New Year's Eve 2012

We had a great New Year's Eve party. Aaron's parents came over to celebrate with us, as well as Aaron's oldest sister and her family. So it was a full blown party...which is the best way to ring in the New Year in my opinion.

I've been craving this bean dip since a couple weeks before Christmas, but I told myself I had to hold out until New Years. It was worth the wait. Mmmmmmm.....

Seven Layer Bean Dip

1 (1 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
1 (16 ounce) can black beans
1 (16 ounce) container guacamole
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
1 (16 ounce) jar fresh salsa
1 large tomato, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 bunch chopped green onions
1 small head iceberg lettuce, shredded
1 (6 ounce) can black olives, drained and chopped
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

1. In a medium bowl, mash black beans and blend them together with taco seasoning mix and guacamole. Spread the mixture onto a large serving platter.
2. Mix the sour cream and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Spread over the bean mixture.
3. Top the layers with salsa. Place a layer of tomato, green bell pepper, green onions and lettuce over the salsa, and top with Cheddar cheese. Garnish with black olives.

Chuck and Debbie brought their cool new grill/cheese toaster (I am not going to attempt to spell the name of it, because I know I'll butcher it, it's foreign.) And they made delicious chicken and shrimp, and tomatoes dipped in bread crumbs with melted cheese and dill on top, it was heaven. Lisa brought her chocolate fountain and things to dip in it...it was missing a cord, so we didn't get to use the actual fountain, but that didn't stop us from melting chocolate in a pan on the stove and dipping anyway! :) Have I ever mentioned how much I love food?

We did not let our kids stay up until midnight. Adelia went to bed at normal time. We did let the boys stay up an hour later than normal. We played Cootie and Chutes and Latters with them. Then let them do a count down to bang pots and pans on the front porch and drink some cider. Then we shipped them off to bed. That way they still feel like they get a party, but I don't have to spend all of New Years Day with grumpy children. It's a win-win situation for us.

After our kids went to bed, the rest of us played Loaded Questions for awhile, and then had a contest with the Magna Tiles to see who could build the tallest tower in 2 minutes. I am shocked and pleased to announce that in a room full of engineers and mathematicians (yes, everyone in Aaron's family is brilliant) I got second place. :) (I was also the last one to go, which gave me an advantage since I got to see what worked and what didn't work along the way.) 

Aaron downloaded a ball drop app on his phone, complete with fireworks, so that we didn't have to watch the one on TV (I hate the one on TV). We cheered in the New Year with some sparkling apple juice and a smooch. And that was that.

Happy New Year!

Trafalga

After several days of straight snow and the kids being cooped up in the house, Aaron and I decided we needed to take them somewhere to get some of their energy out. Luckily, over the summer we bought The Pass of All Passes for our family on a killer deal ($10) so we were able to go to Trafalga in Lehi for free. They have a play ground area, a climbing wall, a mini golf course, and a ride called the Frog Hopper.

I was most impressed by Ivan, my normally shy, timid child that doesn't like new things. Apparently, he had no fear of heights. He LOVED the Frog Hopper ride (which is like a mini Tower of Terror for little people) and went on it about 10 times. And he was a champ on the rock wall. He probably climbed about 15 feet, and he was upset that we had to go home before he could climb all the way to the top (about 30 ft).

Pattern Blocks

Aaron gets the entire week between Christmas and New Years off with pay, but he decided to put in a few hours this morning just for the heck of it. Since the weather is still snowy and freezing, the kids and I aren't going anywhere. We pulled out our new magnetic pattern blocks and spent a an hour or so having fun with the shapes. We found the mats online and were able to print off a ton of them for free.

**Please notice "Batman" in the picture. He's thrilled with his cape and mask, a present from Gramma Tam**

To Hooper

When we woke up this morning it was snowing, and supposed to stay snowing for the rest of the day. We thought our trip to Hooper was going to be a no-go, until Aaron remembered Front Runner. We checked the times and they worked out perfectly. So we jumped on the train and headed to H-Town.

