A pre-Christmas surprise

There are two times a year when I feel complete freedom--December and May post finals. When Marc finished on Wednesday morning, we felt like getting out with the boys and spending time together. We didn't do anything too exciting. We celebrated by going to dinner at Wood Ranch-- a super yummy steak house known for their tri-tip--which happens to be in the mall closest to us, so after dinner we decided to brave the mall in this crazy shopping time--a very stupid decision, but it turned out well for Carter, as you can see in the pictures. We don't frequent the Disney Store often, but in recent months Marc tends to see what they have, so we made it our last stop. Well, we found the second set of the Cars figures to make Carter's collection complete. He had received one car from the first set each week after Anderson was born to make the transition easier on him and he's been obsessed ever since. We tried to save it for Christmas morning, but I have a hard time waiting when I'm just too excited about a gift, so we gave it to him yesterday. He was thrilled and the look on his face was priceless. There is nothing that compares to seeing your kid's eyes light up with pure excitement. He's been busy ever since lining them all up. There's Doc, Chick, Guido, Sally, Mater, Fillmore, Tractor, Luigi (my favorite because in Carter language it comes out sounding a bit like the word weggie), Mater again--he already had one before we got the sets--Jeep, King, Ramone, and Lightening. Merry Christmas, Carter.

Enjoying the spoils

Last weekend was a baking frenzy! We made all of our traditional cookies plus two new recipes. We made mint melt aways, gingerbread men (and pieces for the house we plan to assemble tomorrow!), sugar cookies, chocolate orange drops, chocolate raspberry thumbprints, white chocolate cranberry biscotti, and nanimo bars. (Listed in clockwise order, spiraled inward) It was a chocolate lovers heaven! We then assembled 18 plates to deliver to our dearest friends out here. We tried to keep the list short, but to no avail. There are just so many people here who have touched our lives and we will miss them dearly when we move in June--those details will be announced in the coming months as elements of the plan are secured. Anyway, in the midst of baking, we all indulged a little too much on dough and cookies and have been trying to make up for it all week with salad. Can you tell that Carter thoroughly enjoyed himself helping me and helping himself to the treats? Yum! Unfortunately, there is nothing left to leave for Santa, but I'm sure I can come up with something else for him--dare I say he doesn't need it after last weekend?

Anderson is 3 Months!

Happy 3 month birthday to Anderson! Wow, it's been a long 3 months full of progress. Just last night I was telling Marc how much I missed Anderson's newborn days. I guess technically he still fits in the category, but he was pushing 15 pounds a month ago and to me that's simply not a newborn. We decided, though that the perks of having a 3 month old far out way the "newborn phase." The best perk is this: Just when we thought it would never happen, Anderson started sleeping through the night. It's almost been a month since. It's been great--though finals time is wearing on us both and we are still bone tired. He's wearing 6 month clothing and is probably about 17 pounds. That's our best guess anyway. And last night, he started laughing for the first time. I was watching The Biggest Loser and Marc was being silly with Anderson and all of a sudden it got quiet and I noticed--Anderson's laughing for the first time! We quickly got the video camera and videoed for one of the first times, even though we've had the thing since May. Anyway, we're so glad to have such an angel in our house--he barely even makes a peep most of the time. Here's a pic of our boys in matching shirts. I bought Carter's at the outlet because it was so stinkin' cute and then later I received Anderson's as a gift. When I get Anderson's out to put it on him, Carter thinks it is his, so we have to get his out, too.

Getting to Know Your Friends--Christmas Edition!

Welcome to the 2006 Christmas Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends!

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot chocolate or mulled cider—the Williams Sonoma mulled spices recipe is fab!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Unwrapped

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White lights—nothing on the apt.—maybe icicle lights when we have a house.

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No, but Marc would love it if I did! Maybe next year.

5. When do you put your decorations up?
The first weekend in December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Every Christmas Eve growing up we had clam chowder—I don’t know why—but we’ve held that tradition.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child?
I love getting a new ornament every year and decorating the tree and hanging the stockings.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
I can't even remember, but after we found out, we got to help play Santa to all my siblings until they found out, too!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
Yes—Marc and I started the ever traditional pj gift. I think we’ll start a Christmas book tradition, too. This year Carter is getting How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
White lights, ornaments

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it?
Love to cozy up inside if it’s snowing but hate being caught outside in the cold, wet slush.

