Christmas Eve

Christmas this year was spent at home. McKay has mentioned that she hasn't been able to have a Christmas at home yet (this home). It wasn't this year either.Zeb and Daisy just moved into our neck of the woods so we invited them over for Christmas Eve for some snow fun and hot food. Last week when we went up for Jake to help unpack, McKay asked who they were. I explained how they were related to Erika and how we knew them. McKay said, "so they are cousins-ish?"
Yep.Laura and Kirsten hit it off immediately. We all know Kirsten isn't shy.Mateo wasn't too sure of the snow. It might take some time for him to get used to it. (plus the wind and the cold).I loved this picture (minus the van.)Cruz and Katanya found the snowdrifts to be fun sledding hills. The wind has been rather nasty here and has taken the foot plus of snow and made 4-5 foot snow drifts.Cruz first.Katanya next.....and down she goes....With a face full of snow.

Later that night we ate until our we couldn't eat anymore. We enjoyed having close friends over and not having to go anywhere.

Although later that night when it was time to go to bed Jake said to me....."Christmas just isn't the same without McKay." I agree.

More Christmas Traditions

This year my goal was to get our neighbors and friends a "more personal" Christmas gift. I think last year I didn't do anything since we were in Texas, yeah, pretty sure. So this year I went back to when I was a kid (something I don't do very often) and remembered the beef "sausage" stick that my mom used to make. I've made it several times throughout the years but only for our family and a few close friends. Everybody has said they like it.....everybody but Jake.

After three days of mixing and kneading up the ingredients, I start on the baking voyage of three days for three different 5 pound batches that cooks 8 hours each. My house smell quite delicious and homey. If you want the recipe click here.

So the question comes down to this....As I was mixing the meat with the spices and kneading it, Jake asks, "Isn't that disgusting to your hands?" I said, "Yeah but what do you do?" He responded, "Use a mixer?" I laughed.

So, is that really possible? I personally don't think so.

wrapping, unwrapping, rewrapping .... deja vu

Two different perspectives of today:
ONE -
For the past week I have had only one present under the tree.
Due to the littlest child, for the past week I have wrapped this same present three times. (I am lucky that I put it in a box and taped it.)
If I had better hiding places and not so curious kids, I would have no presents under the tree until Christmas Eve.
Now that we went shopping there are a few more presents under the tree.
Any guesses on how many I will be rewrapping?


TWO-
Our first real storm came today. Snow and wind = bad roads and drifts.
For the first time, I am glad we still have our suburban when we traveled out on the roads tonight. Our last snow storm, (in Colorado) Jake thought that when you are not stopping, you should give it more gas and take the turn anyway. Destruction was a new hub and bearing.
The high tomorrow is 18. The low 9. So why does my thermometer say 2?

One of our Christmas Traditions

It's taken me awhile to adjust to the cold back home. I think it's been two weeks since I have actually blogged. Lucky for me, Jake has.

One tradition that I started when Jake and I first got married was each year on the tree we would put up two new ornaments a year. The first being a family picture and the second being an ornament that symbolized something great for that year.

IE: 2001 is the Salt Lake Temple for us being married and sealed, 2002 is a carriage for Kirsten's birth, 2003 is the state of Idaho for our move, 2004 is a binkie for Cruz's birth....it's self explanatory.

The first three or four years, our Christmas tree was a little bare. Now that this is our eighth Christmas together, it's finally looking like a Christmas tree. Now that my ornament from this year arrived in the mail today, my tree is complete for this year, and I have something to blog about.