Merry Christmas!

My sister-in-law Susan posted this on her blog and asked people to answer it too. This is for you Susan! I like doing these too, and seeing what other people say.

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper with beautiful bows

2. Real tree or Artificial? Real, Real, Real.

3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving... sometimes Saturday

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas... its sooo dry by then

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, and it likes my hips... I try to stay clear of it

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Jem doll... any one remember her? I was sooo excited!

7. Hardest person to buy for? I love to buy presents, it's coming up with the money that's the hard part! ha!

8. Easiest person to buy for? Ellie

9. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Mail. I have done typed letters, but it's not me. I am back to hand written, more personal and a nice touch I think

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received? We used to complain about oranges and peanuts in our stockings, but I like it now:)

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? White Christmas

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Usually November

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Probably, I am a re- gifter

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Too many choices! I love pickled herring, cream cheese with shrimp sauce and shrimp, artichoke dip from Carolyn (it's amazing!), leftsa and anything my mom makes!

16. Lights on the tree? White lights

17. Favorite Christmas song? O Holy Night

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Depends on the year. I like to visit and be visited... they both have their perks

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? I don't think so... I feel a little silly trying to see if I can sitting here at the computer by myself

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Bow

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? I love to start opening presents as soon as they show up at my door. Doug hates that, so usually almost all on Christmas morning... about 5-6am!

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Too many people shopping. I don't like crowds

23. Favorite ornament theme or color? I got a little angel when I was about 7 -- she is sitting on the moon holding a lantern. I love her for some reason. The only ornament I took from my mom's house.

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? My grandma Petie's traditional dinner. Ham, sliced oranges, deviled eggs, twice baked potatoes, pickles

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A new nice blow dryer, but Doug will think that's too boring, I am pretty easy to shop for I think though. New scented lotions from bath and body works would be nice too. Someone tell Doug to read this! ha!

We had snow in October! The first and only so far this year and we got 4 inches! It has been sunny many days since. Ellie loved the snow!


Ellie poured the milk all by herself! You can see she did get a cup full along with creating a nice little mess.

Adoption Paper Work Complete!

This Friday we have our final interview with our case worker and turn in the rest of our required papers... birth certificates, photos, letter, etc. The interview is 3 hours! One for me, one for DOug and one together... I still need a babysitter for Ellie, I won't make her endure the hours:) We are really excited! Although it may still be a long wait after we are done with the papers at least we have done our part. Pray for us, that we will receive the little baby (or babies) that God has prepared for us. I think we are going to have twins sometime. Doug thinks I'm crazy. We'll see who's right!

Adoption

I was reading an article this morning about motherhood. As I read, "Parents can offer a unique and wonderful kind of prayer because they are praying to the Eternal Parent of us all. There is great power in a prayer that essentially says, 'We are steward-parents over Thy children, Father; please help us to raise them as Thou wouldst want them raised'."

Although Doug and I have not been given the opportunity to have children on our own I have always kind of felt that no matter if you create, carry and bring a child into the world, or have them placed into your arms from another, they always came from some where else, some one else anyway... we all kind of "adopt" children as our own from God. They are never really ours, but God's. This understanding has greatly helped me over the years to know that our situation in adopting is not that different from bearing children, ultimately. I feel a lot of peace in that knowledge.

I think God gives us perspective and understanding like this at times to help us see the big picture. It is easy, no matter your situation, to start to look around at others and not up God to for answers. There are many circumstances people face that they can say 'why do I have to do this?' or 'why can't I do this?' I have learned and probably keep learing, that God's plan for us is perfect and it is individual, but not often fair, if we compare. I try to remember that and it makes me happy to know that God loves me and is aware of me and even takes time to teach me and help me understand.

Canning Continued...

So, my life is pretty much the same everyday. I don't send out family newsletters or anything because honestly, there's nothing to report. Even over the course of a year we do pretty much the same thing. I only have one child, so I don't have all the craziness of a houseful of kids to talk about! But, I do have canning, which is crazy (at least for me!). This week I was able to put up, or help put up 6 batches of salsa (that's 90 QUARTS of salsa)!!! That didn't include my apple sauce, peaches, jam and peppers. One of the longest weeks of my life! Ha! I was up until 1 am one night finishing a batch. Now, we have tons of salsa though and we are very happy-- almost 50 quarts. The mess is a little under control but my supplies are all over the house, though they are cleaned up and more contained than eariler! I still have lots to do, but I have a break for a few days and I need it!
Coming up.. more peaches, apple pie filling, pears, peach salsa

CANNING SEASON!

I love fall for many reasons, but one of the best is that it is time to can. I am so excited for all the food we are putting up. I started salsa today, yum! The whole house smells good. Doug gave me a food processor for Christmas and I have put it to good use. Wow, it makes it so easy to make salsa! I am posting the recipe for anyone who wants to try it! I also love the colors and the cool weather. I have had all our windows open and it is so nice! I love fall! I am canning more salsa, peaches, peach salsa, green chilies and applesauce next week, along with crushed tomatoes I am sure. We have a great local farm that is pick your own for really reasonable prices. I will be super busy, but it is great!!!


My beautiful garden... I am still waiting for the tomatoes to turn.



I made this wreath and am quite pleased with the result. Doug thinks it is ugly, but I didn't ask hime anyway! Ha!


Homemade Canned Salsa

5 gallon bucket full of ripe tomatoes
6 Anaheim peppers
18 jalapeno peppers (wear gloves, the seeds can burn your hands)
**if you leave seeds, it will be hot…the more the seeds, the hotter the salsa
8 cups chopped celery (I just use 1 large bundle)
12 bell peppers
8 cups chopped onions
4 cups vinegar
2 cups sugar
1 cup salt (yes, one cup- it's not a typo)
4 T cumin
2 T black pepper
1 bulb garlic

Wash, core and chop tomatoes. I like Roma the best, they have less juice and more meat. Hand chopping at least half of the tomatoes will make your salsa chunkier, the other half you can puree in a food processor. Wash, seed and chop all other vegetables. You can do it all by hand, but a food processor is recommended because of the quantity for this recipe. Combine all ingredients in LARGE pot (I use my pressure canner) and bring to a boil. Boil for 1-2 hours (stirring occasionally) or until salsa is cooked down to the consistency you like. The longer it boils, the thicker the salsa. Fill prepared jars ¼ inch from the top and process in a hot water bath for 35 minutes. Yield about 32 pints.

Catch Up

Well, my sister told me to update my blog, so I am listening! It has been way too long, so I will give a review of what's been going on.

We went to the zoo in Salt Lake City and we had fun! I am not a big zoo person (I don't like parades either, very un-american), but I am glad we went!








A girl from Doug's work, Stephanie stayed with us a little while this summer and she and Ellie were good friends. Ellie loved to play in her room and put on her jewlery!




We live in a great neighborhood and Ellie has great friends! This is Ellie and Daphne playing out in the pool! We hang out with the kids and our friends a lot in the summer evenings.


We are a 5 Buck pizza family. We like to visit Doug at work on Friday nights and have pizza... Saydee Lou came with us this night:)

Ellie likes to eat pizza backward... everything she does is so cute!


Doug loves his picture taken. He looks happy, huh? Ha! I didn't post the one of him flipping off the camera.