MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

I want to wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! I know that I had a wonderful Christmas with my family! It all started at my house on Saturday when we did our family Christmas here. It was great to watch the expressions on my nieces and nephew's faces when they opened their gifts. Especially when my nephew opened his Thomas The Train items, oh how he loves his trains! :) So sweet. We were all blessed with many wonderful and thoughtful gifts...My parents bought my sister-in-law and I Pandora bracelets with a couple beads on them, they are beautiful and VERY unexpected. I made a lot of Life Expressions signs as gifts, and also made my mom and sister-in-law necklaces from Origami Owl. I also received these BEAUTIFUL teacups from my brother & sister-in-law!

I absolutely LOVE them and cannot wait to use them!

On Monday, we all met at my Aunt & Uncle's house in Illinois. My Mom's brother and his family, and her sisters and their families were all there, along with my Gramma. We had a fun afternoon together and ordered our traditional meal of pizza for supper. We then proceeded downstairs to open gifts together. Then it was back up stairs to have a yummy array of homemade cookies and treats, and the traditional glass of wine for those old enough to partake. The younger bro, Mom & Dad and I made the drive home last night and we attended our church this morning for a WONDERFUL Christmas Service. I then made a Ham for dinner. We had that with a Bavarian Ambrosia (thanks Pinterest), Jell-O and Corn. It was a yummy meal. Overall, I have had an EXTREMELY blessed Christmas and hope that you have too! Let's all remember that among all the craziness and busyness, that Jesus is the reason for the season, and give the praise to Him.

BAVARIAN AMBROSIA:

INGREDIENTS:

1 small box orange Jell-O
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup boiling water
1 cup orange juice
1 (8 ounce) container Cool Whip, thawed
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained, juice reserved
1/2 cup flaked coconut

In a medium bowl, dissolve Jell-O, sugar and salt in boiling water. Stir in orange juice and syrup from pineapple. Chill until thick as unbeaten egg white. Beat until fluffy light with beater.

Stir in Cool Whip until well blended, then fold in pineapple and coconut. I also added drained Mandarin Oranges and Marshmallows to it. Pour into large bowl and chill.