Friday, December 28, 2007

So, finally I get to post some pictures from Christmas.


Christmas day was so relaxing - much better than last year (which we spent in the NICU).



We woke up around 9, which for us is late. It was nice to sleep in a bit. I was happy to find the Yule Log on tv! Corey has never *really* experienced the Yule Log. I, on the otherhand, have fond memories of it from my childhood. My parents annual Christmas Party and the Yule Log on Christmas Eve.



We unwrapped presents and Santa Corey did good by bringing me a nice, bright and shiny red KitchenAid mixer! Yippeeee!! I almost immediately made peanut butter cookies with it (after taking a nice long nap).

Tomorrow brings Christmas Celebration Part IV. We're heading up to Suffern to see Grandma Diane and Aunt Kelly.






Wednesday, December 26, 2007



I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and that Santa was good to you. :)

Here are some pictures from our early Christmas dinner with Pappy Dave, Grandma Sharon & Aunt Allison.

Let me give you some background on this dinner: I recieved my December copy of Everyday Food Magazine in the mail sometime in November. The holiday menu looked delicious - standing rib roast with rosemary garlic roasted potatos and a chocolate-nut buche de noel for dessert. Yum. The second I saw it, I knew that this was the dinner I wanted to make for Christmas.

I would read the recipes over and over again - I could practically recite them.

Well, Saturday, I made my Holiday meal.

Standing Rib Roast, garlic rosemary roasted potatos, spinach gratin (courtesy of Ina Garten) and the buche de noel for dessert.

It was the most amazing Christmas dinner ever. The food was so yummy. Corey & I even uncorked our wine from Tarrara that we got in Virginia when we went to visit friends.

Allison helped me make the buche - complete with marzipan mushrooms. I was quite impressed with myself. It looked so beautiful I didn't want to cut it!










Christmas Eve, I had to work until 1. Corey, Syd & I went to the children's mass at church. It was adorable - they had the kids act out the nativity story. It was so stinkin' cute - I was tearing.

We came home & I made ham & mashed potatos and we vegged on the couch watching the Simpson's Movie.

Christmas Day, we lazed around the house after opening presents. I napped, installed the new carseat and cleaned up. It was the perfect Christmas day - nice & relaxing.

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Happy Holidays!!

So much going on in our house, where do I begin?

First Sydney's birthday party on December 8th. She had a great time. Enjoyed visiting with her Aunts and Uncles. It also was the start of having Grandma Diane for a whole week! She came to bake Christmas cookies. It was nice coming home from work at night and having my mom there.

I made the cupcakes for Sydney's party. I knew exactly what I wanted and knew that I'd never be satisfied by ones from a bakery, so I made them. They came out PERFECT. I made little sugar-cookie flowers to decorate them and frosted them with yummy pink vanilla frosting.

First Birthday Cupcakes

That following weekend, I got initiated into my Women's Club as treasurer. We had a holiday party and all our members brought their families. I, of course, brought my Mom, Corey & Miss Nee.

Since then, I've been busy making gifts for Christmas. I made cookie trees for some of Sydney's teachers and our mailman, reindeer food, ornaments for Syd's Grandparents and other holiday yummies.

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For Sydney's birthday celebration at school, I brought in #1 shaped Dunkin Donuts. Too cute.

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Miss Nee even came home with a Christmas present for Mommy & Daddy. An adorable snowflake ornament with her picture on it. It's front & center on our tree.

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That's all for now. I have pictures from last night's "Christmas" dinner with with Pappy Dave, Grandma Sharon & Aunt Allison, but I'll post those later.

Merry Christmas!

Thursday, December 06, 2007

Busy, busy, busy.

So much to do and so little time to do it in.

Thanksgiving was wonderful. It was so nice to get to spend a week with Corey and Sydney and not have to worry about work, the house, etc. It was some much needed down time for the three of us. Corey & I even got a date night out of it. We went to the Wheeling Island dog track for dinner & to bet on the greyhounds. It was a blast!

Now, the holiday preperations begin. This weekend is Sydney's first birthday party. I feel like I have so much to do! Clean the house, cook, decorate...phew. I'm exhausted just thinking about it.

We did have a mini-party for her WV family Thanksgiving weekend. I wish everyone could be here this weekend, but the distance is too great for everyone to travel.

I'm sitting here at work, it's slow, not much to do, but my head is spinning with all that I HAVE to do at home. So, I'm making lists: To-do lists, to-make lists, to-buy lists (Corey's least favorite), to-decorate lists.

Time to get back to my lists. I'll be sure and post birthday pictures asap. :)