MOCHA MORNINGS

...and all through the house, all my creatures have been stirring, but thankfully no signs of a mouse!! The day began with some surprise presents under the tree with notes not to open until noon on Christmas Eve. Talk about torturing your kids! Around 11:30 we gave in and let them open up their Christmas Eve packages. Each child got a new pair of PJ's, a movie, a new Christmas mug and some hot cocoa. I think this will be a new tradition for our family. The boys just finished a gingerbread train, we have party mix in the oven, reindeer food made, and cookies for Santa ready to bake. The boys tracked Santa in Paris, France about a half hour ago, so it won't be long now! Talk about some excited little boys! Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Not only do I love receiving Christmas cards, but I love sending them. I had good intentions, coupon discount codes and free shipping offers, but still never seemed to catch everyone at home, or awake, at the same time to capture a picture to order my cards. I reluctantly decided to just skip out on the entire ordeal this year until I received my first Christmas card and decided this was a Christmas tradition I was not willing to sacrifice because I was tired, busy or just plain lazy. So last night I hurriedly whipped one together with pictures taken throughout the year, placed an order though a one hour photo lab, picked them up on my lunch break today and have managed to address nearly all 50 tonight so I can mail them out tomorrow. What a relief! Now If I can just manage to finish my shopping and wrapping! Oh my!

This morning we awoke to find our scout elf, Buddy, had arrived back at our house for another holiday season. He even made breakfast and brought with him a dusting and flurry of snow! I just wonder what mischief he will get into this year? Reporting back to Santa every night, we just never know where we will find Buddy when we wake up each morning. Let the fun begin!

...Time for Joy and time for Cheer. Why I do believe this is the earliest the McKnight-Griswalds have ever gotten the tree up; and oh what a relief! Our night ended with the downtown Christmas stroll, Christmas parade, a visit with Santa and Chinese food for dinner. It doesn't get much more American than that folks. 'Tis the Season!

Just moving into our neighborhood in October, we haven't had a whole lot of time to get out and meet all our neighbors.  For Christmas I decided to put together a little package of Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies for the people on our street.  I purchased some very inexpensive plastic bowls at Wal-mart, some really cute Christmas napkins at The Dollar Tree and some fancy Green Ribbon (to compliment the green mint cookies) on sale at K-Mart to put gifts together.  I also included a copy of the recipe along with the batch of cookies in case they just totally loved them and wanted to make some more!  (If you have Microsoft Office on your computer you can create a recipe card and print out your recipe on plain 4 x 6 index cards to go along with your goodies).  Now, looking forward to everyone getting home this afternoon so we can give out our treats and finally meet all our neighbors!  Oh, and the Mint Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe can be found here, at Ri...

Even Santa needs to follow the "no texting while driving" rule.....

I hang on to all my past Christmas cards that we receive every year from our dear family and friends. Normally I display them in a Christmas basket and always enjoy looking back at them every year, comparing cards and seeing how much everyone's kiddos have grown, including my own. This year I decided to take all of the picture cards and groups them together, binding them with ring binders. A new fun way to display my picture cards so that both my family and our guests can enjoy them.

We woke up this morning to find that our elf Buddy had helped himself to some powdered donuts and some coffee! I guess it was a long night for him, as he probably had a lot to report to Santa. I wonder where he will land tonight? What has your elf been up to?

I have never seen the 6 year old look so scared/excited in his life! A real elf sent by Santa himself. Where will he land tomorrow? What will he report to Santa? I believe Buddy has just become my new best friend!

Moral of the picture....slow down and ENJOY Thanksgiving!  Christmas will be here soon enough! HAPPY THANKSGIVING FRIENDS!

Wow, is really all I can say about this news report! My son and husband watch this on a daily basis!   My Christmas gift to my hubby was an iphone 4.  I introduced him to Words with Friends...yeah!  Now I have found that the most effective way to communicate with him is to message him when it is my turn to play a word.  Houston, we may have a problem here! Who knew trying to get a picture for the McKnight Family Christmas card would be such a challenge?  This one almost made the cut....just keepin' it real! L is for Lindor Chocolate! Yum! Oh, what I have been missing out on all these years!!