Holiday Fun

I know I have been slacking but I have been busy. What an interesting year it has been; taking

Here are some pictures from our recent holiday fun, starting with Thanksgiving, which was also Ryan's birthday:trips, buying a home, changing cars, etc.



Here is what a plate looked like; we got some new dishes at Wal-Mart that we thought looked pretty cool. I guess it's a good way to tell if your dishes are clean because they are clear.
This was butternut squash soup made in a crockpot, which was delicious. First I made a puree out of the butternut squash, then I put the butternut squash puree (with honey in it) in a crock pot with chicken stock, an apple, onions, and a few other spices. It tasted fantastic!

My family recipe for yams--lots of marshmallows, butter/margarine, and brown sugar.

This was the lamb leg we picked up at the Springville Meat Co in Springville, UT. Ryan was in charge of it, so he smothered it with spices and then slow cooked it in the crockpot.

Green bean casserole, made by Ryan's sister Michelle. I am still trying to understand green bean casserole, since I didn't have it growing up. It tasted great, but I suspect it's a Utah thing.

Bacon-wrapped scallops, compliments of Ryan. Those smelled divine.
Homemade mint lemonade. This was a recipe I found online adapted from Bobby Flay, a famous Iron Chef. You make a simple syrup (sugar and water boiled), and then stir it with lemon juice, and the tiniest drop of mint extract. It was perfect and way easy to make.
Bree's Pantry Secret white bread rolls. They were flaky, light, and fluffy and Ryan's family couldn't get enough of them!


The place settings at our table.

We also just finished putting up our Christmas tree. We bought it back in early November off of KSL. We knew we wanted a large tree for our 22 foot ceiling, but didn't want to pay a huge price. We got our 15 foot tree for $200 and put it up on Thanksgiving. We didn't end up decorating it until last night, and here are some photos:





Some salt and pepper penguin shakers in the piano room on the fireplace mantle. I figured they were appropriate to place next to the glass ice cubes.
Nativity set I got from one of my Young Women leaders.


My personal Christmas tree. I used leftover felt scraps to put at the bottom, and it is sitting next to the piano in the front.


Our awesome goodies put in the container Jon and Rainah gave me for my birthday this year. Don't we have good treats? Cadbury eggs, Dove dark chocolate, and Andes chocolate mints. Don't worry Dad, the dark chocolate orange sticks are in the fridge.

My fake poinsettias I bought at Wal-Mart. My visiting teacher thought they were real, so score!

A close up of the fake green boughs/garlands I wrapped around the banister of the stairs.




My new Nativity set I bought this week. The scented pine candle serves two purposes: 1) to make it smell like our tree may be possibly real, and 2) to double as the star the Wise Men followed.
My stock Granny made me. I used it as a pattern to make Ryan's stocking below:
Not a bad first attempt. At least it's not a big deal if I want to make him a better one next year :)



Maybe I'll update more some other time. Maybe.