Forever Callahan

Tuesday, December 15, 2015

French Lick

A couple weeks ago I shared a few of our Christmas traditions and one of them was going to French Lick. Last year we were able to go twice in November but this year we didn't make it until the beginning of December. Sunday was the day :).

We have to plans these things in advance around here because things come up out of nowhere if we don't.

There was no sun but the weather was in the 50s/60s and we weren't complaining. We ate pizza at Chicago's first and then walked around the hotel.

My favorite picture from the trip :).

They decorate big each year and it makes me happy. The reindeer are cute :).

They have different things throughout the hotel and we took our time walking through and checking everything out. Our time together is limited this time of year and we took advantage of Sunday together.

We had a sweet time and cannot wait to go back again.

Joe had a program at church Sunday night so we headed there after French Lick :).

He did such a good job and had a solo in one of their songs, Jesus Loves Me.

He was so proud and you could tell on his face that it meant a lot to him that we were all there :).

Family means everything to me and it does to Joe too.

We headed to Will & Jill's house for ice cream afterwards.

It was nice to get all of us together...it's rare these days:).

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year and Sunday was a perfect Christmas filled day in my book!

Monday, December 14, 2015

Weekend Wrap-Up

Life gets busy for us in the winter and this weekend was no exception :).

Friday night we had an away game and lost...boo but the boys played hard.

Saturday we I had big plans. Noah had freshman and then varsity practice from 10-2 so I was on my own :).

Every year all of my great aunts and cousins bake cookies and then all of the great-grands decorate them. There are 30ish of us and we range from 23 to 8 months of age. So Saturday morning was the day for that. My mom and I iced cookies for about an hour and these came home with me. (I iced them so they were safe from little fingers!)

We picked up Jill and grabbed lunch. We were working the Toy Store at our church...Jill & I were put on packing duty. When people are done shopping you put their presents in a black trash bag so it's hidden.

It is such a humbling experience working the toy store. I worked once in high school but not since. The Toy Store is for families who may not be able to provide Christmas for their children. They can come here and shop for free (they have to sign up first). Children who would normally not get any presents are able to through this event.

I also love that many different churches come together to put this Toy Store together :).

Noah and I got home around the same time...I made monster cookies and this was on while the cookies were baking....

Don't these look yummy??

Recipe:

Monster Cookies

Ingredients

- 3 eggs

- 1 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

- 1 cup granulated sugar

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

- 1 12 oz jar of creamy PB (that's a cup and a half if you have a big jar in your pantry like me)

- 1 stick of softened butter (I use margarine)

- 1/2 cup M&Ms

- 1/2 cup chocolate chips

- 1/4 cup or so of raisins

- 2 tsp baking soda

- 4 1/2 cups quick cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2) In a large bowl, combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. (I don't use my stand mixer... just a wooden spoon). Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter and butter. Mix well. Stir in the M&Ms, chocolate chips, raisins, baking soda and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons onto cookie sheets.

3) Bake for about 8-10 mins. I usually do 9 and they seem "gooey" when they come out, but they're PERFECT once they cool.

4) Leave them on the cookie sheets for a few minutes and then move them to a cooling rack

Recipe courtsey of Andrea.

They are always a hit when I make them :).

Time consuming but worth it.

Tomorrow I'll share about our Sunday...think Christmas traditions......

Friday, December 11, 2015

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday and there are two weeks until Christmas :).

I'm joining Erika, Narci, & Andrea for Friday Favorites!

Yesterday we had our work Christmas party and it was so fun! We ate, revealed our Secret Santa, & played minute-to-win-it games. It was my FAVORITE....I won the marshmallow game (even though here it doesn't look like I am winning)!

The weather this week has been my FAVORITE! I mean it's the middle of December and it's been in the 50's??? I'm not complaining :).

How about these cookies???? I say this everytime they make something but I have the best friends! Leah they look so yummy and I cannot wait to try them.

He's always my favorite. He is so happy and such a good boy :).

We had such a fun time at the Christmas stroll last weekend. It is one of our FAVORITE Christmas traditions. We love taking Joe with us too!

On Tuesday, I shared our Christmas decorations. Our home all decorated for the holidays is one of my FAVORITES.

This will be me all day.

In between basketball we are trying to squeeze Christmas activities in this weekend :).

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

Favorite Christmas Movies

I have been planning this post for a few weeks and I am happy today is finally here!!!

Nothing says Christmas like a good movie, hot cocoa or coffee, fuzzy socks, and a warm blanket.

Here are some of my favorites this holiday season:

Elf

Elf is my all time favorite Christmas movie. My parents bought me this movie way back when I was in middle school. I remember watching it over and over while on Christmas break. After that it just stuck and I watch it every year :).

I've misplaced the DVD but we recorded it on the DVR so that makes me happy!

The Polar Express