Christmas Candy - A Tradition Resurrected

For as long as I can remember, the Asst. Zookeeper tells me every year during the holidays about making hard candy with his family as a young Heathen himself.  Every year without fail - and I've always been a bit jealous.  His grandparents would come over, his parents were both helping, and he and his brothers got to help as well.  And every year when he tells me, my jealousy grows just a little bit.

This year, when he started to tell me about making hard candy, I admitted to being jealous because it sounded like so much fun.  So, the Asst. Zookeeper decided that we were inviting everyone over to the Zoo and making hard candy!

I'm not sure who was more excited - the Nana, the Grandma, or the Asst. Zookeeper and his brothers!  As soon as we had a day and time scheduled, the Grandma started rounding up supplies and pulling out pans and candy thermometers.

WHAT A STICKY MESS!  We made candy for several hours - in every flavor we could locate!

We filled an entire roaster pan with hard candy.  Morbid curiosity got us at the end and we weighed the pan to find out how much candy we had made - better than 25 pounds!  Once we had finished, we divided the candy among the households.  All the Heathens and the Cousins had hard candy to give teachers for Christmas gifts - just like their fathers did as children themselves.

Definitely planning on candy making again next year!

Birthday Shoes

All my Heathens are of the male persuasion, which is perfectly fine with me.  I'm a momma that was meant to raise boys.  I love being outside and getting dirty.  Small boys are right up my alley.

Occasionally, I feel the need to spend time doing "girly" things.  And thank HEAVENS I have been blessed with three nieces!  They are always willing to come play with me when I need girl time and they all belong to women who are willing to share with me.

I've always teased the girls about their shoes because shoes are something that I LOVE.  So, since the girls were all big enough to not really want a toy for their birthdays, we go shoe shopping together instead!

Two of the three girls have birthdays that are only 9 days apart - which means that this shoe shopping trip is a group event every year.  It always involves food to start, then shopping, and then we usually head for ice cream as well.

Ili Grace and Gertrude are quite a pair.  Not only are they cousins, but they love to spend time together as well.  And they are a hoot to watch together.

Usually the girls have an idea of what type of shoe they are looking for.  Last year, Ili Grace wanted slippers and Gertrude wanted dress shoes with heels.  This year, the girls had no clue heading into the store.  However, it didn't take them long to make their selections:

My Ili Grace and  my Gertrude!

 And, we ALWAYS wear our new shoes home.  Thank goodness their mothers are willing to share these two with me.  We always have a blast together!  Happy Birthday to Ili Grace and Gertrude - six years old!

Don't worry Skinny Minnie - your birthday is right around the corner.