Christmas 2016

Christmas 2016 was just as memorable as we hoped it would be.

On Christmas morning, Matt and I woke Natalie up first so we could have her fed and ready to go downstairs when Ryan woke up. Then the three of us went into his room with a big, "Merry Christmas!" and reminded him that this was the morning we could check to see if Santa came and ate his cookies. He couldn't wait to see!

We all went downstairs, saw the cookies Santa ate, finished the ones he left behind, and sat in front of the tree for a quick picture before opening presents. 

The sweetest little moment happened after this picture. Ryan turned to the tree to pick up a present and said, "Here's a present for you, Nonni!" and let her open one first. Melt our mama and daddy hearts!

We opened presents and played with the new toys, and then my sister and her family came over and gave Ryan his Pottery Barn Chair that my sister's boys used when they were little with a brand new cover with his name on it. So he sat down and gave a thumbs up. :)

And then they gave them their set of marbles and marble run set to attach to the one we gave Ryan for Christmas! He was so excited!

Later that day, we went to my sister's house to celebrate with my parents and aunt and uncle who came in town for Christmas this year. It was so fun to spend the day with them!

We capped the night off with Pie Face. Love my sister's face in this pic!

Nonni Girl looked on like we were all nuts.

The next day, we went to Matt's parents' house and did Christmas Day all over again, pjs and all.

Ryan and Riley were so cute stacking the shopping cart with groceries and babies!

Mimi and Papa did adorable grand finale gifts for the grandkids in the basement and Ryan uncovered an incredible train table for his gift! He did the cutest little happy dance when he realized what it was. Sweet buddy only asked Santa for a "yittle" train, which was in his stocking Christmas morning, so the entire train table was a super big surprise! Bless Mimi for putting the entire thing together for us too- you better believe that thing will be transferred ever so carefully to our house!

Hope your Christmas was a merry one!!

Cookies for Santa- Cream Cheese Cookie Recipe

This recipe has been in our family for years. 

These are the best little cookies you will ever eat! And SO easy to make. 

Growing up, we made these for Santa every Christmas Eve. We knew they were his favorite because he always ate more than one and sometimes left a half-eaten one behind. ;)

So this is what we'll be making in our house on Christmas Eve this year, and just in case you need a new and delicious recipe for your family to make for Santa this year, I thought I would share.

I blogged this recipe years ago- and I've learned a thing or too about photographing recipes since then, so bear with me on the photos- they should still help give a good visual even if they aren't pretty. :)

Ingredients:

1/2 stick of butter- softened (not melted)

1- 8oz. package of cream cheese- softened

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 box yellow cake mix

Directions:

Using an electric beater or mixer, mix butter and cream cheese together. Add egg yolk and vanilla.

Add cake mix (1/3 of box at a time). Blend. You may need to mix last 1/3 by hand.

Wrap in wax paper and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Shape into balls that are about the size of a quarter

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

If you don't have an egg separator, crack the egg in half and toss back and forth until only the yolk remains.

And if you're looking for a Christmas meal to make for your family this year, give one of these recipes a try:

This is what I'll be serving this year! Recipe here.

My friend, Andrea, told me she's making this one. Recipe here.

recipe here

recipe here

recipe here