Updates from the Homestead

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I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! I know our family certainly did. It was the first time in 6 years that we had all been together. It was such a fun day. My daughters did all the cooking except for the mashed potatoes and stuffing which I made the day before and they were warmed up in crockpots for our dinner. I was super impressed by the team work of my daughters! They did an awesome job putting it all together.

Here are a few pics from our day..
 
 
 

Now it is time to decorate the house for Christmas! A real live fresh Christmas tree has always been our tradition. However over the last few years I have wanted to buy an artificial tree. My kids were not into the idea but, I personally was tired of the mess of a real tree makes (needles falling off the tree are a constant daily cleaning job :). Not to mention that typically a tree makes it a couple weeks before it starts really drying out. I have always wanted to put the tree up the weekend after Thanksgiving and enjoy it a little longer. I talked with my hubby about the idea and he was fine with it. A few weeks ago we were in Costco and they had their artificial trees for sale and we purchased one. The kids are all warming up to the idea! ~smile~ I am super excited to get the tree up today! My plan this morning is to get the living room all dusted and vacuumed and the furniture moved around to make room for our tree.

After the tree is up and the house is decorated it will be time to start planning out Christmas baking. I will be making cookies over the next couple of weeks and putting half of them in freezer for Christmas day and for cookie platters to give to friends and neighbors.

Here are my favorite cookie recipes…

Peanut Butter Oatmeal http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/peanutbutteroatcookies.htm 
Nadine’s Chocolate Chip Cookies http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/nadineschocolatechipcookies.htm 
Sugar Cookies: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/sugarcookies.htm 
Gingerbread Men: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/gingerbreadmencookies.htm 
Cherry Cheesecake Bars: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/cherrycheesecakebars.htm 


That is all from the homestead for now!!
 
 

Comments

  1. Heather's Blog-o-ramaNovember 26, 2011 at 9:45 AM

    I loved seeing the photos of your large family sitting at the table :) :) That's a lot of people ;) :) Thanksgiving this year was my dad, myself and my aunt's dog :) :)

    We are going to use my aunt's fibreoptic Christmas tree this year :) :) It glows in different colors. It's kind of fun :) :) I'm not sure if we'll do a real live tree this year or not. If we do, it will be a small, stubby tree :) :)

    Have a good weekend. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California (formerly Oregon), Heather :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 26, 2011 at 2:29 PM

    Wonderful family photo! We also have had some great Thanksgivings together. Thanks for sharing the pictures and the cookie recipes. Lisa over at The Way Grandma does it is hosting a Christmas Cookie Exchange! You should join in!

    http://grandmamadoesit.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-cookie-recipe-exchange.html

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousNovember 27, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    We have always bought a live tree also but several years ago the xmas tree farm in the mountains where we have always gone was sold and the new owners didn't keep the farm open. :( We began buying at lots in town but it wasn't the same-plus the trees were super expensive. They also seemed to dry out quicker becuz they were transported from somewhere. So, like you, hubby and I were at Costco a couple of years ago and saw the artificial trees. We decided to buy one and haven't looked back. The kids aren't thrilled but I was tired of the mess also and the prices. Now we can put the tree up no matter the weather-we don't have to wait for a dry day to do it. So, all that to say...I'm with you on this one. :)
    Jo in Ca.

    ReplyDelete

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