Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night

This Christmas

was spent with just our immediate family. It was fun getting together and enjoying each other's company but the boys were with their Dad for Christmas break this year and it just wasn't the same without them. Every other year seems like an off year at Christmas.

Dreading Holiday Eating

I recently found this list of weight watchers points for holiday food from the wwchick's blog - thewwchick.blogspot.com.

I have been eating so bad lately - I'm not even going to weigh myself. I know the outcome will be bad! All I can do is try to eat with caution on Christmas - thank the Lord that I'm not a sweets person. But it means that I'm a turkey and oyster dressing person. I can't wait for my Mom's oyster dressing!

TURKEY LEG (WITH SKIN), 4 OZ, 6
WHITE MEAT TURKEY (NO SKIN), 4 OZ, 4 POINTS
♦HAM WITH BROWN SUGAR COATING, 3 OZ, 2 POINTS
SPIRAL SLICED (BONE IN, HICKORY SMOKED), 3 OZ, 4 POINTS
SPIRAL SLICED (BONE IN, HONEY CURED), 3 OZ, 3 POINTS
BLACK FOREST (SMOKED), 3 OZ, 2 POINTS
MAPLE GLAZED (HONEY COATED), 3 OZ, 2 POINTS
VIRGINIA HAM, 2 OZ, 1 POINT
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE, 1 CUP, 5 POINTS
GREEN BEANS (STEAMED), 1 CUP, 0 POINTS
♦CORN CASSEROLE, 1/2 CUP, 8 POINTS
CORN, 1/2 CUP, 1 POINT
♦CANDIED SWEET POTATOES, 1 CUP, 8 POINTS
MASHED SWEET POTATOES, 1 CUP, 4 POINTS
♦BAKED SWEET POTATO, 1 LARGE, 3 POINTS
♦GARLIC MASHED POTATOES, 3/4 CUP, 6 POINTS
PLAIN BAKED POTATO, 1 LARGE, 3 POINTS
♦SCALLOPED POTATOES, ½ CUP, 4 POINTS
AU GRATIN POTATOES, 1 CUP, 13 POINTS
CANNED CRANBERRY SAUCE, 1/4 CUP, 3 POINTS
HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE , 1/4 CUP, 2 POINTS
BREAD STUFFING, 1 CUP, 8 POINTS
WINTER SQUASH, 1 CUP, 1 POINT
♦PUMPKIN PIE, 1 SLICE, 9 POINTS
PECAN PIE, 1 SLICE, 12 POINTS
APPLE PIE, 1 SLICE, 7 POINTS
PLUM PUDDING, ½ CUP WITH 1 TBSP SAUCE, 9 POINTS
WHITE ROLL (WITHOUT BUTTER), 1 ROLL, 3 POINTS
WHEAT ROLL (WITHOUT BUTTER, 1 ROLL, 2 POINTS
WHIPPED BUTTER, 1 TBSP, 2 POINTS
LIGHT MARGARINE, 1 TBSP, 1 POINT
BROWN GRAVY, 1/4 CUP, 2 POINTS
WINE, 2 OZ, 1 POINTS
MULLED CIDER, 1 CUP, 3 POINTS
EGGNOG ( HOMEMADE WITH OR WITHOUT LIQUOR) ½ CUP, 4 POINTS
EGGNOG (REDUCED CALORIE, STORE BOUGHT, NO LIQUOR) ½ CUP, 3 POINTS
EGG NOG (STORE BOUGHT WITHOUT LIQUOR) ½ CUP, 5 POINTS

T's Birthday - The Big 10!

T and His Nana

My oldest baby turned 10 on the 13th of December. What a wonderful little boy he has turned into in the last 10 years. He was my first born and I still remember the amount of love I felt for him the minute I saw him. It's like I knew all along what he would look like. I instantly thought that my heart would burst. I still can't even put into words what a privilege it has been to watch him grow. He's everything I thought he would be - sweet, sensitive, affectionate, intuitive, smart, and the cutest little redhead on this earth. His little freckles on his face just melt my heart!

Today was the officer installation at the York Rite Lodge for Mr. H. He's an officer in the Scottish Rite and the York Rite. The ceremonies for the installation are really neat to watch. It was nice to see the lodge brothers that Mr. H is with every other week. They seemed like a great group of guys. I couldn't help thinking about the Flintstones and Fred Flintstone going to his lodge meetings or Mr. Cunningham on Happy Days and the Grand Puba.

I found a recipe I'd like to try. I think the boys will really like it. I might just whip it up for Christmas.
Blueberry Delight
1 (3) oz. pckg. blackberry gelatin
2 cups boiling water
1 (15 oz.) can blueberries
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (8 oz.) pckg. creme cheese, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 - 2 cups chopped pecans
In large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. Drain liquid from blueberries and pineapple and stir into the gelatin. Pour into 2 quart mold (or large pyrex dish) and refrigerate until firm.
Mix together softened creme cheese, sugar, sour cream and vanilla and spread over the congealed gelatin mixture. Sprinkle creme cheese layer with chopped pecans and chill for approximately 30 minutes. Invert (or cut into serving size pieces) and serve.
*NOTE: I add the creme cheese mixture AFTER the gelatin has set up and become firm. It makes it much easier to spread. I also add the pecans in with the creme cheese mix and then add MORE pecans on the top.


So far, here is our menu for Christmas Day:

Turducken - it's a boneless duck stuffed inside a boneless chicken stuff inside a boneless turkey. It is soooo good. The duck keeps all of the meat so moist.
Ham - Mr. H's ham from work
Oyster Dressing
Collard Greens
Green Bean Casserole
Sweet Potato Souffle
Rolls
Pies - Pumpkin, Pecan and Chocolate
Iced Tea and Cokes

I made a spreadsheet for the holiday planning. When I figure out how to do a screenshot, I'll post a pic.

More Christmas Parade of Homes Pics

More pictures of my soon to be mother-in-law's house. Such beautiful decorations. I think I might "borrow" some of the ideas for next year. I'm hoping the economy won't be so horrible and I won't have this horrendous guilt about buying any unnecessary decorations this year.

For some reason, I am especially in love with anything glitter. The little glitters balls that she put in the garland on her light fixture in the kitchen are beyond adorable!