New Years Eve

We started out our New Years Eve day by reading "The Screwtape Letters" aloud by the fire.  Which promptly put all three children into a deep slumber.  

 They needed a nap so they could make it to midnight anyways, right?  This year, we spent the evening at our friends' house, playing games and eating way too much food.  And learning that we're not quite old enough, even when we're pushing 50 years old, to play "Cards Against Humanity".  Who knew.  

2018 turned out to be a pretty good year, as far as years go.  Here's hoping 2019 gets even better!  

Feast Day Fun: The Feast of the Holy Family

This is a feast we haven't typically celebrated in at our house... probably because it's right after Christmas, right before New Year's, and we're usually just partied out (read "Mom is tired of cooking").  Not THIS year!  This year, we decided to commemorate the model of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as the Holy Family with a family game night.  I think we're on to something.  It was fun, easy, took no planning whatsoever, and helps us grow stronger as a family.  SOLD.  New Tradition... MINTED.

And a delicious roast beef never hurts to throw in there either.

A Little Ice Skating

Reagan and a friend hit the ice for the first time this winter.  They were intimidated by all the hockey players at first, but stuck with it and ended up outlasting them all to get the rink to themselves!

Mother/Daughter/Son High Tea

Rob gave his mother and sister a surprise visit to the Tea Room!  Just he and the girls, having quality time reminiscing and eating finger sandwiches, in their fancy hats :).  The afternoon was reportedly a smashing success!

Happy 60th, Diana!

Rob's sister is 60 years old.  This is astounding because she LOOKS younger than I do.  To say that she is aging gracefully is really a mischaracterization, because honestly, she's just not aging at all.  Andrea had the whole family over for dinner to celebrate and we had a fabulous time!

 

Playing with the new gift

Reagan got a pottery wheel for Christmas, which is something that she (and her mom!) have wanted for a really long time!  In her inaugural throw, we learned that it's not as easy as it looks!!  But it sure was fun....

A Christmas Feast

We had Rob's family over and ate VERY WELL.  It was such a lovely evening!  Please indulge my food pictures.  I was very proud of our menu, which was Italian, simple, and delicious, if I do say so myself ;).

For appetizer, baked brie and cranberries in a puff pastry, with pita chips and rosemary garnish.  Not pictured, stuffed mushrooms.

 Our bread came in fancy shape. 

Antipasto garnished with fresh dill.

 Homemade, homegrown applecider, mulled with cranberries, cinnamon, and orange slices.

 Nativity-themed springerle cookies.

 Lasagna.  Both standard beef, and sausage/basil/spinach/tomato/mushroom versions.

  Meat and cheese tray, endless Christmas cookies.

 Mulled Finnish glogg.

 And for dessert, compliments of my immensely talented sister in law:  a chocolate yule log with vanilla mascarpone filling and merengue mushrooms, and a chocolate cheese cake with chocolate ganache, spun sugar, and sugared berries.  These were true works of art, but that didn't stop us from devouring them.

 EVERYONE is included when the Ahos say grace!

 And Reagan got the gift of her dreams from her aunt this Christmas!  She's so excited about this!