I got a hippopotamus for Christmas.

Bea was all giggles as she opened her presents this Christmas. And much to our surprise, she adored her new "potamus." 

And Gus was all smiles as he opened his favorite present - a Nintendo DS. He's already mastered Mario Cart and is begging for more games.

We had an abbreviated Christmas with the Weishaar family in Salina (as my mom recuperates from back surgery), and then spent the rest of the week in Colby with 22 or so of the Dennelers. Good times, good food, and lots of laughs.

Cheers to 2008, and all that awaits us in 2009!

Snow Cookies

Being the designated Sugar Cookie Baker for both my family and Eric's, I find myself with cookie cutters and pastry bags in-hand every year, just days before Christmas. And there I was last night around midnight, putting the finishing touches on my "Snow Cookies." Six trays and approximately 160 cookies. My carpal tunnel started setting in around the 93rd cookie. I've gotten lazy the last couple of years and have found creative ways to use ONLY WHITE frosting - I just hate the mess that food coloring makes. Plus, white-on-white decorating can be so pretty.

Anyway, here are the Christmas cookies for 2008 - snowflakes, snowballs, snowmen and the word "Snow." Eat up!

Visions of sugarplums.

We had a Christmas luncheon at the office this week, and I signed up to bring dessert - imagine that. Mini cupcakes and jumbo cupcakes came out of my kitchen this time with little cherry sours on top. I always struggle with how to "transport" my baked goods once they're done - hate for my little babies to get demolished on the drive. This time, I used lots of Christmas candies inside the dishes to help keep them in place and smash-free. Worked like a charm. You takin' notes, Martha Stewart?

Oh Post-it Note, Oh Post-it Note....

I decided my office at WSU needed a little holiday cheer, so I made this Post-it Note Christmas tree last week. It took 10 packages of lime green Post-its (and no, I did not expect the State of Kansas to fund my little creative whim - I bought them myself.) However, other office supplies lent themselves to the decorations - paperclip garland, CD ornaments, a star pencil, and an inter-office envelope for the tree trunk.

* Special thanks to Craig "The Elf" Lindeman for helping bedazzle the tree. He finally found himself caught up in the Christmas spirit, but only after two days of razzin' me for wasting all those Post-it Notes (made from a tree) just to make another tree. I'm making a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation in his name.

How to celebrate your 37th birthday.

5:25 am - Wake up & run on treadmill so you can have extra cake
6:22 am - Pull out that one, grey hair, reminding you you're 37 today
7:12 am - Open thoughtful presents from husband and kids
7:18 am - Have a birthday breakfast cupcake with Gus and Bea

8:00 am - Open email and see lots of birthday wishes waiting to be read
9:12 am - Sit, chat and eat birthday treats with work buddies
10:18 am - Read more happy birthday wishes on Facebook
11:15 am - Watch the snow blow outside during a birthday blizzard
3:27 pm - Read and reply to more online birthday wishes
4:38 pm - Drive home in birthday blizzard to warm house
5:22 pm - Go to mailbox and find it filled with birthday cards
6:01 pm - Eat bowl of chicken curry soup made by thoughtful husband
6:33 pm - Find funny birthday card in Gus' backpack
6:47 pm - Go to Walmart for tub of Breyer's ice cream
7:08 pm - Get "Happy Birthday" phone call from mom
7:58 pm - Bathtime, booktime and bedtime for Gus & Bea
8:20 pm - Eat one more chocolate cupcake WITH ice cream
9:15 pm - Enjoy glass of wine, Mad Men DVD, and cozy husband
10:00 pm - Bedtime for anyone 37 and older

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas.

We were singing that silly Christmas tune this morning as we drove to see Santa Claus at Cambridge Market. They had this cute little gingerbread house all decorated up with Santa and Gingerbread Boy outside to greet the little ones. Gus and Bea loved the Gingerbread boy. (Who wouldn't love a giant kid made of butter & sugar, right?) But I expected lots of tears and resistance from Bea as we put her on Santa's lap. She was remarkably silent and barely moved a muscle. She wouldn't smile, talk or even look at him for that matter, so Gus asked Santa to bring her a new doll. I think I heard him request a crane and a marble tower for himself. (Which is unfortunate, because the "elves" have already made a Nintendo DS and a remote control helicopter for him. Hummm... what to do, what to do?)

Afterwards, they both got a great big gingerbread cookie to take home. Thanks Santa. We'll see you in a few weeks.

"Yes, I've been a very good boy, Santa Claus."

"I munna eat cho."

"Don't look at me and don't talk to me, just take the picture."