Thursday, December 27, 2007

SLC Christmas: December 26th

The day after Christmas...and I was awaken by someone whispering "it is snowing outside."
And it was.
The paper whites blooming in the kitchen window looked dreamy against the snowy scene.



You can see a few flakes in this picture.

Now I was really, really hoping we would get snow.
I even had a snowflake painted on my big toe, on top of the sparkly red polish and a diamond put in the middle of the snowflake.


After getting Bernie all settled and tidying up the house, Laura and I headed out to make
A SNOW MAN!!!!!
My VERY FIRST SNOW MAN!!!!
And Laura made her very first SNOW ANGEL!!!!
Did you know that when the snow is powder it doesn't stick together?
You can't just make a snow ball and roll it along on the ground to make a big ball.
Oh no. You have to pat-pat-pat layer after layer of snow on to a pile of patted snow.
For the longest time Mr. Snowman looked like a snow boobie until we shaped out his middle.

Ta Da!!!


My very first snowman. At age 53.
Well worth the wait.

He got lots of kisses....


Profile...


Hugs.....


More kisses...and hugs....
LOVE MY SNOWMAN!


(Laura loves to pose people.)

I also made orange cranberry nut bread Mom. It tasted just like it did when you used to make it each year for the neighbors as gifts. I put a little red sugar sprinkle on mine, just for fun.

Everyone wanted Indian food for dinner. So we loaded up and headed out to this place that is a favorite of Jeff and Bernie.

Yeah! I had mango lasse, Laura had rosewater lasse. Everything was delicious!

The lighted red sign reflected into the icicles. Pretty!
It also made the snow mounds beside the road look pink, just like the snow in The Cat in the Hat.

Bernie was willing to crutch over to get a family shot around the snowman.

And an "us" shot...
Bernie's a lot more fun to kiss than a snow man.
Lots warmer too!

After that we went inside and played a couple rounds of Clue.
I was kind of sleepy and forgot to show that I had one of the cards that Jeff asked for.
He made a guess based on the that.

Mommy shouldn't play Clue if she isn't going to pay attention to her own cards!

It was another memorable day.
I am so happy.
Life is good.

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

SLC Christmas: Christmas Night

Dessert: As per request: Pumpkin pies...one with nuts, one without. We're heading out for our traditional drive around to look at Christmas lights on Christmas night.
We used to always end Christmas at my parent's house in La Jolla, then drive through downtown San Diego to see the high rises all lit up on the way home.
Two years ago we had Christmas here too, and started the traditional drive around SLC too.
Pretty!

Amazing!

Wow!

This was the "little" display home next door to Christmas Utah house.

Then we drove around the Sugar House area, where Christmas Street is located, and another street where each house has a page of Scripture telling the Christmas story on their front yard.

We drove slowly past the pictures and read the story aloud.
A perfect way to finish off Christmas Day.

SLC Christmas: Christmas Day and Dinner

After the present opening marathon, we decided we need to get out of the house for a little bit.
Jeff had some stale bread and knew where some needy water fowl were waiting.
So we carefully loaded Bernie into the car and away we went.


Ah...poor little Canada goose. Look at the cold water droplets on its breast and little pink tongue.
It was so sweet and friendly that I enjoyed feeding the bird.
Especially after Laura pointed out that feeding them while wearing gloves makes it a much less scary task.

Don't the kids look like they are pretending to be birds too?

There was quite a crowd. The seagulls were grabby little thieves as usual. But since they DID save SLC from grasshoppers one time years ago, they think they are entitled.
This was the BEST goose! Or gander...whatever, it was really friendly and didn't grab.

Good looking goose!
It was pretty funny watching the mallards cram together in the water vying for a bit of bread.
Yeah, yeah...grasshoppers. Saved the crops. We know.
Neat sculpture of a dog next to the duck pond. Obviously the dog is tuckered out from fetching ducks from the water.

Laura reminded me to take a picture to use as a first slide.

"Christmas 2007"
How about "SLC 2007"?
Sure, I'll pose next to it, great idea!

Sneaky bratty son.

One can not trust boy children near snow.

Jeepers it IS cold out!
Laura had the camera....and thought a self portrait was in order.
She was able to capture the mother-son snow war at full tilt.
Eventually it got down to me kicking snow. Real finesse there huh?
The snow is so powdery I can't make a decent snowball to properly smack Jeff.
I give up. I can't see. I am cold. Whaaaa!

Laura and I snuggled in the back seat while Jeff drove and Bernie fought nausea. What a great outing!
Oh look! A parking lot covered with snow! A perfect time to do donuts and practice slides.

Wow...that is such a good idea! Whee!

After we got home and Bernie recovered from the wild ride WHILE nauseated in the first place, I got started on dinner while the rest of the family enjoyed a heart warming holiday film.

(Ocean's 13 to be exact...)

MENU

Marinated Roasted Leg of Lamb

Honey Glazed Carrots

Green Bean and Feta Saute with Lemon

Mash Potatoes

Pumpkin pie.

I enjoyed cooking in Jeff's kitchen so much! It was like playing.

And the lamb smelled so good as it roasted. The marinade was orange juice, white wine, garlic, thyme, rosemary, pepper and olive oil. The six pound lamb roasted directly on the oven rack in one hour.
Jeff did the carving.
Dinner by candle light.
It was so delicious we were just going nuts! The whole meal was cooked starting at the beginning of the movie and finished as the movie ended. Sweet timing!


Bernie's leg worked better at the breakfast bar.


Added fun: After boning out the roast, spend some time flexing the lamb's leg's knee joint while discussing the ligaments that could possibly be torn in Bernie's legs.
Jeff pointed out the ligaments that he had broken, then Laura took a turn pointing out the other possible ligaments.
They kept at it until Bernie said it was making him sick.
I wonder when he got to be so sensitive?