Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[eandesmom]

First, congratulations to Evan! Holy smokes, that was a lotta wood to break!



Now this looks GOOD!

Thanks! It was a lot of wood, I was very relieved he broke through it all at once.

Here is the original recipe if anyone wants, I know Happydog won't mind She's at the world right now, lucky Dog!



Mine is a modifed version based on what we had on hand and making it a wee bit lighter...it is delish!

I do find it amusing that I decided to make it rather than run to the store and buy some when we ran out and now I fear I may never buy it again....Which is ok by me!

Happydog's Eggnog

 

[All7OfUs]

Hey Cynthia!

I'm so far behind here! The weekends just whack me out.

Huge congrats to Evan! what a feat; I know he's proud of himself!

LOVE your decorations, but love the live tree even more. I can smell it in my mind.

Don't worry about whining! We all need to once in a while. As long as we can whine back sometimes

Yeah. Blessings. Great thoughts on all we have to be thankful for. Family, warm, cozy houses, even music. DH promised I"d get a hot buttered rum on Christmas Eve. I'm going to be thankful for that. Also, going to be thankful when my DS comes home on Wednesday!!!!

Surprising the kids for April instead. Do you think they want to give input on ADRs in Aug? If so, you should give that option. Surprising in April would be just as fun. I love how Jeff is calling it a DL trip! I've always wondered why they didn't do cross-over tix. too. Esp, since some do back-to-back marathons at both parks.

 

[eandesmom]

Hey Cynthia!

I'm so far behind here! The weekends just whack me out.

Huge congrats to Evan! what a feat; I know he's proud of himself!

LOVE your decorations, but love the live tree even more. I can smell it in my mind.

Don't worry about whining! We all need to once in a while. As long as we can whine back sometimes

Yeah. Blessings. Great thoughts on all we have to be thankful for. Family, warm, cozy houses, even music. DH promised I"d get a hot buttered rum on Christmas Eve. I'm going to be thankful for that. Also, going to be thankful when my DS comes home on Wednesday!!!!

Surprising the kids for April instead. Do you think they want to give input on ADRs in Aug? If so, you should give that option. Surprising in April would be just as fun. I love how Jeff is calling it a DL trip! I've always wondered why they didn't do cross-over tix. too. Esp, since some do back-to-back marathons at both parks.

'cept it's not live....

Mnn! HBR's. I have a VERY yummy HBR recipe!

I do think the kids will want ADR input. I also think my beloved husband doesn't want to hear them talk about it for 7 months which is why he wants to hold off on telling them. That and the possible date changes, soccer/volleyball drama etc. So honestly I'm kind of leaning towards just not saying anything to them about anything! I want to do a surprise trip for them, they will find out about the August trip before we go for sure but since it could be in flux, I get where he is coming from.

Yeah, he's calling it a Disney trip but only will go to DCA.



Hey, I'm not complaining. We are going, that's all that really matters!

I'm backwards from you, weekends restore (well once the test was over), it's the weeks that whack me out!

 

[All7OfUs]

2 words

Send recipe!

(no brown sugar until Wednesday (it's another one of those leak worthy grocery items))

 

[eandesmom]

2 words

Send recipe!

(no brown sugar until Wednesday (it's another one of those leak worthy grocery items))

I will post is in the morning! But yes, you do need brown sugar!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Cynthia,

Apparently I am 66 pages behind, but I am finally here! Going to catch up!!!

 

[TarzansKat]

Just wanted to offer a quick congratulations to Evan!

And thanks for sharing all your Christmas decorations. Ours are up, but I haven't been ambitious enough to post pictures. By the by, I love the backsplash above your stove. Beautiful tiles.

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia,

Apparently I am 66 pages behind, but I am finally here! Going to catch up!!!

Thrilled to have you here! You were here in spirit on Halloween when I shamelessly copied your HM cupcakes!

Just wanted to offer a quick congratulations to Evan!

And thanks for sharing all your Christmas decorations. Ours are up, but I haven't been ambitious enough to post pictures. By the by, I love the backsplash above your stove. Beautiful tiles.

Thanks!

They make me smile every day, probably my very most favorite thing in the whole house. Our builder thought I was nuts...and then wanted pictures for her website.



I hope the nausea is a bit better today...when is the 1st trimester over for you?

 

[Angies1274]

I got so far behind.....again!!!

But...YAY!! Congrats to Evan!! That's wonderful!!

Thanks for sharing your Christmas decorations. They are really beautiful!!

Mmmm....that eggnog looks yummy!!

Okay....now heading back to catch up on the earlier posts I missed!!

 

[eandesmom]

This is my Dad's recipe. Who cheerfully goes by the name Grumpy and owns a LOT of grumpy gear, including a Grumpy Santa hat.

It is actually from another family but I always think of it as my dad's. He greets us with one every Christmas eve. In his Grumpy Santa hat.



It makes a ton and it stores well. I still have a smidge left from last year.

I also call it the pound, a pound and a pound recipe.

Batter

• 
  [*]1 lb. butter
  [*]1 lb. powdered sugar
  [*]1 lb. dark brown sugar
  [*]3-4 tsp. cinnamon
  [*]2ts. nutmeg
  [*]1qt good vanilla ice cream...the full fat kind!

Mix butter and sugar until fluffy.
Add spices and beat well.
Add ice cream and beat until fully blended.

Store in freezer, reserving a small container for the fridge. Or you can make it right out of the freezer if preferred. It will keep in the fridge for 2-3 weeks.

To make hot buttered rum

Add to mug in the following order

1. One heaping spoonful of batter
2. 1 shot of good rum, we generally use Bacardi Gold
3. Boiling water

Stir. It will get all lovely foamy delishy!

