Coming home....

Mom flew up to Seattle last week to meet my nephew's ship as it came in from  the middle east.  

Waiting for the ship

Morgan was on the USS John C. Stennis Aircraft Carier

Morgan and his mama :)

Morgan and his girlfriend Beth

Morgan, Annalisa and Grandma Zee

Morgan, Ann, Grandma and Annalisa
yes - it was cold!

Chopped

Shea and her friends decided to have a Chopped challenge (great show on the Food Network)

We did two rounds.  Each team is given "mystery items" and then they have to make a main dish and then a dessert.

Here are a few of the mystery items:

Bacon

Jello

Taco shells

Bananas

Meatballs

Robert, Braden and I were judges.  Dishes were judged on presentation, creativity and taste.

Ashton, Brooklyn, Kelsey, Brianna, Erin & Shea

Two teams and
a little trash-talking

30 minutes for each round.
Time flies when you are crazy.

Team B created Meatballs with banana/jello sauce over toast.
not so very yummy.

Team A made Jello Ramen Tacos with bacon and mustard sauce.

I wish I had pictures of the dessert round - the plates looked great!

It's been a while...

Life has been a bit crazy around here lately so taking pictures and blogging have been pushed waaaaayyyy down the list.  But here are a few shots from this past weekend when Kayla and Tyson were visiting.

Braden, Kayla and Kamo making cookies.

Kamo is learning a few things.
Going pee in appropriate places just doesn't happen to be one of them.

Pine Hollow

Today was a beautiful day for snow-shoeing!

No wind, lots of sunshine and snow.

 These two pictures show the sun setting behind Mt. Timpanogas.  

It was amazing!

bizzy bizzy day....

After working a few hours this morning, mom and I started our freezer cooking.  We made a total of 24 meals.  Yum! Tracey Scadden, an old friend from Ketchikan stopped by for a visit and then I headed out for a bike ride.  It was in the 40's today and beautiful.  After that I worked a bit more started a quilt.

i. am. tired.

Christmas Day 2011

I Love Lucy hat (from Grandma)
another pig for the collection (mom and dad)

Sterling with my warm fuzzy blanket.  Thief.
Happy Ann.

Grandma Zee in her scarf and hat.
just glad she dodged the reindeer last night.
it was close.

Shea giving Kamo his dog treats that she made.
happy puppy.

Lance Armstrong Stationary Bike.
Greg the Egg rocks!!

Lucy.

Kayla and Tyson's first Christmas!!!!

Christmas Eve

You would think doing the same thing year after year would get boring.

NOT!

We LOVE our traditions....

The one I never get a picture of (maybe I will remember next year) is also our favorite.  At the end of the evening, we turn give everyone a candle and turn off all the lights.  Robert lights his candle and while talking about the light of Christ everyone's candle is lit to brighten the room.  At the end we sing Silent Night.   This year, Kayla and Tyson spent Christmas Eve with his family and they shared this tradition.

Food.
Of course.
Braden, Shea and Tanner Remsberg

Decorations.

The Present Game
Shea won - again!!

Song trying to win the Present Game

Jazz Boy

Piano Girl

Family Trio
Ding.  Fries are done.

Eating Dessert.

The Nativity.
yes - baby Jesus is a puppy.
I really need a grandbaby!

Angel Sophia

Grandma the Shepherd

Christmas Puppy

Temple Square for Christmas

On Thursday, we went up to SLC to pick up Sterling and Ann.  But we decided not to pick them up on time.  Instead we drove round and round the block of the Marriott hotel.  It just didn't happen to be the Marriott hotel where they were waiting for us.  

It was fun.

Than we had dinner at an Italian restaurant. (along with a few Koreans.  Every Italian dinner needs a few Koreans for fun)

Then we headed to downtown SLC where at least 100,000 of my bestest friends were also gathered.

And it was cold.  Very, very cold.   But it was also very beautiful and amazing.

Merry Christmas!