Monday, December 20, 2010

Monday Before Christmas Scoop

First, a recipe. One I learned about last year and absolutely adore.

It's so easy, little punks can help.




PAYDAY BARS

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) jar dry roasted peanuts
3 tablespoons margarine
1 bag peanut butter chips
1 can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions:
1. Grease 9x13 pan.
2. Pour 1/2 peanuts on bottom of pan.
3. Melt margarine and chips in microwave.
4. Add milk and then marshmallows (do not melt marshmallows) to the margarine and chip mixture. Stir all together.
5. Pour over peanuts, pat down.
6. Put rest of peanuts in and pat down.
7. Chill.

The picture doesn't do them justice. These are so good! We ate some and shared some.

After 4 years, I finally got our stockings monogrammed. I'm on top of things, really. Oh, and guess what? I have 2 more that match the set (just in case!).

Kiddos delivered gifts to neighbors this morning in the funky weather. We're all for San Diego being less-than-sunny on Christmas, but enough of the rain!

We braved Fashion Valley on Sunday for some shopping.

And, spent most of our time in the Nordstrom bathroom.



Stephan and Ruby have been getting into all sorts of trouble lately.

Unfortunately, they seem to have ***ZERO*** affect on the children this year.

Carter had another great game on Saturday. Only scored 6 points. Slacker. We made him run laps when we got home.

Jack and Lainey helped me at Carter's Christmas breakfast Friday morning. And, I use the word, "help" in the weakest way possible.



He seemed less than thrilled when I busted out the seasonal tights again this holiday. Tried very hard to cover them up for our picture. Fail.

Face painting for the Preschoolers!



Our wreath is busting at the seams, which makes me smile every time I look at it. So happy to be in touch with so many good peeps.

This critter scales our iron fence most nights after dark. I love him. Blake won't let me invite him inside. He says that Batman is enough.

Jack and Lainey packed up my car for me before shipping last week. Great job, punks!

And, finally.......more from Disneyland. It was super fun as always.

Sweet Laine always tries to get Mickey's attention prior to our picture with him. Here she is calling his name while we're in line.

And, there we are. Awkward, no?

Jackie loves Disneyland. I love the cute smile.

Lainey met the princess from Princess and the Frog. No, I don't know her name. I can barely identify Belle.

And, later, my princess had a monumental meltdown. A heads turning.....people whispering.....drama filled meltdown. I tried to reason with her, but sometimes there is just no option there. So, I took her picture.

Sweet Carter. Though the pre-teen years are trying to sneak their way in, he's definitely our most agreeable these days.

No idea why she's doing this. We were in line for one of my faves, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride. Old school Disneyland Main Street.

I rode with Jack and Lainey. Which makes it an even wilder ride.

Anyone like trains?



I'm starting to take interest in all things Disney. Meaning, the world behind the parks and the company. I am fascinated with all that goes into what they do. Hidden Mickeys have become our latest quest.....finding a Mickey icon on each ride in the park. It can be in the most remote, unheard of place. This article explains some of what I'm talking about.

A book we bought gives hints to each one. For example, the the train ride "hides" it in the control panel on the engine:


Every ride has one and some are more obvious than others. Awesome!

Here we are on the big train that circles the park. We're driving through It's A Small World.

Sweetness.

Not so much here.

I had the kids all day and then Blake joined us after work. He had yet to see all of the Christmas hoopla. Totally impressed!

I am not a fan of the tea cups. So, we had to wait for Dad.

Pure magic. We'll be back in January, when the crowds are thinner.


What else?

*Carter attended a "Cousin's Club" bible study sleepover on Friday. He's been going to church with our neighbors as often as he can. My little Catholic is much more interested in their church than ours........no complaints! I'm thrilled he's going. And, as a child who grew up in Catholicism, I recall just how boring mass was when we were younger.

*Christmas shopping is done. Everything is shipped. Hallelujah!

*I have yet to go a week in San Diego without going to or seeing the beach for a respectable amount of time. Hoping to continue that trend.

*Saw The Fighter last night. It was really good, despite my utter lack of interest in the boxing world. Christian Bale was fantastic.

Off to eat pizza with the kids and watch an old school Christmas program. Later!

20 comments:

Anything Fits A Naked Man said...

OMG, I LOVE those payday treats!! They ARE easy, and DELICIOUS!! Your children are just gorgeous, and so photogenic! Thanks so much for sharing!

If the shoe FITZ said...

