November Happenings...

I have been a little lazy about blogging on my family blog lately because I have been trying to get my COOKING BLOG up and running, so our poor little family blog has taken a back seat. I have been meaning to sit down and write a little bit about what our little family has been up to for the past week or so. Here are a few things that we have been up too:

#1-This past week (Thanksgiving) we got out our decorations on Monday night and decorated the Christmas tree for FHE. I usually decorate the day after Thanksgiving for the Christmas Holiday but I didn't want to wait til the weekend to do it. The kids had a blast decorating and Karmindy really got into it! It was so fun to see her cute little hands grasp the ornaments and hang them on the tree. Kaleb was a huge help and loved to be daring and get the ornaments high and low. He also loved wearing his Santa hat while decorating and has been wearing it ever since. He hangs it on his bed post and it is usually the first thing he puts on when getting ready for bed and also enjoys wearing it after he gets home from kindergarten. Funny kid!

Kaleb with his infamous Santa hat.

Decorating the tree! Kaleb is a big helper!

Karmindy loves to be like her big brother and had to wear the Santa hat too! She also found an old stuffed reindeer that I was given as a gift in Middle School. It was among the Christmas decor and has taken a liking to it. She packs the reindeer every where we go these days!

Karmindy decorating the tree! She is such a doll. I could squeeze her!

I am glad I didn't wait to decorate the tree this weekend because Mark and I came down with flu like symptoms on Wednesday night. We suffered all weekend with this bad little flu bug. We are now feeling better but aren't 100% yet. We didn't go to church today because we have felt so crappy. We were glad to be able to go down and get to see both of our families. We decided to get a hotel room this year because it is just nice to have your own space and keep the peace. We also got a room because we thought it would be fun to go swimming with the kids during some down time. We took the kids swimming but ended up spending most of our time in the HOT tub because the weather was so fridgid. The kids didn't seem to mind and loved the hot tub. They also loved getting ice for our room and being able to use the "magic card" to open our hotel room door! We tried taking the kids to see the movie Tangled but ended up not being able to get in to see the movie because it was sold out. Our Thanksgiving Weekend was kind of a bum one because of sickness, weather and stuff but all in all we made the most of it. Needless to say we are glad to be home and sleep in our own beds.

#2-A couple of days before Thanksgiving, Kaleb and I worked on making Turkey place settings for Thanksgiving Dinner at Mark's Parents house. I thought they turned out cute and the kids (Kaleb) seemed to really enjoy making them. He also wrote everyones names on their name cards and did a great job.

#3- On Monday night after decorating the tree, we decided to introduce a new tradition for our little family. It is called Elf on a Shelf.

This tradition is about having one of Santa's Elves (stuffed elf) come to your home during the Holiday Season. He didn't have a name when he arrived at our home on Monday night (Santa gave us permission to name him), so we named him Jingles. Jingles job is to watch and see if the kids are good during the day. At the end of each day he flies home to see Santa to report on the kids and let Santa know if they have been good or bad. Kaleb has been very intrigued by this. He has a million and one questions about Jingles. It has been fun for Mark and I to try and keep our stories straight and provide a little fun or the kids. Each morning when the kids get up they look around the house for Jingles, because he has a new hiding place each morning. There are several rules as well to our new tradition. The kids can talk to the elf but they can't touch him and he can't talk back to them. So far it has been a success and the kids have enjoyed Jingles being in our home.

#4- There has also been a lot of SNOW at our home the past week. The kids have enjoyed getting bundled up and playing outside and swinging on the swing set. Kaleb loves to be outside and has enjoyed shoveling the back patio. He has done a great job of keeping the patio clear of snow and would spend hours outside if I let him. What is funny is that we don't ask him to do it he just really enjoys shoveling the snow. I am sure in a few more years he might think differently. He is very content to spend hours outside shoveling as long as he knows there is hot cocoa with whip cream and sprinkles waiting for him when he gets inside!

Karmindy-isms

Karmindy is really becoming quite a talker the past few weeks! She is putting together small sentences and is communicating more and more with us. It is so nice because there is nothing more aggravating than not being able to help your toddler whom is speaking gibberish and wants something but you don't know what to get for them. A highlight of hearing her talk is listening to her little gruff voice. Many people have commented on how cute it is. Mark and I are wondering if it is a little gruff because of the work the Cardiologists did on her aorta when she was a baby. Your aorta is very close to your vocal cords. All the same, we love our little Miss Karmindy Rose.. There are several stories that I had to get on and jot down before I forgot. To give you a little back ground, Karmindy is a very active little one and is also our "silent destroyer." When the house is quiet, you know that there is trouble in the horizon. Here are my two stories about our little Sassy Princess:

A few weeks ago, Mark and I were able to on an overnight getaway to Park City. In effort to try and get on the road, we were busy packing up the car . Since Mark and I were in and out of the house, Karmindy thought it would be a great opportunity to go into our Bathroom located off our hallway in our home and get into the liquid soap. When I found her she had rubbed it up and down her body, all over her face and arms. I was really bugged because we didn't want to be late but it was funny. I firmly said, "What are you dong young lady?" She smiled at me and said proudly, "Mom, I silk n' smooth!" Silk n' smooth is code for lotion at our house. Karmindy thought that the liquid soap was lotion and was try to do her best to make her self silk n' smooth!

