
Monday, November 30, 2015
Christmas Touches

Sunday, November 29, 2015
Thanksgiving 2015

Monday, November 23, 2015
I'll Bring the Pie
I am not of fan of change. I like traditions, and I do not like those traditions changing. However, living away from family for 7 years now has made me a tad more adaptable. Right now, each holiday is ever evolving. I'm figuring out new traditions with my own little family. While this time of year is my favorite, it's also when I'm most homesick. I want to be around family. I want Liam to be with his cousins & grandparents. I want that familiarity.
Aside from the pie, I'll be bringing some of our home-brewed hard cider as well as ginger beer for Moscow Mules. I may even add some rosemary & sugared cranberries for a festive touch! Now if only I was talented enough to add some crust flair to the top of pie... perhaps some fall leaves or an apple...we'll see what I an pull off!
So all that to say, we'll be spending Thanksgiving here in Salt Lake City. Since we travel for Christmas, we always stay put for turkey day. Typically we have cooked a big feast for just our small family, but this year we are joining with our neighbors who are practically family to us here in Utah. They live right next door, so we often keep our back fence open so that it's easy for the kids to play and we have backdoor access. They are hosting, but we are still making the turkey! This is a big big change for us, since typically we make the entire meal ourselves. But I'm excited to just focus on a couple things and to nail those dishes! Since we are cooking the turkey at our house, that will open up the neighbor's oven for all sorts of side dishes and desserts! Conor will handle the bird (with some small prep work from me) while I handle the pie & drinks!
Every year I make my pumpkin chiffon pie, but this year I'm feeling a little crazy... Since I have been apple obsessed, I'll be making your standard American apple pie. That buttery, flakey goodness has been on my mind for days! I'm no pie expert, but I have friends in the know! One friend in particular is an amazing pie maker/all around baker and she swears by this all butter crust recipe. I'll be giving it a try and am only slightly nervous about using a new recipe for the big day! As far as the filling goes, I'm a big fan of Smitten Kitchen's recipe. For any rookie pie makers out there, note that you cannot make an apple pie right before meal time. It needs to rest! For at least 4 hours!!! So don't expect to be dusting the flour off your dress as your head out the door for your Thanksgiving feast. Apple pie needs to be tended to long beforehand. Learned that the hard way one fine book club evening.
Aside from the pie, I'll be bringing some of our home-brewed hard cider as well as ginger beer for Moscow Mules. I may even add some rosemary & sugared cranberries for a festive touch! Now if only I was talented enough to add some crust flair to the top of pie... perhaps some fall leaves or an apple...we'll see what I an pull off!
Sunday, November 22, 2015
Weekend Recap
I used to be the official light holder for Conor, but Liam is now old enough to step into that role. I much prefer to be making goodies inside, all toasty & warm anyway. Liam is already feeling the anticipation of Christmas and all the fun to come, while I am full of excitement about all that we have planned! He knows Thanksgiving is almost here, and then it will officially be Christmastime! The allusive, never close enough Christmastime!
But back to Thanksgiving... Sunday morning we went to the Winter Farmer's market, where I was hoping to snag some Fall goodies & produce for the big feast. Well the market was a bit of a disappointment, but we did pick up another growler of ginger beer. At least we know our cocktails will be tasting mighty fine! Conor has been making some homemade ginger beer lately, but we wanted to try the local stuff again for a little comparison. The Keenan ginger beer recipe is still being tinkered with!
The next few nights will be full of menu planning & grocery list making. I hope the next two days fly by, because I'm ready for Wednesday... my big prep day! Everything takes longer with kids in tow, especially now that I have two, so planning is necessary. And I really just love planning. In my planner. If it's not in the planner, does it even really happen...? ;-)
And lastly, I put the finishing touches on Finn's stocking which is ready to be hung come Friday!
Four stockings and counting. But not counting yet. Just probably counting in the future.
But for now, just four!

Friday, November 20, 2015
Fri-Yay
TGIF friends!

Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Being #2

Sunday, November 15, 2015
My THREE Year Old
We are now three plus months into this whole three-nager thing, and it is tough! It has completely caught me off guard. I feel like we are on one emotional roller coaster. One minute I think that three must certainly be the best age ever. I'm watching Liam transition into this older boy who is funny & loving. Our conversations are deeper and more meaningful. We have these incredible moments together that I never want to end. I feel like there is no possible way that I could love him more!!!
And then that moment will quickly fade, and this new boy arrives. He is sassy. He has an attitude. And he is completely unreasonable. Liam has gotten smarter and can talk his way out of things...or at least try. He can bargain. And he could not possibly care less about what I have to say. If I had to choose just one word that describes three, it would be impulsive. Always impulsive, all the time. And many of my questions are simply answered with "just because." That response is infuriating when I am trying to understand this little three year old of mine!
I feel like three has been a bigger shock to us because Liam was just the easiest baby & young toddler. You all have heard me describe him as so sweet & gentle. And of course, that is still who he really is. However, he is experimenting with all sorts of emotions & behaviors. He is unpredictable! I think what has been most difficult for me, is that I feel a bit of disconnect with him at times. The two of us are close, ridiculously close. I know him as well as I know myself, perhaps better. We have this crazy tight bond. We have always been in sync with one another. But there are days when I do not feel that way. When I do not understand him at all. Yet, I glimpses of memories from when I was three. I can remember the big emotions. I can remember crying so hard and furiously, but then not remembering why I was even upset to begin with. Three is tough for everyone. Tough for Mama & tough for the wee one!

Friday, November 13, 2015
Fri-Yay
TGIF friends!

Thursday, November 12, 2015
This is 30
