Gaylord Opryland Hotel 2011

We had a little family excursion yesterday.  Doug and I were wondering when the last time we went to Gaylord Opryland Country Christmas.  We decided that it has to be at least 7 years ago, way before Katie was born. 

We all have to have our picture taken in front of the poinsettia tree. 


I just love this Nativity Scene

At the main entrance of the hotel.  Y'all will have to excuse the blur in this picture.  The only way to capture the lights without it looking all pitch black, you have to set my camera to twilight.  This makes your shutter speed slow down, thus you need a tripod in order to make the perfect shot.  Unfortunately, I was not going to lug around a tripod to make these photos. 

Looking through a small window out to the waterfall

I was so happy to capture this waterfall from the skywalk, looking down.  So beautiful!

Doug and I tried to get the Dreamworks Experience package a while back, but missed the specials on the rooms $100 a night.  Normally, the room are over $200 a night.  Needless to say, we didn't get the special deals for the Dreamworks Experience, so we couldn't get the kids' picture taken with Shrek and Puss.  As you can imagine, they were the limelight of the kids night.  Colton absolutely loved Shrek.  Millard took him to get a better look.  Shrek came over towards Colton, waved and said "hey" to him.  One of the workers asked Colton what he thought of Shrek and he told her that he liked Shrek. 

Katie had a blast, looking around the hotel.  She couldn't fathom the thought of all of this in one hotel.  We, adults, were getting pretty wore out from all the walking, but Katie wanted to see more.  If it was up to her, she would research every inch of this place.  She told me as we were walking in the Delta room that this was the greatest day ever.  She is so funny. 

Today was the "Music City Bowl" - Mississippi State vs. Wake Forest in Nashville.  Well yesterday at the hotel, you had Mississippi State fan merchandise on one end of the hotel and Wake Forest on the other end.  Football fans checked in with their bulldogs sweatshirts on.  We found one guy holding a sign that read "Wake Forest tour".  We don't know what that was all about.  Buses were pulling in, one after another outside the main entrance.  We don't know who were in the buses other than just visitors.  People, people were everywhere.  Doug and I had to watch the children, so they wouldn't get trampled.  There were a few rude men, barreling through.  I did say "excuse us" to one guy because I just knew he was going to run over Katie.  I didn't let it ruin our trip. 

As you can tell, we loved the lights inside and outside the hotel.  Earlier, we did go by the Opry Mills Mall, but most stores were still closed for repair from the flood a couple of years ago.  We did get to shop at the Bass Pro Shop.  The rest of the stores are suppose to re-open this Spring. 

We drove up the road to Rivergate Mall and did little shopping.  Gymboree had a great sale going on; unfortunately, I don't have a dime to my name after Christmas.  Anyway, they had their entire stock for $15.99 and less.  Katie was going crazy because she heard that this mall had a Build-a-Bear.  Thankfully for her, she had a little money saved from Christmas and spent it all on her new bear "Rainbow."  It is cute and I think she did a good job picking out the outfit.  Colton was so thrilled that I finally got him a Spiderman t-shirt.  He was excited to try it on this morning that he wouldn't let me take it off. 

We hope you have a great New Years weekend. 

Christmas Recap

Kids acting silly



Another Blissful Christmas ~

We visited friends and family during the holiday weekend.  Ms. E was so sweet to bake us some goodies.  I guess she and I had the same idea because we gave her a tin full of butter cookies, which according to her is one of her favorite cookies. 

On Christmas morning, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and blew out His candles for him.  I split the Holiday Bon Bon recipe and made a small birthday cake to Jesus.  I iced it with peppermint icing and decorated it with crushed peppermint candy.  I would have taken a picture, but the next day the peppermint candy melted on the icing.  Ugh!  Oh well.  It was still good. 

Here are a few photos just to recap all that we celebrate and are thankful for this Christmas:

The kids got exactly what they wanted from Santa Claus.  They couldn't believe that he remember them. 

Peggy playing Uno "Moo" with the kids on Christmas morning

My parents gave Colton this Spiderman mask.  He absolutely loves it!  He is really BIG into the Super heroes right now. 

Colton is shooting his web at the camera for me

Colton wanted dad to try on his mask.  Too funny! I think we got more laughes with that crazy thing.

Zayden's First Christmas! He is 3 months old now.  He is such a sweetheart.

Me and my family gave Zayden this cute little bear for Christmas.  The bear talks - says "Peek-a-Boo" and moves it's arms.  So sweet. I think he likes it.

