Our Holiday Adventures

We went up to Petoskey on Christmas Eve to celebrate with my family.  While we were there, we:

went on a long walk outside with our pup, Greg, Nina, and their pup.  The snow was glistening like diamonds in the areas where no one had walked.  It was absolutely gorgeous. 

I wore SYT in the Ergo and within the first 20 minutes of the walk, he was sleeping soundly and cuddled up to stay warm. 

He was certainly cute enough in his little snowsuit!

The river starting to ice over

Christmas Eve we had dinner with B's aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandma before church.  We left SYT sleeping at their house while we attended mass with my family.  It was a wonderful service, and I love singing all the Christmas carols.  It makes my heart so happy!

Christmas day we woke up slowly, played with Spencer and opened gifts with my family.  My grandma hosts for Christmas dinner, and there were 17 of us this year.  We had a great meal, got to sing more carols, and played Catch Phrase.  We normally play Scattergories, but this year we switched it up and played Catch Phrase.  It was really fun, and SYT charmed the family with his crawling and his constant smile.

SYT with my uncle Jon

Santa Claus smocked outfit- he looked adorable!

With his mimi (my mom)

Singing Christmas carols while Gram plays the piano.

The next night we went to my aunt and uncles house for dinner and to celebrate Nina's birthday.

Happy Birthday Nina! 

Monday we skiied while my mom watched Spencer.  It was chilly, but the snow was perfect and we all had fun.  I would have loved to ski a few more days, but we had to pack up that afternoon and come home to work for the rest of the week.

For NYE we went over to B's cousin's house and hung out with some of his family that came into town.  We had a lot of fun just hanging out.  Lots of champagne was consumed- too much for some people!!!  Nursing makes me toe the line pretty well ;)

No, I am NOT naked.  I just have a strapless top on.  Should have been a little more aware of this when taking the pic though!

N&K dancing with Spencer.  She's the one who is due in March with their first baby.  They're going to be wonderful parents- they are incredible with Spencer.

Ready for 2011!!

It's been wonderful reading about your holidays with your families, and it was a really nice year for us as well.  I'm ready for 2011 to begin and see how the year unfolds.  I'll be praying for a wonderful one for all of you!!

Happy New Year!!

Here's to a wonderful 2011!!! 

(Mom says that hopefully in 2011 she'll do a better job cleaning my face before taking pictures of me!!)

The perfect gift for baby or toddler Northerners!

I received one of the besties Christmas cards the other day, and her new baby boy had on a hat like the first picture (in green and blue), and I immediately called to find out where she had gotten the darling hat.  She led me to this website, and you better believe that SYT will be getting a hat from there.  Now the question is, do I get it for this year or do I just order one for next?  Also, do I do the first design or the second?  And, which colors?  Red and navy?  Green and navy?  Navy and white?  Red and white?  Hmmmm.......any feelings one way or the other, ladies? 

Don't you think this is also the cutest idea for gifts for northern babies?  Let me tell you, I would have loved to receive one of these as a baby gift!  I will definitely be sending these to a few people I know once they have new little ones!! 

My favorite Christmas present

My little buddy learned to crawl!!!!!!  Pictures (tons of them) to come!  Just wanted to share the news.  He literally went from nothing last Thursday to now being able to motor forwards about 6-7 feet at a time.  His biggest motivator this weekend was a cheeze-it that fell to the floor!!  Ahhhh...... motivated by food, just like his momma!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas- can't wait to read about them!!

NYE outfits

Looking for a last minute outfit for NYE??  Here are a few I've found that I am loving!!

All of the above from Talbots (and all are on sale!)

(isn't the skirt phenomenal??  Add a crisp white button down, black heels, and tons of pearls!)

Black tie worthy dress from White House Black Market.  I can't show the back here, but it's definitely worth a click over to check it out.  The back makes the dress.

Velvet pants from BR

Dear Kate, love the bow!

A lot easier on the wallet (Payless)

A light smattering of sequins from Nordstrom

Satin menswear pjs from Victoria's Secret if your plans are more of the stay at home variety

Add a fun faux fur piece of outerwear to keep you warm

and you should have a great night on the town!

