Christmas...

IIn all my years, I've never met a mom, including myself, who hasn't said to her kids, "You better be nice or Santa won't bring you anything for Christmas."

I wonder how many kids were fooled with that line after their first Christmas! I know mine wasn't and neither were her sons.

When our oldest grandson, Brad. now 17, was about three, the four of them (Dad, Mom & brother, Nick) were at our house for a sleepover Christmas eve...

Nick, now 16. was too young to be excited about anything except for food and a tidy bottom but Brad was soooo excited he could not go to sleep.

Papa, Tom, and all the others were sound asleep having no clue that Brad and I were still fast awake. I had stockings to stuff you know??? Ofcourse, Brad didn't know :)

The clock kept ticking away as I kept gently reminding him that Santa wouldn't stop at our house if all the kids weren't sleeping. Didn't even phase him...

So as the clock approaches 2:30 a.m., from out of nowhere there was a tinkling of bells...we didn't have any bells then. We both laid there looking wide eyed at each other for a bit, then he excitedly asked if that was Santa. I told him it must have been so he should hurry off to sleep...and he did!

Who says there aren't angels? I still get goose bumps when I think about that night. What a wonderful memory!

So, will you be getting lots of goodies from Santa this year for being nice? Or will your stocking have a lump of coal in the toe 'cause you were naughty? HO HO HO! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

W hen it's time to decorate, Tom gets volunteered to set the tree up. I've literally had to tie a tree to a wall to keep it upright! So, yes, he gets volunteered...

He also gets up on the rooftop (do I hear a song coming on???) to string those lights and then the shrubs. He's such a great little elf :)

At 6'5" he's also a huge help getting the "too tall for me to reach" stuff in the house.

There are so many creative people in this world of ours! I, myself, have some creativity, but I don't usually think too far out of the box.

Having said that, I truly appreciate those with the ideas, creativity and talent that chance taking those bold steps forward.

I'd like to share my very favorite, best of all cake in the whole, wide world cake recipe! I will only add, for those of you that are trying to slim down, avoiding fat or sugar, this is NOT for you! But it sure is tasty!

It is soooo moist and rich, it just melts in your mouth!

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

YOU NEED:

- Mixing Bowls - 1 large and 1 small
- Mixer
- (1) one cup measuring cup
- 1 9" bundt pan
- cooling rack

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
1 lb.butter, 4 cubes - softened
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
5 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup milk

- Cream butter and sugar together in large bowl
- Add vanilla to milk - set aside
- Combine flour, baking powder and salt in smaller bowl
- Gradually add a small amount of flour mixture into the butter/sugar mixture, mix well
- Add a small amount of milk/vanilla - blend thoroughly
- Alternate adding flour and milk mixtures until gone.
- Add eggs - one at a time - blend thoroughly

- Pour batter into prepared bundt pan.
- Bake for 1 hour 10 minutes
- Remove from oven and set on cooling rack
- Wait 10 minutes before removing from pan
- Wait until cake is cool before you frost it

This recipe is very good anytime of the year. For Christmas perhaps frost with white frosting and decorate with some pretty red and pink pointsettias. Or maybe some ribbon candies? Sprinkle with red and or green sugar? With so many options available you're only inhibited by your imagination :)

Trust me...this is EXCELLENT!