Thanksgiving 2013: Reunion

Originally for Thanksgiving we had planned on having some friends come visit and stay with us in our new house. Unfortunately, we had to cancel because we hadn't even moved in until a few days before!

Thankfully we received a few dinner invitations locally and were able to go visit with my old roommate Marianne, and her husband Brian, (who had been my brother Boyd's roommate), and Marianne's brother and his wife and kids who were so gracious to host the Thanksgiving dinner at their home.

The dinner was amazing, and the company was even better.

We were so grateful that David & Elise invited us! It was so great to see everyone and catch up after not having seen them for several years.

The best picture I could find of us with all our girls. Ha!

My loves!

The kidlets. 

Searching for deals and planning Black Friday excursions.

Love, love, love this girl!

Clara's head was a good support for standing apparently.

Baby besties hanging out under the swing.

Kid wrangling. 

I am so, so glad that we were able to meet up again after all this time. Lucky for us they only live a few hours away now. Let's not wait another six years before seeing each other again!


Here's to living closer to friends and family!

2012: Final Goal Review

It has been twelve months since I made my list of goals for the year, and it is time to see where we are at on its progress and what I accomplished. 

1. Create a masterpiece: Still working on this one. I finally hung up the painting I bought (mostly to get it out of the way), but still haven't painted over it to create my own masterpiece. It's hard to decide what kind of piece I want to put on it. Not for lack of inspiration.

2. Frame old treasures:  I framed and hung many old treasures! I completed a gallery wall in Lucy's room and in the guest room/library. 

3. Downsize personal art collection: Heyo! I actually donated one of my (award-winning) Rose photographs for a service auction. (The award is one of the highlights of my artistic career.) Several people bid on it and eventually it went home with someone who really loved it. (Yay!) So, one piece down, about 200 to go... but Hey, I'll take it!

4. Execute some pins: Well done. See here, here, here, here, here, here, and here... etc.

5. Send letters: See here!

6. Family trip: We went to Alabama for Zach's graduation and enjoyed some time there with his parents. Not exactly the family trip I had envisioned, but still enjoyable. Lucy and I spent the month prior in Iowa staying with Zach's parents and really enjoyed spending time with Nana and Grandpa. It was great to have a break from home responsibilities for awhile. 

7. Have a party: Thanksgiving, baby. Also not the fancy event I dreamed of for my party goal, but still filled with good food and good people.

8. Draw: So done! Oh, it felt so good to do this one. See here. It still makes me so happy to look through this book and show it to others.

9.Portraits: Nope.

10. Braid: Heck yes! I love me some fishtail. See here.

So, 8/10. Not bad. 

As a reminder, these are things I actually wanted to do as opposed to "New Years Resolutions" that are usually things that you don't want to do, but resolve to do anyway. Usually in an effort to become a better "you". I'm not opposed to that, but this list isn't intended to do that. Rather, a way to encourage myself to actually do the things I long to do, but never seem to get around to.

I loved this list of goals and really enjoyed pursuing my interests and talents this year. I can't wait to make my new list for 2013!

How did your goals for the year come out? Did you accomplished any dreams this year?

Suggestions for my new list? Please leave them in the comments below!

Valentine Dinner: Orange-glazed Cornish Hens

When I was shopping last week I saw a pack of two frozen Cornish hens and thought, "That would make a great Valentines dinner!" So I grabbed a set.


I have never made Cornish hens before nor have ever eaten them. In fact, I don't even know anyone who has made them. But! I was not to let that deter me. I remembered having seen recipes for them in my various cookbooks.


When I got home I found this recipe in my Award Winning Taste of Home cookbook and decided to give it a try.


The recipe called for four hens, and I had only grabbed a set of two packaged together (since I was only planning on two for V-day dinner). I could have halved the sauce but decided not to, and of course ended up with extra which could be drizzled on your side of vegetables.