This works best with hot boiling water poured on top of the batter in the order above. However if you are lazy like me and don't generally use a teakettle (or your insta-hot leaks) it works just fine to heat up the batter and water in the microwave and then add the rum. It's not "quite" as good but perfectly drinkable!

Up next. Jeff's Irish Coffee. Shamelessly stolen from the Buena Vista in San Fransisco. Which Jeff is still a little annoyed with his dad about when 2 weeks ago while he was visiting his dad and they went into the city, his Dad wouldn't go to the BV! That's just wrong.....

 

[jordanyosh]

Congrats to Evan and his proud parents.

Thanks for the Christmas Cheer. It sometimes gets lost in the hustle and bustle.

 

[TarzansKat]

They make me smile every day, probably my very most favorite thing in the whole house. Our builder thought I was nuts...and then wanted pictures for her website.

Isn't that always the way?

I hope the nausea is a bit better today...when is the 1st trimester over for you?

Today, unfortunately was one of my worst days. I think my 1st trimester will be done towards the end of January. I am looking forward to that with hearty anticipation.

Love the recipe for the rum. I am one sad pirate that I won't be partaking, but glad you shared it because I've never made it at home, and love getting a family recipe.

 

[eandesmom]

I got so far behind.....again!!!

But...YAY!! Congrats to Evan!! That's wonderful!!

Thanks for sharing your Christmas decorations. They are really beautiful!!

Mmmm....that eggnog looks yummy!!

Okay....now heading back to catch up on the earlier posts I missed!!

Hi Angie! :wave

Thanks for the congrats, he is sporting quite the bruise today!

Eggnog is dangerous! in the best of ways.

Congrats to Evan and his proud parents.

Thanks for the Christmas Cheer. It sometimes gets lost in the hustle and bustle.

Thanks!

It is easy to lose sight of the Christmas cheer, highs and lows this season. I had a bit of a low yesterday afternoon but was magically resorted by watching Miracle on 34th Street.

And Eggnog

Isn't that always the way?

Today, unfortunately was one of my worst days. I think my 1st trimester will be done towards the end of January. I am looking forward to that with hearty anticipation.

Love the recipe for the rum. I am one sad pirate that I won't be partaking, but glad you shared it because I've never made it at home, and love getting a family recipe.

Oh I am so sorry to hear that, were you this sick last time? I was pretty lucky on that front but have seen so many people be really sick. My mom couldn't cook at all when pregnant with my youngest sis. I think we lived on Banquet frozen fried chicken because we could make it ourselves

The HBR recipie can stand alone, no rum, and be a rather tasty cozy winter drink. I'd up the amount of batter to compensate a little for the lack of rum. We've been known to call it...(with or without the rum)

Dessert in a mug

 

[TarzansKat]

Oh I am so sorry to hear that, were you this sick last time?

No. Well, not no, but it was totally different. I had nausea last time, but it was more nagging queasiness than what's going on now. And I didn't have the MAJOR food aversions that I'm having now. As in there's so little I can actually stomach, or have an interest in eating.

This kiddo is definitely different, that's for sure. Last time I was able to just nibble all day and it would keep my nausea down. This time, it doesn't always work. I'm lucky that I have a very understanding husband and awesome co-workers.

I was pretty lucky on that front but have seen so many people be really sick. My mom couldn't cook at all when pregnant with my youngest sis. I think we lived on Banquet frozen fried chicken because we could make it ourselves

I'm amazed at the smells that drive me nuts. It's hard to prepare certain things for my DS. I feel so badly for him.

The HBR recipie can stand alone, no rum, and be a rather tasty cozy winter drink. I'd up the amount of batter to compensate a little for the lack of rum. We've been known to call it...(with or without the rum)

Dessert in a mug

Oooo...now there's a thought! I like the idea of dessert in a mug.

 

[eandesmom]

No. Well, not no, but it was totally different. I had nausea last time, but it was more nagging queasiness than what's going on now. And I didn't have the MAJOR food aversions that I'm having now. As in there's so little I can actually stomach, or have an interest in eating.

This kiddo is definitely different, that's for sure. Last time I was able to just nibble all day and it would keep my nausea down. This time, it doesn't always work. I'm lucky that I have a very understanding husband and awesome co-workers.

I'm amazed at the smells that drive me nuts. It's hard to prepare certain things for my DS. I feel so badly for him.

Oooo...now there's a thought! I like the idea of dessert in a mug.

Ginger ale? I actually needed to eat a decent breakfast and found that homemade mac and cheese cured everything.

It still does.

I couldn't smell iced tea. Go figure! Definitely couldn't drink it, it was the giveaway both times.

I had many a HBR sans rum while nursing Evan. A good thing too since I was pg with Eric but didn't know it.

 

[jordanyosh]

Magic eggnog at that.

 

[Charleston Princess]

The recipe for hot buttered rum sounds divine!!! I will have to make a note of that one! I bought all the stuff for Happydog's Lemon Fizzes today while I was out and about. I am thinking I should make a test batch before Christmas day.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Wooo hooo Evan!!!! Yippeee!!!! You must be so proud!!! That is a tremendous feet! A lot of hard work, long hours and dedication!!!! Congrats!!!!

 

[winkers]

all this talk about drinks.....I'm in charge of the drinks for our family party...any ideas for something without alcohol? All I need is a bunch of drunk mormons..

 

[All7OfUs]

Ohhh, Cherie, that would be too funny!! What about Cranberry with Gingerale, infused with orange floaties? I dont' mean floatie floaties, just you know, orange peel with squeezy stuff. and don't forget the ice cubes made from something fun. Like maybe orange juice with cinammon??