My Daily Cup of Christmas

25 days till Christmas

Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.--Charles Schulz

This will be my last Daily Cup of Christmas for this Christmas season...I think the next 25 days will be my daily reminders of Christmas and the season!!

My Daily Cup of Christmas

26 days until Christmas

Carol singing, church bells ringing,

Once more Christmastime is here.

Children laughing, grownups beaming,

Hearts are warm with Christmas cheer.--Ruby Lee Mitchell

My Daily Cup of Christmas

27 Days until Christmas

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree:

 the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.--Burton Hillis

My Daily Cup of Christmas

28 Days till Christmas

Christmas is a spirit that flows from one heart to another.

It is more precious than rubies and better than gold.--Agnes M. Pharo

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!!

I hope today finds everyone enjoying family and good food!! 

Blessings,

Lisa

**no cup of Christmas today

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband!!

I hope today is a great day for you!!!

We all love you!

Happy Birthday!

Lisa, Lindsey, Allison, & Jack

My Daily Cup of Christmas

30 Days of Christmas

Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both.--Phillips Brooks

My To Do List

I am getting ready for my husbands birthday, Thanksgiving, and putting the Christmas tree up later this week so we are cleaning cleaning cleaning at the Speed home.  This is more of a post to myself where I can mark as I go and get things done.  Can't get on line without seeing what still needs to be done ... kind of like a guilt trip to myself  :O)

TO DO:

• Clean Jack's Bathroom
• Clean Our Bathroom
• Sweep Stairs & Foyer
• Wrap Gift
• Bake Cake
• Dust Upstairs
• Vac Upstairs
• Vac Downstairs
• Bring Tree Upstairs and unpack in classroom
• Get Ornaments out of attic
• Change Air Filters
• Deep Clean Kitchen

That's it for today...if I can accomplish all that I will feel like I did something!!!
Better Get Busy ....

*** Update everything is done and we are sitting back and watching some TV :O)  (9:06 PM)

My Daily Cup of Christmas

31 days until Christmas

A heads up for all those who are planning to head out to fight the crowds on BLACK FRIDAY

this is my favorite site for all the good deals so we can start planning EARLY!!!

BLACKFRIDAY@GOTTADEAL.COM

Our Thanksgiving Menu

Our Thanksgiving Menu:

Honey Baked Ham and Turkey
Green Bean Casserole
Homemade Macaroni & Cheese
Sweet Potato Casserole
Twice Baked Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce
Rolls
Pecan Pie
Brownie Pie
Ooey Gooey Bars

Yummy!!!  We will start cooking on Tuesday and continue through til Thanksgiving Day and I can not wait!!!  Now I have to get busy with some cleaning!!  Y'all have a great Thanksgiving Week!!

My Daily Cup of Christmas

I have had so many pictures to post lately I got away from my Daily Cup of Christmas.  I am going to try to do better for ther last 32 days! 

32 days till Christmas

My favorite cut out cookie recipe!!!

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups Pillsbury BEST® All Purpose

Flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 (14 ounce) can EAGLE BRAND®

Sweetened Condensed Milk

3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

2 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract Colored sugar sprinkles (optional)



Confectioners' Sugar Glaze(optional):

2 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, almond extract

or lemon extract

2 tablespoons milk

1 dash food color (optional)



Directions:

1. In small bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt; set aside.

2. In large bowl, with mixer on low speed, beat sweetened condensed milk, butter, eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat at medium speed for 1 minute, until smooth. Add flour mixture and beat on low speed until combined. (If using portable mixer, use wooden spoon to stir in last portion of flour mixture.)

3. Divide dough into thirds. Wrap and chill dough about 2 hours or until easy to handle.

4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. On lightly floured surface, roll out dough, one portion at a time, to 1/8-inch thickness; cut with floured cookie cutters. Reroll as necessary to use all dough. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Sprinkle with colored sugar (optional).

5. Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until very lightly browned around the edges (do not overbake). Cool. Glaze and decorate as desired. Store loosely covered at room temperature.

6. Confectioners' Sugar Glaze (optional): Combine confectioners' sugar and vanilla extract, almond extract or lemon extract. Stir in enough milk to make glaze consistency. Tint with food coloring (optional).

This recipe comes from All Recipes . com .....I love that site and this is the recipe that we reach for every year!!

At it again!

Mr fix it strikes again......taking care of business.  Everything has been fixed this week!!

Hanging out in the woods!!

The kids and I went hiking today at Altoona Dam and Cooper's Furnance.  We had a lot of fun and the weather was wonderful.  Enjoy our photo's!!

Mr Fix It

Jackson got these Handy Manny tools from Lindsey for his birthday and has since spent the rest of the time fixing things.  Here he is working on my dishwasher.  My Fridge, the TV, and a couple of doors have also been repaired.  Of course he has to sing the Handy Manny song while working...Hop Hop Jump In.....

Have a Great Day!!

