Winter Fun

We had a lovely white Christmas. I woke up to Gabby and snow pelting my window. It snowed most of Christmas day and the next day. Gabby received a snow suit for Christmas so we headed out to play. I started on a snowman, but Gabby got cold and insisted we go inside. I didn't argue with her in the least.

Gabby showed me how to make a snow angel. I made one myself while Gabby threw snow on me.

The Olympic Oval is just down the road from me so we went ice skating. I think it's been 10 years since I last went. I'm pretty good with the exception of stopping, but that's what the walls are there for. Gabby was really excited to try it out. It was completely exhausting trying to hold her up and get her going. We lasted an hour and I think we'll try it again sometime soon.

The snow really piles up in the yards after the shoveling and plowing! I have the best neighbor who shovels my driveway and walk along with his. I was able to get to it before him only once. I think he shoveled it 4 or 5 times in the course of 2 days.

Me showing off my beautiful necklace that Pam and Micha gave me for Christmas. It matches my amethyst ring perfectly! I was so surprised by it. Thanks Pam and Micha!

Gabby was a great sport about trying to skate. She'd fall and fall and get back up.

Merry Christmas 2008!

Gabby was a good girl and Santa brought lots of presents. Gabby wouldn't ever tell me what she wanted other than a red ball. She would always say that Santa knew. Gabby seemed to like all her gifts so I guess Santa did know.

Gabby has been asking for a saxophone all year. I have no idea why she's had her heart set on a saxophone, but she was thrilled to get it. She said it's her favorite gift.

Play food for her new kitchen

Gabby has memorized Green Eggs and Ham. They must read it to her at school since we don't have it at home. We play Green Eggs and Ham so I decided to make some this morning with the leftover ham from yesterday. My mom used to make green eggs and ham for us. Gabby wouldn't eat them here or there, she wouldn't eat them anywhere. She did try the ham on its own and liked that. Hurray, another food Gabby will eat!

Gabby woke up at 6:30am. I beat her down the stairs so I could video her reaction. Gabby sleeps naked and I didn't force her night gown on her yet. Check out that hair! That is what I have to deal with every morning. I have no idea what she does at night to get it that tangled.




Gabby's "big" gift was a Princess Kitchen. She's such a little chef I figured she should have her own kitchen.

Gabby made a cheesecake this morning with lemon, potatoes, and strawberry.

Christmas Eve 2008

Gabby and I spent Christmas Eve with the Nevers in Provo. Shawn and Lynn had #5, Carter Thomas, on Friday so I brought the Christmas Eve meal. We had a great time together, playing, eating, and enjoying a new baby.

They did a Nativity puppet show

Gabby showing off her new Dora bag from the Nevers

Playing Operation


At the end of the evening, we dressed the kids up and had them re-enact the Nativity. It turned out pretty cute. I have been trying to explain to Gabby that we celebrate Christmas for Jesus' birthday. Gabby got really excited about the thought of going to a birthday party for Jesus and was disappointed he wouldn't be there. I think the message mostly got through though. Merry Christmas!

Holiday Baking

I love making holiday treats for my friends and neighbors every year. I hope they love getting them. I think they're pretty tasty. Gabby and I spent the day making Jell-O cookies, Oreo truffles, and fudge. Gabby was really only interested in making the cookies. I was on my own for the others. She's a good helper in the kitchen. The Jell-O cookies are ok, I mostly make them since they can be red and green and look pretty. Gabby is still on her naked kick at home. She was so excited to make the cookies.

Here are the recipes for Oreo Truffles and Jello cookies for those of you who may be interested. I just use the recipe with marshmallows, evaporated milk, and chocolate chips for the fudge. Both of these are from Kraft magazine.

Oreo Truffles

1 pkg Oreos, divided

1 pdg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 pkg (8 oz each0 Semi-sweet baking chocolate melted

Crush 9 of the cookies and set aside. Crush remaining 36 cookies to fine brumbs, place in medium bowl. Add cream cheese and mix until well blended. Roll into 1 inch balls, makes about 42.

Dip balls in chocolate; place on wax paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Refrigerate until firm.

I used another gift I got for myself, a new food processor, to crush the Oreos. I haven't ever had one and I'm loving it! In years past, I crushed the Oreos in a plastic bag with a rolling pin. I prefer the former method much better!

