shawnysmoonbeam

Things to do in the month of December

Since it is December 1st,I wanted to help my readers with making Christmas Traditions for their family.Some people want new ideas,some need ideas because they dont have any,and some just want to be in the holiday spirit and need ideas to fill in on their own. In future posts I will tell things about Christmas and of course our familys doings.In this post I will give you ideas of things you can do each day of December,leading to Christmas and even new years.These are in no particular order as to fit in your schedule and to fit your traditions. I hope you enjoy my ideas,keep in mind these are only ideas and there is obviously more.If you want to add more leave me a comment so everyone can see your ideas.Also keep in mind you can change the day you do each idea,so be creative ,have fun and get into the holiday spirit. 1.Wear a Santa hat everyday or every chance you get 2. Play and listen to Christmas music everyday 3.Send out those Christmas cards(Take special holiday pictures and or get family pictures to use or put in) 4.Get your tree on the first cold day of December or pick a special day to do it. 5.Decorate your house(inside & out) 6.Go see Christmas lights(Take along hot chocolate & cookies) 7.Go Christmas caroling 8.Go to your towns tree lighting ceremony 9.Go to christmas parties and events 10.Help the helpless and needy 11.Go to Church & especially the Christmas service(check their schedule of events) 12.Go see a Christmas movie or play 13.Make those Christmas cookies 14.Make ,buy and do the advent calendar 15.Make a big deal about decorating your tree(play X-mas music,bring out christmas goodies and drinks)Use that great imagination 16.Make Jesus a white birthday cake 17.Use those candles,find new Christmas smells,and light that fireplace. 18.Read a christmas card or cards at dinner as a family as they come in 19.Get those Christmas packages out early 20.Take the kiddos christmas window shopping to make their lists 21.open a christmas present on Christmas eve 22.Have your kiddos sing or recite something to get their X-mas gifts 23.Have your kiddos make out Christmas cards to their friends and of course family(Grandmas like this) 24.Build a gingerbread house 25.Decorate a christmas nativity ending with baby jesus on Christmas eve 26.Count down the days to Christmas in special ways 27.Read Twas the night before Christmas on Christmas eve 28.read christmas stories every night(for extra fun wrap them and place them in a basket,that way its a surprise when you open it) 30.Make a traditional Christmas dinner(make it fancy or casual) 31.Host a christmas party 32.Bake all tose favorite Christmas dishes and teach them to your kids 33.Scrapbook your christmas pictures 34.Be silly and get those fun pictures with Santa and dont forget that Santa goes to pet stores for the furkids to 35.Make those crazy Christmas letters of your families special moments,etc.. to send in those christmas cards 36.Do random acts of kindness 37.Make phone calls to people you dont talk to on a regular basis...Life is short people, keep those contacts 38.Our tradition is to take down the tree on new years day but it is traditionally done on Jan 6th 39.Have a new years eve party 40.Watch all those parades,football games,and christmas shows on tv or tape them to watch them later 41.Go play in the snow,go ski,tubing,etc...ditch work and school to make this extra special 42.Make christmas ornaments,christmas card and decorations 43.Get a real christmas tree and if it is a live christmas tree make a special time of planting it 44.Buy a new christmas outfit or pajamas 45.Have a different theme every year for christmas 46.Buy one new ornament for each family member(when your child leaves the nest they will have a good start of ornaments for their first tree) 47.Deep clean your bedrooms and clothes closets and give the good stuff to a shelter.This means clean all the toy boxes to. 48.Cook meals ahead and put in the freezer for those busy nights 49.pamper yourself one day...whatever that means to you 50.Meet your hubby under the christmas tree one night...take this as you will :) You can be naughty or nice(hehe) 51.Have a date with hubby 52.Do the Secret Santa thing with friends and or family 53.Make a DVD of all the picture highlights of your year (great gift for family and friends)Be sure to watch on new years eve 54.Play name that carol as a family(you may need to burn a disc) 55.Wrap the picture frames around the house and dont forget the bow,very festive 56.learn and celebrate how other countries and religions celebrate the holiday. 57.celebrate St.Nicholas Day (Dec.6th) and go visit him. 58.Celebrate St. Lucia Day (Dec 13th) 59.Take a family photo every year. Use it for Christmas cards or just as tradition to see how you all have changed. 60.put out cookies for santa,put out that special stuff for his reighndeer. 61.make snowman soup (hot chocolate) packages and pass them out. 62.Learn about the candy cane,twelve days of X-mas,etc.. and incorporate it in your celebrations 63.string popcorn and cranberries for your tree. 64. Wrap some inexpensive extra gifts for those unexpected or forgotten guests.It happens 65.The best thing of all.make ammends(if possible) and forgive people that have hurt you.It will help them and you and make a great start for the new year. Merry Christmas to all!!!