This past week, I was trying to get the house clean before Kaleb got home from kindergarten. On my cleaning day, I plug in a movie for Karmindy to watch so I can get a few things done. While I was cleaning and came into our living room I noticed that Karmindy was not in her usual movie viewing seat and I went to go find her. I looked briefly in all the rooms in our home and still couldn't find her. I decided to go back into our Bedroom and see if she was in the Master Bedroom Closet because she likes to go inside and try on my shoes. She wasn't there but I could here candy wrappers crinkling and saw her sitting behind our bed in our bay window area shoving Peanut Butter Cups in her mouth as fast as she could. I approached her and asked her "What are you doing little missy?" She looked up and said, "Yummy, Mom!" Apparently she decided she needed a snack and got into her dad's peanut butter cup stash in his nightstand and partake of the goods!

Karmindy is also a climber!! She climbs on everything and has no fear of anything until she gets to the peak of something and realizes that she can't get down and panics. Mark has caught her many times standing on the top of the kids' wooden kitchen in her room yelling, "STUCK, STUCK!" I also have had to rescue our little damsel in distress, this week while taking a shower one morning, I could hear Karmindy screaming her bloody murder scream. Karmindy doesn't scream like this unless Kaleb is tormenting her. I started to get worried because Kaleb was at Kindergarten. I hurried and got out of the shower and ran into the kitchen where I found her standing/sitting on the bar in our kitchen. She had climbed up the bar stool and was frozen in a standing/sitting position on the counter top. It was kind of scary knowing that she was brave enough to climb up but was pretty funny seeing the sheepish/terrorized look on her face.

Growing into a Teenager?

Kaleb and Adilynne playing at our Home. November 2010

Raising Kaleb these days is especially fun. I think he might have a little girl friend. No really and truly! Her name is Adilynne. Adilynne has the most gorgeous blonde hair and beautiful eyes with the longest eye lashes that I have ever seen. She looks like a porcelain doll. Needless, to say Kaleb tells me daily, that he likes to sit by her on the bus because she is so pretty. When did my cute little 5 1/2 year old become a teenager? I don't know when this all took place but Heaven help me when he does become a teenager! Adilynne and Kaleb are in the same kindergarten class, primary class at church and live in the same culdesac. Each morning Kaleb races to the bus stop ,which is just up the street from our home, so he can get in line with Adilynne to ride the bus with her. They then find an empty seat so they both can "have some quiet time with each other." Rolling on the Floor Laughing.(This is hearsay from Adilynnes mom because I don't get a whole lot of information out of my son other than he thinks that she is pretty.) They also like to play at recess together and truly are joined at the hip every moment that they can get together and play. This past week Kaleb had Adi over for a playdate and they played so good together. I have never seen a little boy and girl play as well as these two do. These two are truly so fun to listen to and are so considerate of each other. It makes me a little sad that my little boy is growing up but it is also fun to see him make friends and be happy. It is quite funny because Kaleb has a lot of little girl friends. He also enjoys playing with his other girl friends Cadence and Emma whom he also talks about frequently. I sure love my little lady's man.

Anniversary Getaway

Yesterday afternoon, Mark and I left the kids with a friend and headed to Park City for an over night get-a-way at the Stein Erikson Lodge. We were introduced to their special fall discounts package from some friends last year. We loved our get away last year so much, that we decided to go again this year. This year we upgraded our package for just a little more and got a suite which had two bathrooms, a living room, dining room, kitchen and a beautiful master bedroom/bath. It was wonderful. Let me take you on a tour of our swanky suite!

Here is my handsome husband standing by room 209-1-(our quarters for our get a way). We had a bell hop take our luggage to our room on Friday afternoon(so fancy), so I didn't want to snap any pictures of our quarters then because well, I didn't want to come across as a total goon! :D I took this picture of Mark while we departed this morning. We were both sad to say good bye, for we had so much fun and didn't want to return to reality.

So let me take you on the grand tour of our humble abode during our stay! After you make it through the front door you step into our foyer. Take off your shoes please... Wink,Wink.

