Nathan's First Christmas!

Ever since I started dreaming about having kids of my own I would think of how much more fun Christmas would be with small children in the house. Kyle and I are such huge fans of Christmas anyway and we know that every year with Nathan is going to become more magical and more enjoyable. 

Since he was still so little this Christmas he didn't really realize quite what was going on but I still think he enjoyed the bright lights and the constant Christmas music in the house and the candlelight service in church on Christmas Eve. At least I know that I enjoyed seeing him look around with a sense of wonder (I know I know he's 4 months old he looks at EVERYTHING with a sense of wonder!)

Kyle's brother was able to travel again up from Los Angeles to spend Christmas with us which was really nice. Dealing with the normal stress of Christmas is hard enough but adding a newborn into the mix made it even more chaotic!

At the beginning of the month our good friend Jared came up from San Diego with his girlfriend Megan to spend the weekend with us; what a wonderful way to kick off the christmas season! They brought a lot of great gifts for Nathan (the favorite being his Finding Nemo fleece jammies!) Jared has a really nice eye for photos and was able to get a pic of us in front of the tree for our christmas card!

nice right!?

I made the traditional Christmas spread: Ham, mashed potatoes and carrots. I love Christmas dinner because it is one of the few times during the year that we get to use our wedding china! 

Here are a few more pics from the Christmas season. I hope everyone had a happy and healthy Christmas and Holiday Season!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Hymn Sing at Church

Santa Jammies!!

All worn out after opening gifts

Merry Christmas Everyone!

My Favorite Things 2012

So today I woke up late around 8:15 for my Dentist appointment. Now I should mention that if my college age or even my early 20s self was reading this she would snark at my old maid comment of "8:15" being late but anyway. I walked down to my car and turned it on, at least I would have turned it on if I could have. Turns out the battery was dead, and by dead I mean that when the AAA guy hooked up his computer thingy to the battery the charge barely registered. Ugh....

Here's the evidence

Well $90 later I have a new batter and I'm really no worse for wear (the dentist had a nice chuckle at my expense too which was very entertaining.)

So I came home and began to sort through all the plants on my patio that I'm giving to my friend Yvonne, who graciously agreed to be step mama to the plants that I can't take with me up north. After that I started thinking about Christmas a little bit. With the move coming up and all the stress of packing up my life I haven't been in the Christmas mood just yet, which is a shame because Christmas is my favorite time of year. I have been very unhelpful with the "so what do you want for Christmas?" question so after I compiled a list for gifts for friends/family I thought a little about myself and what I would like. Surprisingly the list came pretty easily:

 
1) j. crew gift card: I need to start beefing up my wardrobe a bit, so things like gift cards to clothing stores (Banana Republic, GAP, Nordstrom, J.Crew etc are always well received!

2) All-Clad Copper Core Skillet: I currently have a 10 piece set of Emeril all-clad anodized non-stick pots & pans. They have held up well the last 5 years but certain parts of the non stick coating is starting to come loose. Also it's pretty much impossible to sear anything in a non stick pan. Now that I have started to cook a little more seriously I want to graduate to the big girl cook-ware. This is the Cadillac of cookware and I think the best way to start my kitchen set update is with a nice french skillet *drool*

3) FORLIFE Curve 45-Ounce Teapot with Infuser: I told Kyle that I wanted a teapot for loose leaf tea because currently I have no way to brew loose leaf tea. This pot looks well made and comes with a stainless steal infuser, plus it's cute!

4) Eat Sleep Clarinet T-Shirt: Something to wear while practicing! (Which I should probably be doing right now....)

5) Ratio: The Simple Codes Behind the Craft of Everyday Cooking: Saw really good reviews for this book on amazon. Apparently this book unlocks the "ratios" of basic recipes and allows you to have a lot more freedom with experimentation allows a safe way to be more creative. Very appealing to me who considers any cooking without a recipe well outside my zone of comfort. 

6) Ruhlman's Twenty: 20 Techniques 100 Recipes A Cook's Manifesto: Another cookbook on my wishlist. It was one of the International Association of Culinary Professionals' 2012 Cookbook Award winner. Need I say more?


Hopefully one (or more of these) will end up under my tree this year. What's on you list for Santa this year?

Christmas and Halloween Together at last

I am starting Christmas planning early this year. Earlier then I have ever IMAGINED doing it in the past. Mostly because most of my gift giving this year will be home made and thus needs advance planning.

I want to make my own christmas cards this year and tonight I went to see if Michaels had any supplies out already.

I guess the retail industry is as early as I am...




snowflake clippies!

I also bought my halloween costume tonight. I am going to a halloween party friday night and I decided to go as a Geisha. It is a little shorter then I have worn in the past so I am going to have to be very "aware" of when I sit and when I bend over. But I look damn good in it! I'll post a picture of me in it this weekend :-)



What are you guys being for Halloween?

Christmas Ornament Exchange

I LOVE CHRISTMAS!

I am already starting to think about Christmas this year. For one thing my husband will finally be home to celebrate with me, and Christmas has always been my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. I am already starting to think about my cookie bake-off weekend, decorating the house, and now participating in an Ornament Exchange through Justine over at Almost There. If you want to start the Christmas season a little early this year I would encourage you to think about participating. I have been trying to become more active in the blogging community and I though that this would be a good way to start (I am also planning my first give-away for around the Christmas Season).

Tis' the Season....well....almost :-D

Christmas Stocking....27 Days

Thanks Grandma Doris!

Kyle's Grandma made me a Christmas Stocking. It was a wonderful thing to come home to after a 12 hour shift at work. When I called to thank her she said that everyone in the immediate family gets one, and now it was my turn!



27 Days until I am married.......

It's the most wonderful time of the year...28 Days

Today was great, right after we woke up we had a relaxing breakfast then we went to Balboa Park. I wanted to test out my new digital camera and there are really beautiful Gardens in the park. Not to mention that the day after Christmas in San Diego is in the mid-60s with a bright sun shining!

Here are some pics from the Greenhouse...

Cool Palm Tree!

A guy randomly walked up to us and asked if we wanted a picture with the two of us. Yay for Christmas Spirit!

Love my camera!

28 Days until I am married. When we went home we made a big to-do list of stuff for the wedding. I have to start making menus soon! Menus and place cards and programs oh my!

Merry Christmas! 29 Days

This Christmas was one of the best, even though we couldn't be with our families. Christmas Eve I worked and brought in sugar cookies for all of the Nurses and Nurses aids I work with, they were big hit!

Christmas Morning Kyle came home around 9am (he had to sleep on the ship Christmas Eve) and we made huge cinnamon rolls and opened presents on the floor around the Christmas Tree. We got loads of wonderful presents and kyle got me a....drum roll....

A NEW DIGITAL CAMERA!!!

Its a Sony Cyber-shot 8.1 mega pixel camera, and it's PINK!

It will be put to good use when we go skiing next week!

Good Shots from the morning.....

Presents!

Peeking from Wrappings

Watching over Christmas Morning

My turn to open the gifts!

we're tired from all of the present opening......

29 Days Until I am married.......

Christmas!!!!

The big christmas tree at the mall near my house

I can't believe that Christmas is a few hours away! Tomorrow I am making a big dinner for Kyle. Ham and sweet potatoes! One of our friends is also coming over for movies, hot chocolate and board games!

I gave out my sugar cookie-cut outs today at work with the Dels mix I got from home.

My parents called and left me a musical Christms voicemail, it almost made me cry. Not being at home is really hard around Christmas time...Maybe next year.

Feliz Navidad everyone!