Soooooo..........

What are you wearing?  What are your plans? 

(Fill me in ladies, for my night will probably be sitting home by the fire with my boys and, if all goes well, a great bottle of champagne!)

(But if I were going out I would definitely, without a doubt, be buying the skirt above!!!)



Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to you all!  Saying a prayer that it's a wonderful day for you and your families and that your heart is brightened and your mind is refocused this day of all days.

Thanks, Dad, for the wonderful photo above!

Hark now hear the angels sing

 

A new king born today

 

And man will live forevermore

 

Because of Christmas day

(Lyrics from one of my favorite, sweet Christmas Carols, Mary's Boy Child)

Pondering the wonder of birth

We are told in today's text that Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart. Webster's Dictionary claims that pondering is "to think or consider, especially quietly, soberly and deeply." Perhaps it was the dark of night or the foreignness of that place that created wonder. Perhaps it is always true that, after the pain of labor and delivery, there is a necessary pause to be amazed, overwhelmed, even intimidated, by what is to come. If so, tonight the world is welcomed to wonder and ponder in our hearts what this new birth of creation means for us and eternity.


O God, your ways are so wondrous and surprising that they exceed our grasp. So grasp us in the embrace you bring to the world through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

John Martin Mann

Seminary Pastor, Luther Seminary

Luke 2:1-20 (NRSV)

1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.

2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

3 All went to their own towns to be registered.

4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.

5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.

6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for see--I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:

11 "to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.

12 "This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger."

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!"

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us."

16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.

17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;

18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.

19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Is there any mother out there who doesn't ponder deep within her the wonderous gift that is a newborn and the ability our bodies have to produce such a gift, such a blessing?  It is amazing to produce another life and to know that we have a responsibility to the world with that life.  We may not be raising Jesus Christ, but, like Mary, we should treasure our babes and ponder the future that they hold. 

Eggnog Trifle

Please tell me you are going somewhere where you are required to bring a holiday dessert in the next two weeks.  If so, get thee to a grocery store to pick up the ingrediants for this dish.  It's beyond delish!!!

Jessica  posted about this (amazing on it's own) Eggnog Pound Cake, and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to attempt this one.  It just screams holiday.  Well, I made a double batch and since I had more than I needed, I decided to experiment a bit for a dinner party we were having.  Ummmmm.....so this was my first dessert without a recipe, and, thank goodness, it worked!!

So, if you're interested, make the loaves as described above, buy yourself a trifle bowl, and let's go!

Slice the Eggnog pound cake in half lengthwise, and then slice into one inch strips.  Layer the first set of strips into the bottom of the trifle bowl. 

Fold together one container of marscapone cheese, one cup of eggnog, and powdered sugar until you get the level of sweetness you desire (I ended up doing over 2 cups).  Place in the fridge for 2 hours to help it thicken up again.

Take a quality semi-sweet chocolate bar (I used Ghiradelli, but Valharona would be wonderful too) and use a vegetable peeler to shave it down into chocolate curls. 

After the eggnog mixture is chilled, layer that onto the poundcake, then do a layer of the chocolate curls.  Do this all over again with poundcake first, then the eggnog.  I then whipped a small container of heavy whipping cream with sugar and did a layer of that and then added the chocolate curls to the top.  You could easily just add cool whip if you wanted. 

I served this for guests (a little scary since I hadn't tasted it at all!), and it went over so well!!  I'm sorry I don't have it written down in true recipe form, but it's really not all that complicated, and if you have any questions about it, let me know!  I'd be glad to answer questions.  It is seriously delish!  The Eggnog pound cake has such a good flavor and is very moist on its own, but in this form, it's even better!!!

Calling a size 6!!

Pretty please order this dress..............................................I love it, I want it, I unfortunately am not a size 6.

Ralph Lauren Blackwatch Plaid Strapless Dress

Let me know if you do get it, pretty please!!  I'll be drooling from afar!

Edited to add:  It exists in a 2 and a 4 for the same price, now go!!!!