Catching Up!

I'll admit it, I've been a bad blogger lately.... I blame it on the holidays, cleaning, tons o' family gatherings and my incessant need to watch Heroes, Season One on NetFlix... But, I'll have you know, I have been documenting all of our activities with photos and have every intention of

posting each event!

I'll start here....

A few weeks back, December 16th (I think) I headed over to see our niece Holly's first ever dance recital. Poor thing still had her cast on from breaking her elbow so her costume changes were a bit challenging for she and Kristen. She was placed on the end of the first act, so I got some great shots of her dancing/standing there being cute :) Her "BIG" recital is in the Spring, I'll have to drag Kev along to that one :) Enjoy the pictures!!

Waiting for her cue...

Opening "move"

She did great despite her clunky cast!

Just being cute :)

Wardrobe change! With family friend Danielle

Merry Christmas!

We hope everyone has a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends! My mom was supposed to come out to visit and spend the holidays with us, but unfortunately was stuck in Seattle with all the snow they've gotten, so we were really bummed. Mama, stay warm - we're missing you today!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!!

Love,

Stacie, Kevin, Peanut and Tucker

Happy Birthday!

To our little niece Holly who turned 4 and to my stepdad Bryan who turned "older" today :) Holly got her cast off of her elbow today which was a great bday present! She cracked her elbow a few weeks back but thankfully was able to perform in her first dance recital last Monday! (pictures to come....)

Bry, I was so happy we got to chat this afternoon, I miss you and love you very much! I hope you had a wonderful day! XO

Winter Wonderland!

So it's snowed non-stop since Friday afternoon and there seems to be no real end in sight. The meterologists are now saying an add'l 4-6 inches today before MAYBE turning to rain. Either way, we're enjoying the fact that winter has officially arrived! (Today is the first day of winter) Seattle is getting wallopped too, my poor freezing friends and family, they're not used to this!

Here are some pictures from today, I have posts in the works from this week; I've been a bad blogger lately with Christmas fast approaching! This is also my 100th post, go me! :)

**UPDATE: The snow has stopped, finally!! :)

Tucker
Our snowy cherry blossom Peanut

Happy Birthday!

To my wonderful friend Lindsay (Avery) ! I hope you had a fabulous 29th! XOXO

** an oldie but goodie AKA back when we were both "blondes!" **

Fa La La La La...

I was really excited to decorate for the holidays for some reason this year. Could be because we're in the midst of remodeling/decorating our house and I'm liking it SO much better than before or just that it's finally cold enough to feel like winter and the holidays! Either way, I couldn't wait! Last year, Kev, J&J and I got our trees at a cute little family owned place aout 15 minutes from home. They had a great selection, and although they were a bit pricier - they shook the excess needless off of it by putting it in a handy dandy machine-a-ma-bob. They also put it in a net so when you drag it into your house the branches and needles don't go everywhere. Worth the extra $$ in my book!!

Anyway, Julie and I decided to make it a tradition and this year we threw brunch into the mix!Kev and I headed over to their house Sunday morning and us gals cooked up a feast of egg and veggie scramble, sausage and pancakes. It had started to snow so it was absolutely gorgeous out! We finished up, got Eliza in her fleece snowsuit and headed to get our tree. It was less than warm out, so we picked fairly quickly. I believe we got a Frasier Fir, she's a beaut!! We got it on the car and were on our way. We had a great time, but I think next year - we'll make the boys cook while we sip spiked eggnog and gab :)

Enjoy the pictures and Happy Holidays!

A very curious Tucker :)
Ornaments
My new centerpiece -bright green pears and candles with silver mirrored balls

Sorry, she was just too cute! :)

Recipe Swap 2008

Shelby has asked us all to contribute to her "Recipe Swap 2008" as she and her hubby and sis-in-law are brave enough to take on cooking for their entire family this holiday season. Hopefully these two recipes make the cut, they're sure to not disappoint!

This first recipe was one of my grandma's and they're SO easy and delicious. I made them last year and my mother-in-law must've eaten half the batch :) Every time I saw her she had one in her hand and powdered sugar all over her face.

The quiche is a recipe my mom makes, it's awesome! Best part, you can serve it for breakfast, lunch OR dinner. I'll consider this her RS '08 contribution.

Enjoy!

Pecan Puffs

Ingredients

1 stick of butter
2 T sugar
1 t vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup flour

Directions

Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Cream butter and sugar together
Stir in nuts, flour and vanilla
Roll into small balls and place on cookie sheet lined with wax paper or foil
Bake in 300 oven for 15 minutes
Remove and roll in confectioners sugar while warm and again when cool

Yields: 1-2 dozen, depending on size of dough balls


Above the Clouds Quiche

Ingredients

Prebaked pastry shell for 9" pie
1 pound leanest bacon (cooked to crumble stage without burning
1/2 pound Swiss cheese
2 cups heavy cream
4 whole eggs
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1/2 t white pepper
1/2 t paprika
1 t salt
1/4 cup finely chopped onion

Directions

Preheat oven to 400
Mix eggs and spices together well (but do not beat);
Add cream and mix again
Spread crumbled bacon evenly in pastry shell, layer cheese over bacon and press down
Pour liquid mix over cheese to fill shell
Bake for 15 min. at 400, then reduce temp. to 325 and continue baking for 20-25 min. until golden or a knife inserted comes out clean or with just the cheese clinging

Everything can be prepared a day or two before and refrigerated, then assembled at the last minute just before cooking.

*Tip: Mom sautees the onions first

Yields: 6 servings

Happy Birthday!!!

To one of my best friends in the whole world, Lynnie! I hope you have a great day and get everything you want today and always! I love you soooooo much and am very thankful to have you in my life!! XO