Ella got a bike, which is what she asked for, and Charlotte got lots of clothes and baby toys, which I'm assuming if she could talk she would have also asked for!
When I was little Christmas was sort of a rush running from place to place, but since we live far away from family it is much more calm with the four of us. We woke up somewhat early thanks to Ella. We told her Santa was coming so when she woke up she ran to do the door thinking he was actually going to be here when she woke up! She got through all of her presents really quickly and then decided she was done so she went and played downstairs. Such a goof!
I made her an apron for Christmas so she can wear it when we bake since she loves to help with the "BIIIG mixer". I'm sure once the excitement of her bike wears off she will love it...I hope.
One of the traditions I started when my husband and I first moved far away was to make cinnamon rolls. My Grandma Rita would make cinnamon rolls for every family. She would wrap them in foil and you got to take them home and eat them on Christmas morning. They were a sticky bun with maple syrup, the recipe of which has been lost forever now. I opt for making cream cheese frosting, but the rolls are still part of our Christmas morning. The recipe is one I got from Mrs. Pringle-Jones in my High School home economics class. It isn't the recipe my Grandmother actually used, but it is really good and to be honest much easier than a normal bun recipe. I want to share it here and also document it so that just incase it happens to go missing I still have it (it is still on the purple printer paper from my notebook from that class...not super safe with a toddler in the house). So here are my Christmas Cinnamon Rolls:
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Cinnamon Rolls (Cool Rise Method)
2 3/4 - 3 1/4 cups Flour
1 package Yeast
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tablespoons softened butter
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons warm tap water
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 tablespoons melted butter
Combine 1 cup flour, undissolved yeast, sugar, and salt in large bowl. Stir well to blend. Then add butter.
Add tap water to ingredients in bowl. (water should be slightly warmer than room temperature)
Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Scrape bowl occasionally.
Add 1/2 cup more flour. Beat with electric mixer at high speed for 1 minute or until thick and elastic.
Gradually stir in just enough of the remaining flour with wooden spoon to make soft dough which leaves sides of bowl. Turn out onto lightly floured board (or if using a KitchenAid mixer attach the dough hook)
Kneed 5-10 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic.
Let rest 20 minutes on board (or in bowl if using the mixer). Punch down dough.
Roll dough out into 9x12 inch rectangle.
Spread with 1/4 cup softened butter.
Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle over butter.
Roll up tightly, like a jelly roll.
Cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces (use thread or bread knife)
Place in greased pan.
Brush lightly with melted butter or margarine.
Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2-24 hours. When ready to bake, remove from refrigerator and uncover.
Let stand for 10 minutes while oven preheats to 400 degrees.
Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Remove from oven. Rolls can be drizzled with powder sugar and milk icing or cream cheese frosting when slightly cooled.
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These are easy and extremely delicious. You can cut them smaller and get more small rolls or bigger to get larger rolls depending on your style. I go back and forth with size but just adjust the cooking time based on the size. You can tell if they are done but checking the middle rolls to make sure they aren't too gooey.
Sticky Rolls: Before putting the rolls in the greased pan, mix together brown sugar, maple syrup, and a tablespoon of corn starch until smooth. I usually do a cup of brown sugar and enough maple syrup to make it runny. Pour into the pan and place the rolls on top. Omit the melted butter and cook like normal. Let cool once out of the oven about 20 minutes and then turn out onto a platter. They will be VERY sticky but yummers!
Hooray for Christmas!
