Fabulous Food Friday: Fondue for Two

A couple of nights before Christmas, I decided to bust out my fondue pot. I had wanted one for several years and finally mom got me one. But sadly to say, I've only used it twice in the over year I've had it. Moving gave me a chance to see what all I actually own and so I'm making an effort to use what I have instead of buying more stuff!

I found this recipe months ago and thought I'd give it a try. It was really tasty. The only thing is that Theo and I like our beef cooked well done so it took quite a while to cook in the pot. So we cheated a little and ended up throwing it in the skillet and cooking it for a while first and then putting it back in the pot. There is also a dipping sauce I made and added to it a little because it tasted way too oily.  

 I also made shrimp fried rice using the recipe on the fried rice seasoning mix and it turned out quite tasty. 

 Don't worry, it's sparkling white grape juice!

On a different note, we have no plans tonight. Theo volunteered to work the 7 pm to 7 am shift for a young guy who's married and doesn't have kids yet. He told him that I would be asleep by 9:00 so he might as well work and let this guy go out! The weather is frightful here! It took Theo over 2 hours to get home last night. The snow came in a fury. I'm praying he has a safe trip to work tonight and back home in the morning. I'm so thankful I went grocery shopping early yesterday and thank you grocery store for "expectant mother" parking spaces! A godsend these past few weeks!

Carter and Olivia are doing pretty well.  Carter randomly threw up again yesterday morning. We had planned on going to Denver to visit Meredith but that was put on hold (I'm so glad too because the weather was fierce around 2:00 yesterday!) He has been doing that sporadically lately. But then he was fine. Who knows? Olivia has been better at night but it's hit or miss. Last night she was up a lot but the night before, she slept a good 9 hours before making a peep.  Carter has been saying some pretty cute things lately which I will blog about another day.

Our landlords came by yesterday and gave us our security deposit and we gave them the garage door openers and extra keys. So we're officially done with the moving! Well, except for our swingset. It feels good to have that done. And nice to have our deposit money back! We also have renters for our Louisiana house which should be moving in within the next week or so I beleive. What an answered prayer. We hired a property manager which will make our lives sooooo much easier! We don't have the time to do it all or the ability to travel back down south everytime something happens. So this guy will be quite a blessing for us.

I hope you all have a wonderful last day of 2010! Look out 2011, here we come!

A Carter Photoshoot

And my favorite one from the day:

Christmas morning

Christmas Eve was a rough night in our house. Olivia was literally up every 30-60 minutes and finally at 2:30 in the morning, we put her in the bed with us (translation: neither Theo nor I got any sleep!) So when Carter was up before 7:00 and consequently, Livie too, we both were very reluctant to get out of bed.

But it was Christmas after all and I knew Carter was soooooo excited. He asked me several times if when Santa came could he come downstairs and give him a hug! What a sweet heart our little man has. He's also quite smart. The fireplaces here don't have a way to open the glass so he asked how was Santa going to get out of the chimney. I told him he'd use the back door :) What else was I to say? He also reminded me not to leave the fire on so Santa wouldn't get burned!

Santa brought Carter a Radio Flyer scooter and Diego helmet and knee pads.

 He brought Olivia a lion walker/rider toy which she has pushed all over this house!

 It made this momma's heart so happy to see our kids so excited. They really racked up. We didn't get Carter many toys and opted for books and movie/CDs instead. But between the grandparents, godparents, aunts/uncles, our kids really racked up! It was like Toys R Us in here.

My grandmother sent the kids beautiful quilts. Can you tell Carter really liked his hot air balloon quilt?

And I finally got my grandmother's famous banana bread recipe that mom had "framed" for me!

Mom also had my wedding gown preserved! When I got the box in the mail a few days ago and realized what it was, I just started bawlin'! It made me reflect back to that time in my life and how special that whole day was. Fast forward six and a half years and we have two, almost three, beautiful children and a wonderful life.

Dad sent us some Christmas money which will most likely be used to buy something so fun....like rugs! We always apprecite the gift of money, even if it's to purchase practical things :)

I got Theo a part for his car and some things from a Jamaican store here.

The rest of the day was spent trying to recuperate from our complete lack of sleep. Carter and Olivia played with their toys. That night, we cooked a feast! Theo made the best turkey and stuffing and I made the sides. It was delicious. By 9:00, I was in a food coma and ready for bed!

