warm spots over the weekend

baby it's cold outside.
cold as in walk backwards to keep the wicked wind at bay kind of chill.
thanks to fuzzy scarves and woolly hats and downy jackets and an abundance of ardent asides, we're keeping toasty warm on the inside.
asides like making guys with my girl.
and boys who eat the cookies almost as fast as you take them out of the oven, and then demand that you give their mothers the recipes.

a loaf of challah perfect for hubby's special french toast and an old family favorite...camel's eyes.

homemade pizza with the works saturday night with my brother and sil...3 kinds of peppers, onions and olives, tomato, basil and fresh mozzarella, chicken sausage and turkey pepperoni.

all washed down with glasses of spicy red zinfandel and peppery cabernet.

the unexpected gift of a new courtly check ornament for our tree.

3 birthday celebrations for miss Bit...

baking parties and craft parties and pool parties too.

play dates and a party for t. bone as well.

pajama days,bubbly baths and hot scalding showers.

cats in costume...santa tigger and peanut the red nosed reindeer!

hearing the wind whip and then the phone ring to spread the news that sunday school is cancelled so we can stay cozy in bed for more sleep.

stocking the squirrel buffet...tender hearted miss bit was so worried that they would starve in the time it took her to eat her own breakfast.

getting the first round of christmas cards messaged, addressed and mailed.

the first tins of christmas cookies doled out.

carols sounding through the house all weekend long...a little grover washington jr, josh groban, diana krall and bit's request, the chipmunks.

cleaning the house the whole family together...merrier and more efficient.

a brisk walk.

looking out the window to see the trees lining the yard filled with a dozen crimson breasted cardinals waiting out the storm.

buttermilk mashed potatoes and steamed, buttered carrots with a side of not so impressive meatloaf.

cozying up with an old episode of brothers and sisters i had never seen and a few chapters of a good book.

almost 10 hours of solid sleep.

waking early to welcome the plan filled week.