I will say that although not having to drive on the snowy freeway is a HUGE benefit, taking the train does have a few down sides. #1 The amount of stuff you can take with you. We had to leave behind our snow clothes, which meant no tubing for us, and we also weren't able to bring home all the Christmas presents from my mom's. #2 We had to have someone pick us up and drop us off at the station on the Hooper end, and if we'd wanted to, wouldn't have been able to go anywhere but my mom's house because of lack of vehicle and no car seats.

BUT that being said, we were really happy to be able to go up and celebrate a late Christmas with my family, and to see my step-brother Byran and his family while they are in town. We had so much fun, I didn't even take any pictures, except these few of Adelia Aaron took on the train.

Christmas Day 2012

There is something magical about having Christmas morning in your own home and going at your own pace. I think it will be pretty hard to convince us to do it differently ever again, now that we've experienced it for ourselves. It was perfect this year. Absolutely perfect.

The kids got up about 7:30am and gathered in our room. Then we headed downstairs to open stockings and the trampoline.

 

While the kids played with their stocking stuffers and took turns testing out the trampoline, I made tapioca pudding. (This tradition comes from Aaron's family.) It took me about 45 minutes to make the pudding, but the kids were happy, and since we were on our own time table for the morning there was no rush. Everyone got a small bowl of pudding, and inside someone's pudding is hidden an almond. Whomever had the almond in their pudding gets to pass out the presents. Lincoln got the almond, and was thrilled. 

 Lisa's family gave our family a globe, and we are all very excited about it!

Aaron made money banks for the boys, and they each got a roll of pennies in their stocking. Big hit.

All the kids got a set of Magna Tiles to share. These are great building blocks the whole family can play with.

Aaron and I got each other matching chairs to go in the living room for Christmas. They are really comfy and look great. I thoroughly enjoyed sitting in mine to watch the kids open their presents.

Later in the morning Grandpa and Grandma Swan and Kelly and Esther and Asher came over for Christmas brunch. One thing I love about Christmas is that all the food is outstanding. I think that might be one of the things I look forward to the most...Christmas eating. :) 

Ivan got a tool set from G&G Swan and hasn't stopped playing with it since. He says it's his most favorite Christmas present ever.

G&G Swan gave Adelia a Rapunzel doll, which she adores. It hasn't left her side since she opened it.

Christmas dinner was excellent. I made my first ham ever...a bone-in shank ham, and it turned out perfectly, just the way I like it. It reminded me of my Mom's cooking. :) We also had rolls, yummy potatoes, green bean casserole, and topped it off with pumpkin pie. Did I mention that I love food on Christmas? Because I do. 

After the kids went to bed, we played Mexican Train with Chuck and Debbie. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day. 

Merry Christmas!

Going to Hooper tomorrow, weather permitting.

Christmas Eve 2012

For Christmas Eve dinner we decided to do something a little different this year. We had a Jerusalem dinner, which is basically a meal like Joseph and Mary and Jesus would have eaten in their time. On the menu we had smoked salmon, pita bread, cheese, olives, humus, tabbouleh salad, nuts, dates, dried apricots, grapes, and grape juice. We ate by candle light, and it was a very peaceful, filling, delicious feast. The company was also excellent. Grandma and Grandpa Swan, and Kelly and Esther and Asher came to celebrate with us. I'd like to make it a tradition and do it every year.

And you can't resist a photo of the cute girl sitting at the end of the table. :)

After dinner, Aaron read the nativity story, and we all acted it out for the first time ever. It was a pretty raw first screening, but hilarious and adorable, and I'm betting it'll smooth out as the years go by.

Aaron made the set. The kids provided the barnyard animals. And please notice the star (aka desk lamp) Aaron was very pleased with it. 

  Adelia switched roles at the last minute and decided to be Mary, which is probably good, because there is no way I was going to be able to ride our rockin' donkey to the stable. I was the angel instead. Aaron was Joseph/the Narrator. And Asher made a very adorable shepherd. Baby Jesus was played by Adelia's doll Nora. 

Lincoln and Ivan both wanted to be wise men, they brought gifts for the baby consisting of chocolate gold coins, and some Tommy Girl perfume (the best looking bottle of oil we could come up with). Adelia tested all the coins with her teeth to make sure they were real...I think she found them satisfactory. :)

A special thanks to our behind the scenes people, Kelly and Esther for photographing, and Chuck and Debbie for being the audience. 

