aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh stress free that's for me!

Emily doing her Buddy the Elf impression.
Well Christmas is over, the tree is coming down, wrapping paper has been cleaned up and I was able to snap another cute picture of my children in their Christmas pajamas...although the boys have asked that next year they NOT wear matching ones. Signs of growing up my friends :) Today I ran to the store for a few things (non holiday related, cat food, toliet paper...boring stuff) and what did my eyes behold but VALENTINE DAY STUFF!!! we are just rolling right into the next holiday with guns a blazin'

Merry Christmas!

Happiest of Holidays to all from us here on Da Hill :) Now go eat something fudgy and yummy and damn the calories.

Merry Chick-mas!

I've got to get a life.

Ha-Cha-Cha it's time to make Bakalavah!

We are ready to roll here on Da Hill!! It's the yearly making of the Bakalavah...it's such a time consuming delicious pain in the butt! Kids have their assignments, one will butter while the others sprinkle and mom will layer! We will also be making peppermint bark and tins of Russian Tea as presents for teachers, bus drivers and the like.

Eggs! we have a surplus of eggs! I've been busy selling to various people who have been begging me to try a "real egg" and of course they are hooked.

It's only supposed to be in the teen temperatures next week...i'm thinking we will be seeing some snow very soon!

I suspect somethings up....the teenagers are being nice.

It's easy to tell what time of the year it is in my house as suddenly my children all morph into perfect angels who clear the dinner table, bring down their dirty laundry and offer to read to their little brother without Mom screaming like a banshee or threatening to move them out into the unheated/no plumbing goat shed. :) Yup, Christmas is coming up fast and furious and just like every other year the budget is stretched tight, so I'm dipping into my giant collection of "crafts I though were really cool" box that I have saved all year. This weekend my darling daughter Emily and I will be undertaking the tedious job of making Baklavah...which is a royal pain to make but comes out so wonderful. I make it once a year...and if you miss out you miss out! My Dad has already put his order in...he's no fool.

ho ho ho....

I love presents...no really I do I do!

And the Swap Joy keeps on coming! Ohhh and Ahhh here is my soap and cloth swap package...check out the cloth...it's a rooster! a little shout out to my hens from Knitterofhats from Arlington, VA! I wish I had smell-o-rama on my computer because I've been sniffing the soap all day, it smells divine! The big tree bar sparkles too...and anyone who knows me knows I luvs me some glitter! The little notebook is going right in my bag for my "mad mom" notes that I need to scribble down or else I forget everything! Now everyone go out there and join a crafty swap!

I love a good swap!

Look what I got in the mail today!!!!! ooooohhhhh ahhhhhhhh!!!! drool drool drool!!! Today my goodie box of joy and wonder arrived from GoMonkeyDesign (aka Leah!) from my Ravelry Secret Santa Swap! I was totally spoiled and am just in love with everything I received...check her out on Etsy as well...gorgeous stuff!

Eggs Eggs Eggs Everywhere!

So I was under the impression that when cold weather hits, hens slow down their egg production...mine seem to have it backwards and are laying like there is no tomorrow! It's great, trust me I'm not complaining but even my children who adore scrambled eggs are getting overwhelmed! Luckily I have lots of friends willing to take some off my hands! I thank the hens everyday and give them yummy treats! They are so funny with their big fluffy chicky butts!