Goodbye 2009

And welcome 2010!

2009 has been interesting to say the least. Some of the highlights:

• Made it to 1 year at my WW goal!
• Took an amazing Hawaiian Cruise...
• and an equally fun Mexican Riviera cruise
• Celebrated 6 years with The Mr
• Attended our 40th annual family reunion
• Spent Christmas with our families
• Rocked The Mr's birthday in Las Vegas
• Learned that my sister beat her cancer!!!

As we watch the last minutes of 2009 slide away, I wonder what 2010 will bring. My hopes are that we will have happiness and prosperity for ourselves, our family and friends, and our world. Happy New Year!

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At Mesa Grill

In My Vegas Dress Pin It

The Mr's Birthday Dinner

The end of a great day... dinner at Mesa Grill. Incredible. Pin It

Hoover Dam

Getting ready to go on the Hoover Dam tour.... we get to wear cool hats. Pin It

A Vegas Show

Waiting for Penn & Teller to take the stage at Rio. Pin It

Vegas Sights

Bellagio's show to the Hallelujah Chorus Pin It

Sights on the Road to Vegas

The World's Tallest Thermometer

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On the Way to Vegas

We're on our way to celebrate The Mr's birthday in Las Vegas!

Having a great holiday so far (more later on that) but had to tell you that I got a Kindle for Christmas and am blogging on it as we drive! LOVE it!

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Christmas Afternoon

It's good to live in San Diego...

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Santa Came!

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It's Cookie Time

I forgot to take a picture of all the cookie packages on my counter last night, but here's a few! Pin It

Time Out

Christmas is next week! I think we're ready...

...the house is decorated...

... the poinsettias in place...

... the Christmas flowers are blooming...

OK, so we've got a few things left to do - the presents aren't wrapped, the cookies still need to be boxed, the groceries are still at the store and not in my refrigerator, the family has not yet arrived (!)...

But it seemed like a good time to sit back for moment in the middle of this (very!) busy season to reflect on the good things we have in our lives. I've got The Mr, who makes everything worthwhile, our families, our fur-babies (though they don't seem too wonderful at 4:00 AM), good jobs, a beautiful home. We are truly blessed.

Do you take time out during the holidays to enjoy what you have?

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Cookies and More Cookies...

I'm on the final stretch for finishing my cookie gifts. The timing of baking cookies is always a bit of a struggle to find the sweet spot between starting too early (so the cookies get stale) and waiting too long (so I miss people who have left for the holidays already).

I baked more than 15 dozen cookies today and made the dough for two more batches. I'm about to go make a batch of these cute little treats - Marshmallow Snowmen!

Already done:

peanut butter blossoms

brownie drops

spritz

melting moments

checkerboard cookies

pinwheels

lemon cookies

russian tea cakes

Chilling overnight:

sugar cookie stars

candy cane cookies

The first box is already done (minus the cookies still left - that's what you get when you leave town early!) and looks great!

Do you bake cookies for your friends and co-workers?

Cookie count: 43 dozen

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The Tree

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The Crowd Gathers

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Tonight's Activity

The Mr practicing before the first of our six (!) concerts at the San Diego Zoo!

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Fun

The kids singing jingle bells...incredibly cute. Pin It

Another View...

Some of the choir... with the handbells in the background.

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A View From the Other Side

We're at the Christmas Concert... this is a shot of the audience (over the organ's keyboard) as the seats start to fill. Not a bad turnout for a rainy San Diego afternoon!

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Christmas Cookie Recipe Party: Brownie Drops

I'm in the midst of my cookie baking. These are an old family tradition - tasty and chocolatey! AND they are really easy and quick to make - so I can bake up a batch or two in a flash.

Brownie Drops
2 (4-ounce) bars German Sweet Chocolate
1T. butter
2 eggs
3/4 C. sugar
1/4 C. unsifted all-purpose flour
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/8 t. salt
1/2 t. vanilla extract
3/4 C. finely chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt chocolate and butter in double boiler over hot water. Stir. Cool.

In large mixing bowl, beat eggs until foamy, then add sugar, 2 tablespoons at a time, beating until thickened (5 minutes in electric mixer). Blend in chocolate.

Add flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; blend. Stir in vanilla and nuts. Grease cookie sheet. Drop teaspoonfuls of batter onto cookie sheet. Bake until cookies feel 'set' when very lightly touched - 8 to 10 minutes.

Makes about 36 cookies.

They'll look a bit like this when done:

Looking for new or classic cookie recipes? Check out the "Christmas Cookie Recipe Party" every Friday over at "Our Creative Life" - and share your recipes too!

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