Ethan ended up not able to play in his recital. He only “got sick one time” however, his teacher thanked me from the bottom of his heart last night at music lessons, for not taking a chance and bringing him….and exposing innocent people to the stomach bug. We made the right decision in having him stay home and rest on the couch. Thankfully he was all better by Sunday morning, just in time to play in the snow that fell in the night.
I was so happy on Saturday to finally find the perfect Nativity set for my family. It is made by Playmobil, and it’s basically a set of toys, but perfect for us because it really means a lot to me to be able to allow the children to freely touch and play with it.
My daughter Grace loves to stand here, and get warm……
Also, I tried to capture the wild side of our family…..David and Caleb were dancing around the living room Saturday night.
I thought this page from one of the Little Golden Books that I’ve been reading to the children was so cute.
Mrs. Claus baked some gingerbread boys, and I baked up some boys and one girl:
We also baked these:
I wonder if anyone else has made these? For some reason they have become a favorite cookie of mine, for Christmas. I found the recipe in a Betty Crocker cookbook the first year I was married and have been making them ever since…but only at Christmas. They are pink, but who cares? They look great on the tray…..
C o l o r f u l C o o k i e s
1 package (3-oz) fruit flavored jello (we used strawberry)
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
Colorful Glaze
For cookies: Heat over to 350. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the dry jello for the glaze. Mix remaining jello, sugar, and butter. Stir in flour and salt. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake until set, but not brown, 8 to 10 minutes. Cool completely.
For glaze: Mix reserved 1 tablespoon jello and 3 tablespoons hot water. Let stand 5 minutes. Stir in 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Dip tops of cookies into glaze. Decorate with coconut, nuts, cherries, colored sugar, or small candies. Makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies.
I caught Caleb eating about six of them yesterday. We had to put them up high. 
Yesterday I had my friend Karen over and we made fabric yo-yo’s together. I plan on making enough to space apart on a ribbon for a garland. I got the idea from my friend Dawn, who also suggested sewing buttons in the middle. Karen and I made a bunch and the first thing I did this morning (after eating breakfast) was cut and sew some more. Dawn is right, it is relaxing and addicting, especially when one is with a friend, or still in her pj’s sitting in a comfy recliner by the fire.
Last but not least, one of my Christmas boys. I think I’ll just sit and stare awhile….at this yummy little love.
Good to be Home 
So sorry that Ethan was sick. Love the yo yos! I’ve made them with buttons before to decorate a wall hanging type quilt. My mom likes to make them too! Your cookies look yummy. Have a wonderful day!
Such a relaxing post ~ I like the yo-yos ~ so cheerful. But I especially like the little boy and girl cookies that you made!
Oh my gosh Shanda – thank you so much for sharing that Playmobil nativity scene with us! Just last week I was at a play date and we were all talking about how we’d like to have one that our children can play with. This is p-e-r-f-e-c-t!! So sad that Ethan was sick for his concert… The yo-yo’s are beautiful!
I’m glad Ethan is better, tummy bugs are the worst! I will be on the lookout for the nativity,it would fit in just great with my little ones too. I love to make yo-yo’s but never thought of adding a button, great idea.
I love the randomness of this post! Cookies…maybe I can do that the next time Lucy is asleep.
I make those cookies!! (However I did not know there was a recipe for a glaze for them.) It is my great grandmother’s recipe – jello cookies. I make red (turn out pink) and green ones every Christmas, just like she did. Mmmm.
Nice Christmas doings. I love seeing the activities and busy dancing kids. I was glad to see the kitty comforting Ethan. I have a quilt made out of yo-yos that was made by my great-grandmother. Those look so fun! I agree with the nativity scene..that one is so fun and nice looking. I bought a little plastic one from the dime store when the boys were little so they could play with it.
Those cookies sound delicious and easy! Perfect combination. 🙂 I am going to try them with my girls this weekend. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Merry Christmas! ~Julie
You did a great job on the yo yo’s. Are they simple to make. I’m such a novice sewer! I’ve never had those cookies but they sound yummy and look yummy. Where is all your furniture in the living room? Making room for the tree? Love, Lish
I love that picture of Grace. That was always “my spot” too growing up. (It still is whenever I go home to my mom & dad’s house)
Very pretty yoyos! I can’t wait to see the finished product =) I have always wanted to make a yoyo garland…but I just have never sat down to do it!
Oh I hope it doesn’t spread and I pray Ethan is up and around soon. I am sorry he had to miss his recital. I loved the yoyos and the boy and girl cookies and all! Stay warm up there y’all! Sending hugs from the chilly south..I am with Miss Grace!
You and your friend can call your get-togethers…”The Divine Secrets of the Yo-Yo Sisterhood” (LOL) Cute yo-yos! Nice pictuers (as always!) I like your manger scene!
Oh I love the yo yo’s. beautiful with all that colourful fabric you used!