Sue and Tim's clan

Mom and Katie talking it over

I have to tell you this little tidbit before ending my post.  While getting ready for bed the other night, Colton was following me around like a little puppy.  He does every night.  I began asking him questions like: "Do you have a birthday coming up?"  and "How old will you be?"  Then, I asked him if he wants a Mickey Mouse party for his birthday.  I said this because I really want to throw a Mickey Mouse party, I think it would be fun and there are so many cute ideas out there.  Well, he let me know right then and there that he doesn't want a Mickey Mouse birthday party.  Instead, he said "I wanna Hulk party."  Trying to convince him otherwise, I told him "no, you don't want a Hulk party.  You would like a Mickey Mouse party better."  He didn't like the idea of me trying to change his mind.  "No, mommy.  I not wanna Mickey Mouse.  I wanna Hulk party."  When I asked him why.  He said, "'cause I said so."  Oh no. He used my own playing card on me.  Yikes!  Needless to say, after much negotiation I did convince him to let me throw him a "Super Heroes" party instead.  If you don't know, the Super Heroes are every one of the super heroes (Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Ironman, etc.).  Now, I'll have something to work with instead of HULK - GREEN.  Ugh!  It reminds me convincing Katie at this age to have a Fancy Nancy party instead of Shrek. 

For Christmas, Millard and Peggy gave Colton characters to go along with his Batcave, like Joker, Riddler, Penguin.  It's cute, seeing him using his imagination playing with the action figures.  We were puzzled for a while when he kept telling us about a "Puckin'".  We would look at one another, shake our heads, asking "what's a 'puckin'?"  FINALLY!  We figured it out.  He calls Penguin, "Puckin'".  It's quite hilarious.  Now, we all call Penguin - PUCKIN'.  And everytime, Peggy will begin laughing and the rest of us will at least crack a grin.  LOL!  My little Flash is such a character, but I wouldn't have him any other way.   He always knows how to get put a smile on his momma's face. 

At the beginning of the new year, Colton and I are going to get this potty training thing down.  I hope to get serious about it.  Please pray for me.  I also have a few projects lined up starting at the beginning of the year.  I promised Leslie that I would create a cookbook with all of my favorite recipes as a present for her.  I went ahead and got started this morning.  I'm going through Blurb to get it published.  I guess they were really the only ones I could find that would help create cookbooks.  Now, I have to gather ALL thoses food pictures I had taken for my past blog posts.  Ugh!  I knew I should have named thoses photos.  Maryann wants to get together in the next month to begin planning Leslie's bridal shower.  I pulled some ideas into my Pinterest, to go over with her along with a few possible bridal shower games.  Then, I've got a Super Heroes birthday party to prepare for.  I've been getting a few ideas from Pinterest and online.  I've been playing around with an idea.  We'll see how it turns out.  Wish me luck! 

Katie received some books and art books for Christmas, so she has gotten pretty wrapped up in them.  I really thought that she would put the books down during Christmas vacation and not even think about it.  In fact, she's been playing school in Colton's room with her bag of books.  She loves to read to Colton.  It is so touching.  Christmas morning, she read a story to her grandma Peggy and Colton.  She still says that she wants to be a teacher and  I think she would make a great educator. 

Jingle All The Way

Yesterday, we had such a great, but exhausting day.  It was our class field trip.  YAY!  Katie was excited all weekend, knowing she was going to her favorite museum.  The only difference, it was transformed into Santa's workshop and Elf College.  Tehe. Us parents took lots of pictures.  We have our usual group of moms and dads, so we got to have our little catch up session.  While the children were being read a Christmas book by Mrs. Claus herself, a few of us parents were in another room talking, giving me advice about a future Disney World trip. This is way in the future because we want Colton completely potty trained.  Well, a few of the men in our group have this booming voice and a Santa's helper had to come calm us down.  Yeah, we got into trouble with Santa's elf.  Oops!  Holly asked if that meant we were put on the naughty list?  We all had a very good time and it was so worth the money. 

Kids Graduated from Elf College - their wearing their elf hats

A huge Christmas tree was displayed in the dining hall - Katie is pictured in front of the tree

Katie the Snowgirl

Katie in Santa's sleigh

Santa's reindeer resting and ready to go come Christmas Eve night

Katie makes an elf doll at the toy workshop

Mrs. Claus reads the children a story

I love how festive every room was decorated

Mrs. Claus' formal Dining Room area

Katie makes a pretend gingerbread cookie

The kids stop by the blacksmith and watch him make a nail for Santa's sleigh from beginning to end.  It was interesting and he was funny.  The kids really liked him.

Photo op for all the students to have their picture made

Bakin' Away!

Last night, Doug and I didn't get to bed until around 1-2 o'clock in the morning.  Needless to say, we slept in this morning.  I didn't look at the clock when I got up this morning, but Doug said that we got up around 9:00.  Wow!  I hate having to waste good sunlight, but it was nice to actually sleep in today.  Ahhh! 

The Keebler Elves quickly got busy in the kitchen today.  I wanted to make more, but was a little confused as to if I might be making too much or not enough for this week.  Doug's got an office party Tuesday and Katie's got her party Tuesday.  Then, there's next weekend.  You see where I'm going with this,  don't you?  I was excited to finally try out my new mixer.  Y'all.  All I can say is sheer bliss.  I was surprised how quickly I could get a batch of cookie dough mixed.  No, stopping and scrapping.  Start, stop and restart over and over. I just love it!  I couldn't ask for anything better.  Thank you Doug! 

