Am I Crazy or What!?

Well let me answer that question, yes! Yes, I am crazy but in the end aren't we all! Why crazy you ask, well for those that don't know, we got a new puppy last weekend. So yes, on top of the three children I call my own and the one child that is mine from 8 to 4 everyday and a house and a husband and basketball practice and birthday parties (sorry those are in excess right now) and preschool and doctor appointments, we got a dog! But let me just tell you, she is the absolute best thing for our house. Let me introduce her first. Her name is Ava and she is a 3mth old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.



She is just the sweetest, most calmest, puppy I have ever met. She is blending in well with our crazy life and is in love with the kids. Especially Mr. Chase, who is in love with her also. This is where that "best thing for our house" comes in. We all needed a reason to slow down and she was it. Some of us needed to learn some responsibility for taking care of others, she is showing us that. Some of us needed some help learning that dogs are not bad, she is showing us that. Some of us needed to know that owning a dog isn't such a horrible thing, she is for sure showing us that. So needless to say she is the best Christmas present we have received!



As we are all learning life around here has been pretty hectic, which was to be expected.  The kids are all doing well....ok. I think somewhere along the line we forgot to mention that Santa is watching and so maybe we need to pull that out. We are all a little stir crazy with the coldness outside and us stuck inside. Even with our bad days, we are all still happy to be where we are...even though I need some reminding of that. Reading this helped! Kelle's Blog: Enjoying the Small Things.

But not to hectic for some baking and crafting as Christmas draws closer! Here are just a few things I had to share:

First of all if you haven't been to this ladies site, you are in for a treat! She is superwomen and down to earth all at the same time. I made her mac and cheese the other night after reading her blog and have since printed off about 15 other things I am going to make this winter. Including beef with snow peas on Saturday night....maybe that will get my sister here?! Her name is Ree and you can find her at Pioneer Women. She will also be on the Today show tomorrow morning making cinnammon rolls. Through her blog and her wonderful baking weekend she had for some lucky readers, I found this blog : Bake at 350. This lady is also phenomenal and provides her readers with all sorts of great recipes for cookies and cakes and icings, it is heaven in my eyes! I tried her Vanilla Almond Sugar Cookie recipe, OH MY GOODNESS! I had to immediately put them in the freezer after they were done cooling. I couldn't keep my hands off of them. So stinkin' good. You don't even have to refridgerate them! 

Lastly, here are some ornaments I made today. I found some ideas on other blogs and ran with them. These are so easy to make and so pretty on your tree. I believe they are so easy I don't even need to explain how to make them!



They're Tree Candy!!



I am hoping to get lots of baking done this weekend so beware next week! Lots of pictures of good yummies coming your way! The girls will also be helping with some homemade goodness so look for those pictures also!
Happy Wednesday everyone!