I can't get over how sassy LC is.

Shannon said...

1.) You look super cute. Love having you in so many pics.

2.) Please throw the spare 2 stockings away.

3.) Laine is giving Sass a run for her money in the sassiness department. Send her my way. I've had 15.9 years of experience in that department and love how mine turned out so far.

4.) That princess is Tatiana. Get with it, mama!

5.) I do love trains actually. Amtrak especially. Have you guys taken it yet?

6.) Check into the behind the scenes tours at Disneyland. I think DL has one about trains but you have to be 10 to do it.

Allyson and Dave said...

I have never been a big Disney fan but getting to go under the Magic Kingdom and see where all the magic starts was pretty fascinating!

I am convinced that I am the only person who did not send out a photo Christmas card and I am the last one to get cards in the mail. They went out today. I don't think anyone wants to see a picture of me, Dave and the cats. Maybe next year we will have somehthing to take a picture of.

Jodee said...

Love, love, love your Christmas stockings, the holiday tights, and the meltdown picture! It looks like you are having a fabulous holiday so far!

Heather said...

1 thing. Where's my card on the card wreath?

starnes family said...

Nice, Heather!

I had not received it at the time of this picture. Shall I retake and repost?

Dee Stephens said...

LOVE this post!I worked and Disney and knows this magic!!

Heather said...

Absolutely. If I was home, I would take a picture of my Christmas card display , and you would see that the 3 punks are front and center. Therefore, I feel that I should be front and center as well.

starnes family said...

Better?

Lauren W said...

Ummm.... it is Tiana. Get with it. Don't act like you are getting interested in all things Disney when you clearly are not.

We look for Hidden mickeys too. Spent an evening at Wilderness Lodge doing that one year. Very fun.

I have an extra stocking in the same pattern too... just in case.

Love your tights. I have my obnoxious Christmas flannel pj's that must. be. worn. no .matter. what. And so they shall.

Kim said...

You are going to ruin my holiday diet with those Payday bars, yum!

I think you shoudl try to score a job at Disney! My dream job is to be a street sweeper. They don't ever seem to pick up to much trash and your get to people watch.

Your punks are adorable as always, in case I don't get back Merry Christmas!

Shannon said...

Lauren is correct that it's Tiana. I said Tatiana.

Brittny said...

I love the long post with all kinds of info!!! Brandon just woke up long to ask me what I was doing. I told him I was reading. I didn't look but I'm pretty sure he rolled his eyes back to sleep. I love Jack's grin on the train. Christopher has put trucks aside and be one obsessed with his trains again! I feel like you because we have tracks weaving through our house all the time now. But I love it! You are also making me miss Disney. We love it!! Not ready to decorate the house like it yet, but we love it still. Oh, and last thing, 10 minutes after I told you that I cancelled my Christmas cards they called to say they finally arrived. So you have one more headed your way to add to the bunch! (I may have to steal your wreath idea to display them because I love that!) Merry Christmas!!!!!

Shannon said...

What a fun time to spend at Disneyland in December! I'm jealous. Carter trying to cover up your tights made me laugh. Maybe you should have tried to cover his "skinny" jeans. And the opossum. How can you love it?! I get heeby jeebies from things rodent-like and opossums are the creepiest of all!!

starnes family said...

Shannon S - they are creepy, but I love opossums for some reason. Blake? Notsomuch.

I would LOVE the hide those skinny jeans. Believe me!!!!! I would if I could.

The Lenzers said...

We have the same stockings, and I still have not monogrammed them either. I say it every year, but yesterday finally noticed a shop that does it....so maybe before I pack them up next week? Glad you take pictures of meltdowns. It makes me feel like I am not the only freak of a mom who does it!

donatelli98 said...

You have a lot of cute friend that send cute Christmas cards! LOL!! Great pics Casey!! BTW Bia told me the princesses' name is Tiana.

Kristen said...

TIANA!! Princess Tiana! Even I know that... and Raymond is my fave in that movie!!

LOVE the pics from Disney. I want to go so bad.

Merry Mack said...

Cute, cute, cute! I need to try those payday treats. Lainey is just too much and so are the dyson hand dryers. It's Princess Tiana.

We had a family of possums that lived in our backyard. They were interesting creatures and make the strangest noises. One died on our patio and it was heart wrenching. It made the dogs crazy. My dad hated them, but I thought they were fascinating.

Lots of fun for the holidays in the Starnes house.