Got Snow?

Over the last few weeks we have been thinking we might not get to have a white Christmas. I know. In Alaska, we were concerned about this??! But it's true. It has been snowing and then the next day getting really warm (high 30's, low 40's) and getting super windy and blowing/melting all the snow away! I was always so disappointed to see the snow go. Not only because I like having snow around, but also because I don't like the wind and everything being melty all the time made for not so great road conditions.

I love the snow! Today we woke up to LOTS of snow. We got at least a foot at our house last night. So, today I am listening to Christmas music, baking bread, making maple-pumpkin cheese cake, cinnamon rolls and other goodies for our Christmas Eve Party and to take with me to work in the morning.

 This is a picture of me and Matt on our porch. Just a little accumulation :)

Having a little snow ball fight! The snow wasn't the greatest for making snow balls though...it was a little dry!

Look how much snow is on top of our mailboxes!! Crazy.

I love how our house looks all covered in snow

Another nice thing about the snow (besides it putting me in a great mood because I love it!) is that you don't even need a refrigerater :) Just keep your milk in a little snow.

Remembering to Have Hope

I was just talking to Matt, Devin and Sarah about this the other night. The fact that it feels like Tyler is getting further and further away. I am growing up. I am now 28 years old and I was 23 when he died. He will forever be 19 years old. He won't ever get older. When my nieces and nephews grow up and are 19 years old....Tyler will still be 19 as well. It is a very strange thing. And, if makes me miss him so much, because without new memories to add to the mix, it feels like he is slipping away.

He was such a godly man who wanted to share Christ's love. He especially wanted to share Christ's love with young kids. He wanted to be a teacher/coach so that he could impact young kids for Christ. Don't get me wrong, he had his flaws. But, Tyler was one of the best men I've ever known. He had a huge heart and a ready smile. He was kind and compassionate. And he had a very easy and natural sense of humor that made almost anyone laugh. I miss him. I rejoice that he is in heaven because he knew Jesus Christ as his savior.

I recently listened to a podcast by Paul David Tripp through the Village Church website. It was a sermon on Isaiah 59 and hope. Two things that he said that really impacted me were, "hope is found through the door of hopelessness" and "when you give up on horizontal hope, then you're ready to find real hope", which is a hope in Jesus Christ. He talked about how we attempt to place our hope horizontally, in people and in things of this earth. But those things will ALWAYS let us down at one time or another. But hope comes when we realize that we are sinful and we need Jesus Christ, and when we place our hope, faith and trust in Him. I am so thankful that I have this hope.

Boarding and Sauerkraut

 

This weekend Matt and I went snowboarding for the first time this season. We went with a few people that Matt works with and with our friend Ryan. And, I am now soooo sore from head to toe! I took a pretty major wipe out (I wear a helmet...so no major damage), and now my muscles feel similar to having been in a car accident. But, the soreness was all worth the boarding! :)

After boarding we went over to Ryan and Jen's house to hang out and to eat Jen's amazing pork and sauerkraut! I hadn't had pork and sauerkraut until two New Years Eve's ago when Jen made it, and since then I have begged her to make it more often. I haven't braved it and attempted to make it myself yet, but I will definitely have to at some point.

Matt and Hailey getting a little cuddle time :)

Chicken Tacos

Matt and I went over to Devin and Sarah's house to eat tonight. They made chicken tacos. They were delicious. Maybe Devin should open a restaurant :)

Georgia Football

On Saturday, we had a few people over to watch the GA vs LSU game. We knew that LSU was the better team, but we were hoping for an upset. GA got out hopes up in the first half...but just couldn't pull it out in the second half. But it was fun to have people over and cheer for GA anyway!

The Nutcracker

On Sunday Devin, Sarah, Matt and I went to see "The Nutcracker". I had never seen it before. I didn't even know what it was about. I was so excited. Devin was not excited at all! But he was a good sport for his wife! I ended up being a little disappointed in the show. I mean, it was good. But it wasn't as great as I thought that it would be! We had a lot of fun even though the show wasn't as wonderful as we expected :)

I didn't get a picture of Matt and me because Matt had gone to warm up the car for us :) Such a sweetheart.

Caramel Bread

The other day Matthew went to a game night at a friend's house. He came home raving about this caramel bread that he ate while there. Since then I have been wanting to attempt to make some. Today I finally did. It turned out delicious. Yuummmm! I had no idea I liked caramel so much! After making this recipe I noticed a couple of things that needed to be modified. So below is the modified recipe.

Ingredients

• DOUGH
• 7 1/2 oz. water
• 1 egg
• 3 cups bread flour
• 4 tbsp. sugar
• 3 tbsp. powdered milk
• 1 1/2 tsp. salt
• 5 tbsp. butter
• 2 tsp. rapid-rising yeast

• CARAMEL
• 3/4 stick margarine
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 3/4 cup vanilla ice cream
• TOPPING
• 2 tbsp. butter
• Cinnamon
• 1/2 cup brown sugar

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place all dough ingredients in bread machine in order given. Set on "Dough" setting and turn on machine.
2. Make caramel: Melt 1 stick of margarine and add 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup of vanilla ice cream in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for a couple of minutes. Remove from stove and set aside.
3. When machine has finished cycling, remove dough from pan, place on lightly floured surface. Pat dough into a rectangle, spread with 2 tbsp butter and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Crumble about 1/2 cup brown sugar all over. Roll up dough and place loaf into lightly greased loaf pan. 
4. Let them raise until doubled, about 45 minutes or so. Bake for approximately 20 to 25 minutes. Remove bread from oven and pour caramel over bread. Bake additional 20 to 25 minutes, or until golden brown.

Hope It Doesn't Cave

We have gotten sooo much snow this year already. It has been lovely. 

Hopefully our deck doesn't cave in from all of this snow :)

Meeting Orson/Thanksgiving in GA

mini Thanksmas in Texas

After going to Phoenix, we flew to Dallas to see my family. Gini was coaching a basketball tournament there, so we decided to meet up there so that we could see her as much as possible between games and such.

We got to meet our precious new nephew, Trey! Isn't he a chunk? Adorable! And it was so fun to see how much Will and Levi love being older brothers to this little guy :)

Shelley just loves group hugs.

Matthew and I got to open our Thanksmas presents early :)

Peyton Jo and Ben enjoying a little time in the flower pot.

I love Peyton's expression in the pictures below. 

She looks a tad perplexed that Ben is in the flower pot with her :)

Colton and Nate spent a little time hanging out in the linen closet. They had a blast!

Peyton Jo and her new cut and tie blanket from her Aunt Sarah Jo :)

We had a wonderful visit in Texas! I am so thankful that we were able to go and got to see everyone while we were there. We are so blessed.