In Honor of Sweet Emmaline

I am pretty much MIA from the blogging world because life has just gotten busy and something had to go.  However, I was asked to write a guest blog post in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month and I wanted to link you to it.  It was a privilege to write about life with Emmy Kate and what a blessing it is to have her in our family.

New Definition of Perfect

Stationery card

Petite Potentate Pink Birthday Invitation

Shop for special Birthday wishes at Shutterfly.com.

View the entire collection of cards.

Christmas with the Stovers

 Merry CHRISTmas!  Today, we celebrated with my side of the family.  Katie and Sai drove up from Charlotte to spend some time with us.  We missed Andy (currently deployed to Qatar), but it was still a fun time together.

 Family Photo

 Jacob loves this book

 Mr. Sai plays with Emmaline's new puppets 

 Bangles from India (Ellie likes to call them "shingles")

 Fraggles

 Little House on the Prairie books 

Who doesn't need more Legos?!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Our Christmas (Eve)

 After an awesome Christmas Eve service at church and dinner at Burger King with both sides of our family (hey, it was the only place open!), we headed back to our house to do Christmas with the kids. Nathan has to work on Christmas Day, and we didn't think the kids would want to wait until he got home to open their presents.

 Emmaline with her gifts 

Ellie's loot

Jacob's pile

Hello Kitty Legos

A new Nerf gun

 Emmaline loves to play kitchen, so this was perfect for her

Nathan got a video he had been wanting

New running shoes for my new passion

Christmas Eve with the Curleys

We have 5 Christmas celebrations this year.  Today, we spent the afternoon with Nathan's extended family at his Aunt Karen's house.  It is super crowded with lots of cousins, aunts, uncles,  and other family members.  And, it is a great time of conversation, teasing, and fun!   Nathan had to work, so he wasn't able to come until the end, but he was able to get in some visiting before we had to leave to head to the Christmas Eve service at church.  

 Jacob with his gift from Grandma & Papaw Curley

 Ellie loves her new puppy

Emmaline got a kitty

Lemon Thyme Bread

Every year at Christmas, I make some type of edible treat to pass out to friends and family.  I've done hot chocolate mixes, cookie mixes, and this year, I made Lemon Thyme Bread, using a recipe I got from the November issue of Taste of Home Magazine.  My kitchen smelled so good when this was baking.

Lemon Thyme Bread

1/2 c. butter, softened

3/4 c. sugar

1 egg

1/2 c. buttermilk

1/2 c. sour cream

1 3/4 c. flour

2 Tbsp. minced fresh thyme

1 Tbsp. grated lemon peel

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

Powdered sugar

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg.  Combine the flour, thyme, lemon peel, baking soda, and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beating well after each addition.

Transfer to a greased 8x4 inch loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.  Cool completely; sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Yield:  1 loaf (12 slices)

For Lemon-Thyme Mini Loaves:

Use 3 greased 5 3/4x3 inch loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

For Lemon-Thyme Muffins (or Mini Muffins):

Make batter as directed; fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups (or mini muffin cups) two-thirds full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 16-20 minutes (or for mini muffins, bake for 10-12 minutes) or until a toothpick comes out clean.  If desired, top with your favorite frosting

Yield:  1 dozen muffins or 4 dozen mini muffins

Lemon-Thyme Icing:  In a small bowl, combine 1/2 c. powdered sugar, 1/2 tsp. minced fresh thyme and 3-4 tsp. lemon juice, as needed, to achieve a drizzling consistency.

Yield:  2 Tbsp. icing

Peanut Butter Fudge

Here's another of my Mom's great recipes.  This is really simple and tastes so much better than anything you'll buy at a store.  You'll have about 2 lbs. of fudge and I usually get 36 pieces out of an 8X8 pan.  Do not double this recipe or the fudge will be runny.

Peanut Butter Fudge

Ingredients

2 c. sugar

1/4 c. light corn syrup

1/2 c. milk

1/4 tsp. salt

2 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. peanut butter

1/2 c. chopped peanuts (optional)

Instructions

Combine sugar, corn syrup, milk, and salt in medium saucepan.

Cook over low heat, stir constantly, until sugar dissolves.

Cover pan for 1 min. to allow steam to dissolve sugar on side of pan.

Uncover pan; cook without stirring to 236 degrees.

Remove from heat.  Add butter

Add vanilla, peanut butter, and nuts.

Beat until thickened and loses its high gloss.

Turn immediately into a buttered 8x8x2" pan.

When completely cool, cut into squares.

This can be stored for 2-3 weeks in a tightly covered container with wax paper between the layers,

 so the fudge won't stick together.