Christmas List part 2

My 2008 Christmas list is dwindling...and even though I really do love the doing of all the things on my agenda- it still feels good to check them off and get a step closer to December 25th.


Here's what we've been up to:

family temple trip- check


drive around and look at lights- check

this one had music to go along with it


this one was just crazy!!!


help out at our local food pantry- check


make and deliver neighborhood goodies, caroling as we go- check

(it was a balmy 6º tonight when we went, we came back and warmed up with hot chocolate)

presents all wrapped- check


get together with my dear friends- check

12 days of Christmas presentation with pictures for Enrichment- check

Southeast Seamless Christmas dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise- check

yummy chocolate nachos


great minds think alike


We also started our 12 days of Christmas. Last year, I did a gift for each day, but this year, we're only doing gifts every couple of days and then reading our Christmas books on the other days.

What's left on your list?

Chocolate Enrichment Night

It's been a crazy busy week, but I had to come on here and post about our fun enrichment last week.

Here's the invite that Glenda made-

We wanted to focus on building relationships. We played a game called Fast Friends- which is basically like speed dating. We had a topic and spent a few minutes discussing it before one side of the table moved on to the next person.

We asked everyone to bring a chocolate dessert and a recipe, which we made into a small little book.

Some of the yummy goodies.



Handouts that we could bring to the ladies we visit teach.



I shared this recipe.

5 minute Chocolate Cake in a Cup

4 T. flour
4 T. Sugar
2 T. unsweetened cocoa
1 egg
3 T. milk
3 T. oil
3 T. chocolate chips
splash of vanilla or other flavoring
optional toppings: whipped cream, powdered sugar or ice cream

Add all of dry ingredients in a mug and mix well. Next mix in the egg. Stir in milk, flavoring, and oil. After all combined fold in chocolate chips. Don’t have chips- try a broken candy bar. Nuke on high for 3 minutes in a 1000w microwave- increase time for lower wattages. It will start to crown over the top of the mug- don’t panic it will go back down. Remove and if desired add additional toppings. Enjoy!

Of course, I had to try it out first at home.

It was pretty, good, especially for a quick craving. In my opinion though, it did taste better after sitting for a little while.

And with a little vanilla ice cream.

Love Adds Chocolate

Last night I got home from my Enrichment Committee Planning meeting and started scouring the internet for fun chocolate sayings and quotes, since we are going to put together a little chocolate cookbook at our next Enrichment Activity. I had trouble finding what I was looking for and then I remembered that I had something all along that would be perfect for what we are doing.

Several years back my good friend Kassie made this adorable tag. The message on the inside of the tag is even better!


Money, of course, can buld a charming house,
but only Love can furnish it with a feeling of home.
Duty can pack an adequate sack lunch,
but Love may decide to enclose a little note inside.
Money can provide a TV,
but Love controls it and cares enough to say 'no'
and take the guff that comes with it.
Obligation sends the children to bed on time,
but Love tucks the covers in around their necks
and passes out the kisses and hugs. (even to teenagers)
Obligation can cook a meal,
but Love embellishes the table with a potted ivy
trailing around slender candles.
Duty writs many letters,
but Love adds a joke or a picture or a stick of gum inside.
Compulsion keeps a sparkling house,
but Love and Prayer stand a better chance
of producing a happy family.
Duty gets offended quickly if it isn't appreciated
but Love learns to laugh a lot
and to work for the sheer joy of doing it.
Obligation can pour a glass of milk, but quite often,
Love adds a little chocolate.

I did a search and found this book online that it must have come from.

I needed this reminder today. We got a late start to our morning and when that happens we are all grumpy and a little stressed. I hate sending my kids off to school with that start to their day. I know a lot of how their morning goes is dependent on me and my own attitude. First thing I need to do is start getting up before them. I am also considering trying an experiment one of my friends did where she made her kids a hot breakfast every morning before school. She said it really made a difference to her kids- there was less fighting and more unity. I am willing to give anything a try. I'll let you know how it goes.