Christmas Hangover

Well, Christmas is over...we actually had a pretty relaxing time of it. Although we missed our family in Iowa, it was nice not to have to drive anywhere, especially given the weather we've had the past few days. The weekend was pretty uneventful. I was actually feeling kind of sick on Saturday. A cold I've been fighting for about a week came to a head, and I was out of commission for most of the day. Sunday afternoon we had a family date to the movie "National Treasure" (pretty good).

Monday it was just Husband and I, and I spent a majority of the day baking. I think our KitchenAid mixer has gotten more action in the past week or two than it has in the 1.5 years that we've had it! After all the baking, I even cooked dinner for the two of us, and tried my hand at something totally new - fish. A friend of Husband's gave us some halibut he caught in Alaska earlier this year, so I found a recipe and gave it a shot. It turned out pretty well! We watched a movie together, then I actually went to bed around 9:45. I was still a bit wiped out from being sick, and it had been a busy day.

Going to bed early paid off, as I woke up refreshed at around 7:00AM on Christmas morning. Husband was already up (I found out later he was up most of the night, sick off some Chex mix that the neighbors left for us) and I spent a delightful hour and a half in bed reading a book. Husband went to pick up Brandon, and we had our little Christmas when they got back. Around 11:30, we headed over to the in-laws. We spent all day lounging, opening gifts, playing cards, marveling at the beautiful snowfall, chatting, watching the kids sled, and grazing on a TON of food. We were there until around 7PM, and then back home to crash.

Today it was back to reality (work). I leave you with this adorable photo of Brandon and Hayley. Hope your Christmas was merry!

Nat King Cole - O Holy Night

Special thoughts to our family on this wonderful Christmas Eve.

Santa Claus is Coming To Town

He's already here! He came to blow snow from the driveway today! :)

Bing Crosby - Count Your Blessings Instead Of Sheep

The above clip is Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney, from one of my favorite holiday movies, White Christmas (1954). What's your favorite holiday movie?

With Candy Canes and Silver Lanes Aglow

While doing some holiday baking this evening, I learned a few things:

- 1 1/2 cups of crushed candy canes is A LOT of crushed candy canes
- I don't own a rolling pin
- A bottle of barbeque sauce works just as well
- A little red food coloring goes a long way

I was making peppermint fudge - very easy recipe that I found online. Aside from crushing the candy canes, everything was going well and when I finally poured it into the pan, it looked lovely. Wonderful creamy whiteness with chunks of candy cane. I was quite proud of myself.

Then I remembered. The food coloring. I had read of a delightful red "swirl" that one person had done. How hard could that be? I almost stopped - it looked pretty good already. It didn't need a anything else. But ultimately, the though of a perfectly executed swirl was just too exciting to pass up.

Just a drop or two will do, I thought.

My first mistake was pouring it directly from the bottle. The second was not stopping after the first pour.

I knew it was bad. I tried to "swirl" and it got worse - like something out of a low budget horror film. Yes, it looked like my fudge was bleeding. I tried to dab it with a paper towel (which doesn't work by the way), and got it all over my fingers. Then it looked like I was bleeding, and all for nothing. The fudge still looked like an open wound.

So, I plopped it back in the pan and just stirred it all up. So now I have peppermint fudge befitting Strawberry Shortcake. Or the Easter Bunny.

And it tastes darn good.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays

Husband and I got back today from a trip down to Iowa to have Christmas with my family. It was a jam-packed weekend and a full house at the 'rents: 8 adults, 2 dogs and one baby.

Friday night was pretty low-key; some of us didn't get there until around 9PM so there was just some sitting around and catching up, and of course holding the baby. This was the first meeting between baby D and his Uncle Josh, and also Husband. He's grown since I had last seen him, and is starting to try out some facial expressions (mostly "the poop face"). We teased a smile or two out of him every once in awhile. Unfortunately he is getting over a cold, so he wasn't feeling too great a lot of the time.

D found a comfy spot on Husband.

Saturday morning we had Christmas with our little family, which was fun. It's unique to have a little kid around again, even though D is way too little to have a clue what's going on. I have to say that our family scored the best gift from Mom and Dad (in my opinion) - Guitar Hero III for the Wii. We are going to have some fun unleashing our inner rock legends. Unfortunately our TV is on the fritz, so I haven't been able to try it yet. I'm sure you'll be hearing more about it!

