Blogmas 2014 - Day 17 Christmas in the USA

My ancestors were from all over Europe - Poland, Ireland, England, Italy, Germany and even Czech.  I'm not sure how any of them celebrated Christmas or if they even cared.  As for me I was born and raised right here in the eastern part of the good ol' United States.  I'm so proud to be an American. 

There are so many different ways to celebrate Christmas here in the United States.  Everyone does it differently, but mostly the same.  It's a Christian nation (although it doesn't always seem to be that way).  We celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus ... but then there are those who do not believe in Jesus but celebrate anyway. 

You are most likely to find a Christmas tree in every house but the day of when people get it is dependent on them.  We like to put ours up the day after Thanksgiving.  Some use real trees and others use artificial. 

Most of us will bring Santa Claus into it.  We take our kids to see him at the mall so they can sit on his lap and tell him what they want for Christmas.  We joke about the kids getting coal if they are bad but you know, I've never heard of anyone actually getting coal ever.  On Christmas Eve when the kids are in bed we put all the presents under the tree, including the ones from Santa.  On Christmas morning we wake up and rip into the gifts to see what we got. 

Oh, I forgot.  Where I live Santa comes by on a firetruck on Christmas Eve.  The kids love that.  Our church also has a Christmas Eve service where we light candles and sing Christmas carols. 

Speaking of Christmas carols, some people like to gather together and go door to door singing carols to others.  I did that with a friend and a group of her friends once.  It was fun. 

In New York City and in other cities a big tree is on display for people to go by and see.  The streets are usually decorated with lights and wreaths. 

I feel like there's some things I am missing, but that's pretty much it.  Jesus.  Santa.  Christmas trees and decorations.  Christmas music.  Gifts.  And love ... lots and lots of love. 

Blogmas 2014 - Day 16 Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree

Our Christmas tree isn't anything worth bragging about.  It's just a tiny 7 ft prelit artificial that stands in the corner of our living room.  It's smaller than the one we used to have but I enjoy it very much.  We don't have a lot of space so it fits perfectly.  We have a wide variety of ornaments, mostly child-related.  Every year we let the kids pick one or two ornaments for the tree.  It makes it special.  The kids also do most of the decorating so it adds that special touch.  Well, if you don't mind having a tree that looks like it's been done by a 3 year old and a 7 year old.  I love it!

And on top of the tree stands our blonde-haired angel that was a gift from my mother-in-law one year.  She adds a nice touch, but I'm thinking in the future of getting a star for the top and displaying the angel on a shelf.

And here is the ornament that was purchased this year.  We bought it at Five Below.  I think my husband was more excited about this one than the rest of us, although we all found it to be cute.

Blogmas 2014 - Days 13,14,15

I cannot believe Christmas is next week.  Time is flying by and I'm not ready for it.  I still have so much shopping to finish.  I'm also behind on Blogmas.  I've missed a few days.  So if you don't mind, I'll start from where I left off and catch up today.

 My children each have an advent calendar where they open up a door every day to find a chocolate surprise.  I had one of those when I was little and it was so much fun.  Also, my 7 year old has been writing his own Christmas countdown in a notebook.  I haven't really been doing the best at counting down the days.  Yesterday at the dentist the hygienist was asking if I had all my shopping done and when I said no she looked surprised and said, "Next week is Christmas."  Next week?  NEXT WEEK?  How did it creep up on me so fast.  I haven't been feeling well lately so it's been hard for me to get to the store but I really kept thinking I had more time.  Ugh.

My father was a police officer when I was younger and every year they would have a Christmas party where all the police and families would get together to celebrate.  Santa and Mrs. Claus was there and would give each of us kids a present.  I know my parents have a picture of me on Santa's lap from one of those parties.  Wish I had it. 

I also remember going to my grandparents' house every Christmas Eve and gather with my aunts, uncles and cousins.  There are A LOT of us and it gets pretty loud.  But those are the memories I will cherish, especially since my grandparents are no longer with us.  Here are my parents standing in my grandparents' kitchen.  Wow, orange everywhere!

 After the party we went home to open up our gifts before going to bed.  On Christmas Day my brother, his wife and kids would come over and exchange gifts with us then.

That's my sister Denise in the purple pants, me in the blue, my nephew Billy in the red and my niece Chrissy in the white and red dress.  Oh my, how things have changed.  More nieces and nephews and even great nieces and great nephews have been born and Christmas parties have become a lot larger.  Unfortunately, they are all still living on Long Island so I don't get to spend Christmas there with them.

We don't have much but we do decorate more for Christmas than any other holiday. 

Blogmas Day 12 - Where I Live

What are the things that come to mind when you think of Pennsylvania?  Farms?  Amish?  Well, yes, there are plenty of farms and Amish around.  Well, in my area, not so much with the Amish.  They are in the county my parents live in.  Still, you can find plenty of farms surrounding my home but a few miles away there is also a city.  Yes, city life ... and country life.  Mountains, valleys (I live in the valley), rivers, lakes and plenty of wildlife.  I googled a bunch of pictures to show the kinds of things you'd see in this state and some landmarks.  We have a few well known cities around us such as Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Gettysburg and Philadelphia.  I'm somewhere in the middle. 

