Cookie Decorating 12.22.2009

A couple of days before the planned decorating, we baked the cookies

Carson's favorite part...coloring the icing.



The "before the event" photo...pretty, huh?





Michael Hansen and Carson.

The "after the event" photo. I love it!

Special Gift from Granny 12.21.2009

My grandmother sent me an email and told me that she had put a package in the mail to me and when it arrive, I could open it (yahoo!). It arrived today and in it was a beautiful apron along with this note from Granny:

"Brooke,

I know you remember the e-mail on aprons and you haring your memories of aprons. After that I decided I wanted to find you an apron from the past. After looking for a while, I found this one that was made by Nana years ago. I know she used it before it came to me. I remember using it on a number of Christmas days.

It looks used and has some stains, but I wanted you to have it, maybe not to use, but you could hang it in your kitchen for Christmas. Think of the stains as turkey gravy stains, from those many Christmas Dinners our family has shared.

I hope you have a w0nderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

With much love and memories, Granny, Christmas 2009"

Latke's 12.18.2009

I made latke's for the last night of Hanukkah! They were delicious!

Merry Christmas from Chevy & Jack

Gingerbread Houses 12.06.2009

We gathered at Greg & Rachelle's new house to make gingerbread houses this year. It was a lot of fun!

The whole crew.

Greg helping Luke and Shannon helping Owen.

Carson and Aunt Tiffaney with Danielle in the background.

Thanksgiving 2009

I am Thankful 11/01/2009

Today I am thankful that Halloween is over! I know I should start off with "family", "friends" or "my son" or "my husband", but truly, today I feel most thankful that Halloween is over.

I have described my feelings about Halloween in the past (even recently) as "indifference" rather than "dislike", but I think it is time that I own up to the fact that I really do dislike Halloween. Adding to the "indifference" is the fact that Carson really doesn't care all that much about Halloween. Where the kids really like to show off is at school and at church, and they can't wear masks or face paint to either of those places. Not that I don't get the reasoning, and I also support it, but it makes it hard to have a really awesome costume!

Also adding to the "indifference" is that Carson is getting much older. Sure, it was fun when he was 1, 2, 3 even 4 and 5 to dress him up all cute and take him around to see family members. So, next year, we are trying something different. Our friends, the Orchards, that live in Bountiful, have a Halloween party each year. We're going to go to that party and see if we can get in the spirit a little more. Here's to Halloween '10!