Snow Cat

Sunday Saying

New Traditions

There's a very classy lady in our ward who is also my VT partner. She's got her act together. I asked her about her family's Christmas traditions. One tradition was using their Christmas dishes as much as possible. I tend to get mine out just for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but this year I took a page from her book and used mine a lot. I was glad I did.

 I even went all out for Christmas dinner and used the old family china. We even lit candles! I was glad I did that too.

 Another of my friend's Christmas traditions was that she cooked a prime rib for her family dinner every year. Cook a prime rib? Scary stuff, that. But I did it.

And I'll do it again.

Scenes From Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve Diet Busters

One of our Christmas traditions is the buffet of delectable food we make for each other on Christmas Eve. Everyone makes something and we eat till we fall over.

This year's offerings included: Lindsey's Muddy Buddies. Her chocolate covered hands were...chocolaty.

 Brian's Venezuelan Potato Covered Meatballs. Deep fried, naturally.

 Cheese Stuffed Cheese- what could be better?

 Ben made caramel filled apples. That caramel is tough to cut!

 Peter's Self Saucing Pudding from New Zealand. Made with metric measurements.

 Shannon's Veggie Bars. The vegetables made us feel like were eating something that was somewhat healthy.

 Italian Baked Shrimp with legs and tails attached.

 Crab Won Tons. Lots of Crab Won Tons.

 In keeping with our corn dog tradition, I made the Pioneer Woman's Corn Dog Muffins. Tasty!

 All in all, it was a massive feast.

 Gus watched it all from his Christmas tree lair.

 After eating, we read the story of the Nativity from the scriptures and played the new game that Brian and Lindsey gave to us- Ticket To Ride. Bruce is now addicted to this game.

It was a fun Christmas Eve and we were happy to have our family together!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you and your families have a wonderful Christmas together!!

The Eve Before Christmas

Have a magical Christmas Eve!

Sunday Saying

My Smelly Gifts

This is what we are giving the neighbors this year: Christmas Simmering Kits.

Lindsey helped me put them together. I think they are a perfect gift- you can use it right away, they make your house smell good, and you don't have to find a place for it later!

I've been displaying my Christmas cards on my cupboard doors this year- another Pinterest Idea of Brilliance.

I like being able to see those faces of family and friends that I love!

Steps And A Rat Tail

Back in October, Brian and Peter made a bet with each other. If they wouldn't cut their hair for two months, they would cut each other's hair for final's week- however they wanted. My boys like their hair short, so to go for two months without a haircut was asking a lot. Of course, they both made it the full two months, and they cut each other's hair.

Brian cut steps into Peter's hair:

And Peter gave Brian a mohawk with a rat tail in the back.

They've been walking around with these haircuts for a week now. In public. At church.

Guys, remember when I told you we were taking family pictures this week? 

Le Bon Vie!

What to get for the boss...that is the question. I try to find something unique and special for Bruce's husband/wife bosses. This year I went with the macaroons from Le Bon Vie bakery in the Grand America hotel in Salt Lake. Half the fun was going down there to see the hotel! I even valet parked- pretty swanky, right?

The Christmas tree in the lobby had amazing decorations:

I love how the Grand feels like visiting some rich uncle's mansion. A slightly tilted rich uncle's mansion.

The bakery was an amazing place! Here's wall of empty boxes, waiting to be filled with assorted goodies.

Maybe these assorted goodies!

What a fun little trip this was for me. Some day I want to stay at The Grand!

Christmas Subway

No, I couldn't leave out Christmas when it comes to holiday subway art.

Now I have a whole year's worth!

The Lights, They Hurt My Eyes!

Last night we took the kids out to see some local Christmas lights, KSL has a new link on their website this year with a map that shows houses with especially neat Christmas lights, most syncronized to music. We started in South Weber:

Then made our way out to Layton:

We had to drive through Layton City Park with it's display,

And ended at the barn, which always looks great this time of year.

 It was a fun way to see how creative people can be this time of year!