The 2010 Christmas Card

I'm a little behind in showing it off, but here is our annual Christmas card that went out to family and friends this year. Yes, I handwrite all of the addresses...one of these days I will figure out how to do labels!
I picked these pictures because they represented my kids at their best. Braden at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium playing catch on the field, Kaybrie posing for her first professional photo shoot and then both of them together at the Pumpkin Patch being ornery and not knowing I was snapping the camera!

We hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and have a wonderful and prosperous 2011!
May God Bless each and everyone of you and your families. Thank you for your contiued reading of
 The 4-Crow's and The RHOK and we look forward to what the next year brings!

Today's Post....

...is at

And here is a sneak peek..

 Now you are curious, so get over to The RHOK and read what I have to say as ♥Mrs. Hart♥ today!



MckLinky Monday: Crow Family Christmas Traditions

Our family Christmas traditions kick off with a visit to see Santa the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving each year! I just love The Bass Pro Shop here in Broken Arrow and their Winter Wonderland!

Then on the Sunday before Christmas we have our Christmas Dinner with Grandma Betty- the Crow side of the family! Here Grandma is with all of her Grandkids- ages 19, 15, 10 and 3!

Christmas Eve is busy at our house. When I married Jason, I became acquainted with a little thing his family does. They call each other up on the phone and try to say "Christmas Eve Gift" first to the other person! Kind of a "Got You" game! Well, I liked this so much that I thought why not do Christmas Eve Gifts from my kids to the neighbors. To me it is very important that my kids learn the lesson that giving is better than receiving.  Neighbors were important to me growing up and I want them to be important to my kids. After all, we never know when we might need them, correct? So before my kids get gifts, they walk to each neighbor on Christmas Eve and give a treat with a gift tag that has a picture of them on it! We only pass out to the neighbors and close friends we know around our house- 12 this year! My kids love it, are learning a valuable lesson and look forward to this each year!

Then Christmas Eve, we try to attend services at church but don't always make it, it just depends on Jason's work schedule and the weather. We also try to go to Texas Roadhouse to eat and reflect upon the year and the excitement of the few days ahead. We did make it to Roadhouse this year and enjoyed it very much. Then we came home and opened our gifts to one another, before singing Happy Birthday to Jesus and eating his cake and then setting our cookies, carrots and milk for Santa and the reindeer!

Christmas morning the kids awake to see what Santa has left them and then we prepare to go to my parents in Wilson, where it is a BIG Christmas with 18 of us in attendance, including 10 grandkids. Next year we will have 11! What a wonderful blessing to have such a great grand family! A favorite tradition of my Moma's is to drink cappuccino with her granddaughter's...she finally found the perfect size mug!



For more family traditions, don't forget to read The RHOK, you never know what might be RHOK'in our world!!

MckLinky Monday: My Favorite Ornaments

Today at The RHOK we are sharing our favorite ornaments. Won't you hop on over and share yours?

First of all if you are a Christmas ornament that adorns my tree, you are very special to me! Each ornament has either been given to me, bought by me, made for me, represents my kids, or my Savior. Picking a single favorite is impossible. So here are a few of many...

 Raggedy Ann & Andy- made by Judy Smith many years ago and given to Kaybrie for her 1st birthday!

 The 'Boys- Our Pro Football Team

 Of course there are a few HOG ornaments!

 Each year I buy everyone a new ornament to add to the tree as we trim it, this year we added ballet to our family likes!

 This ornament is self explanatory- The year we became The Crow's- 2005

And the greatest  and my favorite ornaments of all tell the story of how our Savior Jesus Christ was born in a lowly manger to become King of this world to die on a cross for our sins, so that we might have eternal life.

Happy Birthday Jesus!



Today's Post....

....is at The RHOK! Take time today to read all about My Grown Up Christmas List!

Don't forget to leave a comment, we love comments!!!

Our Weekend: Double Digits, Lobsters, PJ's & Pigtails- Oh My!