Saturday afternoon all of us "kids" went to visit our grandma, who just had surgery a couple of weeks ago. Shortly after we arrived with lunch, our aunt, uncle and cousin also arrived with lunch (great minds think alike!) so we made a little party of it. I think Grandma enjoyed visiting with us, especially since some of us are unable to make it back for Christmas Eve at her house this year. Husband and Josh also had a good time going through one of Grandma's old cookbooks, noting recipes such as "Oxtail Soup" and educating themselves on "how to freeze ice cream" and what to do when a recipe calls for "gold nuggets" (corn).

Saturday evening was spent in the lunchroom of the local church school, getting together with my dad's side of the family for a Christmas celebration. We have to rent a space because we are HUGE - counting everyone and their spouses, kids, etc. we are 72 strong if everyone shows up. We had 57 there on Saturday night (at least making an appearance). That's a pretty good turnout! The family just keeps growing - there were 4 great-grandchildren born this year alone.
Josh and Cousin Blake called to coordinate outfits before the event.

Sunday morning we got back together to attend a mass in honor of my late grandmother, and then had a breakfast following the service. We added an aunt and uncle and about 10 more extended family members there, so about 70 people! My family is a force to be reckoned with...and I kind of like it that way.

Tomorrow it's back to business as usual. The holiday season can get a little crazy, and it's easy to get caught up in the stress of it all. Actually, the sermon we heard in church this morning reminded me that we really need to think about setting aside all that makes us anxious, and just enjoy the moment. Don't look for big miracles, but appreciate the little miracles you receive every day. Little things add up to extraordinary things. However that happens for you this holiday season, make the best of it!

How Silently, How Silently

...the kid snuck up on me. I had to post this while I still have a slight edge.



I knew this was coming, but it seems like just one day all of the sudden, he was looking me straight in the eye. I'm confronted with the fact that I'm going to be the shortest person in the house, and I have to admit, it's throwing me off a bit. He's been on a steady growth spurt this year, but he is eating SO MUCH lately...so I've got to think there's another big push on the horizon. I have always said he would be taller than me by Christmas. I think I was right.

We are headed down to Iowa for Christmas with my family this weekend. Unfortunately Brandon won't be able to come with us, as he'll be at his mom's. By the time I get to see him next Friday, it will have been two weeks...and maybe another quarter inch!

Just call me Shorty.



PS - Are you peeps catching on to the Christmas lyrics as post titles? Some may be obvious, others hidden lyrics in songs you probably all know. Take your shot at guessing. I'll try to keep it up through the month.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Who Wouldn't Go?

This is totally ridiculous. First they don't want us to say "Merry Christmas" and now they don't want Santa to say "ho, ho, ho." They think it's scary for children, and derogatory to women, because "ho" is slang for something else.

Kids don't know that. If they do, they have troubles that extend far past the yuletide. If they are scared by a fat man in a red suit saying "ho, ho, ho" won't they still be scared of a fat man in a red suit saying "ha, ha, ha?"

What will be next? Will Hostess re-name Ho-Hos? Ha-Has doesn't have the same ring.

They Should Never Give a License to a Man Who Drives a Sleigh and Plays With Elves

This thing has had me giggling off and on for weeks. It's time to share it with the world.

I've always (truthfully, never) wondered what I'd look like as an elf. Now you can see my entire dancing elf family right here.

Elf yourself if you dare, and paste it in comments!

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful

Well here it is again! Tuesday snow + weekend snow = beautiful mess! I say beautiful because it is rather pretty, particularly when viewed from indoors, with the modern convenience of HEAT. I say mess because a one-hour commute and one "snow emergency" parking ticket later, the snow can do terrible things to a person. Add that to the fact that the parking ticket was on Husband's vehicle, and he's not even here (he's in Las Vegas). It's completely my fault, I didn't move it soon enough. We have a wacky landlord who will not allow us to park in the driveway of our very charming duplex. This is because the main part of the driveway is filled with his two vehicles, which he cannot fit into the two-car garage conveniently situated to the rear of the property, adjacent to said driveway, because it is full of CRAP. So anyway, I didn't get home before the plows and Husband's vehicle got ticketed. At least it wasn't towed!

Aside from the commute and parking challenges, it seems the weather is causing other transportation issues - Husband's flight home is delayed. Right now it's only estimated at a half hour late, but it's still snowing here and it says visibility is zero at the airport. That can't make for a good landing.

Happy Birthday, Mom!