Christmas with our Kids and Grandkids in Richmond

I didn't do a lot of cooking for Christmas this year. Other than a few desserts we had mostly appetizers that were pretty yummy. I found this tree cake at Kroger's - Lemon Cranberry. I couldn't resist - it was so pretty and I thought it would go nicely with my Chocolate Tree Cake.

This is how my cake started out:

Whoa! I had no idea it would rise this much - it is huge!

Dave taking a test bite!

I had to trim it up a bit, It was pretty tasty.

We had cake and the delicious cookies that Emerson baked with us a couple of weeks earlier.

Samara playing with the doll houses.

Aidan showing off his bucket we gave him.

Emerson and Samara's buckets

The whole gang.

Matlin playing around with Samara.

Emerson got a cookbook and a Easy Bake Oven. Can't wait to cook with her!

A special tiger for Samara and

some cute dress-up clothes.

Samara and her tiger on Uncle Lance's lap.

Christmas Decorating

Dave always does such a good job on our outside decorations, but he out did himself this year. He made this manger from a platform that he built that held our grill in the back yard. He made an extension to our back porch for the grill so he wouldn't have to walk out to the yard to cook! So with a little adjustment Dave made this - a beautiful addition to our holiday season.

These pictures don't do this justice - our neighbors came over with their children to get a close up view.

Lovely, isn't it?

Inside our home.

Pictures of Amy with Santa. That's the twins in the middle via ultrasound.

Christmas Around the House

Some more pictures of our home at Christmas. Here are some pictures of our grandkids on the mantle:

Christmas cross stitch stockings I made years ago:

Dave's snowman:

Our manger scene in Dave's office:

My cute little stove with ginger bread cuties doing the cooking. This is a music box Dave gave me a few years ago - one of my favorites.

Let's Make Christmas Cookies

Emmy came over to help make butter cookies last Saturday.

She is doing a great job!

Dave helping!

Emmy's batch - we will serve them for dessert when everyone comes Saturday night for our Christmas with Dave's kids.

Gorgeous and yummy. I made 6 batches. I am giving some to co workers and we will take some the St. Louis!

Had to share this - my favorite kitchen christmas decoration Dave gave me. It is a music box and the oven door opens and closes while the little gingerbread boy hangs on and the boy on the top stirs the pot. It is from Cracker Barrel.

A cute little cookie sign, I love to decorate my kitchen in the gingerbread theme during the holidays.