New Christmas Tradition

Of course this year....we had several new traditions with little Danie being here. One will be her christmas pj's each year. Or as long as I have a small say so in it :)  This year she had her little rudolph Pj's and they were sooo cute with the matching slipper socks.

Another new tradition will be our Christmas Breakfast Crockpot Casserole...more of it below.

And of course I want to start buying butterbean a Christmas ornament every year. So that when she is grown...she will have bunches and bunches of ornaments that will hopefully mean something to her. This years was a 1st Christmas ornament, of course. I'm hoping by next Christmas I will be able to get handmade stockings made for everyone. That is on my list to do along with a handmade quilted tree skirt.

We had a blessed Christmas that is for sure. We woke up bright and early at 5:30 in the morning with little butterbean making her way into our room. One of my most favorite traditions, since Billy and I have been married, is the kids running into our room with their stockings. It always makes the morning fun and just wonderful. Butterbean is no acception so she made her way into our room and opened her stocking in bed with Nana and Papa. She got so excited and it really made my heart so warm and bright. The Casserole was smelling all thru the house. coffee brewing. And it is Santa time :)  It took that little girl a while to get thru her presents from Santa and then from Nana/Papa but she did and she had a fun time. The kids enjoyed their surprise gifts and even those that were not surprises. Now....the deal this year was that NO ONE was to get me anything. Nothing. I wanted this to be all about Danie this year but a few people broke that rule. Kayla had went earlier in the fall and had pictures made of her and Danie together. She bought an 11x14 and had it framed. It was beautiful. And touched my heart that she would think of something so precious for me. I WILL be buying more of this prints. and then the family gave me our first ever Family Bible. I can't wait to have some quiet time and sit down and document our growing family. Something I can treasure and pass down thru the generations.

Grandmama, Grandaddy and Rachel came over a little later in the morning. We exchanged gifts and everyone loved their handmade items. I was once again surprised with a very special gift. This bracelet from Brighton. I've been wanting one for several years and just have not had the chance or money to get one. My sister bought me a necklace for my 40th birthday and this was the matching bracelet.

But wait...the part that just about made my heart cry for days....little Danie comes walking up to me with a small box. I opened it and it was her birthstone. One of the above heart pendant charms. Hers was purple. And then Shawn handed me a little box...I was trying not to cry big time at this point...and his was the pink one...for October. And finally Kayla gave me hers....the green one for May. This....this was the most precious gift. My sister had added a charm B and one that says sister. This gift means more to me than I can express. I plan on finding one that will be in memory of my Nanny Waters and Nanny Thomas.

Christmas was special this year. Not only because of butterbean but just because our family was together for another year. Family is so important to me and I would not have it any other way than spending the holidays with each of them .

We finished off Christmas evening up at Randy and Robin's. With Rachael, Josh, Landon and Lauren. Playing with a train track, taking the cutest rudolph nose pictures, eating some yummy white chicken chili and cornbread....and just enjoying each others company. THAT is what Christmas is about. Family...love...and the birth of Jesus.

Okay on to the Casserole. This was yummmmmmmy and so easy!

I took a picture of before but I can't find it this evening so here is the after...lol.

1 large bag of frozen hashbrowns ( I bought shredded but will try the diced next time)

1 onion

1 green bell pepper

1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb of bacon

a dozen eggs

1 cup of milk

salt and pepper to taste

Layer the crockpot with hashbrowns, then add diced onion, bell pepper and finish the layer with cheese. Keep layering. When finished layering the potatoes....whip the eggs, milk, salt and pepper really good in a bowl. Then pour over the top of the potatoes. Set on low for 10-12 hours.

I fixed this up before we went to bed so that it cooked all night long. Next year I will try sausage instead of bacon and used diced potatoes instead of shredded. Might make a few adjustments here and there just for fun.

I hope everyone has a fun and safe final week of the year.