Church Links

I know I have promised pics of our Church that was renovated for some time now....I wish I had good pics of the inside of what it used to look like.... if you GO HERE there is a video history of the church and it shows pics of the latest church before the renovation though....and we do have a new pastor as well, Father Lappe. Enjoy.

Here are pics of the RENOVATION
Here are the NEW BEAUTIFUL PICS
And pictures of the Church with the latest SNOW.

Watch Out

...this is what happens when you are 13 and supposed to be in bed and not going...your brother-in-law and soon to be brother-in-law carry you up to bed!! (more like drag and haul!)

A Dress from Marmee

Sounds of the Season

Last night we went to watch the 10th Annual Sounds of the Season Talent Show at the Admiral Theatre. It had been rescheduled due to the weather we had before Christmas, was mostly a bad thing because some of the acts had to cancel and the MC for the night as well....and the one they ended up with was not so good. But, the talent was amazing especially my sister Alli who sang a beautiful song and our friends the Gray girls who also performed (sorry I missed the first few seconds on camera) and took the performance award!! It was lots of fun to watch and I encourage everyone to check it out next year!!

So stylish...

...and ready for the show...that is the Sounds of the Season Talent Show that Alli is performing in tonight...it was supposed to be before Christmas but was rescheduled due to the weather. I will hopefully post a video clip of Alli's song soon!

Should I be worried.....

...of things to come??

Christmas Celebration & Traditions

Well, this winter weather has definitely made us thankful for the traditions we celebrate every year, especially when it was looking like we might not be able to. It also due to circumstances, made us create some new ones. After Christmas Eve Mass, we have always gone to visit my PopPop to take some pictures and let him see everyone all dressed up.....this year, we couldn't even drive to his place because of all the snow. We also go and drive around to look at Christmas lights, and the snow prevented that as well. Luckily, Jason made it out to the grocery store so I could stock up on the supplies needed for our traditional breakfast and dinner. It was also a different Christmas because it is the first year we have ever had my mom gone (she is still in NYC with my sister and new nephew)...so the pressure was even more on to get the traditional foods right!! Some new traditions we started....everyone came over to my house for breakfast and present opening....it is just easier that way now with the kids. So it was nice to host it here and luckily my first shot at the traditional Spanish omelet sauce and Weinachtsbrot (pic below) came out perfectly!!! Whew! I have had this breakfast my whole life and my mom remembers having the Weinachtsbrot her whole life too, so it definitely is a must have and so pretty and yummy!! The girls got a very fun Slide/Climber/Basketball-Soccer set from Santa (and it folds up!!..minus the basketball and soccer nets that didn't come with it...err)....will keep them busy in these cold winter days and then outside in the spring and summer!! They also will enjoy this fun wagon, a new Little Einstein rocket toy and some fun videos. I can't wait to read THIS and use THIS. Jason is in love with his greenhouse and the girls are loving their new art easel!! Thanks to all the family for the beautiful and thoughtful gifts. Jason and I have decided that we will start a new tradition this year...we will do the stockings and a Santa gift and then the get together with family on Christmas Day, but we will not exchange gifts until the Epiphany to celebrate the Day the Wise Men brought gifts to Baby Jesus...and we will present each with three gifts to represent the three gifts Jesus was given. So, looking forward to still celebrating this Christmas season that truly does not end until the Epiphany (I hate it when stores and places start taking down everything so early!). The girls had a good nap and later that day we went over to my parents and had our traditional yummy dinner of prime rib, Yorkshire pudding (dad did both of these wonderfully!!) and I made a corn casserole and green bean casserole. We enjoyed being together and Angel entertained us all with her singing and dancing after dinner. So funny!! Wish I had gotten it all on tape! Then I made a new dessert...a double crusted Apple Raspberry Pie....so good and we sang happy birthday to Jesus!! (angel had been singing that for about a week and sang it all the way home!) It was a wonderful day with family and we feel so blessed for all we have and the gift of our Savior. We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ahead!! (my cards are late, but they are coming!)

(there are some really funny pics mom of us girls Christmas morning being silly and some from dinner too in the slideshow....I got a pic of the yorkshire pudding and prime rib dad did!) (the last video is so funny, Angel's version of Rudolph...not quite as funny as the one she was performing for us after dinner though)

What do reindeer eat?

Angel was telling everyone Christmas Day what she left out for the reindeer and Santa to eat...and it was so funny...we have this Santa toy that you talk to and ask questions and he talks back and when you ask him what do the reindeer eat...Santa says "Magical carrots that make them fly!" So Angel wanted to put out magical carrots and when she was telling everyone about them she does this funny thing with her fingers....so cute!! I think they are supposed to be reindeer flying.

Christmas Eve

We were worried most of the day if we were going to get out for Christmas Eve mass. Jason shoveled a path for us to at least get out of our development and we just hoped we could get back home. This weather sure made an interesting, memorable and different end of Advent season and Christmas this year. We heard on the news that the last time there was this much snow on the ground for Christmas Day was in 1865!! The girls looked beautiful in their Christmas dresses (thanks Aunty Megs) and mass was beautiful in our newly renovated church (some pics of it in the slide show). Alli sang in the girls choir and the music was beautiful. It was good to see those friends that were able to make it in, and we missed those that were stuck in the snow!! Angel disappeared when we were talking in the vestibule....and we found her once continually blessing herself with the holy water and another time....praying in front of Saint Anthony, even though she was saying "Hail Mary!" So cute. We tried to get a few pics in front of the beautiful trees and Angel loves seeing the big nativity at church. When we got home, they were very excited and did some dancing, set out the snacks for Santa and the reindeer...read that Christmas story and then off to bed!! Very thankful we could make it to mass and hoped that it wouldn't snow a lot over night so we could celebrate Christmas day with family!!

Christmas Turkey Abuse

Grammy & Grandpa....remember this you got last year and Angel was TERRIFIED of it? She wouldn't even go in the room if it was there. Well, this year she was still timid about it but because Emma LOVES it (calls it La-La) Angel finally warmed up to it. But the poor turkey gets dragged and smothered around the neck more than he gets a chance to dance!! Anyways...thanks for the entertainment!!

Emma's One Year Pics

We finally made it in to get Emma's one year pics a bit ago (also went ahead and just took a family pic for our Christmas Card as I gave up trying to get both the girls to look and smile...Emma won't sit still for anything!)....they came out pretty good. She looks so pretty in blue!

Still Snowing & Baking

Well, it snowed ALL DAY again today and we have a good foot out there! While it is EXTREMELY beautiful to watch and lots of fun to play in (we felt like kids again), with no truck, snow tires, chains or 4 wheel drive....we are pretty much snowed in!! Not that I would want to be driving around in this stuff anyways. It is definitely changing our plans and altering our to do lists, but coming at a very important time to remember what this season is truly all about. We have enjoyed family time around the fire, baking in the kitchen and whatever of our "must dos" don't get done before Christmas...oh well. We have heard more snow is expected in a couple days, so could be a very interesting week ahead! Poor Jason has not been able to make it in to work since Thursday as the buses aren't running, the roads are bad and Seattle is having the same problems we are!! So today I made a few more recipes (click on pic to get), and we had lots of fun in the SNOW....check it out.

Waiting for Mama to come back from a walk

Just going for a winter stroll

Getting ready to build a snowman

We had to put her somewhere!

Yes, she is eating the snow..EVERYWHERE

Well, the girls were getting cold, so our snowMAN turned into a snowbaby

although, I think it looks like a puppy face

coming back from my walk, could barely walk in the thick snow!

eating snow

sled time

Jason had to get one in too!