Christmas Celebrations 2011

The Christmas Joy Begins: My Gift from Austin

I got my very first Christmas present last night and it was priceless! This is my gift from Austin.

More Christmas Goodies

Ashlyn had some friends over this week to celebrate the season so I got busy making some more treats to share.

Christmas Snicker Doodles

The always popular Peanut Butter Kisses.

My first batch of fudge ever. It turned out fabulous!
I used Paula Deen's recipe from her
new cookbook, but used pecans instead of peanuts!

Christmas at Ma and Pa's House

This week we spent an evening with family at Ron and Mary's house. Nothing like Christmas at Ma and Pa's. My favorite part is watching all the kids open their packages from the youngest one to the oldest. Simple things bring big smiles and just make my holiday bright!

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Thanks, Tim!

Timmy the Elf has been very busy this fall getting our beautiful mantel finished and installed in time for Christmas! He once again amazes us with his talent! We love you, Tim and we love the new mantel... it makes the house!

Elliott Family Photo Shoot Behind the Scenes

This year we were cutting it close on time, so we decided to have Austin take our family Christmas pictures. I thought we would wear plaid shirts because Austin looks so much like a lumberjack these days and Ashlyn thought we ought to use the beard prop to capitalize on the situation. I loved it! The pictures turned out wonderful thanks to Austin. Ashlyn even took Austin's photos and Tim took some too. It truly became a family project. The problem was lighting, so the ever ingenius Elliott boys rigged that up also. We like to have fun and our cards seem to express that. Hope you have a joyous holiday season.

Friends and Food

This weekend we had a great time with friends at our RBC Student Ministry Leader party. Thanks to Sandi and Kevin for a wonderful evening. Everyone brought finger foods to enjoy. I took a new recipe Mississippi Mud cookies.. yummy! Also, a pasta salad and of course the always popular sausage balls.

These were really yummy. I didn't have parchment paper so they aren't as pretty as I would have liked, but I will make these again! This is a Southern Living recipe.  Click for the recipe Mississippi Mud Cookies

I use 3 cups Bisquick, cooked sausage, 3 cups sharp cheddar cheese, and a dab of milk to make the mixing easier. I mix and roll into balls. Bake at 350.  Ashlyn loves these with strawberry preserves.

I intended to make skewers with these ingredients, but opted for a simple salad. I liked it. This has a package of cooked cheese tortellini, grape tomatoes cut in half, chopped salami, and mozzarella cheese pearls you can find in your deli. Then add some balsamic vinagrette and let marinate for a few hours. Add salt and pepper and you are good to go.

Christmas Trees at the Elliott's House

We have four Christmas trees at the Elliott's house this year. Thought about adding one more to the kitchen, but haven't done it yet. There is just something special about putting up the trees together and then enjoying the atmosphere they create throughout the season.

Main Tree in Living Room I used red, gold, and bronze colors. I made the bow myself. Thanks YouTube!

Tree in Dining Room by Front window. This one is in silver, purple, and white.

Ashlyn's Tree in her bedroom. It is hot pink and black.

Tree in the basesment. This one is red, black, and silver.

Let's not forget Austin's collection of nutcrackers!

Elliott Christmas Photo Shoot

Free collage generated with Smilebox

Wahoo! Easton!

If you ever visit Columbus, Ohio.. you must head right over to Easton to shop and have dinner. Easton has this lovely area of outdoor shops and restaurants. My favorite time to visit is winter and Christmas is beautiful. I was lucky enough to drop by there this last week for an evening the night before I spoke at the Ohio Literacy conference. Put me right in the Christmas spirit! I always get pulled into Williams Sonoma because it looks so festive. Sure enough I was not disappointed. I could have spent hours in there and tons of money. I tried to control myself and opted for a container of their famous Peppermint Bark that Ashlyn and I love. I also walked away with a hot chocolate maker and their own hot cocoa mix. I didn't really have room for everything, but it was worth the extra effort to get home with my festive treasures that are sure to make our season a little more bright.

