Christmas Aire

It's Christmas time and my college kids got in this past weekend! It's so nice to have everyone under the same roof! We finally got to see the Handbell Choir at the Visitors Center at the DC temple this Friday. It was sooooo good!

This was the tough look picture.

I wish I could play handbells! and the cello. I love that instrument! The sound is so rich!

And of course the temple lights! We had to pick Kirstin up after the trip to the temple so she's not in these pictures but she got to see the temple lights at the Salt Lake Temple so she still got her fill.
Her plane got in too late for our DC schedule.

We brought Catherine with us to pick up Kirstin in DC. Those silly girls talked all night and went from crying to laughing so many times I lost count. I haven't even gotten any pictures of Kirstin home because she's been so busy visiting everyone!

Noah tested a couple of weekends ago for Tae Kwon Do and advanced in rank. He's still enjoying it and we love that it keeps him active! Grandma and Grandpop Moster were there to cheer him on.

He's been loving having his siblings home. He cannot stop wrestling with Emil M. I think he may be feeling more confident since his growth spurt. He's also officially taller than Kirstin now! He's pretty proud of that. He's got his sights on passing Emil M. in height but we will have to wait and see how that turns out.

Kirstin made it through her first semester at college. She is having a great time and has decided that our cold NC temps of 30 degrees don't even faze her now! She will be changing apartments and is excited to be closer to campus especially since she doesn't have a car! She's decided to change her major to Graphic Design, I think. Something along those lines. She has a boyfriend, Shaye, and is pretty smitten. From what we hear- he's super cute and takes great care of her.

Looks like Emil Michael will graduate in the spring with a English degree!!! He's hoping to get a internship this last semester that will lead him into a job after graduation.  We are praying that it will all work out for him. I think he's ready for a break from education for a while. He is definitely planning on relaxing the entire Christmas break, visiting a few friends and eating lots of homemade bread and goodies.

The first thing on my list was to give him a free haircut. It may not look like much but this boy was way overdue! This is what came off. (He's camera shy so I'll see what pics I can get over break and share those with you.)

Emil has been busy surfing every chance he can and finding a new food source for his chameleon. Currently he is raising hornworms. They are those huge green worms that can eat a tomato plant clean of leaves in one day. Apparently they are excellent for chameleons. They give me nightmares. He and Blaze have been running too. She loves that!

Some of the sunrises are amazing!

I am still running 3 miles a day 5 times a week. I'm proud I've maintained it with the change in the season however much of that is due to my awesome running partner and friend, Jaime. She's so positive and faithful that if it weren't for her I would have gone into my normal winter hiatus by now.  However if it's below 34 or raining we don't run. I guess it's good we live in a mild climate. 5:30 comes so early when its cold and dark outside! So many mornings I hit the alarm hoping its raining or too cold! We've only missed a couple days because of weather.

Scottish Shortbread

Ginger Krinkles dipped in white chocolate

Pecan Pie Cheesecake

Business has been slow at the cafe but it's actually been nice with the season because I've had time to try new Christmas recipes- I have been playing with cinnamon caramels and shortbread. The turtles will always be my favorite. I could eat a million and probably have!

I also got to make several of these fabric stacking boxes that I just fell in love with. They're cute, easy and use up fabric scraps. Pretty much a dream come true for one who loves to sew!

 At the begining of the week Emil and I were able to attend a sealing of a older friend of ours at the temple. It was so sweet and beautiful.

We were talking in our Relief Society class today and I came to the realization that this life is

all about love.

God's love for us is why he sent his son. 

His Son's love for us is what caused him to give his life for us. 

Our love for our fellowman is part of how we can be more like him and will help us return to him. 

If we can just love one another more, our hearts can soften to the flaws we all have and are working on. 

Christmas to me, is finding the charity to do that. To try to begin to love my fellowman more perfectly as the Savior did. 

Merry Christmas! 

With much love- 

Kathryn

November Already???!!!

Where oh where did the time go?

 I feel like I've been running at the speed of light lately. The air has turned chilly at night but we still have moderate temps during the days. 

Fall is a season I love. I was out one Sunday delivering some bread I made and took some pictures of the fields and cotton. 

I guess I say that every season. I do love them all. Winter less so than others but I do like the sweaters! 

This time of year makes me want to organize! So I started with my bathroom closet.

I saw this idea on the internet. I love it. I wish I had taken a before picture so you could see the difference!

 I know exactly where everything is and nothing is wandering over to the other side of the shelf. 

Needless to say it's driving Emil crazy. lol

He doesn't like having to open a bin to get out aspirin but for now he's allowing it on his side too. We'll see how long he can take it. Maybe I'll win him over and he'll get use to it. I'd like to do my closet but the bigger bins are more pricy. These were only $1 each so it was a small investment and then I just printed up some cute labels.

