Not Yet the New Year

I get this from my mom.

The moment Christmas is over, I want to clean away all the green and red and make the house look sparking. I want all excess clutter gone and this is the one time of the year that I like the minimalist style.

Kind of impossible with 2 semi-ill children and the husband home for 2 weeks.

I even put my Christmas Martha Stewart (that I JUST received) away until next year, because I don't want to even read about Christmas decor. CLEAN. BRIGHT. SIMPLE.

Does anyone else feel like that?

Merry Christmas to ALL!

Yesterday, we had an Open House, Chin-style. (For those of you who don't know, Chin is my maiden name.) Lots of snacks, pop in when you can, stay for a few minutes or for hours....

My parents do this every year, and I have to carry on the tradition.

And the kids have all been cooped up for days due to the cold weather. They made their own fun. This morning.And later this morning.

No fancy Christmas dinner here. We are having leftovers from yesterday, pizza, whatever we can find in the frig and are relaxing ALL DAY.

Best new Crock Pot Party Recipe:

Chicken Skewers for Kids

1. Take chicken breasts, cut into small strips.

2. Marinate in olive oil, salt and pepper.

3. Make sure to soak bamboo skewers for several hours. Skewer chicken.

4. Broil until done. (this takes minutes)

5. Put chicken broth in crock pot. (Homemade or non bullion is best)

6. Put broiled skewers in crock pot.

Chicken stays moist and warm for entire party!!

To serve on the side to make more exciting to parents:

Spicy Peanut Dip

2/3 C peanut butter

2/3 C salsa (don't use mild)

1/4 C lemon juice

salt to taste

Worcestershire sauce to taste --few splashes

Tabasco/Hot sauce to taste

Mix and heat.

Cuz Baby It's Cold Outside

I let him make his own drum set. We used to do this when he was home all day as a toddler, and it is just as much fun when you are 5.
Wrapping, Crafting, School Concerting.... more to come when I get a moment.

Oreo Cake

The William Sonoma Oreo Cake.

Kraft's Oreo Cake

Kevin Sharkey's Oreo Cake
Yum.

Getting into the Spirit

Surprise New Bedding (for Tate)! A few Saturday nights ago, I locked myself in my craft room to make Christmas cards. I heard a little knock on the door, and well...I let a certain boy stay up past bedtime and we made this together instead. (foam wreath+wide ribbon+stars and glue dots+felt reindeer with adhesive on back)Feet are fun.
Got this idea from my friend, Ursula. I think she calls it Muffin Tin Mondays. This was a Thursday, and I wanted something easy for dinner. Just take muffin tins and fill with a (semi) balanced meal using the leftovers in your frig.
Cold weather calls for baking bread. While watching "From Paris With Love". Jonathan Rhys Meyers is so much better as King Henry than he is his character in this movie. J. Travolta--awesome. Cracked my butt up.

Moving Again--Minneapolis

Tate and our Christmas Tree. Yes, it is of the Charlie Brown Variety.

We just found out that we will be relocating to Minneapolis in July. I am soooo sad to have to leave Bath, UK but I am very happy for my husband who unexpectedly got his dream job.

Anyone know anything about the city? Any school recommendations? Any neighborhood recommendations?

I am stressing about this big change. I know it is a great city, but I want to find the right place for us. For the first time, I think I want to live in the 'burbs. I want other kids and moms to play with in my neighborhood and a school as lovely as Batheaston. The only thing that helps as I obsess over this is playing Mall World. On facebook. Because it is a stress reducer!!