Baby it's cold outside.

"Baby it's cold outside.... are you listening?"
Tyler has the song "Baby it's cold outside" stuck in his head, but can't remember the rest of the lyrics.  So instead, he combines it with some of the lyrics from "Walking in a Winter Wonderland."  Or at least, what sounds like are supposed to be lyrics from Winter Wonderland.

Every time he sings it, it sounds like he's asking me if I'm listening to him telling me it's cold outside.  Until he continues on with other made up lyrics.

It's rather entertaining on these cold cold nights.

Besides listening to Tyler, my favorite thing to do on frigid evenings (hey, I have to find something positive about the -10 temps) is to sit all bundled up next to our real tree.

It smells so perfectly Christmasy.  It's worth the excess needles on the floor.  Trust me.

For some reason, this year I'm not the grinch I normally am.  I actually began decorating the day after Thanksgiving, with strong urges to start before Thanksgiving even! 

Totally unlike me.

Maybe it was the real tree that has spurred me on.  Or these gorgeous stockings my mom knit for us:

Aren't the perfect?  The color in this photograph is a little off.  The colors are even more gorgeous in person.  And she's working on a little one for Wally in a lighter green!  How fun!

I've even been baking like a mad woman.  So far I've baked:

1. 2 different batches of sugar cookies
2. Thin Mint cookies
3. Peppermint Cream bars
4. Pretzel Kiss candies
5. and I have dough in the freezer ready to make peppermint/sugar cookie sandwich thing-a-ma-jings.

Still on my list are spritz cookies, chocolate chip cookies for Dad, stained glass sugar cookies for Ma, and more sugar cookies as per Tyler's request.

Ufda!

Thankfully, when Tyler's home, he's been doing most the cooking.  I'm far too busy baking to cook.

Well, stay warm out there.  After all, "Baby it's cold outside, are you listening?"

Gingerbread Throwdown 2010

When Tyler and I were dating, we thought it would be fun to build ginger bread houses with my littlest brother and sister.

This was such a success, that it has become a tradition.  This year was our third year creating these masterpieces.

For months, the kids drew up plans, determined to outdo Tyler this year.  They'd send me on missions to discover his plans, and swear me to secrecy to protect theirs.

Finally, the day came to build!

Greyson joined us this year.  I don't think his heart was totally in it.  This undecorated jumble above was named cardboard ghetto.  Maybe next year, Grey?

This beauty is Ellie's.  She built a beautiful snow-covered front porch, peaked roof and chimney, complete with bushes and a snowman out front.

Isaac stayed very true to his plans.  He made a chimney with candy-cane smoke drifting out the top.  With Tyler's help to make it stable, he built a beautiful gingerbread house!

Once again, Tyler blew us all away.  This year he decided to keep it simple.  He built a manger.  He has a SourPatch Kid baby Jesus, three Sour Patch Kid wisemen, and the three candy-canes symbolize shepherd crooks.  Oh, and the camel, bear and lion animal crackers just complete the picture.

I suppose I'll show you mine.  I also attempted a front porch, but I must say: Ellie did it far better.  I have nothing else to say about it.

Next year I'll take Tyler down!