lately {December style!}

I've got a bunch of random pictures of various December happenings to blog about, but it's been so busy around here that I haven't had a chance.  Now that vacation has officially begun (actually it started a day early due to yesterday's snow storm!), I am trying to get caught up before we enter the whirlwind of Christmas events. 

So - in no particular order, here's a peek at what we've been up to . . .

On Wednesday night our first snow fall/storm of the year blew in.  We haven't had snow in 290+ days, so Braden was soooooo excited.  While we got much less than the predicted 8-10 inches, we got sleet first, so it's pretty icy out there.  Too bad it was also soooooooo cold and windy that I didn't let him spend much time playing outside.  He was very pumped to get to help Daddy shovel when Billy got home from work.

Unfortunately, it seems we've lost B's snow shevel, so he had to use his garden shovel. :)  Perhaps Santa will bring a new one!

Last Sunday evening we held the annual Miller family (my immediate fam) cookie bake (which really only entails frosting of cutout cookies that Mom has already baked).  

Braden tried his hand at frosting this year . . .

 . . . and of course had to do some eating too!

(as well as some frosting lickin')

Elise wanted to be in on the action, so she sat with us at the table and snacked on cheerios . . . which was ok for a while, but she soon demanded to try a taste of cookie too (and of course loved it!). Little Miss is doing a pretty good job with "solid" foods, and much prefers whatever we are eating to her baby food.

Dad always decorates ONE cookie each year - this year it was a (somewhat sad!) snowman. :)

We've made a few tasty treats at home, too. One night the advent stocking activity was to make a gingerbread house.  I simplified that job this year by purchasing a kit (which I highly recommend - the house is preassembled, and it comes with all the frosting/candies that you need to decorate! It is quick, easy, and very cute, and probably is just as cost effective as buying all the supplies).

Braden was super excited to decorate the house, but it was hard for him to squeeze the frosting, so Billy and I helped under B's close supervision.

Elise also enjoyed watching . . .

Looking good!

What do you mean I am not supposed to eat this house made of candy??!

Our elf, Rugby, has been showing up in some fun places.  I am glad we started this tradition, and can see the kids really getting into it in a couple of years - B already loves it.  Rugby's currently just hanging around in the entryway . . .

It took me a while this year, but once I got my baking/treat making groove on, it has been hard to stop.  So far we've made dipped PB Ritz, Oreo bon bons, dipped pretzels, Chocolate mint cookies, PB star cookies, chocolate crinkles, and spritz. I think I still want to make a batch of snickerdoodles.

Braden has really enjoyed all of the extra baking going on (and the tasting!).  The other night when I was making the spritz, Billy asked if I was almost done in the kitchen.  He was dealing with a fussy Elise (teething - one tooth popped through on 12/12, and I noticed a second one this morning!), and was ready for me to take a turn with Miss E.  I said that I would take a break from baking and would clean up later.  Braden then piped up, "I'm going to take a break from lickin' this frosting, too!"

Elise generally likes to be in on the action when we're in the kitchen -- but sometimes she's not the most helpful little "helper" to have around - she's learned how to get into cupboards and drawers and loves to find treasures to play with.

I'll wrap up this mega post with a cute shot of my cuties. Our daycare provider gave the kids their presents on Wednesday, so we let them open those gifts early (even Elise was a big fan of the unwrapping process!).  Both got a new pair of cozy PJs and a book, and Braden decided they HAD to wear their new jammies to bed that night - so here are B & E in their new jammies.