"... just another day in paradise!"

Once upon a time in a beautiful city with pretty lights, wonderful store front windows, & scrumptious food.... there was a red & pink colored store {straight out of a fairy tale}... And in that store..... wishes came true!

The American Girl Store did NOT disappoint. Here is a peek into paradise... First we walked around barely speaking- just drinking in the splendor of it all... I was totally enthralled with the constant sound of little girls giggling & knowing that my little darling was one of them!!!

Then we she carefully walked through the displays... wanting to choose just the right outfits for her girls!!! AHH it was amazing to see all of the little things that we have seen & circled in the catalog for the last 5 years!!!



Next we treated ourselves to a dessert {and one for Lizzie too- they came with a mini dessert for your doll.. which we loved}!!! ~I told y'all this place was paradise!!!!



And... then we decided to get Lizzie's hair done {cause she was looking a little frumpy after the train ride}...



Prissy didn't want to leave her... so we stayed & watched the stylist- so fun!!!

~YES~ this doll is better cared for than most children I know!!!!



Finally {2 hrs later..} we picked up our coats @ the coat-check {did I mention that I LOVE the big city} & hailed a cab {which by the end of our trip- Prissy got quite good at} back to the hotel to pick up the A-man & Cooner for dinner.



But not before we walked through the streets & hit a few more shops {she insisted on carrying her bags & Lizzie the ENTIRE way}!!!



The girls getting ready to ice skate
{she has wanted this outfit for years now...}



and they ALL lived ...
Happily Ever After

"Merry Christmas 2010!"

Love & Joy
from the Harris Family
Joey, Ashly, Josey, & Ashton

Christ has come and given us life abundant. May His grace
light your way in 2011...

"over the river & through the woods..."

... to the Grandparents' Houses we go!!!! We are headed home for Christmas this year... so if y'all could save us some snow... that'd be great!!!!!! My little guy is desperate to make a snow angel & Prissy just wants to "maybe watch the boys from the inside & have some hot cocoa"- she is me what can I say????? PLEASE pray for our travels & for sanity on that LONG car trip!!!!!!!!! I will say that having to be somewhere makes you get stuff done ahead of time {unless you're Joey- I don't see any presents under the tree for me.. but who's counting- ha ha}. Here is a peek into some of our traditions are as y'all getting ready for the big day!!!!!!

::Our family has a few Christmas traditions: #1 we exchange ONLY 3 gifts because we want our children to see us giving 3 like the wise men did for baby Jesus, #2 we always adopt a family in need (usually with children) so that our children can help choose gifts for them, #3 we bake a birthday cake for Jesus on Christmas Eve & eat it for breakfast on Christmas morning, &#4 Joey reads the story of baby Jesus to us during our party- this is my FAVORITE because Josey now chimes in with verses & narrates right along with him! Well.. I got to get packing... "Only 1 more sleep Momma" has been said around this house more than once this morning.. (that is how she has equated time since she was 2.. I LIKE her....)::

"... snow day!!"

well... as you can see he is clearly over the fact that his party was canceled today {but he did cry a tear or 10 this morning over it} & I'm getting there.... I have so much to be thankful for- my daily prayers for my close friends with leukemia, children with seizures, breast cancer, & that's just off the top of my list- humble me & give me perspective.... So ya see I'm okay about the party!!!!!! We are crafting here & I get my bestie to craft right along side me- she is a natural already making "A-man some pj pants & Lucy a dress!!!!!" Hope y'all are having a fun snow day wherever you are!!!!!!!

p.s. this morning I finally put a set of holey pillow cases in the garage towel/rag basket... then I scooped them right back out.... Because I saw this little flower pin from Anthro & tried to make one too...



first rip {I just tore a 1 inch strip right off of the length end- don't cut. I love the ripped look better} & fold it back & forth until it looks something like this...




then I added a fancy pin...



::Ta-DA::
$total cost= FREE$
{YES I still have my pj's on.... and I just might stay in them today:: don't judge- ha ha}



{these photos are from my phone & I'm no professional but you get the idea. I love this little beauty on my scarf... or maybe my coat... or maybe my handbag?????? Anyway y'all will be seeing her soon!!!!!}

"lights-camera-action for A-man..."

Last night we went to see the A-man in his 1st ever Pre-school program. It was so strange having Prissy sitting with us- we are usually watching her & I am having to keep a certain little someone entertained with my Mary Poppins Bag- ha ha. We have been practicing his song this whole week, then I asked him if he was going to sing while we were driving there... "Uh mm I think no"- was his response. "Okay, just please promise Momma that you'll smile big &.... A-man PLEASE don't touch anyone!" "Okay Momma me promise!" He found his way to Mrs. Fisher & Ethan {his little BFF}. Then I grabbed 3 seats in the church, my camera, & a wad of tissues.....

~A-man & Ethan~
{they stayed like this for 10 minuted- neck & neck. I grabbed Ethan's mom & she got a picture too. A-man now asks for 2 of everything we get so Ethan can have 1 too!}


my little A-man holding to his promise of smiling...



...and when it was all over he shouted "Momma me no touch anyone!"
{my cup runneth over....}

p.s. A-man's class party is suppose to be tomorrow.... I'm sure you know me well enough to know that I have a few things planned... Except that if school is cancelled or delayed {since he only goes Tues & Thurs and only stays 3 hrs}... he won't have one.... Poor me {in the words of my little man}!! But I do have some super fun decorations... wanna see??? Okay!!!!

