And so the lion fell in love with the lamb....

Want to know where I've been now?
I've had my nose stuck in "Twilight."
OH. MY. GOD.
I love it. As soon as I have a moment my nose is right back in there. I can't help it. I've always found stories about Vampires really romantic...even erotic. I can't believe this one has slipped by me (almost!). Now I want to see the movie. Each page is better than the last...

So that's where I am. Currently on page 312. Gotta run.

Guess What?!?!

I'm going to be an Auntie!!

My brother in law and his new wife are expecting their first baby together in July. She has a daughter who is five and she is beyond excited! We all are. God I love babies.

Fa-la-la-la-la-LA!!

We are on our way to celebrate Christmas today with Mr. Sass' family. So far it's been great. Mason really doesn't get the whole opening of gifts though. We had the trial run with his birthday but he'd much rather crawl around and climb stairs. No different Christmas morning. Santa brought him a wagon for the summer....so we pulled him around the house in it. He held on the sides for dear life, but did love it. He still has presents to open under our tree and a whole other family get together today! Can anyone say spoiled?!
So what was the one present that got him to actually stop, rip paper and then squeal with delight?
Check it out:

ELMO LIVE!!

Mommy knew what it was, so opened the bottom and pressed a certain red foot...and that got him going in his wrapping paper for Mason to open. This toy kills me. I think I've been playing with it more then Mason....
(**side note: Please disregard retarded looks on the parents' faces...I'm too lazy to crop this time.)


This picture just kills me. He makes this squished up face as he says "mom"...it sounds more like "Mumphf" when he does it. He's such a ham. Don't be fooled though, he's not upset. Unless it's the point that he figured out that we used his new wagon to barricade him into the living room...

Christmas Eve...

Creative title eh?
I've been so busy getting ready for Christmas. We were shopping and cleaning and wrapping. Boy have we been wrapping! This morning we had our traditional Christmas eve breakfast with my family. It got me thinking about our traditions and which ones we will continue for Mason and perhaps some new ones we'd like to start. Christmas is definitely more fun with kids around!! I love having breakfast with my family. We pile into my kitchen and make every breakfast food imaginable! I love the antics and the conversation and the memories we are making. Last year Mason slept in his swing, but this year he was right in the thick of things and ate with us. I loved looking over and seeing my boy smiling at everyone!
We used to always get new jammies on Christmas eve too, so tonight I have a special pair ready for my little guy.




I have Christmas carols playing. They haven't driven me nuts yet ;)
It got me thinking as to what my favourite carol is. I do love "Little Drummer Boy" It could be because as a kid my older brother HATED (and still does) that song, so like a loving sister, I'd play it alll the time. I also love "Santa Baby" by Madonna and "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". Mr. Sass likes "Santa Claus is Coming to Town."
What is your favourite Christmas carol??

We are up to our necks in snow..and more to come.
I was send home early from work yesterday (yay!) and we dug ourselves out of at least 30 cm yesterday and they are calling for another 20-25cm more!

At least we'll have a white Christmas right?

Now I just need to get my shopping done. I'm usually done by now and we've hardly started! I'm going to brave the mall today....

Hey!! Guess what?!?

My baby is one today!!!

Happy birthday Mason. My precious boy. It's been the best year of my life and I look forward to many more. Your smile brightens my day, your laughter makes me giggle. You make me stop and appreciate the little things in life again, by experiencing them for the first time with you. Nothing makes me happier and more proud then you. I love you with all my heart...in fact "I love you to the moon and back, and twice around the galaxy, forever and ever"

Here's my cookie!

For the cookie exchange of course!! I'm a bit late in posting, but there is still time to get the ingredients and try these out. If you want to join the fun of the virtual cookie exchange, go see ASM HERE!!!

I have a couple recipes:

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Sift together the flour, salt and baking soda; set aside.
3. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, vanilla and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.
4. Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
5. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball. Cool and carefully remove from pan.