Another new kitchen gadget, I bought a few months ago was also used for the first time today.  First, I must say that I grew up on the traditional Christmas sugar cookies, butter cookies, and especially spritz cookies.  At Christmas time, my mom would make bookoodles of spritz cookies with the sugar sprinkles.  Now, I know why she made tons of these little butter cookies.  It's so EASY!  I love it!   I found a great Spriz recipe from Christmas Cookies.  So simple and tasty.  Here are my spritz cookies that I made today.  One batch makes around 60 cookies.

Christmas Spritz Cookies

Spritz
Use a cookie press to create lovely shapes in this easy, buttery cookie.

2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Heat oven to 400F.  In large mixer bowl combine sugar, butter, egg, salt, and vanilla.  Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture is light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes.  Add flour.  Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed, 2-3 minutes.  Place dough in cookie press.  Form desired shapes 1 inch apart on cookie sheets.  Bake for 6 to 8 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. 

Note: You can also color the dough with food coloring, and decorate with dragees and colored sugar. I have 2 Pampered Chef cookie sheets to bake with, but I needed more cookie sheets to fit all the cookies.  So, I placed parchment paper on an extra regular metal cookie sheet and put more spritz cookies on it.  I found that I had a hard time getting the spritz dough to stay on the paper.  The cookies didn't turn out perfectly shaped like the Pampered Chef cookie sheets.  My advice would be not to use the parchment paper.  I just like using parchment so there wouldn't be such a big mess. 

I'm planning on making a batch of Chocolate Spritz Cookies hopefully tomorrow.  Wish me luck! The recipe is exactly the same as above except for the cocoa. 

Chocolate Spritz Cookies
from Hershey's
Prep time: 25 minutes
Ingredients
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup Hershey's cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
Decorating sugars, sprinkles or candied cherries (optional)

Directions
Heat oven to 350F.

Beat butter, sugar, egg and vanilla until light and fluffy in large bowl.  Stir together flour, cocoa and salt; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended.

Fill cookie press with dough. Press dough onto cool, ungreased cookie sheet.  Garnish with sugars, sprinkles or cherries, if desired.

Bake 5-7 minutes or just until set.  Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.  Cool completely. 

Makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies. 

Variations: Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Spritz Cookies:  Prepare dough as directed above.  Press dough onto cool, ungreased cookie sheet with ribbon plate in cookie press.  Bake and cool as directed.  Melt 1 cup Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Chips or Hershey's Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips with 1 tablespoon shortening (do not use butter, margarine, spread or oil).  Gently dip part of each cookie into chocolate.  Place on wax paper-covered tray.  Refrigerate until firm. 

 

Zesty Cheddar Cheese Straws

I had too much fun with my cookie press today.  Knowing Doug LOVES Cheese Straws, I thought I could try to make some.  Millard and Peggy came by to drop off the kids and we had them here for supper.  I told them about my idea and they thought it would be a good idea too.  I found a great recipe from Paula Deen.  Have I mentioned lately how much I love her?  These cheese straws, I made are so soft and have a wonderful flavor.  I hope you'll find time to make these because they are so good. 

Zesty Cheese Straws



Ingredients

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions
Preheat oven to 300F.

In a food processor, add the butter, cheese, flour, salt and cayenne and process until a smooth dough is formed.  Scoop it into a cookie press, fitted with a flat ridged tip.  Pipe the dough in 2 inch strips (2 clicks) onto a lightly greased cookie sheet.  (Alternatively, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes and roll on a lightly floured surface into a 1/4 inch thick rectangle.  Cut into smaller rectangles, about 2 by 3 inches, with a pizza wheel or sharp knife).  Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned.  Remove to racks to cool. 

Note: I don't own a food processor, so I made this delicious cheese dough in my Kitchenaid mixer just fine.  In fact, I think it incorporated the ingredients really well like this and stirred it right into a nice ball for me.  Yay!  The measurement listed above for the amount of cayenne pepper to use gives the straws a very mild flavor.  Too mild for my husband.  So with the second batch, I put a heaping 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and Doug still says it's too mild.  The next time I make these, which I already have a request, he wants me to double the measurement.  I don't think I'll do the full double the measurement, but I will add a little more. 
Well, now Doug has 2 batches of cheese straws to take to work for his Christmas party.  That is, if we can stop eating them.  They are just so good, even the kids like them. 

A Quick Update
Katie didn't get to go to J's slumber party.  J's mom called me yesterday morning, letting me know that she just got back from picking up J at school.  The first thing going through my mind is she's sick.  Sure enough, she was sick, but she didn't have a fever.  Becca said that J was crying and so upset about missing her party ontop of being sick.  Poor baby.  I felt so bad for her.  Becca decided to just move the party to this Wednesday night.  Katie was sad, but she understood and she got to stay with her grandparents, so it all worked out.