Your little one is so cuddly looking! I~t must feel nice to cuddle up with him next to the fireplace:)
Knew you’d love those yo yos!!!So bright and cheery…Sweet post…as usual.xo
How would a piece of red maraschino cherry look in the middle of those pink cookies? I may just have to try making them, as they look easy – but I’ll have to double the recipe or they would never last around here! Do they stick together when you store them?
The nativity scene is very cute, and you are right the kids can play with it, even better. I need one of those, Matthew keeps playing with my breakable one. I hope noone else gets the stomach bug. Those cookies look so good!! Thanks for the recipe, nice & easy:)
I am so happy, b/c for the first time I can see most of your pics (your photobucket HATES me!).
A little elderly lady who watches my children at church while I teach music made us a fabric yo-yo tree last week. That’s how I know what that is! : P
So sorry for Ethan! Tell him Adana missed her first ballet performance of the Nutcracker b/c she couldn’t stop throwing up. She (and I) was heartbroken. *sigh* But, it made this year’s all the more special. So, next year’s recital will be SO GREAT! And he will NEVER FORGET IT!
~whatever
Oh! He is a yummy little love! Do you ever sniff the back of your kid’s necks? I am an incurable neck sniffer! LOL! Even though my daughters are grown, I still like to sniff their necks when I hug them. I am so going to try those cookies! Someone sent us a LOT of Jello, and I have wondering what in the world I can do with it! Thanks!
Shanda, I was watching PBS at 6:00 am in the morning this past Saturday, we had our cable turned off because we are trying to cut down on bills…well anyway, I turned on PBS hoping to see “This Old House” or something..well this is the show I watched….
<TABLE id=grid cellSpacing=0>
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<TD class=stationblockmain>WSKG Public TVCHANNEL 46
<TD class=gridprogram colSpan=6>Sewing With Nancy: Magical Fabric Yo-Yos
Not my favorite show but…. I KNOW HOW TO MAKE THEM!! Love you.
…it didn’t show the link…it was “Sewing With Nancy: How to make Yo-Yos”
i have still not found time for baking extra yummies! you have showed me that it will soon be possible even with 5 little ones to care for! i very much look forward to it thats for sure….i start to crave sweets every time you put them on here, it’s murder!
Hello old friend! My mother told me that you had asked after me and I was glad to come by for a quick visit. Isn’t it amazing how quickly time flies and how easy it is to lose track of someone? My apologies for being absent from the xanga world; I have a blog now over at Blogger but it is more on the product review side. (Although I do slip in occasional family updates when I can.) That’s all I seem to have the time for right now.So congratulations are in order for you, Rich and the rest of the family on your new little bundle of joy!! I am so happy for all of you! I pray your pregnancy is going well and I know you cannot wait to see that precious little face!We are expecting as well ~ due the end of March, just when Abby turns 4 ~ and we found out last Friday that the baby is a girl! Everyone is excited, even little Noah, who at 2 now doesn’t quite ‘get’ the whole thing but he loves to hug my belly anyway! :)Well, please excuse the long comment. Come on over and visit sometime and have a very Merry Christmas!
I also love yo-yos. I wear them in my daughter’s hair (sewed or hot glued on a hair clip). Are you familiar with “What God Wants for Christmas” (an interactive kid-friendly nativity)? My daughter loves it. There are several little boxes inside to open and discover the characters of the Christmas story. Also a book to go along. I bought ours at Lifeway Christian bookstore but it’s published through FamilyLife Publishing. You nativity is very cute and I’m sure the little hands around your house are enjoying it. 🙂 -Maria (scatterjoytoday@blogspot.com)
I love coming here! You uplift us all
We had a non-breakable nativity that our children used to like to re-arrange too!! We still have it and I expect our grandchildren will play with it too one day. Your cookies look so good and I love the yo-yo’s.
so fun looking at your blog again today. i’ve missed it since i’ve been back in school. love your fiesta ware!
Our nativity set is a Fisher-Price Little People set that is just perfect for my little kids (almost 1 to 5 years old)! They play with it for all of December before I pack it away again so we don’t lose all the pieces. I will have to look into the playmobile when they get older!!
i know what you mean about the nativity sets! i am always looking for more since i want to collect them :)my kids and i made a lot of fabric yoyos too!
The page from the Little Goldenbook is adorable! I love gingerbread men; that is my absolute favorite holiday theme! The Playmobil nativity IS perfect for the little ones! I have loved Playmobil for years; we discovered that line years ago when my now 25 year old son was little. Those toys last forever! They are expensive, so we had to be very selective. I am very tempted to get the Nativity for my Grandwonders, though! Have a great evening, dear girl! love, Gail p.s. I love your happy piano music!!!!
I love the idea of making garland with the yo-yos! I think I have a button addiction. One of the first Christmases we had as a married couple, I made garland with tons of buttons wired together and then I added some little wooden spools that had pieces of fabric glued where the thread would have been. Very country. I think you would like them, too!
I so enjoy “coming by your house” at Christmas time!
Dawn is so inspriring! Your yo-yos look great, and the buttons do add a delightful country touch!
I have never seen that nativity set before I like how old school it looks.