Happy 10th (DOUBLE DIGIT) Birthday

Braden Chase

Birthday party at home w/ friends and family dinner at Red Lobster!

...and a PJ & Pigtail Christmas Party with the RHOK Star's!!

Put a face to The RHOK Housewives time!

L to R,  Back Row

 Jenny Kate aka Mrs. Edwards, Me aka Mrs. Hart, Aubree aka Mrs. Sinclair,  Georgie aka Mrs. Bundy, Jonni aka Mrs. Priss, Christy aka Mrs. Coco 

Sitting: Jen aka Mrs. Montgomery and Dawn aka Mrs. Albright 

MckLinky Monday: My Fave Christmas Food

I can't survive any holiday without my MIL's Cranberry Salad and Hot Rolls

and

Cornbread Dressing- It's DRESSING folks NOT stuffing- lucky for me, I make it just like my Moma and my MIL makes it just like we do!!!

So now that I have made you hungry, you want the Crow Family Secret Recipe's, don't ya?

Okay, Okay- might as well share the calories and the knowledge and if you make, give us some credit m'kay!

Betty's Rolls *

1 bag of Rhodes White or Wheat Frozen Dinner Rolls

1 melted stick of butter or margarine

1 bundt pan sprayed w/ cooking spray

Layer 12 rolls, after you have dipped them in butter/margarine, in the bundt pan, then form a second layer on top of the first layer alternating the rolls. Then cover w/ a piece of saran wrap coated in cooking spray. Let rise according to package directions and then cook according to package directions.

After baked, turn pan over and place bread on a dinner plate.

* Yes, I have mastered these rolls also. The big secret-NEVER let anyone know how easy this is, of course you make homemade bread ;-)!

Cranberry Salad

from Betty Crow

1 pkg fresh cranberries

1 C sugar

1 C miniature marshmallows

1 C chopped nuts

1 can pineapple tidbits drained

1 C of halved grapes

1 C cool whip or whipping cream

Grind berries and add sugar. Let stand overnight. Next day add all ingredients and fold in cool whip or whipping cream.

"My" Cornbread Chicken & Dressing*

2 C Shawnee Best Yellow Corn Meal Mix

1 1/2 C Milk

2 Unbeaten Eggs

2T Oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Stir ingredients only enough to thorough mix. Pour immediately into well greased  hot cast iron skillet, and bake for 30-35 minutes.

After cornbread is cooked crumble into a huge mixing bowl

add

1 C chopped onion and 1/2 C celery - more or less if you like celery (yuck)- sauteed in 1/3 C butter until  or margarine until transparent

1 T poultry seasoning

1/2 t sage

1/2 t black pepper

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1 1/2- 2 C of deboned chicken (just depends on how much you like)

3 chopped boiled eggs

3 C of chicken broth off of the chicken above- because you better have boiled it yourself!

1 thinly chopped apple- this keeps the moisture in your dressing (my MIL taught me this trick)!

Mix all of these ingredients thoroughly and then place into well greased  9x13 pan. You should have enough moisture in your dressing to see it. If not, add more broth!!! Bake 1 hour or until well browned and fork comes out clean!

*Notice I use Oklahoma's own Shawnee Milling Company's basic Cornbread & Dressing recipe with just a few twists of my own!

Now, its your turn- share with me and the other housewives your favorite Christmas Food!

Link up at The RHOK and get some other great recipes as well!

Merry Christmas and Happy Eating!!

It's a Hard Knock Life

How many times have you actually tripped over your shoelaces and fell to the ground like your Mom and Grandma warned you would happened? Or been warned to be careful around play guns and never have them pointed at your face! Well the almost 10 year old got two black eyes on Saturday and a bruised cheekbone and I didn't give them to him!!!

It really is a Hard Knock Life!

Today's Post....



...is at The RHOK!!! Yes, I tell all about how Mrs. Hart became a Grinch!!