My Family

I love...

Ryan... sometimes I think "how did I get so lucky?" I have the sweetest baby boy! Yesturday It was so cold outside, so I put a hat on Ryan. He hates hats, but once we got outside he forgot he had it on, he looked so sweet!

Pottery Barn Ribbon Ornaments

I finally completed the ribbon ornaments I had been wanting to make for my Christmas Tree this year! Thanks to Chantal, for the idea. I was going to buy them from Pottery Barn, but I saved money and made them myself! I think they turned out great! Now I just need to go and pick out a Tree!

Festival of Trees

Last night I kicked off the season, by attending the Festival of Trees. It was a great event, last night was the opening night, and so people were going there mostly to bid on a Tree of their choice. The proceeds go to Primary Children's Hospital. The families or Individuals who decorate the trees, donate everything out of their own pocket. Many of the Trees are dedicated to love ones lost. It was heartwarming to see the care that went into each detail. I was almost brought to tears as I read a few of the stories and dedications, written on display cards next to each tree. Many of them were dedicated to small children or babies, that had passed on. As a new mother these were the hardest for me to read. What brave parents to go through something so tragic. It brought things into perspective for this time of year. The entire event is put on by volunteers, and they did such a great job! My friend Amanda attended with me, we had such a nice time! the festival will be going on thru the 1st of December at the South Town Expo Center.

Martha Stewart and cookies too!

So did anyone watch the today show this morning? Martha Stewart was a guest and she was making the most beautiful gingerbread centerpiece. When Meridith was done trying to decorate her piece of the house, Martha wouldn't let her put it on her centerpiece because it wasn't perfect. She told Meridith to eat it, then Meridith told Martha to eat it. Martha then said "we want it to look perfect" Meridith replied "how rude"Martha tried to cover up the obviously upset Meridith,It was a little awkward!

I had to laugh because there have been many times I have not used what other people have done because I am a little bit of a perfectionist. (just ask my old roommates). Have any of you ever decorated cookies with a friend, only to find out that she cannot spread frosting, and the cookie looks so bad you wouldn't want to eat it?

Martha does have some yummy looking cookies on her website. If her crafts, and cooking didn't look perfect, she wouldn't be so popular. There is something to doing it right! Millions in her case!

My Advent Calendar

I decided to compile a list of things I want to do in December! Some are my family traditions, and others are ones I want to start!

Attend the Festival of Trees (done)
Go Sledding
Go to our family condo in park City for a weekend (done)
Buy A tree (done, but Jamie actually bought it)
Go caroling
Make holiday cookies for my neighbors (done)
Go Ice skating
Make jalapeno jelly(done)
Have a Christmas party (done)
Attend the nutcracker ballet
Sing in the choir(done)
Make candy (done)
Address Christmas cards(done)
Watch the Christmas story (done)
Watch the Christmas classic cartoons (done)
Find some mistletoe (kiss under it) (done)
Go to a nice dinner with Jamie (done)
Buy a nice holiday dress
Turn on Christmas music and trim the tree! (done)
Play with Ryan in the snow
Go to a holiday movie (done)
Make Ribbon ornaments (done)
Make a jingle bell wreath
Work on homemade Christmas gifts (done)
Take Ryan to get a picture on Santa's lap
Have lunch at the Nordstrom Cafe after shopping
Buy Jamie's stocking stuffers (done)
Make hot cocoa and invite some neighbors over
Make a gingerbread house(I bought one at Costco to assemble) (done)
Eat peppermint Ice cream
Read the Christmas story (done)
Sing in a messiah sing along
Serve at the homeless center
Participate in the Twelve days of Christmas for a needy family

So I did pretty good! Next year Maybe I will complete my entire list.

Big Boy Pajamas

Ryan got his first pair of big boy pajamas! He looked so big! It was bittersweet, my baby is growing up! He turned 18 months during our trip.

NC Trip Highlights

And we are back! It is nice to be back home, and before I start pulling out all of our Holiday decorations, I'll update you on our Trip to the south.

