Not so sure what to do......
Finally something more my size!
Where has cake been all my life?
Are you missing a monkey? You can borrow mine.Since I have a little time before Kyra's birthday cake comes out of the oven (She is 1 today!!!), I thought I'd get caught up from my last post--warning, long post as we have several days' activities to cover.
My birthday on the 23rd was great, in spite of turning another year older :(
I was awakened by our beautiful little girl, who was holding a gift in her hands, and saying, "Mama". She could have come empty-handed, and I still couldn't have asked for a better birthday gift!! Anyway, it turned out to be a travel mug, so I can transport my much-needed Starbucks.
And speaking of Starbucks, my parents pulled off the gift coup by locating 2 giant bottles of real Starbucks Valencia syrup, AND I got an espresso machine. So I now I can make my own Mocha Valencias. BWHA HAHAHAHA!!
The Birthday festivities then continued that evening when David took me to Caprial's Bistro in Westmoreland for my Birthday dinner. We ate so much, they had to roll us out of there. But it was sooooo delicious.
Sunday the 24th came, and we went to the 9am Christmas Eve service at SPC. The music was wonderful, Macy McKenney was too cute for words, and the candlelighting breathtaking as usual. As tears were streaming down my face, I realized this was the first Christmas in a very long time that I was crying for JOY, and not grieving for the one thing I wanted more than anything--to be a parent. Our God is SO good!!!!!
That evening we had my parents over for Christmas dinner, a new tradition for us, as in the past we've always had Christmas Eve dinner at their house. We decided to have it at our house this year, so Kyra could go to bed if necessary. David fixed a Beef Tenderloin that was to die for, and I made glazed carrots, an amazing risotto with fennel and mushrooms, and homemade dinner rolls. Dessert was Christmas cookies, which was just fine, because no one had much room left.
After eating, we read the Christmas story, although we lacked the great illustrations from Sunset's version. Then we opened all the gifts. Kyra made out like a bandit. I was surprised, though. I was expecting her to be more interested in the wrapping and bows, than the gifts, as that's what everyone had been telling us. Not our daughter! The more it lit up, or made music/noise, the better! Forget the boring wrapping paper.
We gave my dad the Apples to Apples game that has become THE game in the Worship & Creative Arts department, so of course we had to play. I won quite handily, and it was pretty fun, although I think it would be more so, with more people--it was just the 4 of us.
The next morning, Christmas Day, we opened our presents to each other, and Kyra got more TOYS. Then we went over to David's parents for Christmas dinner, and yet more for Kyra. David's folks also got us the neatest gift, an annual Zoo pass! Kyra loves the zoo, and it will be fun to have play dates there when the weather gets nicer.
Which brings us to today. Kyra's 1st Birthday :) Right now the birthday girl is napping, so we are trying to take advantage of that and get some things done, like wrapping her birthday gifts--MORE toys, and decorating her cake. Tonight is her party, with our families. Menu: Garlic Jim's pizza and Ladybug cake--homemade I might add, and most likely MORE toys. I will post pictures later--you know, the inevitable "face covered with cake" pictures.
Blessings to you all, and Have a Very Happy New Year~~
K~
image: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/clipart/results.aspx?qu=fabric&sc=22Besides this being one of my favorite musicals of all time, I love the concept! Since we live in the beautiful state of Oregon, where it rains 9 months of the year, if you don't make a pact with the rain, to at least get along, you won't survive :)
"Rather than let a rainstorm drown your fun.....(go) for a walk through the streets, seeking puddles of water to play in. You can do many things with a water puddle. Have a splash war, splash for distance and height, or try to splash out all the water. