December's over but...Tuba Christmas 2013

I lied! I'm posting a "catch up" post afterall! :D

In December, Stephen and his friend Zach, participated in the Fort Worth Tuba Christmas. Have you ever been to an event like this? So neat! It's all bass clef instruments performing Christmas songs. There were tubas, sousaphones, euphoniums, baritones (is a euphonium and a baritone the same thing?) and I'm sure others, but I don't know their names. Stephen played tuba and Zach played baritone.

 Here's Stephen in his Tuba Christmas scarf and toboggan!

Here's a little sample of the sound! Check your area for a Tuba Christmas for 2014!  It's a fun holiday event!



~Amy

Christmas 2011 in pictures (mostly)

Our 2011 Christmas card

Christmas Eve at Jill & Kevin's home

With our stockings!

Our Ste on Christmas morning

Christmas Night at Jules & Tobias' home

Christmas Photo - Woods' Grandkids

How it started...And after eleventy hundred tears, wiggles, and reminders to "Look at the camera!"
we ended up with this:

I can handle that!
And I think the grandparents were pleased with their gift.

Good King Wenceslas (on double bass)

Exciting times in the Woods' home this week! Stephen expressed a desire to learn the double bass earlier this year. His dad made a deal with him: how ever much money he saved up to purchase a double bass, we would match. Stephen saved and saved and on Thanksgiving evening found a double bass online for 50% off and free shipping. So, yep, we ordered it.

It was delivered this week. Wow! It is huge!

Stephen also bought himself book 1 in a series of Double Bass books. He is already learning chords and songs. I ♥ how he just goes for it!

We arrived home yesterday from work and were greeted with the first part of Good King Wenceslas (which I pronounce wrong in the video [eyeroll!])

Hope you enjoy it too!

Christmas Concert 2011

Stephen's band Christmas concert was last Thursday night. I absolutely LOVE going to school concerts. Puts me in the spirit of the holiday every time! This year the 5th grade music class (they all play recorders!), the 6th grade band and the high school band performed. Below are a couple of videos from the High School band performances. Hope you enjoy them! [Ste is the only Tuba player. :)]

The Nutcracker Ballet

I have been looking forward to this day since I purchased the tickets in early November.
Today was the Nutcracker Ballet! Can you believe I've never attended?

Making it extra special was that I took my niece, Megan, with me!

And we went with my dear friend Robbie and her little God Daughter, Lydia.

Photography was not allowed.
So naturally I sneaked a shot at the curtain call (no flash of course ;) )

A great memory maker!
♥

O Vintage tree

I've been collecting these delicious little morsels for the last couple of years.
Shiny Brites and other vintage Christmas tree ornaments.

I love that they're flocked!

I love that they are made in the USA!

I love how they look on my NOT vintage, Wal-mart brand silver tree!

It's beginning to get festive 'round here!

~our Christmas~

~Our Holiday Home~


~Tamale making at Toby's and Julie's home~


~Celebrating with Virgil's siblings on Christmas Eve Eve.~


~Christmas Eve with my siblings and their families~

~Christmas Morning~

~Christmas Day - Virgil's parents and siblings~

Lots of celebrating here!

~little elf~

A little elf spent a few hours with us this evening.



I highly recommend a baby fix when the opportunity arises. {and it's ok to ask the Momma, "Can my grandnephew spend the evening with us?"}




What's better than a wide, snaggled smile?




and baby drool?

ahhh...totally chill...that's how my little family is feeling after our evening playing with Aiden bug.

~Christmas creation~

I put this together over the weekend and I love how it turned out! {forgive my poor, shadowy photo - it doesn't do it justice!}

I ordered the vinyl from this {SantasGiftShoppe} etsy shop. What a sweet lady!

I bought a 12X12 canvas when they were on sale at Hobby Lobby, spray painted it with Krylon Ivy Leaf, and then a layer of Krylon Silver Glitter paint. Next, I applied the vinyl.

I love how it turned out! [oops, already said that!] Looks great on my black entertainment center. I'll post some pics when I dust it! HA!

~molasses buns {a cookie}~

This is a deliciously soft, spicy cookie that tastes better on day 2 and beyond. I like to bake them up, let them cool and then store in a sealed container. The next morning they are most wonderful with a cup of coffee!

Molasses Buns

1/2 c boiling water
1/2 c butter, melted
1/2 c molasses (I've been using sorghum we received from a friend's family near Walnut, MS - Is Molasses and Sorghum the same thing? I have no clue - but I do know that either works in this recipe!)
1/2 c. sugar
2 t baking soda
1/2 t ground cloves
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
3 c all -purpose flour
Mix together all ingredients except flour; set aside and allow to cool. Stir in flour; let stand for 20 minutes. roll into balls - about the size of a walnut and place on greased cookie sheet. Flatten balls with a spoon or the bottom of a measuring cup; bake at 375 for 10- 12 minutes.
Please enjoy all season long with a cup of coffee. Or cocoa. You choose! ;)

~O Christmas Tree~

The tree is trimmed! :D

~red velvet whoopie pie COOKIES~

{If you like red velvet, soft cookies, cream cheese and peppermint, you are gonna want to try these delicious morsels!}

I made some this weekend. I ate much of the filling...just squeezed it right into my mouth. I'm not ashamed. Not at all! ;)

Red Velvet Whoopie Cookies with Peppermint Filling

1/2 c butter, softened

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 TBS unsweetened cocoa

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 c all-purpose flour

1/2 c buttermilk

1 - 1 oz bottle red food coloring

Peppermint cream cheese filling

Preheat ove to 375 F. In a mixing bowl, beat the butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Alternately add flour and buttermilk, beating on low speed after each addition just until combined. Stir in red food coloring. Spoon dough with a rounded teaspoon and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheet.

Bake for 7 to 9 minutes or until edges are set. Cool on cookie sheet for 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool.

Spread Peppermint Cream Cheese Filling on bottoms of half of the cookies. Top with remaining cookies, flat sides down pressing lightly together.

(I used my kitchen aid to mix up the cookies and I put the filling into a ziplock bag, snipped the corner and squeezed the filling onto the bottom cookie.)

Peppermint-Cream Cheese Filling

In a mixing bowl, combine two 3 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened; 2 TBS softened butter; and 1/2 tsp peppermint extract. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in 3 cups powdered sugar. If necessary, add milk, 1 tsp at a time, to make spreading consistency.

Delicious!

[I found this recipe in Better Homes and Gardens Food Gifts magazine 2010.]

~glittery goodness~

We will be trimming our tree tonight. We decided to use a few vintage shiny brites in green and silver and then add some glittery ornaments in that color theme. I made a few poster board cutouts and glittered them up to add to the tree.

{If you decided to do something similiar, and if you decided to use spray adhesive - be sure to lay down something large enough to capture overspray. Ahem...otherwise your table might end up coated with spray adhesive. Spray adhesive that is NOT water soluble. I'm just sayin'.}

Just need to punch a hole and string these babies up!

~hello december~

{photo from glamoursplash.com}

I just needed to acknowledge that December is here. Bring it on!!

I need some hot cocoa. Like now.

~on their way!~

These bits of loveliness are on their way to my house! yay! Our tree will be green, white and silver this year. Something a bit different for us. EXCITED!

~on my mind~

(credit: Country Living) (credit: Country Living)

(credit: Decor Pad)

(credit: Apartment Therapy)

hmmm...I detect a color theme....

That Santa!! He really knows what I like!!!

Woods' Christmas Pictorial