After the nativity, we unwrapped our jammies. 

Then we tried to get a picture of the kids in their Christmas jammies by the tree...

...and it didn't go so well. Oh well. Here's the best we could do...

And then they went to bed. And Aaron and I set up for Christmas morning. Here is what will greet the little campers when they wake up. 

Christmas Sunday

Happy Christmas Sunday! I love Christmas Sunday. It always has the best music and the best spirit about it.

When I was growing up, Christmas Sunday was always the week I got to wear my new Christmas dress to church. My dresses were always special, because every year my Dad took me out, just the two of us, to shop for it. I was his only girl, and he spared no expense on my dress or accessories. My only regret is that we took zero pictures of me wearing them. Hence the reason why I go picture over board with my own children. :)

I bought Adelia's dress this year, but I think next year she'll be old enough to start going with Aaron instead. Also, I'm a sucker for guys in sweaters, so that's what my boys will probably always get. 

*If you can't tell...I've been playing with photo effects a lot lately. Aaron says I over do it and ruin all of our pictures. He might be right, but I'm still trying to learn, so maybe one day it'll even out. If you have any tips, now's the time to spill 'em*

Oh K'Nexmas Tree?

Christmas Fun With Grandma Swan

When I was growing up, my Grandma and Grandpa Lemmon lived in a house trailer in our back yard for half the year (in the winter they lived in St. George), and I spent many a happy afternoon sitting at my Grandma's kitchen table and doing little projects with her. My kids have never lived close enough to a grandparent to have that opportunity, until now! Aaron's mom and dad moved to Springville in June, and we have definitely enjoyed having them close.

Today the kids and I spent the morning with Grandma Swan making these cute decorations to hang in the window. (Adelia and I did the snowflake, Lincoln did Santa, Ivan did Frosty, and Grandma Swan did the other snowflake.)

Then Grandma and the kids made and decorated sugar cookies. The kids had a blast. And so did I.

Today's Moments

We've had to really SLOOOW WAAAAY DOOOOWN the last few days because I've been sick with a sinus cold. But thank goodness I started resting and was able to stop it before it turned into a sinus infection! (I get one really bad sinus infection with every pregnancy that knocks me out for a couple weeks.) I am feeling a lot better today and feeling really grateful for those small, wonderful moments in life. I wanted to share a few of mine from today.

Adelia informed me that she was "putting Baby Rabbit's hair in braidies." I can only assume so that his hair matched hers.

Felt well enough to sit down and wrap a few presents during nap/quiet time, and had to stop to admire the spectacular view out my bedroom window. I love our home, and feel so blessed to have it. Right now, I can't think of a more beautiful place to live.

Lincoln drew this picture for me during quiet time. It's our house, with our chair and our TV on the left, and our front door on the right. Outside our front door there is another package. I'm thinking I maybe ordered one too many of our Christmas gifts from Amazon, since the kid is so used to having packages delivered to our door that they seem to him a permanent fixture. :) 

Ivan delivering neighbor gifts to one of our neighbors. We went simple this year and did a two-liter bottle of Root Beer that said, "We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Root Beer!" I'm so grateful to have wonderful neighbors, and children who like to run things up to the door so I don't have to.

Adelia on the top bunk during story time. Man, she makes me nervous...but don't even think about trying to stop her from going up there. Miss Independent!

Salt Dough Ornaments

What you will need:

• 2 cups of all purpose bleached flour
• 1 cup of salt
• 3/4 cups of water  *add a little more water if your dough is dry and not sticking together.  

Directions:

1. Mix all the ingredients together.  
2. Knead it until it's nice and doughy.  
3. Use cookie cutters to make whatever shape ornaments you want. 
4. Use a straw to poke a hole in the top so you can hang them with a string or hook. 
5. Bake for 30 minutes at 200 degrees.  Turn over and bake 10-20 more minutes, until hard.
6. Once they are baked you can paint them. Or use Mod Podge and glitter.

The kids and I made traditional salt dough ornaments today. This was the best turnout for salt dough I've ever had. I think mostly because we baked them instead of waiting days and days for them to air dry. (And yes, Lincoln is wearing a crown on his head, he and Ivan were playing knights and kings when I called them down to put the ornaments on the tree.)