more baking

She was an intrepid baker.   I showed her how to scoop the dough, flour the board, flour the dough, and flip it over a couple times and then start rolling.   Sprinkle a dab on any sticky spots.   She caught on fast, and had only one moment she yelled for help and had the rolling pin encased in gingerbread.

I helped her get straightened out and she was off again.

Then the sugar cookies were baked.  She'd gone home by then, so it was just the two of us--Jay frosted gingerbread and I baked the cookies.  Not used to doing both the breadboard and the oven, so there was a bit of a struggle. A few pans were burned. Squirrels like them anyway. Out the door they went.

Later she returned all by herself to help sprinkle cookies. She hung in there a long, long time, and used so many sprinkles Jay said to fetch the trays and recoup some overage to continue on. All were done.

Very nice job, my darling.

Thank you so much for your help.   Love, Grandma

a baking sleepover

We haven't had a sleepover in a long time, but Friday night it worked out, and they had a good time.

Only had one helper with the baking and she's very good at it, surprisingly for someone so tiny.

Some racing crash game with cars:

Okay, little water skiing Santa had his boat deflate.  Fan is dead, smelled burnt.

Sad.

Since the guinea pigs have overtaken the guest room, they exhumed the air mattress once again.

Made beds on the couches:

She has such a hard time falling asleep.  He got her warmed up and she conked out, finally. But trying to sneak off that air mattress without waking her up was quite the feat.

The next morning, the baking got underway:

Okay, I encourage people to eat at the table. We have tables in the kitchen, in the family room, and in the dining room. They're great tables.

So we've got your french fries on the rug.

And a walkie talkie and a banana on the couch.

At one point, glanced into the family room and a child had a hamburger on the piano!  And a large beverage!  

Seriously?

I don't know how clean that piano is.  We dust it with furniture polish, but not promising anything.  

Oh my goodness.

I love you kids, Grandma, aka MOM

a week of christmas concerts

These guys.  It was a great concert.

That's their friend in the khaki pants.  It's a small group, but that's also fine.

Tim's concert was the next night, very beautiful.

 

That's him on percussion.

Tonight was Julia's concert.  That's her and Sam on French Horn.

And we keep on getting ready for Christmas, wrapping presents as they appear on the front steps.

This weekend, baking is the plan.

Love you all. 

What a great week.

Nothing but love.

little guy

Look at that smile!

He talks to his mother too.

Jay made ham and cheesy potatoes in the crock pots and we had a nice couple hours eating with Maria and Dalton and enjoying the baby and the evening.

It was a great way to end the weekend and head into Monday.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa

basketball saturday

We had a great time, made it to three basketball games and enjoyed a couple hours in between games, hanging out with John and Dannell and the kids.

It was a very laid back and pleasant afternoon.

Love, Grandma and Grandpa
 

december is looking fine

 

Tradition continues--Heidi took Julia along for the Santa picture.  

Success!

Love, Grandma