12. Can you ice skate?
Not really. I’ve been a few times.

13. Do you remember your favorite gifts?
One year, in middle school my parents totally surprised me with a leather bomber jacket. I’m not even sure that I had asked for it because I didn’t think I’d get it.

14. What's the most exciting thing about Christmas for you?
I love everything Christmas—decorations, baking, shopping, Christmas Eve, and of course Christmas morning. It’s even better now that we have kids.

15. What is your favorite Holiday dessert?
I love pecan pie—I know it’s a little Thanksgiving-y, but this year I’m going to try a recipe for cranberry pecan pie. We’ll see if it turns out. I also love this cranberry dessert with cream sauce.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
I really can’t name a favorite. We have lots—gingerbread house making, yes out of real gingerbread thanks to my mother-in-law’s fab recipe. The tradition started with her. Other baking. Pj opening. A new ornament for everyone and a new music CD every year. Renting movies and watching on Christmas Eve to pass the time and hopefully get rid of the butterflies.

17. What tops your tree?
A star.

18. Which do you prefer giving or receiving?
I love love love watching my boys open their presents (that includes Marc). But I also anxiously anticipate the spoilage I receive from my sweetie. He's Christmas shopping for me as we speak!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas—Martina McBride’s version is great. We got Jim Brickman’s CD this year. It has great songs, too.

20. Candy Canes?
Not a huge fan.

Let the festivities begin!

So, last week at this time I had resigned myself to the idea that Christmas cards and baking would not be done this year. I couldn't figure out how to get them done as Christmas is flying towards us at the speed of light, and we hadn't gotten our picture taken yet. Our talents are not in the realm of photography (as I'm sure you can see here) and our favorite photographer (wink, wink Whitni) is in Dallas. Well, after I had made that decision for us, I was super sad. Christmas just isn't Christmas without cards and baking, so I changed my mind. Wives are always entitled to that, right? So, I told Marc to set up the tripod on Sunday and here's what came out. Not exactly last years picture, but it will do to wish you all a Merry Christmas! The silly photo was the last one taken and as Marc set the timer he told us all to make silly faces. Well, I'm not really a silly person so I had to ask what kind of silly face would be appropriate and this is the lame look I came up with. As you can see, I have a lot to learn from my boys! In a few hours I will begin the annual baking fest. I'm trying a few new recipes as well as the tried and true from my mom. Wish you were all here to help taste! Yum.

Questionnaire

I saw this on someone else's blog and wanted to post it on mine. I love these kinds of things and this one is way different!


TRUE OR FALSE

Appearance:
I'm short: true
I have scars: yes, the only one I can think of at the moment is the one on the bottom of my foot I got at the hot pots freshman year at BYU. It’s a long story, but I blame it on Marc!
I tan easily: I guess so
I burn easily: Also true
I wish my hair was a different color: false. I’m growing out my color—it’s a painfully long process.
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color: false
I wear glasses or contacts: true.
I'm legally blind without them: false
I have 5 or more piercing: false
I have/had piercing in places besides my ears: false

Relationships:
I miss someone right now: true
I've gotten divorced: false
I've had a crush on a teacher: true
I've hugged a stranger: true
I like my bubble: sometimes false, but at the moment, true!

Embarrassment:
I've laughed so hard I've cried: true, but not in a long time!
I've glued my hand to something: false
I've laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose: true
I've had my pants rip/drop in public: false, thank goodness!
I was born with a disease/impairment: false
I've sat in a doctor's office with a friend: false
I've had my wisdom teeth removed: true
I've had a serious surgery: false
I've had chicken pox: true

Experiences:
I've gotten lost in a city: maybe in Beijing, but clearly I found my way home!
I've seen a shooting star: true
I've wished on a shooting star: false, I’m never sure what to wish for.
I've gone out in public in my pajamas: true
I've pushed all the buttons on an elevator: false
I've been to a casino: true, but never gambled—just to eat in the ever recommended but never good buffets!
I've been skydiving: false
I've played spin the bottle: false
I've drank a whole gallon of milk in one hour: false
I've been in a car crash: true
I've caught a snowflake on my tongue: true
I've sat on a roof top at night: false
I've played chicken: false
I've played a prank on someone: true though I can’t remember how long it’s been since!
I've ridden in a taxi: true
I've seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show: false
I've eaten Sushi: false.

