Well, we have been baking here some more. 

Yesterday hubby and I made Plum Pudding, Cherry Cake and Boiled Fruit Cake.  I was a bit nervous about the cherry cake and the cherries going to the bottom but my mom told me to flour them well and they are beautifully all over the cake and it tastes yummy.  It is my grandmothers recipe and she passed away in 2005.  We cut up the cherry cake and the fruit cake in 1/4's and froze them.  Then we will only take out some and the rest will stay fresh and not get eaten too fast.  We made the cherry cake with applesauce instead of butter and splenda instead of sugar (our 7 yr old is very happy and so am I as we are diabetic). 

We also made Chocolate Snowballs and unfortunately they did not work with applesauce and splenda and became squares (and not easy to cut).  They would not roll into balls and you could not roll them in coconut.  They are yummy though and JLG is very happy to eat them.  We then proceeded to make the real recipe with butter and sugar and they are yummy. 

I have all my wrapping done.  I have never had it all done this early and am quite excited.  I also have all my shopping done.  We will have to go to town to buy a few groceries though.

We (JAG and I) finished our lapbook on the symbols of Christmas.  It looks nice and we had fun and learned some while researching and making it.  It made me want to start doing some scrapbooking and to start stamping soon.  I will probably make 2 cards for the boys and give it to them Christmas morning with their suprise gift coming as soon as hubby makes them shelter.  They are getting a female goat each.  They are really cute.  It's a suprise.  SHHHHH!!  It is all they wanted for Christmas.  We really need a big barn soon.  We have 2 new pilgrim geese also.  They are beautiful and look like they have potbellies.  They almost touch the ground.  We will also be getting a Deluth goose as a mate for the other geese so they can have babies. 

My parents look like they are coming on Boxing Day.  They will be here very late that night.  JAG is very excited that they are coming.  We are also having our friends outside of Halifax come for New Years Eve and Day.  We are looking forward to their visit.  They have 4 children and it is always fun when they come.  The guys usually go four wheelin but they are not bring theirs because they do not have a trailer fto bring it (the one they borrow the guy is selling it).   

Our friends from the village are coming for Christmas Eve for supper (they are bringing a lasagne...I will make a salad and veggies and dip.  Then we will all go to Candle Light service together.  They are also coming for Christmas dinner.  They are renovating their home which makes it difficult to entertain.  Today I planned the menus for Christmas brunch and dinner.  Here they are:

Brunch:  quiche, peameal bacon, crepes and hash browns (just hubby and I and our precious boys)

Dinner: our own homegrown turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoe casserole (I can make ahead and then put in crockpot for dinner), creamed carrots, brocolli and a frozen green bean mixture, plum pudding and  sauce, rolls, sparkling fake wine.  We will have lemon pie, fruit cake, apple cake, lard cake,  shortbread, mini brownies, chocolate snow balls and whatever I have forgotten. ( us and our friends with 3 children)

Well, I should run and get the kids going on a Christmas craft.  We were planning on school but it likely won't get done.  Christmas holidays have begun.

Blessings Jodie