just a *little* behind..

oops, was christmas already almost a month ago?
and am i just now uploading the pictures from our first christmas together as a family in one country/state/city/home?

yes, yes i am.

our christmas eve tradition is to decorate gingerbread houses.
as i was decorating mine, feeling our baby girl kick around inside me, i couldn't help but daydream about future christmases 10-15 years down the line, with all of our kids getting WAY competitive with one another with this gingerbread house tradition.  well, i HOPE so, at least. haha, i'm sure at least one of them will roll their eyes about it. but tuff noogies, future kids! you WILL decorate with us. and you WILL like it. :)


it was a lovely, small and quiet christmas.
definitely won't be having any more small and quiet christmases like that ever again! so, we soaked it up. :)

our first christmas tree

our two year anniversary is coming up later this month [yay!]
so some might think this is our second christmas together as a married couple, but, it's our first! [for those of you who don't know, charlie was in afghanistan last christmas]
i'm sure you could imagine how EXCITED i am for our first christmas together as a little family!
starting our own traditions, decorating the tree together, eating way too many sweets and simply making memories.

earlier this week we went on a hunt for our christmas tree. since we live in gorgeous oregon now, we thought we'd go out into the woods and cut our own tree down. ya...maybe next year. because, we found a little tiny christmas tree lot that every single penny earned goes to a charity for children's cancer. who can say no to buying a tree that goes to such a great cause?!

we then went home, turned on some christmas music, charlie was busy setting up the tree in the stand and putting the lights on it while i started on making yummy peppermint melt-a-ways.
then we decorated. :)

[sorry for the poor quality. bad lighting combined iphone camera is to blame!]

the L ornament is for our little babe. :) regardless of the gender, the name will be starting with an L [didn't plan on it! just happened that way :)]

we find out if we're having a boy or girl on the 28th! countdown is ON!

osborne christmas 2012 is startin' off to be the best one yet! ;)

peppermint melt-a-ways // recipe

a good friend of mine, dani, shared with me one of her family's favorite christmas cookie. and once i saw a picture of these beauties i NEEDED the recipe.

i'm not kidding when i say these taste like they came straight out of mrs. claus' kitchen. 

most definitely an osborne christmas staple from here on out!

RECIPE

[originally from land-o-lakes website]

makes about 4 dozen

bake at 350*

COOKIE:

1 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch

GLAZE:

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

2 tablespoons butter, softened

2 tablespoons milk [i used whole milk]

1/4 teaspoon peppermint extract

3 drops red food color, if desired.

crushed candy canes or peppermint candy

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl, combine butter, powered sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract. Beat at a medium speed until creamy. Reduce speed to low; add flour and cornstarch. Beat until well mixed. Cover and refrigerate for 30-60 minutes.

Heat oven to 350*F. Shape rounded teaspoonfuls [i used a small cookie scooper] put onto ungreased cookie sheet [TIP: i kinda flattened the cookie ball a bit with my fingers]. Bake for 12-15 minutes [13 was the magic number for mine!]. Let stand 1 minute; remove from cookie sheets and cool completely. 

Meanwhile, combine 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, 2 TBS softened butter, 1/4 tsp peppermint extract and milk until the desired glaze consistency is reached. Stir in food color, if desired. Drizzle over cooled cookies and immediately sprinkle with crushed candy. Before putting them away [if they don't get eaten right away!], wait until the glaze is firm on the cookie. 

ENJOY!