I also snapped a few pictures from my drive this morning.  You can see what the farms look like after everything has been plowed and ready for winter.  We've had a few snow flakes falling here and there but not a major storm ... yet. 

A few weeks ago there was enough snow to cover the ground which gave us some fun play time. 

Blogmas Day 11 - Christmas Food

When I have Christmas with my parents it's always glazed ham with pineapple slices and maraschino cherries.  Then potatoes and some other veggies.  Dinner roles.  That's pretty much it.  Then a dessert of some kind. 

When we eat at my in-law's it's usually the same thing ... and of course ... as mentioned ... my sister-in-law's dump cake.  Ha ha ... I was being sarcastic in my other post ... the reason I haven't tried it is I'm afraid I'll like it and then that will be another added food on my list of what I like and what I shouldn't eat.  Trying to keep it healthy.  But when it comes to the holidays there is no such thing as eating healthy, or at least there shouldn't be, right?

Last year for Christmas Day breakfast I made the family pancakes shaped like snowmen with bacon as a scarf and some fruit for the face.  It came out so cute.  I don't think I took a picture of it though.  I also made candy canes with sliced bananas and strawberries.  That idea came from Pinterest.  I think I'll do the same this year for breakfast and I may add a few other things to make it more festive. 

Blogmas Day 9 & 10 - Warmth and Cookies

 I didn't get a chance to do Day 9 yesterday so I'm going to combine it with today's Blogmas.

I am not a fan of winter or the cold weather.  Even though I don't like the cold I also don't like bundling up and covering myself up with too much.  I just don't like the feeling of being smothered.  So I don't wear scarves or turtlenecks unless I absolutely have to.  I just recently purchased one of these head bands.

I took this picture this morning after my shower and before makeup.  But that's my new headband.

I also don't own any winter boots.  I better add that to my Christmas wish list.  It would make playing in the snow with the kids much more enjoyable.

I also love my flannel sheets and heavy blanket to sleep with.  I have to be warm when I sleep and that's pretty much the only time I'm okay with being bundled up.

I'm thankful to have a house with working heat when the winter weather comes.  And during this cold season I enjoy sipping on hot tea, cappuccino, hot chocolate and coffee with peppermint creamer.

This year I am looking forward to trying a few new cookie recipes and hopefully work on a gingerbread house with the kids.  Every year I made a batch of sugar cookies and use my Christmas shaped cookie cutters.  The kids help putting the ingredients in the bowl and mixing everything together.  Then they add the sprinkles.  With little kids it becomes a mess that I try not to stress out about.

The recipe for these cookies are on the box of my 101 Cookie Cutters. 

Roll-Out Cookies

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1 tsp vanilla

2 tsps baking powder

3 cups flower

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Mix baking powder and flour, add one cup at a time, mixing after each addition.  The dough will be very stiff; blend last flour by hand (if dough becomes too stiff, add water, a teaspoon at a time).  Do not chill dough.  Divide dough into 2 portions.  On a floured surface, roll each portion into a circle approximately 12 in. diameter and 1/8 in. thick.  Dip cookie cutters in flour before each use.  Bake cookies on an ungreased cookie sheet on top rack of oven for 6-7 minutes or until cookies are lightly browned. 

Makes 20-24 average size cookies.  

You can tint the dough with food coloring or add sprinkles and frosting for an added touch.  

These cookies are soft and chewy and are a big hit for anyone I bake them for.  

I am going to try making these Pretzel M&M Hugs and these Crinkle Cookie Cakes.  I have never made cookies from cake mix before. 

Blogmas 2014 Day 8 - On My Wish List

This is a tough one for me.  I'm not usually one to tell people what to get me.  Plus, I think I have everything I need.  My focus is always on what to get my kids, my husband and my parents.  My dad is the hardest to shop for. 

But if I had to choose some things that I'd like to get or could use I believe I'd pick the following.

Jewelry.  You can't go wrong with jewelry.  To be more specific I'd love a new pair of earrings.  I haven't had a new pair of earrings in years and I haven't wore any earrings in a long time. 

Some books.  I love reading but don't do it enough.  Maybe a book by Joyce Meyer or Karen Kingsbury.  Or some kind of faith-based devotional. 

Something with the scent of lavender.  I'm told lavender is great for helping you to relax and deal with stress.  I've been dealing with too much stress lately. 

I just don't know what else I would ask for.  Honestly, it wouldn't bug me if I didn't get anything at all.  You know the one thing I don't like to get as a gift is clothes.  Usually when someone buys me clothes it just hangs in my closet for years with the tags still on.  Unless you know a person's size and style buying clothes as a gift doesn't make sense.  So maybe a gift card to a shop would be good ... oh yeah ... can't go wrong with gift cards.  I'll add that to my list too.