Crocheted Headband

In November, my friend taught me how to crochet.  I have since crocheted two hats and this headband:

 This has turned out to be my favorite project.  I found the pattern as a necklace and decided to turn it into a headband.  It is very simple.  Just a crocheted ring with three very long chains attached and the flower hooked to the top of the ring.  The leaves at the end of the chains feed through the ring to keep it in place.

Perhaps I'll post my other crocheted creations too. 

Next up, I'm going to try my hand at knitting.

Watching the Moon

Ever since I hung the 2012 calendar, Ethan has been talking about how there would be a full moon on January 9th.  He always loves to read all the printed words on every day on the calender to see what there is to get excited about for that month.  The full moon was all he talked about for days.  Each day he reminded me how many more days there were until we had a FULL MOON.  I guess he doesn't realize how often they come.

So last night, for our Family Home Evening activity, we went outside to hunt for the full moon and enjoy a walk by its light.  Little did we know that we had timed it perfectly to watch the moon rise over the mountain.  It was so fun to stand together in the dark and watch the golden glow creeping out of the darkness.  The kids enjoyed watching the moon appear and after it had fully emerged, we walked around the block in the cold with smiles on our faces.

The Kids and Their Babies

Madeline:  Mom, can you take our picture?  Because Ethan and me just look so cute today and we want to take a picture with our babies and the babies want to see theirselves!

Sledding

We've made it sort of a tradition in the last few years to go sledding on New Year's Day.  But this year, not only was New Year's Day on Sunday, but there wasn't any snow!  So when we woke up yesterday to find snow on the ground (even as little as it was), we decided to make the day a play day and go sledding.

Snow is hard to find this year, and even up American Fork Canyon there was little to be found.

 But we had the best time despite the small amounts of snow, and it ended up being perfect!  We were the only ones up there and it wasn't as freezing as last year, and . . .

 the kids were a lot more brave this year too.  They both went with Todd down the really big and really steep hill.  Steep enough that I almost chickened out!  Almost.   Here they go . . . about to get a lot of snow in the face!

 And in the end, all the grass and weeds sticking out made it so the kids dared to go alone because it wasn't quite as fast.

 They enjoyed going together too.

 Eventually, they even went on the faster slopes alone.

 And when you slip and fall with your head at the lower end of the hill, just make a snow angel because it's too hard to get up anyway.

 Back at the truck, we enjoyed hot chocolate and laughs about the fun morning.

It's moments like this when I really FEEL being a family.  We are a family.  And I love it. 

My New Sewing Room

When we moved into our house, one of the main areas in the basement looked like this:

 And before long, I had transformed it into a space that I really loved.  I painted it my favorite colors and it just seemed to be a comfortable place.  I even bought chairs and repainted the wood black to make a little sitting area.  But it never got used.  It looked nice, but never got used.

 So just last week, we decided to make the space my sewing room!  This is why I refinished my sewing machine table a while back.  And I am loving the change!  Even though there is no door to close, it is nice to have a space all my own.  And decorated the way I chose.

 In time, I hope to clean out the junk from under the stairs and keep some of my bins in there to free up the space (like the one under my work table).  And I also hope to get a window well liner so I can look at something pretty instead of the dirty gray window well.  But all in good time!

For now, I'm just happy to have put this space to good use. 

This has been all part of our downstairs transformation!  The bathroom was next and that transformation was HUGE.  Pictures of that to come.  Other plans are in the works.  The new year always brings out the "clean up, change things around, fix and paint" bug in Todd and me.  And I've sure been enjoying it.

Golden Cheddar Cheese Soup

It's been awhile since I posted a recipe here.  But this was so good.  And really easy.  Plus, I got to use my new immersion blender to make this!  Highly recommend one of those!  We made smoothies with it too and it works like a dream (plus, it's purple!!!)

Golden Cheddar Cheese Soup

From Moosewood Restaurant Cooks at Home (a FABULOUS cookbook!!)

blogger turned my picture again . . .

1 chopped onion
2 TBLS vegetable oil
2 medium potatoes, thinly sliced
1 medium carrot, thinly sliced
1 medium summer squash, thinly sliced (I used zucchini from my garden that I had frozen)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper (or to taste)
pinch of turmeric
2 cups vegetable stock or water (I actually used chicken broth)
1 cup milk
1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
salt to taste

minced fresh scallions, chives, or parsley

Saute the onions in the oil for about 5 minutes or until the onions begin to soften.  Stir in the potatoes, carrots, squash, black pepper, and turmeric.  Add the stock or water and simmer for 15-20 minutes, until the vegetables are soft.

Stir in the milk and cheese.  Puree the soup in a blender or food processor (or in my case, use your awesome new immersion blender).  Gently reheat.

Add salt to taste (more than you might think), and serve topped with minced scallions, chives, or parsley.

Serve with muffins or corn scones (or in my case brioche - I'm a little obsessed)

Enjoy!

December's Ten Things

I think it's always pretty easy to think of things to smile about in December.  What a wonderful and full month it always is.  December was almost a dream this time around, and I wonder now when I'm looking at my house with no decorations if it really even happened.  I set them up and put them down so fast, it almost doesn't seem real.  But it was, and here are my Ten Things to Smile About (that really are real) in December!



1.  Ethan turned SIX!  And he's the most darling six year old that I know.
2.  I made a lot of treats.  A lot.  Like chocolate peppermint bark, cashew clusters, cupcakes, sugar cookies, candy cane cookies, eggnog cookies, chocolate cookies, fudge, and the two or three I'm forgetting. 
3.  I was able to sing in a couple Christmas Concerts that really brought the true Spirit of Christmas into my life.
4.  I had fun doing a lot of Christmas sewing.
5.  I got to watch Madeline sing in her Preschool Christmas Program.  The first program she's ever been in and she sure was cute!
6.  My best friend's little girl had quite the trauma in December, causing her to be life-flighted to Primary Children's Hospital just a few days before Christmas.  I'm smiling because she is back to normal and doing great! 
7.  And speaking of doing great.  I'm smiling that the sickness we had only lasted a short time and for most of the month we were healthy.
8.  CHRISTMAS.  How can you not smile about everything that has to do with Christmas?!?!?!
9.  So much wonderful time spent with family.  And extended family.  Being together with good food and good music and hot chocolate.
10.  I moved my sewing room to a new and wonderful location!  LOVE IT!  Pictures coming soon. . .