first christmas.

Love me some Peppernuts. And my grandma that so faithfully makes them EVERY Christmas. All 11+ cookies sheets of them. By hand. And my favorite handmade bowl from Orvieto, Italy. Okay, so here's the recipe. P.S. this makes 7 POUNDS of cookies and they get better each day.

2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cup Karo syrup
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
8 cups flour

Preheat oven to 350. Combine all ingredients in order in a large tub. (Seriously, do it in a LARGE TUB) Cut out cookies and bake for 10 minutes on a lightly greased sheet.

New family tradition. Ready, set, GO.


I've also enjoyed being at home watching the unique sandwiches my husband makes for lunch with what the have in the house. The more we live together, the more I feel like we live in an episode on Food Network. Lately, I feel like it has been Chopped - using whatever we have to make lunch or dinner. Colin made his sandwich with some turkey, cheese, bacon, egg, and a Sriracha Mayo. Onesie was closeby to keep a watch for any stray crumbs. He loves his Colin.

We are heading out tomorrow for two of our great friends' WEDDING! We are so excited for Sean and Mallory (future Dougherty family!!) and are thankful for their friendship. Marriage is such a blessing.


Speaking of blessings...

feeling crafty.

I have a new love. Felt. Felt flowers in particular. I found this great tutorial over at The Pretty Poppy and I just can't stop making them! I've made one to adorn a Hostess gift...


((http://theprettypoppy1.blogspot.com/2010/07/pretty-little-rosie-wreath.html))

...and some to make this cute burlap wreath for a sweet friend (both of which were easy peasy!)




Husband and I also have had an intense Fruit Ninja war the past few days. It is an app FYI. Not JUST an app, the funnest, most addicting iphone game in the whole wide world. We even had a Starbucks date/war the other night and we sat there sipping our winter drinks, playing Fruit Ninja, and trash talking each other. Most entertaining 99 cents we have ever spent.

I have been enjoying my holidays being at home, being productive, and trying to relax. I went to see my stud little sister play an awesome game of basketball on Monday...



...and then spent the rest of the day making Peppernut cookies with my sweet Granny. She makes these cookies every Christmas (and ONLY at Christmas because they take forever) and I just cannot get enough of them. If there is anything I could eat my weight in besides bubblegum snowcones, sour patch kids, and apples, it would be THESE COOKIES. Frankly, we have no idea why they are called Peppernuts. They should be called "Labor of Love" cookies. Because they. took. forever. This secret (well, not really) recipe makes 7 POUNDS (of awesomeness) and filled up 11+ cookie sheets. And they are teeney-tiny little shaped cookies. We took some back to College Station and they are already gone. Before I could take some artsy pictures. So, you'll have to wait until Christmas to get the recipe and see pictures of the actual cookies. Apparently I was too busy devouring dough to take pictures. At least my sister did get a picture of us actually making them.



Already missing my kids. We were talking about prepositional phrases before we left and I wanted them to memorize 10 or so of the most common ones. Up was one of them. We did an activity where they got to choose some of them and write and illustrate sentences. 3/4 of my class decided to use the preposition up. No problems there. Fair preposition. Except when it was used like this:

Mrs. Dismuke is up in the bathroom.
Camren is up playing with Colin.
Mr. Dismuke is up in the park playing with One.

Trying to explain how "up" cannot be used like that was hilarious. Reason #318 why I love love LOVE my job.

4 days until Christmas!

tis the season.

I just love Christmas. Hence, the change in blog wallpaper and spring in my step. I like the shiny, glittery, snuggly, savory, sweet, fresh things Christmas brings. Annnnddd while I sit here explaining all of the great things, the actual day inches closer and closer. Anndddd I realize how NOT ready I am. Friday is my last day of school and, while I will be left with a 3rd grade size hole in my heart for 3 weeks, I will hit the ground running to partake in the Christmas cheer.

Christmas Cheer #1. I made peppermint bark today. My FAVORITE is from Williams-Sonoma, but with a price tag of about $30, I have chosen to make my own bountiful batch. Doubtful I will ever go back. Lovely Martha Stewart has a great one and it is easy peasy.



2 pounds white chocolate, chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
12 large candy canes
1/2 teaspoon peppermint oil


Line an 11-by-17-inch baking sheet with parchment, and set aside.

In the top of a double boiler, melt white chocolate, stirring constantly.

With a chef’s knife or meat tenderizer, cut or pound candy canes into 1/4-inch pieces.

Stir pieces of candy canes and peppermint oil into the melted chocolate. Remove from heat, and pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet; spread evenly. Chill until firm, 25 to 30 minutes. Break into pieces, and serve. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Christmas Cheer #2.

My husband bought a red JCrew onesie for his Christmas pajamas. One of my favorite traditions growing up was when my parents would buy me brand new (and already washed) Christmas pajamas to wear on Christmas eve. Well, we decided to carry on that tradition with our little family. Except since it was its inaugural year, we picked our own. Colin insisted on these.



Good thing that he will look great in them. Good thing he looks great in everything. If we ever go hungry, I will force my husband to sell his stunning good looks. He would fit in well to JCrew, eh?

See what I mean? He even looks handsome drinking out of my Mrs. mug.

life as we know it.

Life as we know it has been just as busy as ever. Even after 6 months of marriage, there are new things that we are figuring out like exactly what the "in sickness and in health" vow means, how the depth of love between a husband and a wife reaches beyond what you could think, and what enduring patience means. And other things.

About a week after I last wrote, we got to know this household fixture very well.



If you guessed "Christina brought home the stomach flu to share with herself and her husband who NEVER gets sick" you are right! BINGO! Like I said, I'm glad the "in sickness and in health" vow was a part of our choice of traditional wedding vows. Because I'm sure husband would have hit the door after day 1 (when he still thought his immune system was impenetrable). Imagine 2the 2 of us, sicker than ever, and one toilet. Get it. Husband, you are the toilet to my seat, the chicken to my soup, and the throw to my up. I ate more than you at Pei Wei (after 3 days of a liquid diet). Booyah.

Additionally, One tipped the scales at 90.2 pounds (and still LOVES the bathtub.)



He also decided to eat a purple gel pen (no worries, he is still kicking.)



The Dismuke's went REAL Christmas tree shopping (this was my first time to get a real tree after growing up super allergic to them..)



Colin was super excited..



And I could SEE things close to me with my new glasses. (Sidenote: my children were astonished by the increase in my "smartness" when I put my glasses on. Goobers.)



....and found a total WINNER.



I got to hear the "Bottoms Up" ringtone while trying to call quite a few of my parents after my in-school "Come to Jesus Talks" were unsuccessful. Reason #729 why I LOVE my job. Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekAXPCphKXQ

Finally, the Dismuke Fam is celebrating our first engagement anniversary. Last year, this time in NYC, under the fresh snowflakes in Central Park, I agreed to marry the man of my dreams. And then we went and ate some incredible Italian food. Plans were altered for a date night tonight after we discovered our favorite Italian spot in Downtown Bryan was closed on Sundays. Scratch that and move until Monday. Olive Garden won't do for this date.

Oh husband, sometimes your love overwhelms me to the point of tears. Thank you for so selflessly loving me even I come home acting like a stubborn 3rd grader. Thanks for calling me your sweet girl, leaving me notes on my Morning Message powerpoint for my kids, and going to Target to get a new Christmas stand even though it was 9 at night and you were tired. You are the jingle to my bells, the Santa to my Claus and the Christmas to my lights. Love you to Pluto (now a "dwarf planet", thank you 3rd grade) and back.