A highlight of our Christmas season was getting together with Mike & Ann and their family and Sean & Lisa for a little Christmas Party. We had dinner and then did a white elephant gift exchange. The kids loved having cousin time and they made ornaments, built train tracks, and just had fun together. The adults had a great time laughing, chatting and watching Elf, courtesy of Sean and Lisa. Thanks Mike and Ann for driving down here so that we could see you all!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
More Snow Fun
I really should have blogged this first since this was the first real snow in Provo this year. The kids were THRILLED to wake up one Sunday morning and find snow, or "Christmas!!" as Nathan called it. Brielle insisted on making snow angels so we went for a walk in the beautiful, freshly-fallen snow.
Nathan much prefers walking the path "less-traveled." While the other 3 of us walked mostly on the road where it was somewhat packed down, he insisted on walking in the deep snow and plowing his own way.
Yum!
Snow Angels!!
Ta-dah!
Nathan much prefers walking the path "less-traveled." While the other 3 of us walked mostly on the road where it was somewhat packed down, he insisted on walking in the deep snow and plowing his own way.Yum!
Snow Angels!!Ta-dah!Building a Snowman
On Jared's 2nd to last day of finals, he surprised us by showing up at 11 am and announcing that it was time to build a snowman. So, so fun. 
Securing "Olivia's" buttons--Brielle named her
Securing "Olivia's" buttons--Brielle named herGiving her a festive hat
...And a scarf. (Thanks Mom for the snowman kit. We FINALLY got to use it. :) )
Nathan was more interested in eating the snowman than anything else.
Olivia is done!! And over 3 weeks later she is still standing, wishing us Christmas cheer through our kitchen window whenever we sit down to eat. We built her in a place that gets virtually no sun during the winter months so she we are hoping she will be our friend all winter long.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Molten Chocolate Cake -- To die for!
In October I was introduced to one of my 2 newest favorites...Molten Chocolate Cake. We had book club at my friend, Jamie's, house and when we arrived she was just starting to make something that looked delicious. 25 minutes later we were all in heaven. It was quick, easy, and amazingly scrumptious. I have made altogether too much of it since then and have enjoyed every bite. :) I promised my Mom that I would blog the recipe, so here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have. Preheat oven to 425.
Spray 2 custard cups with cooking spray.
Melt 2, 1 oz chocolate squares (semi-sweet) with 1/4 cup butter.
Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
Mix in 1 egg and 1 egg yolk.
Add 3 T flour.
Pour in cups.
Bake for 14 minutes.
Let sit.
Run a knife around the edge, turn upside down into another bowl and serve with whipped cream (you can also serve it with ice cream, but I--an ice cream lover--even like whipped cream better! It complements the taste of the cake rather than overpowering it.)
The other new favorite is Sangria, a non-alcholic version of a wine from Mexico, that my father-in-law introduced me to at our family reunion. After tasting it, I told Jared that, for the first time in my life, I was tempted to start drinking wine. Jared kindly pointed out that there was no need to start drinking wine. I could buy this for $1.50 a bottle at Macey's and keep the Word of Wisdom at the same time. Cheaper and healthier. Good combo! My father-in-law left us with a bottle and it became my "secret stash". When I needed a little "pick me up" I would slip into the kitchen and pour myself a bit. Ahhhh. So refreshing and delicious. Nathan got me 3 bottles of it for Christmas, so I am set for a couple weeks at least. :)Sunday, December 13, 2009
Other Christmas Fun
The month of December is filled with so many fun activities that uplift the spirit and bring Christmas cheer. Here are a few that we have enjoyed this month:
Yesterday JARED (and the kids) set up this mini town (more people, animals and buildings were added after this picture) with 2 train sets, the kids' Little People toys and a Bertie the Bus set. Jared's favorite part was connecting the bus track with the Racing Ramps Garage, so the bus did 360s on it route around town. It provided many hours of enjoyment (and a good break from studying for finals).
On Tuesday night we attended the Men's BYU Basketball game. We arrived early to get free T-shirts (Nathan refused to wear his since he didn't want to cover his "Y Cougar shit") and cheered the cougars on. The kids' favorite parts are the pregame hype and running and climbing on the bleachers during the game.
We attended the Living Nativity at the Provo Tabernacle again this year. It is put on by a local stake and they do an excellent job. Nathan wasn't up for sitting through it, so Jared took him out to see the animals (pictured below), run around and eventually go to get ice cream. Why did he have so much time to kill? Because Brielle INSISTED on watching ALL THREE showings that evening. We went to the 6:30 showing in order to get the kids to bed at a decent hour, but the announcer made the mistake of stating that another showing would start in 10 minutes at the end of each showing. When Brielle heard that, she refused to leave. By the end she knew which direction to look before each scene started. The most special part was that Mary and Joseph would bring Baby Jesus for us to see since we were sitting on the 2nd row. There was a sweet spirit there and it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas.
Outside there was a camel, donkey (pictured), goat and sheep for the kids to meet and pet.
Briellie in front of the beautiful tabernacle as we wait for Dad and Nathan to get back from the "ice cream shop" to pick us up.
