Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts

Thursday, January 16, 2014

january, and good days ahead.

Well, if it isn't January 16th.
You wouldn't know it from the weather...
um, 72 at our house today.
But I'm sure it's January because three of us are home sick.
Another one of us is getting over his cold, but toughing it out at work.
The last one of us started this whole germ-fest by getting
strep and scarlet fever (!) last week.

So, yeah.  It's winter.

Life these days is a little more hurried than it's been in the past.
It's funny how going back to work even part time can rock your world
and add an extra level of crazy to life.

And life + a little more crazy is not necessarily a bad thing.
Some days are better than others.
Some days are work and migraines and a messy house and pizza for dinner.
But I'd rather not remember those days.
Here I just want to look back and remember the better days:

...like watching 1,295 soccer games this fall
{and missing front teeth that have already almost grown all the way in}

ffl_011614_52

...crazy, loud, wild, running-down-the-hall nights
{one day the house will be quiet.  and i'll hate it.}

ffl_011614_50

...a little girl's recital in a big church

ffl_011614_49

...Friday night dates with chips and salsa

ffl_011614_47

 ...a little fabric cutting for a little quilt making

ffl_011614_48

...kids that still want to dress up at Halloween

ffl_011614_51

...sunset show-offs in our little town

ffl_011614_26

...nerves of steel during jenga

ffl_011614_33

...brothers that aren't twins but look like they are

ffl_011614_31

...a naughty dog completely disregarding the house rules

ffl_011614_37

...rainbow looming all the live long day

ffl_011614_21

...the sun at our backs and the road ahead of us

ffl_011614_46

...moments without bickering or arguing

ffl_011614_44

...time with my favorite guy

ffl_011614_45

...special days with special people

ffl_011614_43

...taking it all in

ffl_011614_40

...remembering how happy the happiest place on earth feels

ffl_011614_41

...the mug my favorite girl made me that may cause eye trauma
ffl_011614_5

...that she's still little and has ponies taped to her wall instead of boy bands

ffl_011614_3

...the look on the boys' faces when they got their own red ryder bb guns

ffl_011614_23

...the looks of wonder that the Christmas tree inspires

ffl_011614_32

...that first batch of fudge of the season

ffl_011614_30

...peaceful mornings

ffl_011614_36

...getting a facial for the first time in years (HEAVEN)

ffl_011614_22

...day trips to tide pools

ffl_011614_20

...a beautiful morning of loving God and loving (and serving) others, as a family.

ffl_011614_25

...Christmas morning and Lucy's gift of bones, bones, bones

ffl_011614_24

...days of tired feet, achy backs, happy hearts

ffl_011614_38

Sorry for the overload,
but it's been a full few months.

Here's to a 2014 full of focusing on the happy days.


Thursday, January 3, 2013

well hi there, 2013.

It looks like I took a little break from this space.
I didn't plan to, but it just happened.
The week before Christmas we baked and hung out by the tree
and listened to Christmas music on Pandora 24/7
and got the stomach flu.
{it seemed like everyone got the stomach flu this year, didn't it?}

Mis.er.a.ble.

Untitled

I made Pioneer Woman's bacon appetizers for Christmas Eve.
Lucy is my bacon bff.

Untitled

And speaking of bff's...Kim's baked brie is mine.
I made it twice for Christmas celebrations.

Untitled

And you know there ain't no party like a happy birthday Jesus party.

Untitled

The stomach flu left the building, finally.
We were healthy for about four days before the kids all caught colds.
Darn you, germs.

Untitled

Then Christmas.
American girl and Easy Bake Oven.
Ipods and Legos.
Happy kids.

Untitled

On Christmas Eve morning we made the decision to take an impromptu road trip a few days later.

Untitled

It's never, ever a bad idea to take a spur-of-the-moment Disneyland trip.

Untitled

Oh, and it was cold.
I mean COLD.
And rainy.
I'm pretty sure Orange County has never been that cold before.

Untitled

And did you know that eleven year olds looooooooove wearing matching rain ponchos?

Untitled

Even with the cold and the rain,
we had a great time.
Two of the kids may need therapy after riding Tower of Terror...I won't lie.

Untitled

But except for that minor detail,
we ended 2012 with a bang.

Untitled

2012 wasn't my favorite year.
I didn't mourn its ending, that's for sure.

But 2013 is fresh.
Full of promise.
Actually already full of fun.

Meeting up with girlfriends on our side of the bay...

IMG_9481

...to visit with girlfriends on the other side of the bay.

IMG_9486
Those are some lovely ladies right there.

And today, a few more family adventures,

IMG_9503

topped off with a hot fudge sundae.

IMG_9515

Yes.  2013 is going to be a good one,
come what may.


Friday, December 21, 2012

let the christmas-ing begin!


The kids are out of school,
it's rainy and cold here,
the She & Him holiday station is playing on Pandora,
and I've been wearing comfy pants and baking all the live long day.

It's dark enough during the day with the rain that
I can leave the lights on on the Christmas trees
{yeah...we have two...i'm one of those people this year}
during the day and it's perfect.

christmas2012house3

This was yesterday around my house.
The kids weren't home from school yet and it was clean.
It stayed that way for a glorious 2.76 hours.
My house is my favorite this time of year.  It feels the happiest to me.

And can we all just agree that Christmas cards are the best?
Taking them down in January always makes me a little sad.

christmas2012house34

christmas2012house2

DSC_0452

Today I made some of my very favorite cookies.
These are some of my mom's specialties: Spiced Molasses Ginger Cookies.
Ditch the fruitcake and put these on your baking list for the weekend.

They make your house smell better than any candle.

DSC_0460

DSC_0455

DSC_0456

And...they're a pretty cookie.
Which totally matters.
Give a plate to your mail carrier or UPS man tomorrow.

Spiced Molasses Ginger Cookies

2 cups flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground cloves
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 stick butter, room temp.
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/4 cup dark molasses
ice water 
sugar

Preheat oven to 350.
Lightly grease cookie sheets or use a Silpat.
Stir together the first six ingredients in a medium bowl.
In a mixing bowl beat the shortening, butter, and brown sugar
until fluffy.
Add egg and molasses to the butter mixture
and beat until blended.
Mix in dry ingredients.
Refrigerate dough 1 hour.
Roll dough into small balls and dip quickly in ice water.
Roll in sugar to coat.
Arrange on cookie sheet and bake until cookies
are pale golden and cracked on top but still soft to touch,
around 10 minutes.
Let stand 1 minute then transfer to cooling rack.


Mmmmm.  Chewy, Christmas goodness.