Ten for Tuesday

Today's Ten for Tuesday is a Christmas theme. Here are ten things my kids see at Christmas time in our house.




1. I am baking like crazy! I made pumpkin / chocolate chip bread yesterday to share with the families we home teach and visit teach. Today I'm making crepes and several loaves of whole-wheat bread.



2. Each year, as one of our Family Home Evening activites, we cut out snowflakes to hang on windows. You can make your own virtual snowflake here: http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/ (This site even shows you how to fold the paper so you can make real ones if you'd like.)



3. The Polar Express train circling under the tree. Ty received this train last year as a gift from Grandpa Craig. When Ty gets to be the engineer, the smile on his face is priceless!



4. Thanks to Monique for sharing the "Teach the Children" FHE. This is a lesson we will do every year from now on! The ornaments on the tree represent one of the symbols of the real meaning of Christmas.



5. I have piles of boxes building up in my room. I don't have very much time to go out and shop these days so I did most of my shopping online.



6. Our new Gingerbread house. We are years away from making the perfect gingerbread house, but we sure had fun (and a little frustration) this year. The gingerbread house is a kit from Trader Joe's. The kids are counting down to when they can eat it on New Year's Eve.



7. I love Nativity sets. We have five right now. I made this one at my very first Relief Society "Super Saturday" craft event and I'm amazed it is still with us after 12 years!



8. On the top of our tree sits my sterling silver star. I was given this by my Mom and Dad the year that I danced in the Boston Ballet's Nutcracker. I played a 'party boy' because I was small enough to fit in the costume. I still remember the tag on the gift that said, "To: The Star of the Show!"



9. I absolutely love when the stockings have been hung. These special stockings were hand made and personalized by my Aunt Lou Jean. Mine was made when I was a baby and it is the stocking I grew up with. Andrew received his stocking as a wedding gift and the kids were given theirs after they were born. I love how the stockings remind us of our loving family in addition to the impending arrival of Santa.



10. I love children's Christmas stories. This is a photo of some of the Christmas books we own. The music box in the center was another gift I received when I danced in the Nutcracker.

We hope you and your family have a very safe, wonderful and enjoyable Christmas!!

Tennessee Sunsets

One of the things that I love about Tennessee is the sunsets. Enjoy! BTW, the pink in the sky was really that pink. I thought the lake looked like punch. I am so grateful I had my camera with me.

Southern Living Shrimp Casserole

Gigi made this recipe a few months ago and it is one of my new favorite dishes. Yum.

Prep: 30 min., Cook: 17 min., Bake: 25 min.

Yield

Makes 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups uncooked long-grain rice
• 1 1/2 pounds medium-size raw shrimp
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 celery ribs, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 4 green onions, chopped
• 2 (10 3/4-oz.) cans cream of shrimp soup, undiluted*
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 cup (4 oz.) shredded Cheddar-colby cheese blend
• 1/4 cup fine, dry breadcrumbs

Preparation

1. Prepare rice according to package directions.

2. Peel shrimp, and devein, if desired.

3. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add bell pepper and next 4 ingredients, and sauté 10 to 12 minutes or until tender. Stir in soup, shrimp, salt, and pepper; cook 3 minutes or just until shrimp turn pink. (Do not overcook.)

4. Combine shrimp mixture and rice. Pour mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup shredded cheese and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs.

5. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until cheese is melted.

*2 (10 3/4-oz.) cans cream of celery soup, undiluted, may be substituted.

Chicken-and-Rice Casserole: Substitute 3 cups chopped cooked chicken for shrimp and 2 (10 3/4-oz.) cans cream of chicken soup, undiluted, for cream of shrimp soup. Proceed with recipe as directed.

Carol Dodd, Arley, Alabama, Southern Living, APRIL 2007

She read what?

Brianna surprised us this week by reading the classic Mutiny on the Bounty. Of course she loved it and tells me that I need to read it so we can have our own little book club. One of her wishes in life is that she can go to the adult book group that I attend. I just love my little nerd. If you had any doubts that she is a nerd (a beautiful one I might add) then you must know what she is asking Santa for this year. She wants a microscope for Christmas so that she can investigate sand further. Enough said.

P.S. I wouldn't want her to be any other way.