Christmas Economy

In a big family Christmas can become a trying time, a very expensive time. So how do we afford Christmas for 9 children, two adults and our extended family? Simplify, simplify, simplify and make homemade gifts. We had the children draw names for each other and encouraged them to make homemade when possible. We have several new double sided fleece blankets, the little boys each got a John Deere one from their "secret sibling".

B#2's "secret sibling, B#4, made her this vintage apron.

The little boys got these great hooded bath towels from Mamaw and Papaw.

And then we just get simple little gifts that the person receiving them would enjoy. Daddy loves his coke so mom got him these bottled cokes. Over the years we have learned that we do not want our children to grow up getting lots of "stuff" for Christmas that they won't even remember next year. We do get them each something meaningful, usually books and then we do a family gift. All in all we had a good, simple Christmas.

Easy Oreo Truffles

Truffles...they just sound intimidating don't they? I had never made them but I found this recipe that sounded pretty easy so I gave it a try today and they are so yummy.

1 pkg(8oz) cream cheese
1 package oreo cookies, crushed finely ( I had to use the blender for this)
16 oz chocolate

Soften cream cheese, mix in 3 cups of crushed oreos. Roll into about 48 balls. Coat in melted chocolate then sprinkle with some of the remaining crushed oreos. Chill for an hour. Easy and yummy. That's my kind of recipe.

P.S. I have mentioned before that I am not the photographer in the family so please excuse the bad photo.

Chocolate dipped Rice Krispy Treats

Have you ever noticed that most of the yummiest Christmas treats are made with peanut butter? Such as peanut butter balls, chocolate covered peanut butter crackers, and Chex nutty buddies. I have recently discovered that peanut butter and I do not get along. But I was really wanting to make a treat for us today after church and remembered running across a recipe for chocolate covered Rice Krispy Treats. B#3 made them for me and they ended up being more of a dipped Rice Krispy treat than a chocolate covered one but I think that was better because boy are these rich! Just make up a batch of regular Rice Krispy treats and dip in some melted chocolate chips. Enjoy but don't forget a big glass of milk!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our family to yours. We pray that if you do not know Jesus as your Saviour that this Christmas season you will see Him working in your life and desire to know Him better.

I mentioned in a previous post about Advent and some of the things we do during Advent. We have been reading from the Old Testament each evening after dinner about the prophecies concerning Christ's coming. Well last night I decided to take a little side trip from that to read some Scriptures about some issues we are having in our family. You see, we have developed a bad habit of allowing unloving words and attitudes between us all so I thought I would just pick some Scriptures to read to the children to see what the Bible has to say to us about this but you know what....even in reading these verses to the children they related to Christmas and the reason we even celebrate this season.

We read in Leviticus that we are to love our neighbor(siblings) as ourself. Then in 1 John 4: 7-11 we read "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

The Bible is always relevant. Praise the Lord for that. Merry CHRISTmas!!!

This One's for you Mom

I was talking with my mom on the phone tonight and we got to talking about good things to eat so I shared this one with her and thought you all might enjoy it too...

Slice a banana into a bowl
Put some yogurt on top of the banana(think ice cream)
Slice some strawberries to put on top of the yogurt
Add some granola on top of that (optional)
Drizzle some chocolate syrup on top of it all
Enjoy!

Thanks to my good friend Karen for this recipe which comes from "The Biggest Loser" cookbook
It is all good for you and the chocolate syrup makes you feel like you are having a sweet treat.