Week in Review:

I did some Salvation Army bell ringing, got my teeth cleaned and went with Stormy to Indy. We shopped and then picked Adam up at the airport. Bob was on vacation again this week. On Thursday he was Santa for South Side Elementary School.

I always remind him when he plays Santa to 1. Not go in the bank (as mentioned in an earlier post) 2. Not make any promises about delivering the goods and 3. Never tell the kids that he came without reindeer because Rudolph is sick. (that news can get some children really worked up, believe me)

Our UPS man on their busiest day of the year. A problem we never thought about: He intercepted some of his own Christmas presents at the terminal. Kind of hard to surprise him.

Friday night we went to see the Gin Blossoms at the new Rosebud Theatre in Effingham. They were great, but because it was so close to Christmas attendance was low - around 400 people. Like Lori said, it was weird to be at a concert where you knew about half of the people in the audience. We had a good time.

We also had a good time on Saturday celebrating Christmas at Maw-Maw's. We did not go caroling. My brother, John, is a mailman and he had to work so his family couldn't get there until later, and it started raining hard and singing in the rain is okay for Gene Kelly, but it's not for everybody. I refuse to carol with an umbrella! We did do some singing in the living room - The Twelve Days of Christmas and each took a part. Bob was "nine ladies dancing" and I was "three French hens."

We also celebrated Landon's first and Uncle Michael's 27th birthdays. Here they are tasting the cake.

Last week Baleigh sledded head-first into a tree. Thankfully, her head is okay, just a bump, but she managed to break a finger. We signed her cast. I told her we would have to write a new song, something similar to our "Would You Care to See My Mutilated Toe" number of last summer. We never came up with anything.

Sunday we spent the afternoon with Bob and Darlene - watching the Packers get thumped on by the Bears. Bob (my Bob) helped them hook up a new computer monitor. We made it home late Sunday night.

Recipe of the Week: I baked two raspberry white chocolate cheesecakes

to take to Effingham. I can't remember where I got this recipe. I've lost it, and along the way, I've altered it some.

Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup melted butter

3/4 cup sugar

2 - 8 oz. packages cream cheese

1/2 pound white chocolate, melted

2 eggs

3 tablespoons Chambord liqueur

1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

Crust

Mix together graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into a 9 inch springform pan. Set aside.

Filling

Mix together cream cheese and sugar. Slowly add melted white chocolate and mix. Add eggs, one at a time and mix well. Put the raspberry jam into a small bowl and microwave briefly, just until it thins somewhat. Add the liqueur to the jam and mix. Remove 1/3 cup of cheesecake batter from the mixing bowl and add to the jam. Mix well. Pour the cheesecake batter on top of the crust, then spoon the jam mixture on top. Take a knife and swirl throughout. Bake the cheese cake at 325 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes. Remove from oven, cool, then cover and refrigerate the cheesecake overnight. The next day, place the cheesecake on a serving plate and frost.

Cheesecake frosting:

1 & 1/2 cups butter

2-8 oz pkgs cream cheese

1 pound melted white chocolate

3/4 cup seedless raspberry jam

1 teaspoon lemon juice.

Mix together the butter and cream cheese. Melt the white chocolate and let it cool to room temperature. Gradually add it to the cream cheese and butter, mixing well. Add the lemon juice and mix. Frost the cheesecake and return to the refrigerator just until it sets up. Microwave the raspberry jam, again, just enough to warm and thin. Pour over the top of the cake and spread almost to the edge. Pipe around the cheesecake with extra frosting.

After writing this all down, it occurs to me that making this cheesecake is a heck of a lot of work. Good luck, and Merry Christmas. Remember: He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.