During the first leg of our trip, we decided to spend a Day in the city. Jamie drove us around all of the old estates in the downtown Charlotte University district, and we had dinner downtown at Brixx. It was a really posh brick oven pizzeria, with great food. After we went to a fine foods store to pick up a few treats for our visits during the trip.

Another Highlight was visiting with some dear friends of ours, the Bodilys. On Sunday we had a lovely dinner with them at their home. Thanks you guys for such a nice time! They have a beautiful little girl named Talia, and Ryan loved playing with her!

We also took a day trip up to Chapel Hill/Durham, to eat at Fosters Market! I was slightly disappointed, because I went there with such high expectations, and found the food to be just OK. I did leave with two jars of Jalapeno Jelly, to serve during December! And it is really good! Then we drove around the area,with a quick drive through the Duke campus. And a couple of shopping stops along the way!

The remainder of the trip was spent with family, a nice Thanksgiving Dinner at Jamie's Grandmas home, and Kitchen remodeling at his Mom and Step Dads home. We saw our three nieces, and our nephew too!

Thanks to all of you, for a special holiday!

Ryan and his Grandpa Dwane

Grandma Jan getting Ryan to sleep.


Jamie working on his Mom's Kitchen

Ryan with his cousin Nate

Ryan and nate sharing toysWorking together!













What a sweet boy!

NC Bound!

I am heading off to the airport with Ryan in an hour! I am exhausted from preparations, but feel excited too! Hopefully, I will get the chance to update along the way, we will be back on the 24th! I found the most comfortable and sassy shoes at target last night, while picking up some Dramamine (for me). They are red ballet flats! I'm wearing them to the airport. Check out target, they have lots of colors, and are only $14.00!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Krissys Wedding

On Saturday, I attended a wedding of one of my friends and old roommate Krissy. She had her wedding at Market Street in Sandy. It was fun to see Friends I hadn't seen in a while, and enjoy her special day! Her dress was beautiful, my favorite part was the champagne colored ribbon that was around the waist and cascaded down the back of the dress, it was almost vintage looking. The flowers, were shades of greens with red and pink. it was a great combination. Congratulations Krissy And Manny!

The food was wonderful, I had the Halibut, I usually order that when we eat there! I also recommend the raspberry torte for dessert, a Market Street favorite!

Afterwards, I was looking forward to a nice relaxing afternoon at home with my boys. We didn't leave the house the rest of the day. We cooked in, and watched a few episodes of carpoolers, and the office, and retired early.

Sunday was pretty typical for us, we had a nice leisure morning getting ready for our church service, afterwards we had some lunch, and a few visitors, then I made cookies to take to my parents for Sunday Dinner. I always love Sundays, because I have siblings that live away from home, but every other Sunday we get together at my parents for dinner. Its so nice to see them!

BYU and TRIO Too!

Last night I met up with some of my old roommates! It was a fun night, with fabulous food, and it was so fun to get all the girls together again. One of the girls is getting Married tomorrow, and we decided to kick it off with a girls night out. All of us lived together in a house in SLC, and we had so much fun. It has been a long time since we have all been together, one of the girls lives in Georgia, and she flew in for the occasion! Thanks, Jessica,Amy,Krissy,Brooke and Brookie!

Trio is an modern Italian restaurant, I had the house salad with grilled chicken, it was really good! As was the flat bread with goat cheese and sweet peppers! It would be a great date place, or a night out with the girls!

Right after dinner I hurried home to pick up Jamie and Ryan for the BYU vs. TCU Game! It was fun to be in such a huge crowd. They won too! Games are always better when your team wins! We went with some friends of ours and they have a one year old boy too! The babies were troopers, and I think they had a good time with all the cheering and music. Neither Jamie or I went to BYU, but many of our closest friends are alumni, and living where we do, you cant help but be a fan! Go Cougars!

Father and Son

Ryan's Christmas List

I want to make careful choices for Ryan for Christmas this year. I am sure you all can relate to the piles of Broken or unused toys that clutter up each of our homes. I have one child and we already have a large trash bag of unused toys. It makes me more careful in my choices for him.