Here is my adapted version:

• Prep: 10 min. Bake: 1-1/4 hours
• Yield: 2 Servings
• 
  
• 
  

Ingredients

• 2 Cornish game hens (20 to 24 ounces each)
• Pam spray
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon ground mustard
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

Directions

• Turn wing tips under backs. Line pan with tin foil to catch grease drippings. Place on a greased rack in a roasting pan (I don't have a roasting pan, so I just put it on a cookie cooking rack on a sheet pan with edges, and sprayed Pam on it.). Spray hens with Pam; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour.
• In a saucepan, combine the remaining ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Spoon over hens. Bake 15 minutes longer or until a meat thermometer reads 180°. Yield: 2 servings.

I steamed some fresh asparagus as a side and it was all delicious. I would definitely make this again. It was surprisingly easy and makes an amazing impression. It would be fun for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or even an elegant dinner party. (Who has those? - Please invite me.)

We each only ate about half of the meat on our hen and saved the rest for lunch the next day, so that is something to keep in mind when planning a dinner for people that are guests. Do they have doggie bags to take the rest home? Throw it away? (Please no!) Just something to consider. 

Wowza!

A romantic dinner for two!

Cherry pie filling = my friend

Store bought cheesecake = easy AND delicious

Baby Peter: Days 45-50

by Tracy on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at 2:36am

Monday November 21, 2011

Happy seven week birthday, Peter!

It’s been kind of a rough week for Peter. Everyone in the family got a cold (including him) and has been coughing with sore throats and achy bodies. It is pretty heartbreaking to see a little baby coughing and sounding so awful.  Nothing better to make you feel useless, and all that we could give him was a very small amount of baby Tylenol to hopefully help him feel better. On top of that Peter has managed to pull out his feeding tube twice more since last Saturday’s adventure. Each time he had to wait for at least an extra hour past his feeding time, most of which he spent crying and exhausting his little body with the effort.  Each time after we finally got a new tube down his throat and re-taped to his chin, we fed him and he passed out in exhaustion.  It felt like each episode probably shortened his life by three days!  Somewhat of a traumatic experience each time for his fragile body. 

My brother Boyd flew in on Thursday night from Utah to spend two weeks with us for Thanksgiving.  It has been awesome having him here, and I am so glad he was able to meet Peter and also spend the holiday with us.

On Wednesday or Thursday when Peter was getting one of his feeding tubes replaced, the hospice worker noticed that he wasn’t doing as well, and estimated that he had 7-10 more days with us. Then on Sunday he sounded so awful coughing and wheezing that Zach called her up and she came over to check him again. She said that he now had fluid in his lungs and that he likely had 72 hours left with us. She said that he has terminal congestion. He has also started to have more residual when we feed him and each feeding is taking longer. As a result, we have decreased the amount of food we give him from 39 ml to 20 ml. We have also started giving him another prescription medicine (along with his usual lasiks) to help him relax and be more comfortable as his little body struggles to breathe through his sickness.  He sounds very congested, and sneezes and coughs with lots of effort.  The medication he is on is an anti-anxiety medicine which calms him and it also makes him sleepy, which is good because when he is sleeping his breathing is more relaxed and comes easier. When he wakes up he has a harder time breathing and is wheezing and coughing.

It has been hard to watch him be so sick, and I know that when his time comes it will be a release from any pain he is in, and that he will be in a better place.  I’m not afraid of death, or of him dying, and know that it is an important part of the plan, and a good thing,... but it’s hard to say goodbye, even though I know it is only for a short time.  Even though I know this, it doesn’t make it hurt any less. I know that it will be a good thing for him, but it’s hard for us – those that he leaves behind.  

I will miss him so much, and think about him all the time, but I am so grateful for every day we have had with him and that he was able to spend so much happy time with us. I’ve learned a lot throughout this whole experience and am grateful for beautiful memories and moments I’ve spent with him. 

I will love my sweet baby forever, and can’t wait to be reunited with him in the eternities.  

Peter aka Choir Boy

Snuggling with Cowboy, his blanket.

Lovin' the love from his NICU nurse who came to visit.

Reading Peter my favorite book, The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis.

Uncle Boydie

Happy Week Seven Birthday!