Christmas Day 2012

We spent the night with Steve's parents, so we had Christmas morning with them.  Santa brought both Lily and Amara what they asked for.  Lily wanted a scooter and Amara wanted a "play toy."

Amara with her "play toy," a puppy with vet kit.

Steve examining the puppy's ear for an ear infection.

Fun scooter!

 Amara got a kitty that walks and supposedly meows, but it sounds more like a bark to me.  Lily got some pretty clip on earrings that she just loves.

Christmas Eve Parties 2011

Christmas Eve for our family was a day of parties.  We started off the day with Steve's family's party.  We had a program complete with talents, singing, and a nativity play.  Our family represented the people in America when Christ came and we sang the primary song, "Said Samuel within five years, a night will be as day, and baby Jesus will be born in a land far far away, Hosanna, hosanna!  Oh let us gladly sing, how blessed that our Lord was born, let earth receive her king!"  Bev provided our costumes for us and we looked pretty authentic, I must say.

We had a fun time and the sister missionaries even joined us.  I got to sing a musical number with the missionaries that Bev wrote and it was truly beautiful.  One of the sisters brought her ukelele and they sang a medley of Christmas songs.  Then they joined us for "Cambodian Haystacks."  In case you're one of the few who don't know what that is, it's Hawaiian haystacks, with a different name.  We missed Steve's brother, Matt, this year because he is in Cambodia on business, but he wasn't forgotten, and thus the name Cambodian haystacks. 

When lunch was done, we played games.  The white elephant game was fun as always, and then we played "the Cold Wind Blows."  When it was approaching late afternoon, we brought out the skit, Santa's Elves.  Because I was directing it, I didn't get any pictures, but after the skit was done, other people wanted a turn playing Santa's Elves, and I got video and some pictures of that.  Each elf is actually made up of 2 people, one hidden behind the other.  The hidden one is the arms of elf.  I had them get ready for the day: eat breakfast, exercise, and whatnot. 

After we cleaned up, we headed to my dad's house for Christmas dinner.  I wish I had a few more pictures of the dinner because it was truly a feast and an enormous labor of love.

 Here is a photo of the first course, Tom Ka Gai Soup and Dad's Christmas Jello Salad.  We also had stuffed mushrooms, homemade rolls, prime rib, twice baked potatoes, and steamed vegetables.  I hope I didn't forget anything.  Everything was delicious.  And for dessert, my dad's warm pear pie served atop creme anglaise.  So fancy, so yummy!

We're happy and full.
Then, grandkids all opened a Christmas Eve gift from Grandma and Grandpa Lauret.  They all got cute new pajamas.  They all got dressed in their P.J.s and then it was time for the nativity with all the cute grandbabies.

 Steve was the donkey, Amara was Mary, Maxwell (in Mandy's arms) was Joseph.

 Jaxon wanted to be baby Jesus. 

 Lily was the angel.

 Devon was the shepherd.

 And Emmy (she ran off before I got the picture) was all 3 wisemen in one.

What a fun family-filled day!

Tower Building With Dad

Steve Money Bombing

Although the sum was incredibly meager, Ron Paul's money bomb grew a little heavier with our donation. 

And what was Steve's reaction to seeing his name pop up on the screen?  See for yourself.

I like how alike the smiles look on Steve's face and Ron Paul's face on the screen.

Gingerbread Congratulations

Gingerbread houses have been a family tradition since I was little.  My parents would work hard to make the perfect house and donate it to the Festival of Trees to benefit Primary Children's hospital.  Although all my siblings and I all have families of our own now, my dad along with his wife, Debby, continue to keep this tradition alive by involving as many of the family that are around and sometimes friends and neighbors join in the fun. 

This year, they made the "Tangled" Tower, complete with Rapunzel standing on the window ledge, and Flynn Rider dangling from her hair, literally spinning with the help of an ornament turner. 

I am so proud of this house, and I regret that I couldn't be there to help put it together.  They did a beautiful job!  And the house this year sold for $2000.00!  That's their 2nd highest selling house, next to their Harry Potter house that sold for $2200.00 a few years ago.

My dad informed me that this house took about $100.00 to make.  He always builds the house with the sturdiest of gingerbread that he makes (in other words, don't try to eat it or the tooth fairy may be visiting you for Christmas) and an icing that holds really well, but you wouldn't want to eat that either.  He uses wood to build the structure, then secures the gingerbread on using screws, many times.  So, the gingerbread houses he makes are strictly for decorative purposes only.  I have to wonder what happens to these houses after the Christmas season is over???

I must get back to life, but first, to all those who had a hand in the Tangled Tower, congratulations!!!

Our Wonderful Thanksgiving Weekend

We had such a happy Thanksgiving.  Steve's parents came up for the weekend and we so enjoyed having their company.  Mom, Tom, and Geoff joined us for Thanksgiving dinner.  And this year, Lily and I made Thelda the Thankful Turkey to get us all remembering our blessings.

 Thelda is made out of a paper bag, old scrapbook paper, and 2 googly eyes.  She was perched atop our entertainment stand for most of November.  We would feed Thelda slips of paper with things that we are thankful for.  I'd try to remind everyone each day to not forget to feed Thelda.  Steve's mom particularly liked the name Thelda because she has an aunt by the same name.  On Thanksgiving day, we brought Thelda to the table and after our meal, we read all the things we were thankful for.  My favorite was "I'm Thankful for Grandpa's ice cream" (Lily). 

This year, I thought it would be fun to break the feast up into 2 meals.  So, at lunch time we served salads and finger foods (including the deviled eggs as requested by Lily).  We put the turkey in at lunch time and mom baked it in a roasting bag.  It was her first turkey ever and it turned out beautifully delicious (I can't believe I didn't get a picture of it!). 

While we waited for the turkey to bake, the men watched football and the girls all made turkey hats then got bundled up and took a walk up the street.  We were greeted by some friendly horses and a funny donkey.

 When we got back, the turkey was ready to start resting, while we made the side dishes.  We made the mashed potatoes, rolls, stuffing, veggies, and gravy.  The gravy turned out to be more difficult to make than the turkey.  It just didn't want to thicken.  Mom added a roux, then more roux, then more roux, all the while simmering it trying to get it to reduce, 45 minutes later it still wasn't thick enough, so I suggested we add mashed potatoes to it.  She loved the idea.  We added 2 big scoops of potatoes before it satisfied her thickness standard.  Then we brought it to the serving counter and called everyone over.  Steve came over and pointed to the gravy and asked, "What's that?"  I guess most turkey gravies are brownish, ours was more whitish.  I shot him a look of, "don't ask."  But it was too late.  Then he reminded us all of the SNL crystal gravy commercial, a spoof on crystal pepsi.  Although our gravy looked different it still tasted good.

We said a prayer of thanks and then enjoyed the feast of traditional foods.  Well, most of us enjoyed it, there's one 4 year old that thought this dinner looked yucky.

Then a few hours after dinner settled in, it was dessert time.  We had my homemade chocolate swiss-roll cheesecake, and also a pumpkin pie, minus the pumpkin pie.  Unfortunately, we didn't realize in time that the frozen pie we bought was not yet baked.  But that's okay.  There was plenty of cheesecake for all.  And the pumpkin pie was good the next day.

Later that weekend, we put away thanksgiving, and put up the Christmas tree.  It was so wonderful to have Steve's parents here to help and enjoy this tradition with us!  Steve and his dad set up the tree so it was straight and sturdy, then Steve strung it with lights.  Steve's mom helped the girls put the ornaments on.