Can I get an Ew! Or an Awww...

Beck has a cold, and ew. Poor thing made the sweetest 'I'm sick' face all day yesterday when she saw Santa (gratuitous cuteness to follow). The kids both seemed to enjoy Santa this year, even though I was sure there would be tears. But, I talked to Hunt first and reminded him that Santa was very big and had a very bright red suit. He proceeded to question me for the next 2 hours on HOW big Santa was, only to finally determine that he would not be TOO big.

When we got to the club we had to convince Hunter that Santa did not, in fact, live in the clubhouse. As we entered the conference room (First!) to finally meet Santa, I was saying that maybe the older kids could go first so Hunter could watch, but before I finished my thought Hunt ran across the room and jumped into Santas lap. And proceeded to mug for the camera for the rest of his visit.

Cheese!

Here's Beck's best effort to look happy despite her cold

Baby girl by her first tree on the farm

Hunter showing Grammy his picture book present

Of course, after this excitement we had lunch with everyone and generally kicked off the Holiday season in style! I just hope Rebecca feels better before our next festive event, I am running out of tissues.

Christmas Cheer and Cute

I've been checking out Alpaca Farmgirl who loves her some cheese, so she is good people in my book. Anyone with multiple links to Williams-Sonoma can't be half-bad. The Christmas offerings are comprehensive and Katy has pointed out the wonderful cheese gifts that are worth checking out, especially for those who 'have everything.'

Katy also has some very special and painfully cute Alpacas, if you have never seen one, check them out, and if you have, go on over and see her brood, including MagKenna Lei.

And as a Christmas Bonus there are tons of giveaways down on the Farm (Katy's Farm that is). Go and check it out!

Me Me Me Meme...

Meme fun from A Whole Lot of Nothing who is cool, so cool she doesn't tag on a meme, instead politely requests a little linky-love, so there it is. And here are some firsts!

1. Who was your FIRST prom date?
Billy. Whose last name I don't recall, but he was best friends with Melanie, and he was the token date for the awkward kid. We went out a lot.
2. What was your FIRST alcoholic drink?
Probably wine, which my mom let me have with dinner. Then when I was older I would order a greyhound at dinner with mom and dad, I felt so sophisticated.
3. What was your FIRST job?
Waitress at the Tap Room in the old Pizza Hut. Boss was named Chuck.
4. What was your FIRST car?
Charlie Brown. The brown box of a Mazda, model Box.
5. Who was the FIRST person to text you today?
Had texting blocked on my phone to the tune of $40 a month savings. Am loser.
6. Who is the FIRST person you thought of this morning?
Beck, hoping she was still asleep and feeling glad she slept through the night.
7. Who was your FIRST grade teacher?
Mrs. Stewart. Who gave me a big box of crayons when I was the first to write all the numbers to a million. Compete much?
8. Where did you go on your FIRST ride on an airplane?
Florida to Disney with my mom's friend's. Good times...
9. Who was your FIRST best friend, and are you still friends with him / her?
Poppit. I think I would be if I knew where she was.
10. Who was your FIRST kiss?
It took me a minute, but Chris at the horse show, and they thought I was watching the horses.
11. Who was the FIRST person you talked to today?
Michael.
12. What was the FIRST thing you did this morning?
Snuggled Hunter.
13. What was the FIRST concert you ever went to?
Ozzy.
14. What was your FIRST tattoo or piercing?
Uh, no on the ink. Not my thing. Ears pierced for my sister's wedding when I was 23.
15. What was the FIRST foreign country you went to?
Does Canada count?
16. What was the FIRST movie you saw in the theater?
Ok, this took some research but SOooo worth it. The Dark Crystal with Yvonne. Deserves it's own post.
17. When was your FIRST detention?
High school, for being late. Meh.
18. What was the FIRST state you lived in?
Pennsylvania.
19. Who was the FIRST person to really break your heart?
Gah! Who needs to go there?
20. With whom was your FIRST date?
Dating? What creature is this?
21. What was your FIRST pet?
Henna, my horse on my 7th birthday. Yeah, yeah, I got a pony on my birthday. Get over it.
22. Who was your FIRST roommate?
Kim Filthypothead. Real name.
23. Who was your FIRST love?
See #21.
24. What was your FIRST screen name?
henna.
25. When did you have your FIRST baby?
August 6, 2005.

If you do this one, link it back to me! And comment you bloody lurkers!

Favorite Things

Forget Oprah, I have some favorite things of my own!I wish I could be as button savvy as BOSSY is and make my own sidebar button for favorite things, but for now I think they can have their own posty-love.

I had to decide which item was going to debut my favorite things, and with the impending holidays I think my Williams-Sonoma potato ricer wins the day!



This toy is a potato-ricing machine! I love it and seriously hope one day to pass it along to Beck, although I may just buy her the new version 'cause I am not fond of the idea of giving mine up. I discovered this method a few years ago, no doubt, watching Food Network, so Yvonne and I decided to buy a cheap knock off since I wanted to see if I liked the whole ricing effect to begin with. Off to the Hardware Center we went, where we found a $12 version of a ricer that suited our research needs. Ricing the potatoes made them so light and fluffy, but the cheap ricer bent before long, so I bought this ricer which I had coveted for so long. It is heavy duty and processes huge pots of potatoes in no time. I warm the milk, cream, salt, and butter mixture while ricing, and then fold the wet ingredients in so as not to overwork my masterpiece. Perfection!! Thanksgiving this year proved another successful year.

Bonus Tip! For big Thanksgivings and Holidays, or just to free up more time and stove space, I make the mashers a day early and put them in the crock pot. They warm up in 2-3 hours on low and are hot and delicious.

Happy Holidays!

Winter Wonderland?

Should we batten down the hatches? I hope the first snow of the year isn't an omen of shoveling days to come. At least today we got away with using the broom...

Fun in the Kitchen

Two worlds unite in our kitchen!

A New Day

We can't think of words to describe how we feel on this most historic and very special day. I am so proud of all of us, 'only in America,' as pappy George says. Times are so tough, everyday someone else is closing down, recently it's Linens N Things. QVC has had a huge layoff, and the 'Big Three' in auto building are trying to get some cash to bail themselves out. We are holding our breath to see what happens next. For the time being, Hunt and Beck approve and look forward to the future.