I made some ginormous Christmas bulbs out of tissue paper
{and have about 50 red & green balloons- already blown up...}


... and we made treats & have snacks & everything else that you can imagine for a birthday party for our King!!!!! Anyway.. I hate to pray against snow {because I do love it... but maybe it could just wait & come after I get these class parties over with???}

"a Christmas favorite..."

{I just found these little elves that I made last year... I LOVE them even more this year!!!}

Now...Back by popular demand- Jenny, Ashley, Donna, & Susan- this is for y'all!!!! I make these little critters for just about every holiday & they couldn't be any simpler!! And this year my littlest elf did most of it all by himself....

{this is all you need:waffle pretzels, M&M's, & candy melts- the Lego men are totally optional, but they do help your little helper stay on task...} I have used Hershey's kisses- but I like the extra color from the melts. (You can't mess them up- everyone loves chocolate)

1. Preheat oven to 170 degrees


2. Lay out waffle-shaped pretzels in a single layer on a cookie sheet & top each pretzel with a Hershey's kiss or chocolate melt


3. Bake for 4-6 minutes- until chocolate feels soft to touch


4. Remove from oven & quickly press M&M's candy into the center of each. Allow the treats to cool for a few minutes. Then pop cookie sheet into the refrigerator to set- about 10 minutes


5. Place in air-tight container or plastic bag with a fun ribbon as a party favor ...


p.s. A-man is TOTALLY obsessed with Lego's right now {hint hint if you still needed a Christmas gift idea Travis Shane}... He now sleeps with his little creations every night!! This is what he made for me last night...

"the perfect teacher gift...."

Every year I like to take goodies to the teachers & the office staff @ school... This gift is the perfect compliment to ANY treat & they LOVE it every time!!!!

First gather some plates/platters & some fun bowls
{I like to hunt for them throughout the year & get them for next-to-nothing. Now & after Christmas is the best time to get them.}


Next get yourself some of this stuff- Now ~WARNING~ this is NOT your average glue!!! I am convinced that it could easily glue your car bumper on so PLEASE use it as directed & in a well ventilated space!!!



~Ta-DA~
it's as easy as that- in 1 minute you have a pretty cake stand to display your treats on.



I love this one...



The only problem is... you'll want to keep one- so make an extra for you!!!

p.s. Prissy stole the show- {so I'm told by 2 very reliable gentlemen}. I think she asked me to pray for her a least a dozen time & I know many of you were praying too- THANK YOU !!! She was the picture of grace & talent with her little dainty ballerina ways.... I didn't get to actually see the show- I was backstage, but I did see a blue million rehearsals.... We are both happy & sad to have it behind us, but not to worry we will be getting ready for the spring recital before we know it!!!!

p.s.s. The by "A" company is closing up orders today for the Holiday line!!! It was fun doing custom orders this year & wrapping them pretty for y'all!!! I hope to go even bigger next year? THANK YOU for your orders- y'all are so sweet... Here is a peek @ the last one left..... except that I promised it to my little Priss just this morning.....

"cany cane cookies..."

These babies are flying off the cake stand about as fast as I can bake them {4 batches & counting}!!!!! I always use the same sugar cookie recipe from the Antioch Ladie's Aide Society Cook Book {from back home- it's still the best cook book that I own}. Those ladies are the best of the BEST!!. Anyway- this year I added some Andes Peppermint crunch chips {red & white of course} to the dough. Then Prissy sprinkled a few on top of Cooner's homemade cream cheese icing recipe- YUMMY YUMMY!!!!!! Prissy has re-named them "cany cane cookies" & I think the name suits them well!!! I'm telling y'all Joey says they're a 10 & he doesn't joke when it comes to desserts.... I am taking some to our Bible study tonight {I know a certain little Luke-boy that will LOVE them too!!}. Try them for yourselves.....

Indiana Sugar cookies recipe:
4 & 1/2 c flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
1 & 1/2 c. sugar
2 sticks of butter
3 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
{I added 1/2 c. of Andes candy bits}

p.s. The Velveteen Rabbit is tomorrow afternoon. Say a little prayer for my precious little ballerina {who as you know has her very first solo part} & for her little brother {who has next to NO patience when it comes to girly things} & for Joey {who gets to sit beside him} & lastly for me {who will be back stage managing ALL things concerning hair & make-up}!!!

"I'd like ya to meet.."

our newest grand-daughter-doll... Elizabeth- {Lizy}.

She is just as precious as her little name & might I say her sisters- Lucy & Lanie couldn't be more happy {because she did come with several accessories that they ALL 3 share}!!!

Cooner & Papaw sent Prissy Lizy for Christmas early- they have planned a train trip to Chicago when we come home & I guess you may know a certain little girl that may be interesting in going to the American Girl Store???? And... Prissy & her 3 little girls are hosting a "Mommy & Me" tea party for her friends & their girls after the new year!!!!! What fun little girls are!!!!

{But... every morning when I open my vanity drawer & find something of his, as if he thinks I may forget about him... I think to myself- I wouldn't go trading my little rock hunter in for any little 3 yr old girl out there!!!}