merry christmas

Merry Christmas!

Colby and I celebrated the day with just the three of us after he got home from work. After some quick visits and gift sharing with the neighbors around us, we huddled around the tree and opened up our gifts. For the past few years, we have waited to open our gifts until we have Christmas with my family--which is usually not on Christmas day. But, this year, we decided to have some time with just us. Hank loved his ball and squeaky toy, I loved my new slippers and scarf, and Colby loved (LOVED) his new dove tail saw and some guide books.

It's been a really nice and relaxing day and I am so excited to go to Boise tomorrow and spend some time with our family. I'm hoping my mom will read us a story from this book like she did when we were kids. I always loved 'The Gift of the Magi' the best.

Until next year...

getting ready for christmas...

Christmas is right around the corner and I am so excited. I love this holiday so, so much. We are sticking around Salt Lake for the 25th and then driving up to Boise on Thursday evening for Christmas with the family and New Year’s. Colby, Hank, and I will have a little Christmas evening all to ourselves. I’m sure Hank will love his present… I am planning on spending most of the day in my pajamas baking treats for our neighbors. And, if I muster up enough energy, might go up to Alta to ski for a bit.

This last weekend was the perfect little relaxed weekend before loads and loads of family time in Boise. Friday night we had some friends over for sushi and sake. I think this is so fun and an easy little dinner party meal—plus I love any excuse to go to the Asian Market. I could spend hours there. We had such a great time sitting around the table making all kinds of different rolls, and then ended the night playing the delightfully disturbing game, Cards Against Humanity.

Saturday, we tried to avoid the kitchen as much as possible—neither of us wanted to clean up the sushi mess we left behind. So, instead we took Hank and our neighbor’s dog, Watson, on a little hike in the snow. I think this is one of my favorite things about winter. They love the snow so much—just running around and wrestling in it. It’s pretty adorable. Hank was pretty tuckered after that—for the rest of the weekend actually. We went to Colby’s unit’s Christmas party Saturday night and enjoyed some tasty food and I enjoyed catching up with people I don’t get to see very often. I remember seeing my parent’s getting ready for their fancy, company Christmas parties when I was a kid and it’s funny to think that now that’s what we’re doing.

We did some last minute Christmas shopping on Sunday and wrapped all of our presents for each other and our family. Then, we watched one of my old movie favorites—While You Were Sleeping. Colby had never seen it and it’s been years and years for me. But, it’s just as good as I remembered it.

Now, just counting down the days until Christmas. It went by so fast this year—I’m trying to savor every snowy second of it.

1. Aisles and aisles of tasty goodies
2. Making the rolls
3. Sushi by candlelight
4. Friends sharing mochi
5. Romping around in the snow...
6. ...and then lots and lots of napping
7. Wrapping it all up
8. Waiting patiently under the tree

thanksgiving

I can't believe it's already been two weeks since Thanksgiving. I really don't know where the time goes. I have been waking up every morning since that weekend wishing my family was still here. I guess I'll just keep counting down the days until Christmas. Yes, I have an ap for that.

We had so much fun over the holiday weekend. We cooked, played games, went shopping, baked many tasty treats, and decorated our Christmas tree. We went for walks, had tasty meals, and also celebrated my mom's and my birthday. It was a weekend I hated to see end, but love all of the new memories we made.

1. A plate of Thanksgiving food
2. The table set and ready
3. Ready to dig in
4. Taking the dogs for a walk
5. Hank shaking off some dirty water onto some clean people
6. Playing games
7. Christmas tree time
8. Scoping out the goods
9. The most wonderful time of the year

Thanks for taking some of the the photos mom!

10 pretty...gravy boats

Next week is Thanksgiving and my family is coming to our home again to celebrate. We won't be celebrating just Thanksgiving, though. It is also my birthday as well as my mom's that weekend. I could not be any more excited--having them here is one of my favorite things. I love baking tasty treats the days before the arrive and planning the meals while they're here. I was nervous last year--it was the first time I had hosted a holiday for family at my own home. Everything went perfectly and we all had such a great weekend together. But, after Thanksgiving dinner, we realized there was one very important, grown-up dish that I did not have yet. A gravy boat.

Here a few that I found that would be perfect for a casual dinner for the holidays...and any other meal. Gravy is the best and shouldn't be made only around the holidays in my opinion...

Click on the pictures to find out more!

a cabin i love

It's starting to get cold and snowy here and all I can think about is time away in a cabin somewhere. Most likely when you think of a cabin in the woods this is what you envision. Those cabins are quaint and cozy and certainly get the job done. But, if I could have any cabin in the world, I think this would be it.

It looks so stunningly calm and peaceful and I could imagine spending so much time in the open air patio. I love the mix of modern and natural and would die to hear the wind blow through that tall grass.

More about this beautiful home here.