A Christmas Like No Other..

We in the Powell Family Got to Celebrate Two Birthdays This Christmas.

Christmas Eve we enjoyed talking about Jesus and what he means to us. How we wouldn't have Christmas If It Weren't For Him.

Now If we were only prepared for the phone call we got at 4:30 in the morning on Christmas Day. ThatsRight, Roberts Sister, Brandie (Aunt B) Had her baby! In just 3 1/2 hours from that phone call, We welcomed Wesley Harper Brown! A little girl, who weighed 6lbs 14 oz , 19 3/4" Long @ 7:34a.m. In Abilene. Seeing how Caleb was obviously asleep still, we waited to go until he had his Christmas at our house. When he did wake up, we told him Santa had been there and that he's also been to Abilene and Dropped off a present to his Aunt B. and Cousin Wesley was here!! He was so excited...We didnt get home until about 8:15 p.m. that night. Whew were we tired and glad to be home. But what a Huge present for Brandie and George!!

Congratulations to you guys! You have an exciting adventure ahead!! Below are several pictures of our WHOLE day! Enjoy, and I hope that your Christmas was filled with as much love, joy, happiness and blessings as ours! Merry Christmas~Love, The Powells

...The Children All Snug In Their Beds

Things Left to do On This Christmas Eve:

* remember Christ's birth

* listen to Christmas music
* read Christmas books
* drink hot chocolate/coffee
* watch Christmas Movies
* candle light service at church

* fill children's stockings

* Help out "Santa" with Gifts!

* Put last minute touches on homeade gifts.

http://www.norad.com/

I bought a book to read to Caleb this year





My Merry Christmas And the real reason for Christmas joy
In hopes that he would understand why we have presents and traditions. And, of course the REAL reason for the Christmas Season. He loved it! I hope that I can start instilling traditions in him that he will pass on to his children and family one day.

Traditions we've started for our family:


~Trimming the tree after Thanksgiving.
~Making Cookies ALL December Month Long.
~Making Homeade Decorations to put on the tree.

Have a very Merry Christmas with Lots of Love!!


~Robert, Hollie, Caleb and Sarah~

All The Babes Are Asleep!!

First time in a long time that all of our little ones are asleep at once! But, I'm so thankful for all of them! It was nice to have a quiet house for a change...But not for long. See, I just took these pictures...and Sarah Is Starting to Cry AS I TYPE!! So...Gotta Go! Happy Holidays To Everyone!

No Bake Cookies

Okay, so I'm thinking I have to share with everyone a recipe I have been making REPEATEDLY, as in, more that 1-2 times a week! But...I guess since its the holidays I'm in the safe zone with my baking limitations. These are so GOOD and "my boys" just love them. They are a tradition and a timeless cookie...and SOOO easy..

No Bake Cookies
1/2 cup milk
2 cups of sugar
1/2 cup/stick butter
4 tblspoons of cocoa powder
3 Heaping Tblspoons of Peanut butter
2 3/4 cups of quick cooking oats
1 tspoon of vanilla

Heat
Sugar, Cocoa, Butter and Milk to a rolling boil for 1 minute ONLY.
In a seperate bowl Combine P. Butter, Oats and Vanilla.

Once you have heated Chocoalate mixture, add to oats, peanut butter and vanilla in a big bowl. Mix thoroughly until peanut butter is melted and oats are coated completely.

Then transfer to a foiled or waxed covered tabletop or cutting board to cool and harden. And thats it! Enjoy and your cookie tin will look like this...

Caleb and Sarah, Same Age, 3 years apart

Caleb 6 weeks old
Sarah 6 weeks old

And the house came tumbling down.....

Well, so much for happy endings. We had decided on Monday that we were going to attempt the Gingerbread House that Calebs Great Grandma had given him. Trying to be festive I gave it a go. Well I knew we had our work cut out for us when I opened the package and saw that 4 out of the 6 pieces were broken to start with. I went ahead and "glued" them back together with the icing in hopes that they would stay whole to make a house. Well that didn't work really the way I had hoped, and it all came tumbling down. Caleb was Such a good sport though. I told him that we couldn't rebuild and would have to settle for "gingerbread house cookies" Well, he thought that was the next best thing and went with it!! We decorated them and this is what we had as end result! I tried and I don't think I will again. We had fun trying though.

Look at that girl smile!!