Jack's 4th birthday...more pictures

Ok these are the last pictures I will post for Jack's 4th birthday.  We celebrated at home just the family on the actual day.  I made brownie cupcakes with chocolate icing.  You can see Jack giving the big 4 years old sign.  We ate at Fudruckers which was wonderful as always, and then ended with a little desert and a couple of presents.  I think Jack had a good time.  it is hard to believe that he is 4 already.

Play-Doh Ice Cream Shop

Jackson really wanted this playdoh Ice Cream Shop and he got it as a gift for his birthday.  He kept asking to open it at Mawmaw's, but I did not want him too.  So the first thing the next morning I am awaken by sounds coming from the classroom, to find big sis Allison has helped him get everything set up and started.  I bet they made icecreams for at least an hour, and I know we have used it 2 other times this week....sure to be a keeper.

Jack's 4th Birthday at Mawmaw's House

I have been sick for about a week and I am just now getting around to posting these pictures.  This is from Jack's birthday at Mawmaw's House.  We had a great time and as you can see Handy Manny was the theme.  The Cake was a Bulldozer which is another favorite thing of Jack's right now!

Oops....I forgot to say it's a 2004 Toyota Sequoia

My New to Us People Mover

This is our New to Us People Mover.  This is the picture from the ad, I love it and have really enjoyed driving it so far!! 

My Daily Cup of Christmas

42 Days till Christmas

Christmas… that magic blanket that wraps itself about us, that something so intangible that it is like a fragrance. It may weave a spell of nostalgia. Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer, but always it will be a day of remembrance -- a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved. ~ Augusta E Rundel

A Fun Quiz Thingy

You Are the Kitchen

You are creative and inspired. You have a lot of projects going on. You are also a homebody who enjoys a cozy night with a nice home cooked meal. You are generous and giving. You enjoy taking care of people. You have a knack for knowing what each person needs most.

What Room of the House Are You?

Blogthings: Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

My Daily Cup of Christmas

43 Days until Christmas

“I heard the bells on Christmas Day; their old familiar carols play, and wild and sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good-will to men!” ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Happy Birthday Jackson Heath

Happy 4th Birthday

Our little busy body!! 

We love you!

Dad, Mom, Lindsey, and Allison

My Daily Cup of Christmas

44 days until Christmas

"The Christmas Angels"

If you see some different lights

Around your Christmas tree

It could be Christmas Angels

Hiding there to see.



The fun and joy of Christmas

As they watch the children play.

And as they watch you celebrate

This very special day.



But there's another reason that

The Christmas angels appear,

They're here to remind us why

It's a special time of year.



This is the day that Christ was born

Years ago in Bethlehem

He's the one who is our Savior

He is King of all the land.



So celebrate His birthday

With your presents, cheer and love

And let Him know you're glad He is

Our Savior up above.



Then the Christmas Angels

Will be happy they were here

And they can leave, but don't you fret

They'll be back again next year.

~Ron Lantz

My Daily Cup of Christmas

45 Days Until Christmas

Sorry I have been mia .... but I have been sick since Sunday with a yucky cold.

My Daily Cup Christmas

49 days till Christmas

Please join over at Just a Girl and share those Christmas ideas...Last years was great and I am sure the ideas over there will knock you socks off!!!  Check out Chris's Blog she shares some really great ideas!!

My Daily Cup of Christmas

50 days until Christmas

O welcome, little Christmas Guest,

Dear Jesus, from above;

Upon Thy face, so pure and mild,

We see God's smile of love.

Amen.


(I can just imagine that sweet little girl whispering this prayer)

My Daily Cup of Christmas

51 days until Christmas

If this season becomes all about shopping and gifts, you’ve missed the whole point. People—not things—matter. The miraculous birth of a baby who changed the world is what matters. ~ Dave Ramsey

Sunshine at last...

I am so glad that we are starting out today with sunshine.  Actually we have had sunshine since Sunday thank goodness.  It just makes things better in general.

It is so hard to believe that it is November already...I need to start wrapping up some gifts that I am making for Christmas.

I orded my Honeybaked Ham & Turkey Breast for Thanksgiving and I am working on planning the rest of the menu.  Doesn't it just look yummy!!

Right now we have our Autumn Harvest Candle burning making everything smell so much like the upcoming holidays!!  I just can't wait. 

Jack has already finished school and Allison is working on her computer work now so I had just a few minutes before time to start lunch!  Gotta get to the rest of my day!!  Have a great Tuesday!!

My Daily Cup of Christmas

52 Days till Christmas

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

My Daily Cup of Christmas

53 Days until Christmas

And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. ~Dr. Seuss

My Daily Cup of Christmas

54 Days to Christmas

Well we have moved into November...this month brings shopping for presents, crafting, and cooking for the big Thanksgiving Dinner, not to mention putting up the tree and decorating the house.

Christmas will be here before you know it. If your not already listening to Christmas music...it is officially OK to start today!!! ( unlike me who has been listening since the big Christmas in July)