Christmas is even more of a special day for us because it was Christmas 2005 that we found out we would be parents! Nine months later, our firstborn son came into this world. I didn't put a positive pregnancy test in Theo's stocking again this year.....I think it's pretty obvious I'm pregnant :) I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas Eve Pictures

Hi y'all! I hope everyone had a spectacular Christmas! We did here. It was very laid back but unfortunately (or fortunately, however you look at it) not a single flake of snow. Christmas Eve we went to mass as per our tradition. Both of the kids were a little wound up so I'm thankful we had an entire pew to ourselves. I kept asking Theo what Christmas will be like next year when we have a 5 year old, 2 year old and a 10 month old!! If it weren't Christmas Eve, I would seriously think about getting a babysitter :)

Before mass, I had to snap some pictures of the kids. Carter was ready to go and refused to take off his coat. Oh well. Again, I've learned to pick my battles. Nana sent this outfit for Olivia for her birthday and it was so adorably perfect for Christmas Eve!

Look who's getting closer everyday to walking! She can stand up independently and loves to sit, crouch, fall down, repeat and laugh hysterically! We are in desparate need of some rugs or this could go very badly with all the hardwood :)

After mass photo (I think the best one we've gotten this season!)

 

Christmas morning pictures to come tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

 As much as I love all of the holiday things that go along with Christmas, and have loved watching Carter count down the days, the real reason for the season is the birth of the Jesus I serve. Tonight, we'll be going to mass and reading this story to our kids:

"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.  So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.  When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

Happy Birthday Papaw!

We love you!

More Christmas pictures

I finally finished Olivia's Christmas jumper today! I made it several weeks ago but didn't have buttons for it. So this morning, before my ultrasound, I sewed the button holes and buttons. So now she'll wear it everyday until Christmas! Just kidding :)

Carter decided it was Halloween this morning and wanted to be Diego.....again for the fiftieth time in the past two months. Oh well.

 I love this one of them holding hands (before Olivia tried to eat Carter's fingers!)

These two (really three!) kids are one of the reasons I love Christmas so much. They are the greatest gifts I could imagine and I am thankful for a wonderful husband in with which to raise these precious kids!

Carter's preschool Christmas party

Carter had his little class party last Monday. I love seeing all of the 3 and 4 year olds together! Carter just loves school. No homeschooling for us....I wouldn't want to take his social need for school away from him. But that is for another post :) Theo was even able to come and I'm wishing now I would have gotten a group picture of us!

I feel bad for not getting his teacher anything. I had planned to bring gifts Wednesday but Carter was throwing up Tuesday night so he missed school.

Anyway, here are the pictures from the party!

Carter and his teacher, Miss Katie

As seen at our house

I love Christmastime! I do love celebrating the birth of Jesus. But I also love putting up Christmas decorations, wrapping presents, hanging our stockings, and all the stuff that goes along with Christmas.

This year has been a little bit chaotic but one of the first things I managed to do was put our tree up. It sat in the corner of our living room with lights and ribbon and without any ornaments for several days but I was at least happy I put it up. Normally, we make a big deal about it, drink hot chocolate and put some Christmas music on while we decorate the tree. But this year with everything that was going on, I just did it myself. I displayed my three manger scenes, put up my precious snow globes, hung our stockings in a very unusal place on account of my fear Olivia would pull them down and literally get her head cracked open on the very heavy stocking holders!

So, here is a snapshot (or two, or ten!) of my favorite Christmas decorations:

My new favorite Christmas ornament (purchased at Cracker Barrel!)

The stockings I've had since before Carter was born and I've yet to have them embroidered :)

As good as it's going to get

We went to church today all decked out in our Christmas attire. Since we were running late, I thought it would be best to try and attempt pictures after church instead of before. After mass, we ended up going to IHOP upon Carter's assistance. When we got home, we attempted Christmas pictures. Let me tell you, it was NOT an easy task! Hence, why I've asked for a camera remote for Christmas. Me jumpin up and down at 34 weeks to push the camera button was a workout! And man handling our kids so they would be still wasn't easy either :) How I was wishing we had just gone to Target but at least these pictures are virtually free!

And after these, can you tell why THIS:

is as good as it's going to get!

I can take photos pretty easily of Carter and Olivia separately, but together, Olivia won't sit for 1 second without crawling away! She's such a mess! Carter, as long as he's being bribed, is usually pretty cooperative.

Playdoh and PJs

We've spent the past couple of days inside the house on account of the really cold weather. It was a much needed break for me and the kids as we have been going and going and going. Our move is almost officially over but we're getting the carpets cleaned today and Theo still has to clean out the garage. Other than that,we're done! This was definitely NOT the easiest way to do it but we're hoping it was the cheapest.

 Olivia wanting a piece of the playdoh action

I'm hoping to finish up my Christmas shopping today and then just relax and do some baking the rest of the week. Theo and I are both pretty exhausted between Olivia waking up mulitple times a night and us letting her cry it out for a long time and Carter randomly throwing up several times this week. Weird. Anyway, glad to have Theo home this weekend and hopefully we can just hang out.