Merry Christmas!!!

If there were more days like Christmas, our world would be filled with the joy of song . . . the spirit of goodness, the colors of happiness, and the hope of believers everywhere. May it always be Christmas in your heart.

Holiday Cookies

Peppermint Snowball Cookies
These are some of my favorite cookies to make at Christmas time!

1/4 cup crushed peppermint hard candies
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/4 cup crushed peppermint hard candies
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups Gold Medal ® all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

DIRECTIONS
Heat oven to 325 . Mix 1/4 cup crushed candies and 1/4 cup powdered sugar; reserve. Mix butter, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 1/4 cup crushed candies and the vanilla in medium bowl. Stir in flour and salt.
Shape dough by level measuring tablespoonfuls into balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes or until set but not brown. Immediately remove from cookie sheet; roll in reserved candy mixture. Cool completely on wire rack. Roll in candy mixture again.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!!

May your stuffing be tastyMay your turkey plump,May your potatoes and gravyHave nary a lump.May your yams be deliciousAnd your pies take the prize,And may your Thanksgiving dinnerStay off your thighs!

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Happy 2nd Birthday to our little ladybug Grace! She is two today! I can't believe how fast these two years have gone by. Our big birthday plans for today include Chik fil a for dinner and a birthday ice cream at Baskin Robbins!

Our Little Pirate!!!

Here's a picture of Grace from Halloween. She did so good with keeping up with the kids trick or treating. We were out there for at least an hour. I of course ate most of her candy! :) She had a great time at the party we went to and wore herself out!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone! Just wanted to share one of my favorite recipes that I make every year for Halloween. Sounds a little odd but it is soooooo good!

Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce
1 pkg. (16 oz.) penne pasta, uncooked

1 lb. of maple flavored sausage
1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, cubed
1/2 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 cup canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. ground red pepper
ground nutmeg to taste

COOK pasta as directed on package and brown the sausage in a skillet.
MEANWHILE, place cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, butter and milk in large saucepan; cook on low heat until cream cheese is melted, stirring frequently. Add pumpkin and spices; cook until heated through, stirring occasionally.
ADD pasta and sausage; toss lightly. Serve topped with additional Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Heartbroken!

I'm incredibly sad to announce that Richard's mom passed away sometime Monday night. We are devastated. It's such a shock because she was fairly young and healthy. Richard found her at her home. She appeared to go very peacefully in her sleep, which is a comfort. She will be horribly missed and we love her very much. I'm so sad that she won't be here to watch Grace grow up. I know she'll be watching from above though!