Good bye 2006! It’s been a damn fine year!

I can’t believe I made it- here it is the night before we leave for Christmas and I have just a few items left to do. Mainly, packing suitcases and addressing areas I don’t want to leave to stew for 10 days (Ewww- Can we say empty the diaper pail??).
I hope everyone has a merry Christmas and I’ll see y’all in January!! Have some merry desserts while you’re at it!!

I call this photo “Bite the big one”. LOL.
5 Minute Any Flavor Fudge (you go Rachel Ray)
Melt 2 bags any flavor chips in saucepan. Stir in 1 can condensed milk and 1 t vanilla or other flavoring. Stir in nuts or dried fruit if desired. Pour into a pan and allow to cool in fridge for 30 minutes. Make in a wreath shape for the holidays by pouring into a round cake pan with the empty condensed milk can (wrapped in plastic wrap) in the center. Do not spread the wreath smooth- it looks better chunky.
We made cinnamon chip peanut fudge!!! Yu-ummm!

Andy now plays with and grabs at his feet, watches tv with Brendan and keeps looking at and for Brendan. He thinks he’s a riot! He scooches around on floor and doesn’t stay in same place or direction you put him in. He also swats sideways at the toy steering wheel on his swing to move it and can even honk the horn. He has been sitting upright in the swing for about a week now.
Whadda big boy!!!

Make sweet potato pie!
To 1 baby container sweet potatoes add 1 small pinch pumpkin pie spice and 1 pinch sugar. Thicken with oatmeal cereal.
Andy LOVES it! 😛

But I have to write down a cute thing Bren said tonight:
DH: “Let’s go bye-bye, Brendan.”
Bren: “We’re not going bye-bye. We’re going outside to see all my friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. Let’s go!” [Note: our Christmas decorations are Pooh themed].
Wow! Far cry from “Come on Anthony, let’s play in the snow!”- the 8 word sentence I recorded last January, 11 months ago.
Brendan is totally loving Christmas!!!
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Andy is nearing the 4 month mark rapidly. He tried both avocado (Wheeee! More please!) and sweet potatoes (Eh.) today. I mix just about everything up with rice or oatmeal and he definitely prefers fruits. I wonder if he’d like the veggies more if I didn’t thicken them up.
Andy is getting into the pacifier now and likes to choke himself on his own fingers. He is really into little stuffed animals, especially this little purple puppy of his. Mostly he likes to talk and interact with people. We just switched to 6-9 month clothes and size 3 Pampers cruisers. He breastfeeds about 5 times during the day and once or twice at night.
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DH and I have been making Oreo and candy cane barks and Alton Brown’s pinwheel chocolate/peppermint candy swirled cookies for his coworkers. Tomorrow that’ll be done with and a big check mark on my “to do” list. It’s been hectic but fun.
***We’re going to be on tv!! Watch us on “Over the Top Christmas” airing on HGtv. First showing is December 17th at 8 pm central.***

I got creative a few nights ago…
Place large marshmallows about 3 inches apart on an aluminum foil topped cookie sheet that has been sprayed with Pam. Bake in a preheated 300 degree oven for about 12 minutes (should be lightly golden and puffy). Allow to cool for 5 minutes. They will sink into a cookie shape and be deliciously crispy and chewy. They are very good- plus fat free and only 22 calories each!
I’m gonna have to try this with Peeps! lol