We are celebrating Christmas this year at the Tree Top cabin. You might remember that we have been here before, you can read about our trip HERE.
This year has been a sad one for me as much of my family moved away from the Houston area. We have lived close to my parents and some siblings for a while. My parents moved to Beijing China this spring, My sister and her husband (+ new baby) moved to Lubbock to go back to school and my brother, his 5 girls and wife were transferred to Midland this summer.
The Tree House was about 1/2 way between and an PERFECT meeting place! We really love it here and hope this becomes a tradition for many years. I found this place because we LOVE Garner State Park and the Frio river. Camp sites were full and so I started looking for cabins, this one was so Swiss Family Robinson like I knew we had to stay here!
** Just a quick disclosure, we were NOT given in any way, a discount or ANYTHING to stay here! I just love it here and wanted to let you all know about it also!
Like I reported yesterday, our Elf managed to make the car trip with us! This morning we found him in the most unlikely place….. I want you to look at the picture above and pay close attention to the little black dot on the rope swing.
YEP! That is Chocolate Buddy taking a ride on the rope swing! The thing that I am most worried about is that I have a feeling that out of the 4 grown men here, the one that got the Elf out there is the one that does NOT have life insurance… I am just sayin’. Plus, I am guessing the water is about 40 degrees!
This morning my sister Anna made breakfast. We split up meals by families, when it is your meal you are in charge of making and bringing the ingredients for that meal. Anna made the Baked French toast from The Pioneer Woman. OMGosh!!!! It was AMAZING!!!!
** We used a loaf of plain ol’ white bread, nothing fancy. The topping is a MUST! Serve with some thick cut bacon and I just gained 10 pounds!
Baked French Toast
From The Pioneer Woman
Ingredients
- FRENCH TOAST
- 1 loaf Crusty Sourdough Or French Bread
- 8 whole Eggs
- 2 cups Whole Milk
- 1/2 cup Whipping (heavy) Cream
- 3/4 cups Sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla Extract
- Topping
- 1/2 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1/2 cup Firmly Packed Brown Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 1 stick Cold Butter, Cut Into Pieces
- Fresh Fruit (optional)
Preparation Instructions
Grease 9 x 13-inch baking pan with butter. Tear bread into chunks (or cut into cubes) and evenly distribute in the pan.
Mix together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread. Cover tightly and store in the fridge several hours or overnight.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add nutmeg if desired. Add butter pieces and but into the dry mixture until mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a Ziploc in the fridge.
When you’re ready to bake the casserole, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove casserole from oven and sprinkle crumb mixture over the top. (If you’re using fruit, sprinkle on before the crumb mixture.) Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, more bread pudding texture. Bake 1 hour or more for a firmer, less liquid texture.
Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter and drizzle with maple syrup.
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
LOL about your elf. The hubby walked past me and was like what the heck are you looking at and he stared intently at the pic with me and finally I said “Thats Tiffany and Pauls Elf RIIIIIIIGHT THERE” lol and pointed him out. He even cracked up. Have a merry Christmas you guys 🙂
Mmmm I love The Pioneer woman recipes!!!!
Do you know of any other deals on these tree houses? I like the house that holds 22 people but for 10 couples that is $216 each.
No I really don’t. They are popular and beautiful and so they don’t have to really offer any discounts unfortunately. How long were you staying? It wouldn’t hurt to email and ask, we also try to go in the off season so that it is less expensive.
Thanks thats a good idea. The pics look like it would really be a wonderful place to go to escape for a couple of days. Hope you have a wonderful CHRISTmas.
I just love the hill country and this would be such a fun place to go! I do have a quick question about it – do you think a person that has a hard time walking and sometimes may need a scooter could get to and around the house easily? Also, is there a way they could get down to the water easily?
Have fun and enjoy your family!
Missy, they could get around the house ok and you could have a room on the first level for them BUT getting to the river would not be easy. There are many steps…. and not always hand rails. It is beautiful and very rustic and cool! But my little under 3 years old I have to help. Anyone older you would have to at least hold an elbow also…