Drumroll, please....

And the winners of our healthy recipe contest are.....

read on

TWELVE DAYS OF FITNESS

If you haven't already, check out the TWELVE DAYS OF FITNESS going on NOW at FitMePink! You'll find lots of fun holiday fitness tips, healthy recipes from our contest, and more! And stay tuned...the winner will be announced soon!

Pictures With Santa...

Erin took some more cute pictures for me...with Santa! Just had to share...Avery's actually smiling! And Parker...a bit disappointed that Santa didn't have a "red car" for him...

...but much happier than last year!

The Taste of Christmas

To me, Christmas morning just isn't Christmas morning unless it tastes like this....

1 lb. sausage (Jimmy Dean Regular)
8 slices of bread (remove crust, cut into cubes)
6 large eggs
3/4 tsp. dry mustard
2 1/2 cups milk
2 cups sharp cheese
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/2 can milk (c. of mushroom soup can)

Brown sausage, drain well.
Spray 9x13 pan with non-stick cooking spray.
Sprinkle bread on bottom.
Sprinkle sausage over bread.
Whip 6 large eggs, then add 3/4 tsp. dry mustard and 2 1/2 cups of milk.
Pour egg mixture over the bread and sausage.
Grate 2 c. sharp cheese, and sprinkle over the top.
Refrigerate over-night.
Pour 1 can cream of mushroom soup mixed with 1/2 can of milk over entire dish.

Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting it.

Eat in your new pajamas (opened on Christmas Eve). Go back for seconds. And thirds. And fourths for lunch. And maybe dinner.

This tradition was started by my Grandma J. Every Christmas, we would gather at her house for a Christmas morning breakfast/gift exchange. When she passed away in 1998, we knew the tradition had to continue. We now do our own thing Christmas morning (which for us still includes this yummy breakfast). However, at some point in the season, my parents, along with my dad's siblings, and any of their kids who can make it, reunite for this Christmas morning-ish feast. I love it. And even if I found a recipe I loved more, I wouldn't change it. It really does taste like Christmas.

What does your Christmas taste like? What other traditions do you enjoy?

Gratitude AFTER the long drive is over....

When we left our house early the Saturday-before-Thanksgiving morning, I sort of thought to myself WHY are we doing this? Do we really want to go? I kept these thoughts to myself...Joe didn't need any reason to stay home to watch this game. I knew the drive would be worth it. As weird as it sounds, I actually enjoyed the drive (for the first few hours, anyway). I liked having my little family packed into Michael's little Versa. (Thanks, brother...we got AMAZING gas mileage). I saw parts of the country I've never seen before. In Wyoming, we saw the exact spot where Joe's best friend Brian was killed. Then Nebraska was, well, boring. We also happened to be listening to the *%&$#& game in Nebraska. We moved on to Iowa for about 30 seconds, then entered the land of SLOW drivers...Missouri. Apparently folks in Missouri aren't in a hurry to get ANYWHERE! It's redeeming value was AMAZING gas prices. (We filled up one time on the return trip at $1.39/gallon.) Hallelujah! We eventually stopped at 3 am in Columbia, Missouri...wherever that is.

The next day we crossed into Illinois...pretty exciting. We met Superman! Parker was terrified, and refused to stand by himself anywhere near the monstrosity! After Superman, we entered Kentucky, then Tennessee AT LAST! I was seriously NEVER coming home.

When we made it, we remembered WHY we'd driven 20 billion miles in the first place.

• For kisses from Nannu.
• For breakfast at the Loveless Cafe.
• To unorganize the organized cupboards, and to climb on unclimbable surfaces.
• For teething. (My kids always get their teeth in Tennessee. Coincidence? I think not.)
• For a trip to Gaylord, Opryland.
• For a 3D movie after an amazing turkey meal.
• For Grandpa and Nannu spoiling.
• For running up crazy hills.
• For Monopoly and Settlers matches.
• For Ping Pong fun.
• For chillin' time with Uncle Michael.
• For wishing the big sister and fam were there.
  
  
  
• And mostly, for spending time with the ones I love most...LOTS AND LOTS of time...
  
  
  

We have SO MUCH to be thankful for!

Twilight!

OK...I have lots of catching up to do. Most of it involves NO sleep, lots of driving (3400 miles worth), lots of poop (all in the potty!), lots of food, and lots of fun. The fun began two nights before the first 27-hour leg of our journey to Nashville. I'm not sure why I agreed to see a movie at 12:15 am (which didn't actually start until 1 am due to technical sound difficulties), but HELLO, it was Edward. I'm not sure if I would've loved it if I hadn't read the books...low budget at it's best. And actually, I'm not sure I loved it anyway...because I couldn't stay awake! I would say that I must be getting old, but let's be honest. Even in High School, I couldn't watch a movie after 10:00 pm. But the girl's night out was a blast (even though I only knew three of the girls...we were all BFF's fighting over Edward...ha ha!)

Here's what Kandis had to say about the night...

Ok, Ok, we all knew the movie wouldn't meet our expectations, and if I hadn't read the book I would have been sitting there wondering why I was at such a craptastic movie instead of sleeping. But hey, Edward was cute, there were only a few really awkward scenes, and I was with my girls--so all in all, I'd consider it a great night! (Half of my fun came from looking over every few minutes to see Robyn dead asleep with her mouth hanging open:) Sorry Robyn, you've been outed! It was hilarious! Aren't you glad you didn't snore?!


So yes...I guess I'm glad I didn't snore! But I have to see it again...who wants to come? I'm totally up for a matinee!

As for our ROADtrip to Nashville, it was great. The kids did amazingly well. Parker pooped in THREE different gas stations. And these poops usually coincided with Avery's poopy diapers. Tender mercy? I think so. When we finally arrived in Nashville, however, I was really tempted to inform you all that we were NEVER coming home. I couldn't fathom turning around and driving across the $%@# country again. But we did. And we survived. And MAYBE we'll do it again...in like 10 years. I'll never complain about a layover again!

Before the trip, we subscribed to Sirius Satellite Radio so we could listen to a certain football game. Joe now hates the state of Nebraska, but I won't go into details. 'Nuff said. Go Utes!

More on the trip later...I know you're all dying to see pictures, right? So am I! Send me some, mom!

Edited To Say: Parker is POOPING in the potty, but far from potty-trained. I actually gave up yesterday after cleaning pee off the floor 5 times. So for now, I'm happy with the poop in the potty, and the pee still in diapers!