New Beginings

Christmas was wonderful. My biggest present was having Emil M. home from college. He got home December 17th and Jess quickly took up post on his lap.

So hard to believe that he's a college kid but he's doing well in Utah and I think college life has been a good change for him.We took our annual trip to DC to see the temple lights on the 22-23. We got to see a preformance at the temple visitor's center by a sax quartet. They were quite good and we really enjoyed it.

We stayed at a hotel downtown so we walked all over the city. We walked by the Capitol but we were too late for the tour. We did get to go to the visitors center which was pretty interesting in itself. It was so cool with the different types of building and statues.

Here are Kirstin and Emil goofing off by one statue we all found quite intriguing.

The next day we went to the International Spy museum. A place I've always wanted to go. It was pretty cool but camera weren't allowed inside so no fun pics there plus if I told you more I'd have to kill you...;)

Christmas Eve we went to Emil's parents and had a great night eating filipino food, opening presents and seeing family. I have been so blessed with a wonderful family by marriage. How'd I get so lucky?

Christmas Day we opened presents, went to church, and had our own Christmas celebration. It was nice and quiet and as much as I love the noisy Christmases I remember as a child of a family of ten I also love our quiet Christmases that are becoming our family's tradition. I guess to every time there is a season.

New Year's Eve we went to Cara's Birthday party. I made the cake. It was decorated, which is something I don't usually do but it turned out well.

New Years day we enjoyed church then had a fire on the back path while we played at slack lining.

(it's a LOT harder than it looks!)

Truly my greatest gift remains my faith and my family.

I can not imagine my life without either of them.

Happy New Year!

My Favorite Things

Have you got some favorites in your kitchen? I sure have. I always enjoy reading my friends recommendations since I know I can trust them so here are some of my kitchen staples. If you don't have them, give them a try, I'm willing to bet you'll fall in love with them too!

First up. Spatulas

I'm cheap and I have been known to get a spatula in the $1 section at Target. While they last for a short time, something about scraping out the inside of a can kind of eats away at them. This year I found these 3 little beauties. They're sold together and they are the perfect size for little jars and cans.

They were from Target and are Nortic Wear and silicone so no worries about them melting in high temps. I think I paid under $10 for them. I love them so much I'm tempted to get another set just so I don't have to wash them so much. (yep, I'm pretty much a slob when I cook)

Have you met this little lady? Non Stick Aluminum foil? A-mazing! When I'm making bars I line my 13X9 pan with this, spray it lightly and when they're done cooking I can just pull them out of the pan. Wow! So much easier to cut that way and I've used it with Mom's caramel recipe and it works like a dream. Makes clean up super quick too. A "must have" for this time of year.

This is the Misto. Sounds like a super hero, and it kinda is, because it's like making your own Pam cooking spray. You put in your oil. Pump it and voila! it sprays out a mist of oil. Great for the environment because your not throwing away all those cans and you can do any type of oil you want or even a vinaigrette, (if it doesn't have big spices in it.) if you like the spray on kind of salad dressing. I think I got this at Target a few years back. I had something similar from Pampered Chef but it broke and so I got this one. It is wonderful! It was under $10

If you make candy, get a digital thermometer. I used the glass ones for years and about drove myself insane. I picked this one up on amazon this fall for $15. It beeps when you get to the correct temp. Stupendous! So easy a child could do it but don't let your child do it, sugar gets way too hot!

I love my Bosch mixer for my big batches of bread. She's not at all streamline, she's the workhorse of mixers but boy howdy does she do the job. 12 cups of flour for that big batch of bread? Throw it on in, she's got your covered. She's pricy. I think I paid $300 about 8 years ago. One set back is the plastic mixing bowl. It is not good for whipping egg whites. It holds too much oil and there is no handle so I had to seek another option.

Meet my sexy new friend, Lilly. (If you can name cars, why not mixers?)

Well her official name is Kitchen Aid Artisan but that was just a mouthful!

One loaf of bread is her max but she can do some meringues! Much smaller for the countertop and so pretty too. I got her just over a month ago and she was $250 on sale.

Hope you enjoyed this (sorry guys, I know this post was not one for you) hopefully you've seen something that will make this season just a little bit easier for you so you can find some more time to relax. Merry Christmas!

Nine years ago we got an early Christmas present and Kai was born into our family. He was the youngest and the biggest little stinker.

He loved his little "Lammy". He would suck his thumb and hold Lammy's tail in his fist rubbing it against his nose. As he got older and Lammy became more mobile I would have to bleach him to get the stink out of him. Kai always noticed when Lammy had a "bath" because he would say he was stinky!

After being terrified of spiders for years he realized that he was bigger than them and overcame that fear. Kai was captivated by animals and insects and loved the outdoors because it was his observatory.

Just like his big brothers he loved Legos and creating.

He loved Thomas the Tank Engine and trains of all shapes and sizes.

And of course Nerf guns!

Though Kai's time on this earth was short, I am forever grateful for the time we had with his special spirit. I wouldn't change a minute.

Sometimes I think about Kai's birthday being in December, so close to Christmas, and am thankful because remembering the gift he was to our life helps me keep Christmas in perspective and remember what a gift the Savior is in our lives.

We miss you sweet Kai!