Every Tuesday morning we join other MBA spouses and their children at a local rest home to sing children's songs and read stories with the residents. This month we have been doing fun Christmas songs.
Nathan the reindeer
The rest home singers (plus some) gathered at the Tanner building to bring Christmas treats and cheer to their dads during a class break. So fun!
Jared's solution when Nathan needed a drink but "can't reach!!"
Brielle has been our official Christmas decorator this year. She decorated (then UNdecorated and REdecorated) the Christmas tree...bows and all. And she LOVED unwrapping most of my nativities (I collect them...that is my favorite part too!) and setting them up. I was touched by her arrangement of the characters. In each setting, Baby Jesus was in the center and all the other figures formed a tight circle around Him so each person could see Baby Jesus. I love seeing the world and the gospel through the eyes of my children. I learn so much. I pray that we can all focus that intently on putting Christ in the center of our lives during this Christmas season and all year long.
Yesterday JARED (and the kids) set up this mini town (more people, animals and buildings were added after this picture) with 2 train sets, the kids' Little People toys and a Bertie the Bus set. Jared's favorite part was connecting the bus track with the Racing Ramps Garage, so the bus did 360s on it route around town. It provided many hours of enjoyment (and a good break from studying for finals).On Tuesday night we attended the Men's BYU Basketball game. We arrived early to get free T-shirts (Nathan refused to wear his since he didn't want to cover his "Y Cougar shit") and cheered the cougars on. The kids' favorite parts are the pregame hype and running and climbing on the bleachers during the game.
We attended the Living Nativity at the Provo Tabernacle again this year. It is put on by a local stake and they do an excellent job. Nathan wasn't up for sitting through it, so Jared took him out to see the animals (pictured below), run around and eventually go to get ice cream. Why did he have so much time to kill? Because Brielle INSISTED on watching ALL THREE showings that evening. We went to the 6:30 showing in order to get the kids to bed at a decent hour, but the announcer made the mistake of stating that another showing would start in 10 minutes at the end of each showing. When Brielle heard that, she refused to leave. By the end she knew which direction to look before each scene started. The most special part was that Mary and Joseph would bring Baby Jesus for us to see since we were sitting on the 2nd row. There was a sweet spirit there and it reminded us of the true meaning of Christmas.
Outside there was a camel, donkey (pictured), goat and sheep for the kids to meet and pet.Briellie in front of the beautiful tabernacle as we wait for Dad and Nathan to get back from the "ice cream shop" to pick us up. Every Tuesday morning we join other MBA spouses and their children at a local rest home to sing children's songs and read stories with the residents. This month we have been doing fun Christmas songs.
Nathan the reindeerThe rest home singers (plus some) gathered at the Tanner building to bring Christmas treats and cheer to their dads during a class break. So fun!Jared's solution when Nathan needed a drink but "can't reach!!"
Brielle has been our official Christmas decorator this year. She decorated (then UNdecorated and REdecorated) the Christmas tree...bows and all. And she LOVED unwrapping most of my nativities (I collect them...that is my favorite part too!) and setting them up. I was touched by her arrangement of the characters. In each setting, Baby Jesus was in the center and all the other figures formed a tight circle around Him so each person could see Baby Jesus. I love seeing the world and the gospel through the eyes of my children. I learn so much. I pray that we can all focus that intently on putting Christ in the center of our lives during this Christmas season and all year long.Gingerbread Men
A few weeks ago Brielle started asking to make gingerbread men. I don't know where she got the idea because we have never made them before, but I thought it was a great idea. So, when we had preschool at our house we read "The Gingerbread Man" and then made the cookies (combining 2 things on the "to do" list, "plan preschool" and "make gingerbread men"...don't know why I didn't think of it sooner! I was surprised to find all of the morals and literacy things that I could teach just from that simple story). We all had a blast and that is now Nathan's favorite story. I think this will become a new tradition.
As a side note: Another plus to making gingerbread cookies is that ONE tastes good, but 5 don't, giving that extra boost to not eat too many treats! It's a win/win! 
Addie, Brielle and Mia
"Make jingle bell!!"
Lots o' yummy cookies!
Addie, Brielle and Mia"Make jingle bell!!"
Lights at Temple Square...with the Rhineharts! Yipee!
We had the privilege of meeting up with our good friends from Idaho Falls at Temple Square at the first of this month. It was SO good to see them again (and to enjoy the peace and beauty of Temple Square), but it just made us miss them all over again when they decided they had to go back home. They are such amazing people with a sense of humor that keeps Jared laughing and leaves me a step or two behind trying to keep up. Thanks for coming Brad and Heather...and Tanner, Madsen, Camilla, Ella and Anna! We had a blast! (Hope your feeling better Tanner!)
A nativity and floating lights in the pond in front of the temple. Breath-taking.
Our family...aren't those lights incredible!?!
The beautiful Rhinehart family
Heather and I used to either exercise or go to the temple together early every morning. Such good memories!
A rare picture of just Jared and I. Thanks Heather!
All of us! :)
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