:: Exciting Times: My New Toy ::

:: Who on earth gets excited about a new vacuum...I do I do! Since we have moved into our "new" place with tile, laminate, linoleum & carpet, I have been looking for the "multi-purpose" tool to clean all of these floors without having to vacuum, sweep & swiffer them. So the other night when we were out shopping in the States I found this handy little machine for $19.97 (any guesses as to where I got it?) ::

:: Anyway today I had the opportunity to try it out; WoW, who knew such a little machine could have such mean (in a good way) suction! It's great, I did all of my floors - including a few of my stairs in 2 minutes flat, gotta love that! ::

:: So if y'all are looking for a mean dirt sucking machine that is lightweight, easy to put away (mine is hanging on my mop/broom/swiffer hook) then you have to get one of these! ::

:: Here are the features ::
Converts to a multi-purpose vacuum or hand vacuum.
Weighs only 4 pounds.
Works well on upholstery, carpet, bare floors and more.
Ergonmically designed comfort grip handle.
Easy to empty dirt cup.
Cord wrap storage on handle.
Full one year warranty.

:: The Spirit of Christmas ::

:: Last Saturday we (Matt & Lisa, the girls and us and the boys) headed out to the campus of Trinity Western University to an event called "The Spirit of Christmas" where we indulged in hot apple cider, Christmas Carols, a petting zoo for the youngin's and some amazing Christmas trees ::

:: It was a great (FREE) way to spend a snowy December 1st - what a fabby way to kick of the celebrations of our King! :::: Madelyne becoming a Lioness - Didn't it look amazing! - She slept on my pillow later on in the evening and in the morning I noticed that I had lion marks left on my pillowcase, I told her that she had left some marks from her lion-face on my pillow and she thought it was the funniest thing! Poor girl didn't want to eat dinner for fear of ruining her lion-face! ::

:: Here's Mr. Jacob enjoying (kinda) the petting zoo with Paul ::

:: A donkey lookin' for some love from Paul ::
:: Family portrait of the Pink Bakers ::
:: Paul and I trying to warm up after the live Nativity - It was SO cold, lovely but COLD! ::

:: That's not funny...::

:: Being a mother can be so cruel! ::

:: I made coffee this morning at 8:10 am....at 11:57 am I had yet to have a cup...and now it's 2:15 pm and since the boys are finally sleeping I should be having coffee, but instead I'm complaining to you. So if you wonder why I haven't been on here to blog lately..need I say more?!?!? ::

:: All is well with our little world...::

:: Things seem to be back to normal around here, Jacob talked back to me this morning after I told him not to stand in the drawer (go figure!?!?). I didn't notice that his little-Dude-attitude was missing when I had reprimanded him for the past two days - until this morning when he pulled full on attitude ::

:: Glad you're feeling better little Dude ::

:: Sickos ::

:: That's been me and my family for the last 3.5 days. We have been down and out with this nasty...and I mean NASTY flu! It literally had Paul and I unable to function on Monday. So we called his Mum to help us out, and as any good Mum would she came over and entertained Jacob for us, held Cole, brought us fresh glasses of water and ginger ale, made us soup and heated up the hot packs. This virus is so vile, I kept on asking the good Lord to help me make it through because I felt like I was going to die...I know that sounds a bit dramatic now, but seriously I thought I would just die! ::

:: Thankfully we have a great support system to call on in times of need - I called my friend Lisa. B to bring us by some ginger ale, Gatorade and gravol on Monday morning. I dialed her number not even knowing what time it was, and not really caring either...cause remember I was going to die! ::

:: I was supposed to be working for my Mom's co. on Monday morning so I had to heap all of my work on my brother Jordan's shoulders - thanks Jordan for rising to the task and taking my work for me...if you wouldn't have I probably would have, yep you guessed it....just died! And you wouldn't have wanted that would you!?!?! ::

:: Thanks to Mum, Jordan & Lisa for helping us out - we truly appreciate it! So, so sorry for no "Glorious" Christmas decorating pictures to blog....that's a whole other story, however I will tell you that our tree is up, so is our garland and stockings. Hopefully I will feel well enough tomorrow to post about that whole episode! ::

:: May the Good Lord be with you and I pray that you will dodge this flu virus this season, as I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy (that is if I had one to wish it on!) ::

I think that I am almost caught up on blogging (ha, not even close! I have yet to blog about Coles shower etc...there is always next week!). However I am now off to get ready for a party tonight, I can't wait and I better get myself prepared while all the boys are preoccupied with other things like sleeping....shhhhhhhh ;)

Tomorrow is Christmas Decorating Day at our home...

I will be back with pictures to post of that glorious event!

:: Quiet Times ::

:: Although our home is mostly filled with one particular boy running around and having a gay 'ol time...last night we did have some nice quiet time, and here are the pictures to prove it ::

:: Apparently after dinner last night Jacob decided he wanted to go for a walk...In Daddy's shoes :) ::

:: Boy, this kid can sure make us laugh! ::

:: To our surprise he could actually walk in them!?!?!? ::

:: Auntie Marilyn's Pinwheels ::

:: Last night I wanted to start my baking for Christmas so I thought I would try my Auntie Marilyn's Pinwheels...I have never made them just always enjoyed them at family functions ::

:: Here is the recipe, just in case you want to try them too....they are so yummy! ::

In a small bowl combine:

1/4 cup butter (room temp)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. cayenne (I added more like a 1/2 tsp)

1/2 tsp. paprika

In large bowl combine:

2 cups flour

1/2 tsp. cream of tartar

2 tsp. sugar

3/4 cup grated cheese

1 tbsp. parsley

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 cup vegetable shortening

2/3 cup milk

Mix all dry ingredients together then with a pastry cutter (or fork as I don't own a pastry cutter) cut in shortening. Make a well and pour in the milk. Stir in the milk until all of the flour has been absorbed.

Split dough into half and put the first half on a well floured...it's quite moist dough so it needs to really be well floured and kneed 3 or 4 times. Roll out into aprox. 10x14 square (if you can) by about a 1/4 inch thick.

Stir your butter mixture well and take half of it and spread it over your rolled out dough. Then just roll it up. It does not have to be perfect, mine was less than perfect and they still turned out fabby!

Slice roll into 1/4 inch thick pieces - I used a serrated knife to do this as the dough was quite soft, I may suggest that you let it chill for an hour or so before cutting it.

Line the pinwheels up on your favorite baking sheet and toss them in the oven for 10-15 minutes @ 425 degrees.

{Follow the above steps for the remainder of the dough and butter}

This recipe yields 50 pinwheels.

:: Here is my little kitchen helper...Paul & Jacob were out playing so Cole ended up helping me in the kitchen :) ::

:: This Morning ::

:: I'd rather be decorating for Christmas but I am off this morning to brave the elements and run a bunch of errands with the boys...sound like fun? Not so much, I think I have 8 stops to make....pray for me ;) ::