School Pictures

You guys have not seen my boys in awhile so here they are!! They started High School this year,I cant believe it.They are on the schools football team and did really well.The boys love to work out,play music on their guitars,hang with friends,listen to music,play playstation,go to the movies,and basically explore their new freedoms.Their favorite places to go are Magic Mountain and the Mall.They are looking forward to driving,getting jobs,and staying on the football team.The boys are growing up so fast, time is flying by.I love my boys so much and I am proud to be their mommy.

Jakob   9th grade

Jake is really liking High School. He is on the school football team,gets good grades,and enjoying a bit more freedom kids his age get.He will be starting to drive this summer!!!! He likes to lift weights and run. I am very proud of my son.

Matthew   9th grade

Matt like his brother likes High School,gets good grades and is also on the football team.He is into his electric guitar.He also will start driving this summer!!! He likes the computer and music. I am very proud of my son.

Recipes for Thanksgiving :)

The holidays are upon us and we cant be more excited. Our Family LOVES the holidays. This year we will have Thanksgiving at home  with family and close friends. 

I thought I would share the recipes that I will try this year. I cant wait to try them and hope they will become our family favorites. 

Fall is my favorite time of year to enjoy cooking,making my house cozy,having a cracklin fire, and doing all kinds of fall activities. 

Enjoy this time of year!  I hope to share what we do and give you some ideas to share and try. Make memories,enjoy life and the Lord,and most of all spend time with family and friends.

Sweet Potato Balls

Cook Time:

20 min

Serves:

4 to 6 servings

4 large sweet potatoes 

2/3 cup packed brown sugar 

2 tablespoons orange juice 

1 teaspoon orange zest 

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 

2 cups shredded coconut, sweetened 

1/2 cup granulated sugar 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1 large marshmallow per potato ball

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Bake the potatoes until tender, then peel and mash them. Stir in the brown sugar, orange juice, zest and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, toss the coconut with the sugar and cinnamon. Press mashed potatoes around each marshmallow, creating a 2 to 3-inch diameter ball. Roll the balls in the coconut mixture. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes. Watch carefully for the last few minutes of cooking; the expanding marshmallows can cause the potato balls to burst open.

Pumpkin Soup with Chili Cran-Apple Relish

Serves 8 as first course; Serves 4 as an entreé

This is a delicious soup for Thanksgiving and other holiday meals – be sure that your guests leave enough room for turkey!

• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 fresh bay leaf
• 2 ribs celery with greens, finely chopped (save time and purchase celery already washed, trimmed and cut into sticks – this makes fast work of chopping)
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning or 2 teaspoons ground thyme
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce (or to taste)
• 6 cups chicken stock
• 1 can cooked pumpkin puree (28 ounces)
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

Relish:

• 1 crisp apple, such as McIntosh or Granny Smith, finely chopped
• 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/2 cup dried sweetened cranberries, chopped
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 2 teaspoons honey
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Heat a medium soup pot over medium to medium-high heat. Add the EVOO and melt the butter. Add bay leaf, celery and onion. Season the veggies with salt and pepper. Cook 6-7 minutes, until tender.

Add flour, poultry seasoning and hot sauce, to taste, then cook flour a minute. Whisk in chicken stock and bring liquid to a bubble. Whisk in pumpkin in large spoonfuls to incorporate it into the broth. Simmer soup 10 minutes to thicken a bit, then add in cream and nutmeg. Reduce heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve.

While soup cooks, assemble the relish: combine apple, onion, lemon juice, cranberries, chili powder, honey and cinnamon.

Adjust seasonings in soup and relish and serve soup in shallow bowls with a few spoonfuls of relish.

Apple and Onion Stuffin' Muffins

Cook Time:

25 min

Serves:

12 muffins

Recipe courtesy Rachael Ray

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan 
1 stick butter, softened 
1 fresh bay leaf, available in produce department 
4 ribs celery and greens, from the heart, chopped (save time and purchase celery already washed, trimmed and cut into sticks, this makes chopping fast work) 
1 medium to large yellow skinned onion, chopped 
3 McIntosh apples, quartered and chopped 
Salt and pepper 
2 tablespoons poultry seasoning 
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves 
8 cups cubed stuffing mix (recommended: Pepperidge Farm) 
2 to 3 cups chicken stock, available in paper containers on the soup aisle

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil to skillet and 4 tablespoons butter. When butter melts, add bay leaf and add the vegetables as you chop them, celery, onions then apples. Sprinkle the vegetables and apples with salt, pepper and poultry seasoning. Cook 5 to 6 minutes to begin to soften vegetables and apples then add parsley and stuffing cubes to the pan and combine. Moisten the stuffing with chicken broth until all of the bread is soft but not wet.

Butter 12 muffin cups, 2 tins, liberally with remaining butter. Use an ice cream scoop to fill and mound up the stuffing in muffin tins. Remove the bay leaf as you scoop the stuffing when you come upon it. Bake until set and crisp on top, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove stuffin' muffins to a platter and serve hot or room temperature.