Happy New Year!!

Welcome to 2012!!

This could possibly be the last year of our existence. Jeremy says the interpreters of the Mayan calendar were wrong and we are safe from the world ending in 2012. I do think it is going to be fun, though, to watch and see if another Y2K scare happens. Better be stocking up on canned goods and water! It could get cra cra.

I know that I should probably post on New Year resolutions and add a great quote, but I have one more Christmas post to do. You'll be okay with that, right?? Well, honestly, you have no real say so here we go.


Christmas 2007 was mine and Jeremy's first Christmas together. My mom sweetly wanted to commemorate the occasion by putting this in our stocking. I'm pretty sure I cried.

And so started a trend. Each year I get a new ornament that represents that year in our life. This year I documented all the ones received and my new ones. It is such a special treat to put these on our Christmas tree and sweet reminder that we are blessed.

2008

We adopted our precious Little P. He loves car rides and his hair blowing in the wind. And can we please talk about my picture taking skills for a second? I mean, you can't just pose a dog like this. It really was a struck of luck that Parker decided to stand there right as I was taking THIS photo. I think he's hoping one of you will see his talent and hire him as a model. He really wants to be famous.

2009

 I got a brand new car! I was completely taken aback when Jeremy bought it for me. It's a 2010 silver Malibu and I love it.

2010

 

 

This year TWO exciting things happened: we bought our first home AND we welcomed Bradley into the world. 

2011

 Let's face it. 2010 is a hard year to follow. But two exciting things did happen. We celebrated Bradley turning 1 with a firetruck party! And I got a KitchenAid. So this year I got two ornaments! I can't wait to hang them on my tree next year.

Thank you for letting me talk Christmas one more time! 

2011 really has been a great year. I don't think Jeremy and I have ever enjoyed ourselves more. We have so much fun watching B grow and figure new things out, learning to parent B, and just enjoying him. Our marriage has grown so much too. Jeremy and I have had a lot of fun this year. I don't think we have ever laughed more.

Man... 2012 has some big shoes to fill. I hope it's ready, because here we are!

New Traditions

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are having fun preparing for the new year! I've already told Jeremy that this New Year's Eve all I want to do is sleep. Ha!

We had a great Christmas. This year, we decided to have our Christmas in our home, just the three of us, and then travel to see family the day afterward. It worked out so well. Here's what all we did:

On Friday, I took B to see Santa Claus. He cried. I cheered. Santa Claus was a complete dud. We got a picture. The end.

 On Saturday morning, we woke up and I made my family's sour dough pancakes with the special toppings. I was so nervous because it was my first time making them. But I had no reason to be. They turned out wonderful!! The recipe is a family secret and one that I am so excited to finally have in my possession!

 After breakfast, we went ice skating. It was soo much fun! They had Christmas music and cocoa and A Charlie Brown's Christmas playing. B is too small to skate, but he absolutely loved watching everyone else. We are thinking that by the time he's 3, he'll be able to join us.

That night we had the candlelight service at our church.  It was our first time being at our church on Christmas Eve. We went the earlier, more child-friendly service because of B and his schedule. It was a great service. The kids sang and did hand-bells. We sang Christmas carols, listened to a short sermon, and then lit our candles. Afterward, Jeremy commented on how blessed we are to be part of such a wonderful church. I couldn't agree more.

I am not a big fan of traditional Christmas food. However, Jeremy grew up having the traditional meal and really loves it so I decided to make him whatever he wanted on Christmas Eve. We had ham, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, rolls and a salad.

After dinner, we gave B a bath, put him in his Christmas pajamas and read Twas the Night Before Christmas.

This is the book we have and we LOVE it. Megan gave it to us. I grew up on the Hallmark book with the pop-ups. It's so nice and special. Well...they don't make it anymore.  And so I'd been looking ever since Jeremy and I got married for one that was similar in artwork, color, and neat effects. Well, this book is awesome! It is soo colorful and well drawn and it has lots of cool holograms throughout it that really add to the joy of reading the story! Megan did such a great job finding this book!

Then, we made an extra large chocolate chip cookie and put some milk in Santa's mug. And it was off to bed for B.

The next morning, B woke up and got to see all of the goodies Santa left.

Honestly, Parker still had more fun than B. BUT B did really like his toys. He just didn't jump and scream/bark like Little P.  That hat he's wearing?? I started to knit that hat before B was born. I had actually gone over to a friend's house the day I went into labor for help on it. Well, I finished it Christmas Eve!! I completely screwed up the top, but now I know how to do it and plan on making him another one in which I don't mess up. :-)

This rocking chair is soo cool. It plays ABC rock songs.

 This toy is one that I really wish I would have invented. It holds an iPhone and let's your kids play apps without worrying about them deleting apps or drooling all over it and killing it or throwing it and breaking the screen. It.is.awesome!

 After we had Santa, we made beignets and put B down for his morning nap. He was off all morning and really needed to sleep. The rest of the day we took it easy and played with B.

Then, that night, we ate Chinese! I absolutely LOVE Chinese on Christmas. I promise it tastes so much better on Christmas.

B had a great time flirting with this girl in the next booth. But that's a story for another time...

And that's a look into our Christmas of three. It really was such a great two days.

Snowman Cookies (aka Chocolate Crackle Cookies)

This year I was invited to a Cookie Christmas Party. I was so excited to have another reason to use my KitchenAid and to try out a new recipe. I have to say. This is by far my favorite Christmas cookie ever. Jeremy liked it so much he asked me to make a couple more batches this week and if I would please quit referring to it as a seasonal treat.

Hope you enjoy!

 Snowman Cookies 

(aka Chocolate Crackle  Cookies)

Ingredients:

12 oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 1/3 cup light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1/3 cup milk

1 cup granulated sugar, for rolling

1 cup powdered sugar, for rolling

Heat oven to 350 degrees. 

 

Melt chocolate chips in microwave on 50% power stirring every 30 seconds to prevent burning. 

 

In a separate bowl combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt. In your mixer, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla, beat until well combined. Add melted chocolate to dough, combine. Alternate adding milk and dry ingredients until just combined. Cookie dough should be thick and firm.

Using a cookie scoop, make 1 inch balls. Next, roll balls first in the granulated sugar, and then in the powdered sugar. Place on silpat-lined or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake about 12 minutes until cookies have flattened and sugar cracks.

 

Makes 3-4 dozen delicious cookies!