Just Because Christmas is Over...

Doesn't mean you can't enjoy the smell of Gingerbread wafting through the house.

Gingerbread Waffles that is!

This is one of our favorite family recipes and we make it starting in the fall and all through the winter.

We even love to make them on our "Breakfast for Dinner" nights!

Topped off with carmelized apples and bananas they are simply scrumptious. I'm sure that makes them healthier too!

Here is the recipe

1/4 C butter or margarine     1/2 C brown sugar, packed

1/2 C light molasses               2 eggs, well beaten

1 C. milk                           2 C. siften flour

1 1/2 t. baking powder           1 1/2 t. cinnamon

1 t. ginger        1/4 t. allspice        1/2 t. salt

Cream butter, brown sugar, molasses, eggs, and milk. Sift together flour, baking powder, ginger, allspice, and salt; add to molasses mixture. Bake on greased waffle iron. Top with bananas or apples.

And here are some of our Christmas Highlights!

Visiting Santa on Christmas Eve at our Downtown Carousel. Lauren looks thrilled doesn't she? It was all we could do to get her to stay in that sleigh long enough for a photo!

All dressed up for Christmas Eve service at church. A girl's gotta have a sparkly purse to complete the ensemble.

The kids each receive a gift from Daddy on Christmas Eve. Lauren got a Ballerina Nutcracker and here she is showing us her own dance moves.

Ian received his first Chess set and they wasted no time getting the game going. Ian picked it up so quickly he is going to have to teach mommy now!

And, here they are coming down the stairs on Christmas morning.

They were not too happy that I made them stop to take this picture.

Can you see the courtesy smile?

I'm pretty sure it is because they saw this waiting for them!

This dollhouse that Lauren received was actually one that my dad built for my sister years ago. It has been sitting in their barn and Heather said that since my niece was past playing with it now, they would love to hand it down to Lauren. Remember that snow storm my parent's drove through at Thanksgiving? This dollhouse was sitting in the back of their truck the entire time! We reused some of the old furniture and I bought some new pieces to add to it. My plan is to repaint it and add wallpaper and maybe some stenciled rugs.

She is loving it and I even managed to find a new Victorian Doll Family that don't look creepy!

And yes, that is a toaster waffle sitting on the floor in the living room. Who wants to stop playing to go eat?
This is my favorite picture from the weekend. Little sister had been tucked into bed and Ian got to stay up a little bit later and listen to the grown-ups tell funny stories of Christmas' past.
Snuggled into Daddy's arms, this is where the memories are made!

So, how are you all doing? I'm looking forward to having time this week to visit you and catch up on all of your favorite memories from this blessed season!
See you soon,
Vanessa

Marty's hosting an "Anything Goes Party" at
A Stroll Thru Life