Thursday, December 31, 2009

Turkey Day!

Thanksgiving this year was spent with the Braman and Gross Families! This year I made pies, rolls and drinks! My pies where not exactly hand made-but they where yummie! Well the apple pie was, but mom made most of it.. I just decorated it :) I made a blueberry pie which ended up all over Adella, thanks to a little help from me! The poor girl never gets to be messy.. so I had to hook her up. My favorite is the up close of her where you can see the blue sprinkle hanging from her hair, as well as all the blueberry she is covered in!
Once again this year we had an amazing meal. Dad is such a good cook, and we never know what kind of seasonings he will use. The turkey tasted fantastic and I believe my mother had a new recipe for stuffing- which was a hit. Every year we bust out mom's china to use for dinner. Each year I am reminded of how beautiful they really are. We go all out and make the place settings formal... small fork, large fork, multiple plates, goblets... one for juice and one for water. I just love the look of the table before we sit down to attack the meal. Also each year we place the ceramic turkey that Dad made in the center of the table. Some thanksgivings he is filled with stuffing, rolls, or other various foods... this year he was empty but was still a beautiful addition to the table. Oh and P.S. Emma, your face looks wonderful above the turkey..
This year I think I was more thankful for traditions more than anything. I love that we do pull out the china, and have a beautiful table set up. It makes Thanksgiving a little more meaningful.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

tis the season

I love Christmas. It's not just the gifts I receive, its the time before. I absolutely love shopping for gifts. If I could afford it I would my hundreds of gifts for everyone. However, I do not enjoy all the people that are making driving so insane! But I guess that comes with the time of year. I really enjoy finding gifts for people that they don't expect. I understand that it is easier to just go out and buy the few things that someone has told you they want.. but where is the joy in that? If I only give you an option for one gift.. then I know what is coming... I always want to be surprised by whats underneath the wrapping paper. I remember one year, when I was little, Bethany and I really wanted those nano pets.. One day when mom was out, Bethany and I found gifts from one of our Aunts. We peeked... and where excited to see it was just what we asked for! But on Christmas morning when we opened them again for the second time.. it was hard to show that same excitement.. we already knew what we got. I guess that we are not good actors because mom knew that we had opened the gift before hand.. or she already knew because she is pretty amazing like that. Anyway I remember feeling so lame for not being able to wait for Christmas morning when I would really by surprised. From then on I have always not wanted to know what I am going to get for gifts. Andrew on the other had wants to know exactly what he is getting. I don't really understand why. I personally think it makes opening gifts up less fun... but that's just my opinion. Am I the strange one?? Who knows. We already have our tree up, well as of a few weeks ago. I really wanted something different this year so I headed out to target to find something new. The last two years I have used light blue and silver on my tree.. the balls where light blue, and I used silver ribbon around the tree, a silver bow at the top, as well as a silver skirt. This year I found red, maroon, and black balls, gold and red ribbon and a poinsettia covered ball. Its adorable. I even picked up an extra thing of lights just to make it oh so much better! I wish I had enough decorations to decorate the whole apartment, but we hardly have room as is so maybe in the next place. I would have decorated outside, but when I did for Halloween our pumpkins got smashed. I didn't want some lame person to come and steal or break something of mine.
Anyway..
This year I am doing Christmas cards.. home-made ones too.. again.. I think, next year, I will be doing the easy ones. I have had even more people added to my list.. and its kinda become overwhelming. sooo please just get used to the stupid purchased ones... okay?
AAAAND back to Christmas! I love this time of year. Call me lame, but I do. I love the lights, the snow, the gifts, the giving, the family traditions, and most of all I still love Santa. That jolly little fat man still makes me smile, and hope that I have been good enough this past year to still get something from him. And as silly as that sounds, get this.. I still want to stand in line, tell him what I want and get a candy cane after... :) I guess there still is a kid in me.. screaming and kicking her feet whenever I walk by and don't jump in line.
I really want to be able to make it to the holidazzle this year. As cold as it may be, I feel like it helps me get into the season.. and unfortunately I feel like I have hardly this year.. and Christmas is almost here. I need to get on that..