Jell-O Cookies

3 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks), softened

1 cup sugar

2 pkg (4 serving size each) Jell-O, divided

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 400. Mix flour and baking powder; set aside. Beat butter in large blowl with mixer on medium speed until creamy. Gradually add sugar and 1 pkg of dry gelatin, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture, beating until well blended after each addition.

Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place cookes 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets. Flatten with bottom of clean glass. Sprinkle lightly with remaining gelatin.

Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.

Early Gifts

We draw names for Christmas in my family. David drew Gabby this year. Jen had made David and Maggie Christmas blankets. Gabby was over there a few times while Jen worked on them. She was a little offended that Jen wasn't making her one. I offered to make Gabby a blanket, but she refused and insisted that Jenny would make her a blanket. Jen came through! Jen watched Gabby for me Thursday and Friday night (I'm a busy girl!) and showed Gabby the pieces Thursday. Gabby couldn't have been more excited for it. She made us leave for Jen's over an hour early Friday night so she could go get her Red Lady Bug Blanket. She loves it so much! Thanks David (and Jenny of course!).

And here's my gift to myself! I've been sleeping on a cheap twin bed all year. I haven't been sleeping well and Gabby gets in bed with me a couple of nights a week so I felt it was time for an upgrade. I bought it on Monday and it was delivered the same day. Gabby was actually very upset when I began taking apart the old crappy bed. She's not so into change these days. I can't really blame her though, it has been a tumultuous year. I bought the bedding at Linen's N Things on Thursday (thanks going out of business clearance sale!). I'm hoping to get a headboard and dressers sometime next year, but this is definitely a step up! I love all the extra room and not having springs in my back. Oh, and I found fleece sheets at Target. I highly recommend sleeping wrapped in fleece!

Here Comes Santa Claus....and a Fairy

I had another day off to take today. I dropped Gabby off at school late and got some more shopping done. I'm almost done. I bought my gift for me, a new bed. It was delivered today and I love it. I picked Gabby up from school and we went over to the mall to meet Santa. Of course, he was out to lunch when we got there and we had to wait a while. Gabby was too excited to meet him. She told him she wanted a red ball. She already has several red balls, but I guess she'll be getting another one!

Gabby was a little put out that Santa didn't have his hat or coat on, but she was happy he was comfortable in the end. This was actually the first time I've taken Gabby to see Santa. Kind of sad, huh? But since it was solely up to me, off to Santa we went! I thought that I took video of Gabby telling Santa what she wanted, but apparently I didn't.

The mall has a carousel that Gabby chose to ride over having an ice cream cone. See, I don't totally spoil her, she has to make choices. Gabby rode the reindeer and named her Polly.

So this is Gabby's rejected Halloween costume that has become my tea party outfit. I'm even wearing the wings. I'll admit it, I kind of like dressing up as a fairy. I get into character and prance and dance around to Gabby's amusement. Gabby hosts wonderful tea parties. She comes as Cinderella. Although she does need to work on her graciousness as she forces me to eat things I don't like or want. I enjoy the tete-a-tetes with Gabby, though. We have some thought-provoking conversations.

Gabby and I riding the carousel.

"O, Christmas Tree," The Tutorial

The shopping center down the road had some reindeer on display and pictures with the Grinch. Apparently they normally have Santa but I guess he couldn't make it this year so the Grinch it was. We opted not to take a picture with the Grinch, he looked a bit creepy. The reindeer were cool though. Gabby loved them.

I sunk to a new low today. Gabby dressed herself this morning for our ward's Christmas brunch. She chose the t-shirt in the video's below. I tried and tried to convince her to change and she wouldn't. She just loves t-shirts. So after the brunch, I told Gabby that reindeer didn't like white shirts, only blue ones. She had that t-shirt off quick as anything. I know that it was wrong of me to use the reindeer that way, but I was desperate!

Gabby taught me her version of "O, Christmas Tree" this morning. She is a strict little teacher and requires much from her student. I never did get it right, but it's fun listening to her teach. Yes, that's tinsel on the tree. Gabby kept insisting we needed it. I don't know where she heard about tinsel, but it's a mess. She had fun throwing it on the tree and now "it's perfect!"