monday afternoon we had to go spend some Christmas money - it was burning holes in pockets!!!!!!!!!!

Alexander put his towards a new DS Lite - a hand held game system that he has been coveting. I had told him that I would pay for part of it......so he has it, 2 games and case.

Allison bought another Barbie fairy doll - and has a little money left over!!

Andrew wanted a gun....................he got a cap gun and caps with his $4. Each child got his/her age in money. He was soooo happy to go outside in the driveway and shoot his gun!!!!!!! He used up half his caps!!!!!!! Pictures another time - they are still in the camera.

Today we will paint ornaments - and maybe get out sledding again before the snow melts.

Baking Weekend

And what to my wondering eyes appeared...........

This is a round robin from a few years ago............notice the reindeer over the house.......thus the title. John started wrapping.

I started baking. Saturday I did almond cresents, spritz (the cookie press broke with a dozen left - so they are round ornaments!), and melting moments.

This morning I started Stollen - the all day bread affair.

First the fruit and nuts get warmed in the oven.

Some sugars, milks, yeast and mashed potatoes are readied..............it's a potato based bread.

Everything is put together and must be kneaded for 10 minutes. I do this in 2 sessions, then combine the pile for a few minutes.

It goes in the warm oven for a rise............about 2 1/2 hours.

Meanwhile, the counter is clear and a good time for springerles. These have to be rolled out and pressed. They sit overnight and will be baked on anise seed in the morning.

The stollen has been kneaded and put into pans - 7 of them. Now baking..........in 2 shifts as my oven cannot handle 7 loaves!!!!!!!!!!!

It sure smelled wonderful................the slight drift of anise and the baking bread............

You can see my Kuhlman manhattan and the steaks for the grill that John will cook for dinner.

I'm DONE in the kitchen...........for today.

Looking forward to stollen for breakfast in the morning. We like in toasted........with a little butter..........YUM!!!!!!!!

Fabric Swap

I signed up for an on line fabric swap. Karen V matched up names and you sent a yard of fabric (fat quarters, halves, etc.) to a new quilter friend.

I sent off 3 pieces of batik fabrics - one looked frigid!! - to Ashley in Georgia. These are what I got in the mail. I'm very pleased........... I have no plans yet - too much other stuff on my mind at the moment - like Christmas stuff!!!!!

Thank you Karen for arranging this..........and Eileen to alerting me to this swap.

A Quilty and Snowy Afternoon

This afternoon was a winter weather advisory - but that does not deter quilters!!!!!!!!!!

We went to Terrys' home for lunch and quilting - who cares if the roads are icy, the power goes out and the wind chill is below zero??????????

Carol, Bonnie and Carol are working away.........

So are Daisy, Ruth, Terry and Ruth..........

Three delicious soups and bread for lunch............with homemade carrot cake - YUM!!!!

This group is ready for anything!!!!!!!!

Thanks to Erin for this picture of all of us..........

It only took me an hour and a half to get home..............the freeway was icy and slow - numerous cars in the ditch, but I just drove slowly and carefully and made it safely home. Glad to spend the afternoon with my quilt friends. Thanks, Terry for having us.


John could not get the snowblower to start, so after dinner we did the driveway - easy job with 2 of us.........and will have to do it again in the morning, I'm sure. I'm NOT going anywhere.....what an excuse to spend the day in my sewing room............or cleaning bathrooms.........

JIngle Bell 5K

The Jingle Bell 5K was this morning. Over 600 women did this walk/run race. A record number !!! This race started 2 years ago with about 200 in attendance.

I placed first (again) in my age group. A gold bell ornament for my tree!!!!!!!! The comraderie of these ladies is outstanding. The support is overwhelming. I love being a part of this............

Andrew tells it like it is.........

I asked Ashley to help me with Santa ideas for Andrew.

Ashley - "What do you want Santa to bring you?"

Andrew - "Whatever he is getting for me."

Ashley - "So it's ok if Santa brings you a surprise?"

Andrew - "Yeah. When he comes, I will be asleep."

I still need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!

The Christmas tree is finally up and decorated. It took us a little longer than normal because we had to deal with old lights - I mean 30 year old lights - that would not work!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tree is older than that!! We purchased it when we lived in Washington because the live trees out there were all alpine fir and just not Christmasy enough for us. I needs a few strings holding up branches, but still looks just fine.

There are many handmade ornaments on the tree. The mantle has our handmade figures - I did not make them. The lady who made them is no longer doing this kind of thing - she was very talented but moved on to other things in her life.

I will take credit for the stockings!!!

This feathery wreath was given to me by a young friend a few years ago - it flutters when you walk by!!!!!!!

Alexanders' house - with the tree he made in kindergarten!!!!!!!!!

I made this for Ashley many years ago. I forget to put the little ornaments on it - and the star goes on last!!!!!!!! I need the grands here more often to keep it going..........

Cards are printed and ready to mail.......almost.

Now to attack some shopping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!