Getting Ready for Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving is our day to decorate the house for Christmas. We continued the tradition this year and got 3 trees finished in one night. I'll show those in a later post. With some Christmas music blaring, nutcrackers marching, and ornaments rolling we get into the spirit. Austin probably has one of our neatest traditions going and that is his nutcracker collection. During my very first year of teaching I was invited by the sweetest family of one of my students over for Christmas Tea. I have always cherished this lovely gesture. They asked me to bring Austin and he was just a little guy then. They had a collection of nutcrackers on their mantel and Austin was just fascinated with them. So, since that special Christmas Mom and myself have given him one or two each year. Now, he has this amazing display. We aren't allowed to put them out. It is his special walk down memory lane each year when he unpacks them and sets them out. I love it because they are just gorgeous in the foyer. When others come to the house during the holidays they are mesmerized by them also. I hope we instill a new tradition for those families also.

Thanksgiving Wrap Up

Whew! What an incredibly busy November-December. I've had the best time traveling here and there chatting with teachers this last few months but it has kept me on my toes. Seems like a skipped right through Thanksgiving. So, here are the highlights! We celebrated a very quiet, family Thanksgiving at home with Mom doing most of the cooking. It was delicious, Mom! You still got it! Then the day after Thanksgiving we headed over to Ron and Mary's for the Elliott celebration. This year Tim pulled a little Guy Fieri and hosted his own Minute to Win It games. We had a blast and laughed a lot!  I am so thankful for God's love, family, friends, and laughter!

Probably one of the only days during the whole year we actually get the newspaper.

Look behind us and get a quick peek at Tim's gorgeous new mantel. I'll post finished pics later.

The Queen of the Kitchen! Mom did all the work and it was wonderful!

Ashlyn had a situation with the butter. HA

For the Elliott celebration I took a 7 Layer Salad. I'm bringing back the oldies!

Challenge #1: Golf Ball Stacking

Austin gives it a try.

Josiah did pretty well also.

If you know us, you know the big beard battle we have with Austin. We love him, but are praying the beard leaves soon. LOL

They are pretty kids, though! Even with Austin's beard.

Oh, how precious!

Me and Ash!

Challenge #2: Oreo on the Forehead... Great Memories

Timmy the Elf

It must be Christmas time because Timmy the Elf has reappeared! Ashlyn is just thrilled!
For those of you that missed it, last year just for kicks the Elliott family recreated the Elf movie. Tim loves the movie and we had a blast making our own version. Here is last year's Timmy the Elf classic!

Timmy the Elf from Lori Elliott on Vimeo.

West Side Story

What an incredible week of performances at the Nixa High School! I loved every minute of Something's Coming, I Feel Pretty, and Somewhere! Can you hear me singing? LOL

Congratulations to the talented cast, crew, and directors of this year's production of West Side Story. It is so much fun to watch not only my Broadway Baby, Ashlyn, but also her friends and my former students shine on stage. Nixa is very blessed to have such incredible theater teachers in Mrs. Fleetwood and Mr. Townsend. Every year our community continues to be wowed and astonished at the high quality productions.

Even after being in New York this summer, Tim (my husband) still thinks the NHS shows are just as good. That makes Ashlyn and myself giggle just a bit, but he is right. We do have amazing performers right here in Nixa. So, if you can't make it to Broadway... visit Nixa instead. The next shows are the Drowsy Chaperone in January and The Man Who Came to Dinner in March. Bravo NHS! Bravo!

Tim, Ashlyn (Velma), & me

Some Sharks and Velma

Austin (trying to make it to Feb., a year, without shaving., yes really) & Ashlyn

My gorgeous Mom & Ashlyn

Three of Kelly's Kids, just need Brionna

Tim's parents & Ashlyn

Livin' It Up in Louisville!

This week I have been visiting Louisville, KY participating in a conference.  Tonight some of my colleagues from SDE and myself headed out to a local restaurant featured on the Food Network, Lynn's Paradise Cafe. The decor is very kitschy with crazy lamps and wild colors. Such a fun atmosphere. Not only was the decor memorable, the food was also.  I had fried chicken, cheese grits, and down home lima beans! Lynn's is known for their Hot Brown (a KY concoction of turkey, cheese, bacon, tomatoes, etc.) and boy did it look and taste amazing! I stole a bite from my pal, Terra. Even though we were stuffed we had to have dessert so we shared my fave banana pudding. We also indulged in some marvelous chocolate lava cake and a KY tradition, Derby Pie! Absolutely yummy! I thoroughly enjoyed my trip to Lynn's Paradise Cafe and more importantly I enjoyed the company!

Marc, Me, and Ricky

Terra, Sally, & Betty