Then off to your left is one bathroom.

Then if you go straight you will see our dining area/ living area with fireplace.

Turn to your right you will see our kitchenette.

Then it is off to our Master Bedroom and Bathroom.

Outside the Master Bedroom is your own private balcony with own set of patio furniture to relax, as well as your own private jacuzzi to enjoy sitting and relaxing in the crispy, cool mountain air. Jeez, how would it be to live like this everyday? Luckily, Mark and I wait to go during the off season so we can get a place like this for an 1/8 of what a night would really cost to stay and dine in a place like this!!

Mark and I at dinner in the Glitertind Restaurant. I bought this sexy black dress and pulled out my cheap knock off pearls to wear for my honey! Tee hee! Still, thought I looked pretty dang good! :)

After we arrived at the Lodge we relaxed and checked out the place, then got ready for our 3 course- 5 star dinner which was included in our stay. We got dressed up and headed to the restaurant where we dined on:

1st course

Ashlee- Patron Sauteed shrimp

watermelon, avacado mouse, cilantro

This was a heavenly appetizer. My shrimp were poached and seasoned with a little chili powder and other spices. They were placed on top of pieces of watermelon that had been seared on one side which sat in the avacado mousse. OMGosh was it heavenly!!! Who knew that shrimp and watermelon and avacados would taste so good!

Mark-Charred Kobe Beef Tartare

baby tomatoes, garlic toast, Parmesan crisp

Mark went out on a limb and was really brave for his appetizer. The beef tar tare was very good.

It was Kobe Beef that was seared just a little but uncooked on the inside. Think of ground hamburger that has been browned on the outsides but not fully cooked in the middle. I know it sounds disgusting but it was actually really good when paired up with the baby tomatoes, garlic toast and a little bit of the Parmesan Crisp.

2nd Course

Our second course were our main entree's for the evening.

Ashlee-Muscovy Duck Breast

exotic spices, boniato potato puree, peaches, hen of the woods mushrooms

I went out on a limb and tried something that I have never eaten before with my main course/en tree. The duck was amazing. Think of a tender steak. The boniato potato puree was something like a sweet potato that had been smashed to the consistantcy of babyfood. I know it sounds interesting but it was so creamy and delicious. The peaches were a sweet peach that I had never had before. Mark thinks they tasted like peaches from Japan were he served his mission. Also the hen of the woods mushrooms were to die for. I love shrooms and these hit the spot. When you dipped the duck in the potato puree and paired it with a bite of peaches and mushrooms it was like an explosion of flavor in your mouth! It was delectable!

Mark- Breast of Natural Chicken

heirloom carrots, parsnip puree, baby chard, carrot-ginger sauce

Mark went a little more conservative with his main course after he ate his appetizer. His chicken was really tender and the carrot- ginger sauce was like nothing I have ever tasted. The parsnip puree was something I had last year and it was out of thisworld yummy. I snuck several bites off Mark's plate. I didn't try Mark's veggies but he said they were good.

3rd Course- Dessert

Ashlee- 12 layer Chocolate Cake

vanilla gelato, caramel cream

I liked my dessert but it was more a bitter dark chocolate which I wasn't a huge fan of. When dessert came to our table I was stuffed so I didn't end up eating all of mine. I really loved the vanilla gelato and the caramel cream. Mark also tried my dessert and wasn't a huge fan. I was a little bummed... it was all really good though.

Mark-Chocolate Peanut Butter & Banana Brulee with

peanut butter banana gelato

Ok, I must admit that Mark and I pigged out on his dessert. It was everything you would think or want a dessert to be. We both love Creme Brulee and this exceeded all expectations of what we thought it would be like. This Brulee had a chocolate custard filling topped with crystalized bananas, crunchy chocolate pieces and peanut butter banana icecream. So, So good!!

After dinner we enjoyed going back to our room to lounge by our fireplace in our bedroom, and soak in the jacuzzi tub on the balcony. Bliss!

The next morning, Mark and I got room service and ordered breakfast in to eat in our dining

room. Mark dined on ham, eggs, toast, and hash browns.

I wanted to try something a little more adventurous and got the Norweigen Bacon/ Potato Pancake with Poached eggs drenched in a Jarlsberg cheese sauce and Cranberries. OMGosh, another winner of a dish! I think I died and went to heaven after the first bite of this heavenly dish.

After breakfast we headed out on our balcony to enjoy some more time in the jacuzzi and sip on

hot cocoa.

An hour later, we got ready for the day and headed home to see our kids and acclimate back to the real world. Ugh! It was a nice break from reality and we can't wait to go again next year! Only 365 days to go and counting....