A Bass Pro Shops Christmas

 You have never truly experienced a redneck Christmas until you go to Bass Pro Shops and look at their huge Christmas tree.  What's that in the middle of the tree you ask?

 Why of course, it's a hog's head!!  And just for good measure, a little lower is a...

 deer head!

 And these 3 (and their father) loved it.  I was a little taken aback.  I know we've been here before at Christmas, I just can't remember the lifesize animals in the tree!

 He was a very realistic Santa, and sadly, the only one looking at the camera.

 They were all about the games.

 Especially him.

 She loved the tents

 as did he.

 She also enjoyed the elves in the snow, but don't ask her to pet the moving carribou!

 Sweet.

 Look at that concentration.

 He was giving it his all.

 Ah, thanks for a great time Dad!

Cookie Baking

 The kids and I attended a Christmas cookie party last week.  So we baked cookies.

 I am not a cookie baker.  I really don't enjoy it.  If I make cookies, it's usually bar cookies that I can make all at once and then cut apart.  But I wanted to include the kids in making the cookies so I came up with a doable idea that wouldn't cause too much stress.  From Pinterst, of course!

 They LOVED it!

Our reindeer cookies!  No frosting and no decorating other than what we did before we baked them.  They turned out so cute and the kids really enjoyed it, and so did I!  It was just enough!

 Emma, badly needing her hair brushed.

 Mmmmmm!

Sooooo good!

Our Annual Christmas Open House

For Chuck: Bacon Cracker Appetizers

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/12/flashback_1981_-_holiday_bacon_appetizers/ 

Enjoy!  We made half with parmesan cheese and half with brown sugar.  Both ways are incredibly delicious.

My Trip to Kansas

 I flew to Kansas on December 11th to spend a week with my parents.  This was very unusual for me- to visit my parents alone.  We all had wanted to come for Christmas, but right now we don't have a vehicle that can hold all of us, so I decided (after I won some money in October) that I was going to come for a visit alone.

It was a wonderful week.  We had such a great time, really doing nothing out of the ordinary.  I was able to spend time with both my parents and my sister and her family without having to be concerned with my children.  I'm pretty sure that has never happened for such an extended length of time since I had children, almost 23 years ago.

My mother found this recipe from the Pioneer Woman, so one night we made these cracker/bacon appetizers.

 We couldn't imagine how they would taste.  They bake for 2 hours.

 I don't have any pictures of them after they were baked bacause as soon as they came out of the oven, they. were. gone.  They were so good!! (I made them for my family Christmas Eve and the same thing happened.  Gone!)

 I was also able to celebrate my Dad's birthday while I was there.  We had a birthday party for him on Sunday evening.

 His brother, Tyrone and Tyrone's wife Anne and his sister Roxie came.  We had such a nice time.

 Rebecca made him a delicious red velvet cake.

 Anne and Tyrone, who I had not seen in several years.  It was nice to spend some time with them.

 Mom and Dad.

 Laughing.

 And more laughing.  We laughed so hard we cried.  It was a great time! 

 The next day my cousins, Geoff and Corrie came to visit.  It has been a while since I've seen them.

 Geoff, Corrie and their mom Kathy. 

 Corrie's adorable children Katie and Levi.

 Such a cutie!

 Look at that face!

 I took my dad to the Brazilian grill one night for his birthday.  A brazilian grill is an experience!

 Waiters come around with 14 different cuts of meat on skewers and cut you off a piece right at your table.

 It was delicious!

 My dad loved it!

There was an ice skating rink right outside the restaurant.

It was a wonderful week.  I hated to see it end.