Random:
I own something from Hot Topic: false
I own something I got on E-Bay: true
I own something from Abercrombie: false, but I’m hoping for their perfume for Christmas!
I own something from American Eagle: true
I own something from Anchor Blue: false

More Random:
I've stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant: false
I watch the news: true
I curse regularly: false
I sing in the shower: false
I'm a morning person: true
I have listened to more than 30 CD's in a day: false--sorry Dad!
I've worn pajamas to school: true
I know how to shoot a gun: false
I laugh at my own jokes: false—I’m not terribly funny so I don’t tell jokes, though some people have said I’m funny, it is always unintentional so I might laugh in those circumstances.
I am really ticklish: very true
I play video games: very, very false
I'm good at remembering names: true

Our Thanksgiving

Marc, Carter and I used Anderson as an excuse to get our families together for a bit over the Thanksgiving holiday--we blessed him in church on the 26th. So the whirlwind of family visiting began on the 22nd when my parents and sister, Allison arrived after two long days of driving from Colorado and Idaho. We sure missed out having the whole family--Danette in Chicago of course couldn't make that long of a trip for such a short period of time, and my brother had other things going on at home. We kicked off the weekend right away in the kitchen fixing up my dad's favorite soup for dinner and then prepping food for Thursdays big meal. Allison, a self proclaimed non chef, even made the fabulous pecan pie while Carter introduced Grandpa to his new love as of November 9th when it came out on DVD--Cars. And Carter might just be his grandson after his own heart as he loved it just as much as Carter does! Thursday morning we were all up early--Marc took everyone to a 5k race in Thousand Oaks where all did well working up an appetite for the dinner Anderson and I were at home preparing. It's my second full Thanksgiving dinner I've made and I have to admit, it turned out pretty good. We had maple roasted turkey--which by the way makes the best gravy since the drippings are maple syrup!, sausage and apple stuffing--a new recipe but it's a keeper for the many dinners yet to come!, mashed potatoes, homemade rolls--thanks to my Mom since Marc would have nothing less, yams, green beans and of course pie for dessert. We ate and ate and finally ended the day with Grey's Anatomy. Friday morning we thought we'd skip the shopping--we never really do that anyway--and went to the zoo. Apparently 1/2 the city of LA had the same idea--it was very crowded. But Carter had a great time making the animal noises as we searched the exibits for them. He perked up especially when he saw the lion begin to move from his sun bathing position, and when the monkeys were having a singing fest. We survived a blowout diaper from Anderson, too. After the zoo, we went to Hollywood--Marc was the only one who'd been there before and to be honest, with the stress of working our entourage of 5 adults and a double stroller through the crowded Walk of Fame, I thought it was a bit overrated. On Saturday we got up early and hit the beach--it was the perfect beach day. A little chilly but not a cloud in the sky. Unfortunately, none of the pictures shot are really post-worthy. Maybe next time! We enjoyed pizza and a visit from my dad's sister, husband, and daughter in the evening. After a stressful Sunday morning getting all of us ready for 9:00 church, Anderson was given a beautiful baby blessing by Marc with the help of both grandpas and our brother in law. We were sad more family couldn't have been there to join us. Afterwards, my family took off on the long trek back to cold country while we visited with Marc's parents and sister and her family for the day. It's always fun when they visit from Santa Maria--Carter loves playing with his cousins who we consider to be like his older brothers. It was great fun to be with family for the holiday, though Marc did mention that it wasn't quite as relaxing as past holidays have been. That's okay because Christmas will be a quiet one and we'll have plenty of time to enjoy that.