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Friday, December 28, 2012

2012 in review

We had a busy busy 2012.  We moved across the country, celebrated birthdays and holidays, started school, and explored our new home state.  It was maddening, fun, and exhausting.  Here's to a more relaxed 2013.  Ha!  Here are a few of my favorite pictures/events from the past year.

We'll be taking a trip to Brian's parents to celebrate Christmas late, so I won't be back until late next week.  See you next year!  Have a happy New Year!

We rang in 2012 in beautiful Charleston.
We took trips to the zoo last winter, since South Carolina has such a mild winter.
We loved each other a lot.
I rang in my 34th year in Savannah with family.
We celebrated favorite feast days.
Brian turned 40!!
Rowan turned 2!
 We moved into a new house with an amazing blooming yard.
We explored our new town.  And danced in the streets.
Fletcher turned 4!!
We visited with best friends.
 We used the pool all summer long.
 Fletcher started school!  And Rowan started a few months later too.
We loved Fall in the Ozarks.
Halloween was extra fun this year.
And we loved Santa.
Here's to a happy 2013!  Cheers.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas 2012

I never got out of my pajamas on Christmas Day this year.  That about sums it up.  We ate, drank, and were merry, and I hope you all were too.  Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

'twas the night before

I do feel free to use this as an online photo album/scrapbook/journal.  And today is no exception.  I don't have much to say today except that we had a very lovely Christmas, with the aid of my parents to make things merry.  We've been dealing with a wave of sickness- my mom and I are the lone survivors of the Christmas flu.  I just jinxed myself there.  But I do have loads of pictures to put here, so today this is my online photo album.  This is a peek at our Christmas Eve.  We all got dressed up, went to church, came home and had a tasty meal, and set out cookies and milk for Santa!  And carrots for the reindeer of course.  After the children (and poor sick Brian) were nestled in their beds, I had quite the Santa task ahead of me.  It was a long and happy night (besides poor sick Brian).
 The Yule-tide pick.
 Snacking on the reindeer carrots!
 Fighting over who gets to bring the milk for Santa!
I'll put up Christmas day pictures a bit later today, if you'd like a peek at my online Christmas album!  Hope your Christmas was just as merry and bright.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

bourbon balls

Brian's favorite liquor is bourbon.  He can tell you all about it, and has sampled an extensive amount.  I'm not a huge fan, unless it's an ingredient in cookies, or mint juleps.  When Brian was deployed to Iraq, I (or anyone else) was not allowed to send any kind of alcohol.  But I did send bourbon balls.  By they time they reached Brian, they were cured to the point of being ignitable.  Pretty sure I bent the rules there.  Don't tell.  This year I got a request from a friend for my recipe (hi Jo!).  I really really meant to get these done before now, but it just didn't happen.

So here they are, better late than never!  And they are really good!  Just a warning: they are not baked, so the liquor doesn't get baked out.  They are little drunken balls, so not really appropriate for littles.  Which really made Rowan mad since she tried to lick the whisk and steal a ball or two.  If you'd like to try these drunken balls yourself, you'll need the following.

1 cup confectioners' (powdered) sugar
2 T  unsweetened cocoa powder
2/3 cup bourbon
2 T light corn syrup
2 1/2 cup crushed vanilla wafers
1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
colored sugars or sprinkles
makes about 50 balls

Whisk together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa powder until mixed.
Stir together the bourbon and the corn syrup until well blended.
Pour into the sugar and cocoa mixture, and stir.
Mix the wafers and pecans.
Fold into the cocoa bourbon mixture.
Roll into 1 inch balls, and roll balls in confectioners' sugar, sprinkles or colored sugar.
Lay on waxed paper while working, and then keep in an airtight container until ready to serve.
And that's it!  So easy, and such a crowd pleaser.  Perfect for a little treat on Christmas or for New Year's Eve.  Enjoy!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

first snow

Guys, I love snow.  I know I'm in the minority, but I love it.  I think there is something so magical and beautiful about it, and the way it can blanket sharp corners into soft curves is just lovely.  And this time of year, I am as anxious as a kid with a new sled for the first snow.  And finally, FINALLY, it snowed today!  Just a scant amount, barely covering the grass, but it completely counts in my book.  Growing up on Lake Michigan, I got my fair share of snow as a child.  Snow forts, snowmen, sledding, cross country skiing all took up our time all winter long.  But it seems that Missouri (at least my neck of the woods) gets a lot less.  In fact, I've been told by the Missourians that it does snow a bit during the winter, but rarely sticks.  I'm hoping for enough for the kiddos to sled at least a couple times this winter.  After a winter last year without snow in South Carolina, I'm ready for some snow!

So yes, I got so excited for the snow today that I ran out the door with my camera and snapped a few pictures.  Rowan joined me, and got to see the first snow that she will perhaps remember.  She loved it. catching flakes on her hands, sticking out her tongue for snow to land, and shuffling her feet around in it.  The wind was wicked, so we didn't stay out long.  But we reveled in the white stuff for a while, watching the wind whip our bamboo forest around like a field of wheat instead of 20 feet of strong bamboo.  If you live anywhere north of my latitude, I'm sure these pictures are quite less than impressive.  But I'm going to share anyway, so enjoy!
Do you love or dread the snow?  Or both?