Here are a few of the things I have found:

1.A peekaboo bag: they are great for learning, and of course those places that require quiet toys such as church and restaurants, or soon airplanes. Plus as they grow they enjoy this toy even more!

Check out the web page, they have stores that carry these in most states!

2. This alligator pull toy: I love how simple it is, and the bright green color, it makes you smile, I think it is a beautifully designed toy! Ryan loves pulling things and the sounds things make.And can you beat $14.95?

I love the website e-beanstalk.com it has wonderful toys!

3. Zoom Around the Garage: A great toy for Ryan, in his nursery class there is a car ramp similar to this one, Ryan plays with it the entire 2 hour block, so it is obvious I needed to find something similar. I love this one from e-beanstalk toys. And I have been looking everywhere! The slide is a great feature too!

4. My mom and I were at Target last week, and we decided to walk through the Toy Aisles to see if we liked any of the toys. Well there is an aisle with play Kitchens, There was a blue Kitchen set, and we couldn't get Ryan to leave the aisle. He played with it for 20 minutes, so My mom thought it would be a perfect Christmas Gift. I said "I agree, but do not say a word to his dad!" I don't see anything wrong with a boy who likes stoves,dishes, and cooking! Some of the most famous chefs are men. I have to admit, I would love to play kitchen with Ryan.

A few books and I think I am ready for Christmas!

Cake Tasting and Musicals

Last night a friend of mine, who is a very talented baker, had a chocolate cake tasting. She makes wedding cakes, and caters periodically. She invited a few foodies, and had 9 cakes to test, with sheets to fill out rating each cake and filling, at the end she asked us to make up our dream cake with the cakes and fillings she had us try, mine was a chocolate cake(moist)with a caramel frosting filling with chocolate ganache on top. Other fun fillings were peppermint, double dark chocolate, and coconut lime. I didn't take any pictures, as it was not my event, but I thought it was a great idea, maybe I will do something similar sometime. (A soup testing?) Thanks Amelia!

Later that evening I had the privilege to go see Thoroughly Modern Millie with my Mom, we loved every minute of it! The costumes, dancing, and comical delight! It was a Hale Center Theatre production, we were laughing at the edge of our seats! The Theatre is a small and quaint old theatre located in downtown Orem. If you have not attended one of their productions you are surely missing out!

Thanksgiving Favors

On Matthew meade style, there are treat boxes for Halloween and Thanksgiving.They are available in PDF form so you can download them at home and make them. For our Trip out east, I am going to make these for the guests at Thanksgiving dinner.My friend Teresa taught me last year how to make spiced pecans. I am going to fill the boxes with the nuts, a tie a ribbon around!

Spiced Pecans

Turn on oven to 250.

1 lb. pecans

1 egg white

1 cup granulated sugar

2 tbls. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. salt

Beat egg white till frothy. Pour over pecans and combine till all the nuts are wet. Mix dry ingredients and then add to wet pecans. Combine till all the pecans are cover in the dry ingredients. Spread on a cookie sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Stir pecans, return to the oven,turn off the oven, and leave in for 30 more minutes.

Winter Wardrobe

I found this dress at the Gap, I think it could be the perfect dress to layer up or down, wear with heels or boots or leggings. I need a few things to get me through the winter months. I also want a pair of tall boots sans the heel, I found a reasonably priced pair of Steve maddens in black. With my new bag( I found a steal of a vintage bag for $20.00 at Thanksgiving point) I may have found a perfect winter ensemble!

Trick Or Treat!

At church we attended a Trunk or Treat, you decorate your trunk and hand out candy to the kids in the parking lot, we had a good turn out at least 145 kids we figure because we ran out of candy and had to run to get more. Afterwards we headed home to get the pumpkins lit for trick or treaters.

Ryan was an adorable cow, and enjoyed the smarties,suckers and a few other things (I pulled many treats out of his mouth with the wrapper still on) he is so quick!