The stockings were hung...

Do you feel the anticipation in the air? For those of us with children old enough/young enough it is almost tangible. How long till Santa comes? The favorite website for my kids today is NORAD. Here you can play games, learn all kinds of Santa facts, but the all important thing that is on this website, Where exactly at any given moment is Santa in the world? And even more importantly, How close to my house? This year, Google earth automatically refreshes the page every 5 minutes for you.

Christmas eve at my house goes something like this:

*Last minute, never ending cleaning- kids cleaning rooms, mom cleaning the kitchen, mopping floors, doing laundry.

*Making one last batch of Christmas candy and/or cookies

*listening to all the Christmas music we haven't gotten to yet this year

*This evening we will eat a simple dinner of fish, crackers, cheese and grape juice by candle light and remember Joseph and Mary eating in a stable full of animals and anticipation.

*We will then drive around town looking at lights and enjoying other's displays of Christmas spirit. (While we are gone, Santa's elves will sneak in and check how clean the rooms are and leave some movies for us to watch when we get home)

*When we get home, it is time for jammies, hanging stockings, popping popcorn and watching videos. If we haven't read the Christmas story from the Bible and Book of Mormon for FHE earlier, we will do it before stockings and movies. Don't forget to leave out milk and cookies in the special Santa plate and mug. Oh, and carrots for the reindeer.

*Try to listen for sleighbells while we pretend to sleep, but the anticipation is killing us, Is it time yet?

Here are a couple of my favorite Christmas treat recipes:

Twinkly Star Cutouts

from Christmas cookies 2001 magazine

Prep time 35 minutes

1 Cup butter, softned

3/4 Cup Sugar

1 Egg

3 Cups all-purpose flour

Powdered Sugar Glaze

Decorative Icing

Heat oven to 375* F. Beat butter in a mixing bowl on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat until combined. Beat in egg till combined. Beat or stir in flour. Divide dough in half. 'roll half the dough at a time on a floured surface till 1/8 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters; reroll and cut trimmings. Place cutouts on a greased cookie sheet. Bake 6-8 minutes. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

Powdered Sugar Glaze:

Combine 4 cups sifted powdered sugar and 1/4 cup milk in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, till of drizzling consistency. Tint as desired with paste food coloring. make about 1 1/4 cups

Decorative Icing

Stir together 4 cups sifted powdered sugar and 3 Tablespoons milk in a medium mixing bowl. Stir in additional milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, till of piping consistency. Tint as desired with paste food coloring. Fill pastry bags and decorate

Store: place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature up to 1 week or freeze unglazed cookies up to 3 months. Thaw, then glaze.

Divinity- One of the best and easiest recipes is found over at Cookie Baker Lynn. She has some really great recipes. It is her divinity recipe I am making today. Thanks, Tawnya, for telling me about her.

My mom's Praline candy recipe:

aka Sister Young's Pralines

2 Cups brown sugar

2 Cups white sugar

4 Tablespoons water

4 Tablespoons Karo white syrup

1 large (12 oz) can evaporated milk

Combine and cook to soft ball stage (234-240* F)

Remove from heat and add:

1 cube or 1/2 cup butter

Put a lid on the pot and cool till pot is just warm to touch.

Add:

2 teaspoons vanilla and beat until creamy and holds it's shape.

Add 2 cups pecans and drop on waxed paper.

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!!