Cheesy Spinach Dip

My friend Betty shared this yummy appetizer recipe with me. I brought it to Rachel's China Group's Christmas party last night and it disappeared! A few folks asked for the recipe, so here it is...

Cheesy Spinach Dip

1. Cut 1 lb. (16 oz.) Velveeta into 1/2-inch cubes; place in large microwaveable bowl. Add 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained; 4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) cream cheese, cut up; 1 can (10 oz.) Ro*Tel diced tomatoes & green chiles, undrained; and 8 slices bacon, crisply cooked, drained and crumbled.

2. Microwave on high 5 minutes or until Velveeta is completely melted and mixture is well blended, stirring after 3 minutes.

3. Serve hot with tortilla chips or assorted cut-up fresh vegetables.

Makes 4 cups.

Enjoy!

Hannah's Self Portrait

Anyone Remember This Movie?

"The House Without A Christmas Tree" was made for TV in 1972 when I was 9 (OK, go ahead and do the math - I'll wait...). I watched it every year for several years. The story takes place in 1946. Addie, the main character in the movie, is 10 years old. She lives with her grandmother and her widowed father, who refuses to have a Christmas tree because it reminds him of his wife who died when Addie was a baby. It's a wonderful story, and I just love Addie's spunky personality.

I found this movie on VHS several years ago, and just last week, discovered it in the $5 DVD bin at WalMart. Our family watched it last night, and the girls really enjoyed it. It is now one of our Christmas Classics, along with "It's A Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Story".

Now I need to find "The Homecoming" (the Waltons' Christmas movie) on DVD...

Cookies With Santa!

Every year, our adoption agency hosts a "Cookies With Santa" event. We always try to bring the girls for this - it's a wonderful way for the girls to visit with Santa in a much more personal environment than the mall. And I get to take a whole bunch of pictures!

They wore the matching sweaters that Daddy bought for them at LL Bean when he was in Maine last month.

The girls are eyeing the yummy cookies and punch!


They had a nice long visit with Santa.


The girls really put Santa to work, peppering him with dozens of questions!


He gave them each a little gift (art supplies)!

Funny story: The first thing Abbie did when she walked up to Santa was to start tugging on his beard. Santa was very good natured about it! After a sufficient amount of tugging, she pronounced, "Yup, he's the real one!"

On our way out to the car, Rachel looked up at me and said, "Mama, now I know he's real!"

You betcha, Sweetie!

Our Little Star

Abbie's dance recital was this afternoon. The theme of the program was Dancing Through the Holidays, and her tap class danced to the VeggieTales' rendition of the 1971 song "I Just Want to Celebrate" by Rare Earth (they were celebrating New Year's Day). It was incredibly cute, and Abbie had lots of fun performing!

On stage at the dress rehearsal the night before the performance.


All dressed up and ready for the show!

We had a little fun with the makeup. I even managed to get some mascara on her lashes!


After the performance. She loved getting flowers!

And of course, Hannah and Rachel were there to support their sister!