Santa's Chocolate Thumbprint Cookies:

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup corn syrup
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (11 ounce) package white chocolate chips
• 1 (1.4 ounce) bar chocolate covered English toffee, chopped
• 1 (4 ounce) jar maraschino cherries, halved

1. Beat butter and 1/2 cup sugar in large bowl until well blended; stir in corn syrup, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add this dry mixture to butter mixture. Blend well. Cover and refrigerate dough for 1 hour or until firm enough to handle.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
3. In a small bowl, combine remaining 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Shape dough into 1 inch balls; roll each ball in sugar mixture and arrange on a cookie sheet. Using your thumb, make an indentation in center of each cookie.
4. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 7 to 8 minutes or until just set.
5. Remove the cookies from the oven. If the indentation has grown indistinct, use the top of a spoon and press indentation in further. Immediately place 1 teaspoon white chips into each indentation. After several minutes, swirl the melted chips with a spoon. Top with toffee bits and maraschino cherry halves (if desired). Cool cookies on a wire rack.

Chocolate Macadamia Nut and White Chocolate Chip Cookies:

• 2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup chopped macadamia nuts

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Lightly grease cookie sheets or line with parchment paper.
2. Melt unsweetened chocolate in top of double boiler or hot, not boiling water. Remove from heat; let cool.
3. Cream butter, melted chocolate and sugar in large bowl until blended. Add egg and vanilla; beat until light. Blend in flour, baking soda, chocolate chips and macadamia nuts.
4. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until firm. DO NOT OVERBAKE. Remove to wire racks to cool.

So there you go. I've spread my cookie joy across the world wide interweb.
Happy Baking!

Back to the grind...

Thanks to people who have checked up on me....

I went back to work this week! Argh. I have had a lot of anxiety over it and it was really upsetting me that I had to leave my boy. However, after 3 days, I think we're getting ourselves into our new routine. Mason loves his new baby sitter and has had no problems adjusting. He's eating well, sleeping well and loves playing with the other kids. He's exhausted when we get home, but he's all about playing with us and giving lots of cuddles. If I keep busy during the day, I'm okay :)
Yesterday he took 2 solid steps in a row inbetween Mr. Sass and I. Usually he's so excited he flies at us, but this time he was steady and focusing on walking. He did this several times!!! THEN...he climbed the stairs. He's never really showed any interest in them before (besides baning on them) and then last night, he just watched the dog go up, looked back at me and then climbed those stairs like he's been doing it for weeks! I was floored!! He's such an awesome litle guy.

So that's where we are. I'm absolutely exhausted myself. I'm actually amazed I'm still up...however I'm going to bed now. I'll catch up soon with everyone!

Christmas in the clink

Good news: I avoided the shitter with all the clementines I ate.

Although I narrowly escaped the clink. I went shopping with Mason yesterday and picked up a bunch of baby food, a new sippy cup, some new clothes for him, etc. I had him in the stroller and just piled everything in the bottom. I got completely sidetracked and left the store.

Without paying.

It wasn't until I was in the changeroom of the next store (I hate shopping for work clothes!) that I looked down and saw all of it. STOLEN GOODS. I half expected to open the curtain and see mall security. But then I realized what a sad pathetic excuse of a mall it is, in this two-bit town, so I finished up and went back.

Surprised? Shame on you. I'm an honest person. I wouldn't steal on purpose, and I most certainly wouldn't just leave with the stuff! Although it would have been easy enough....

Anyways, I laughed and told the lady what I did. Mason sat in his stroller the whole time laughing and with perfect timing would yell "ah ha!"

So it was a close call for Mason and I. We could have spent Christmas in the clink. Although, my loving husband did say he'd bail Mason out, but leave me to rot. Lovely eh?

Mmmm it's that time of year again.

Clementine oranges!! ...or Mandarin oranges..whatever you prefer. Me? I don't give a shit..just give me one! They are the BEST this time of year and I'll openly confess to making myself sick on them. This morning I've already eaten 4. At this rate, I should be in the shitter by noon.

Just thought I'd share!!

(...ahh..the news..not my oranges that is).