I've been baking all things pumpkin and discovered this amazing Pumpkin Buttermilk Poundcake. If you want something to impress with it at Thanksgiving shoot me a email and I'll send you the link to the recipe. If you like pumpkin- you will love it!

Pumpkin Buttermilk Poundcake

We have been living the life of Marching Band Parents. Every weekend is either a competition or football game. Thankfully last weekend was our last commitment until the Christmas Parade. Yay! 

As much as we all love it- it's lots of late nights and hard work. The band did really well this year placing in the top three in several competitions and getting the Grand Champion for one. It's a pretty big deal and Noah was totally stoked! I think he enjoyed this year more than last year since he's older but he was pretty done by last weekend. It's been so good for him to be a part of something. 

I had a big Relief Society event last Saturday. It was a craft day with any ladies who wanted to come craft. 

The Plates with the wording were the biggest hit of all the crafts. Everyone who came had a wonderful time and there was such a sweet spirit of sisterhood there. I love our little Branch!

  We invited the Missionaries to help us by teaching a craft. It was fun to see them help the ladies. They are such sweet guys!

I've decided to get together with my friend Ezzy once a month to sew. This month we made a cute bench pillow. 

Next month we're doing smaller Christmas Pillow Covers. It was quite the undertaking and I didn't actually finish it until the day after Halloween but I'm keeping it out until just before Thanksgiving. ha ha I worked so hard on it!

A couple of weeks ago we had a temple day and took Noah to do some baptisms. On the way home we stopped at the National Museum of the Marine Corps. 

We always pass by it on the way to DC. You can see it from the highway but this was the first time Noah and I had been. It was pretty impressive.

 I always feel such a welling of emotion when visiting our nations military museums and historical sites. We get to see much of that being so close to DC. Our country is not a perfect place, there are many things that I think need to be changed in the government and just civil society in general but I can't help but feel we are incredibly blessed to live in this country. 

To enjoy the freedoms and peace that we do. I think we take that entirely too much for granted. We owe so much to those who have paid for our freedom with their lives. Are we living our lives to be worthy of that sacrifice? Do we exercise our freedoms like we should? Like voting today?

I hope we do and that we truly appreciate what we have been given.

School Days

We sent Emil M back to school at the end of August. Emil drove with him cross country and then flew back home. He is settled and beginning his senior year at BYU Provo. I can't believe he's almost done with four years of college. It went so fast!

Noah began high school this year. He's doing well so far. Being in marching band has helped him with knowing upperclassmen and have a comfortable peer group to socialize with. He has a pretty easy semester this time. He likes his teachers but isn't enjoying PE. Luckily he only has to take it one semester in HS so once he's done this year he'll be finished for good. They had their first football game a couple of weeks ago. I didn't get any pictures because I was busy at the booster concession stand. Next time.

He's been doing great in Tae Kwon Do. He tested for his 2nd level orange belt back in August and did great! He may switch programs after the new year but we are going to wait until the marching band season is over and he's gotten use to getting up early for seminary. (Do they EVER get use to getting up early for seminary? lol)

Kirstin and I flew out to ID and had a great trip! It was fast- we arrived and bought her apt supplies on Thursday when we flew in to Salt Lake City. My sister Sheila was our generous chauffeur.

We headed to ID on Friday and got her unpacked.

She has a really nice apt with 5 other roommates. 

This is her bedroom.

There are 3 rooms and a good size kitchen. We walked around campus that night and did some photo ops.

I spent the night with the family of one of the missionaries who had served in our area then the next morning we got her books and ID and then said goodbyes. It was so nice to leave her knowing she was at a good school, ready for this time in her life and prepared for what was to come. 

After that I came back to UT and got to visit my dear friends The Brady's. It has been quite a while since I had seen them and it was nice to catch up. Visiting them is like slipping into a comfortable old sweater. It's so easy- true friends like that don't come along very often in life and when they do you have to nurture and treasure those relationships. 

 Lori taught me to make bread years ago and I have enjoyed the art ever since!

Amy & Me!

I stayed with my sister Sheila and had a relaxing time just talking with her. As always, my throat is always so sore at the end of the first day together. There is just so much to catch up on!!

Me, Mom & Sheila

Sheila had a big family dinner that Sunday and I got to see all her kids and their families as well as my brother David and his family and my niece Autumn. Emil M. stayed the night there on Saturday too so we got to visit too.

Heather, Sheila, Me & Mom

Monday I was headed back home. It was a short trip but fun. Kirstin has been out a week and we've spoken and texted to her quite a bit. Things are going well and Calculus is giving her a run for her money but she's enjoying it. 

I am so grateful for my life. I have been richly blessed!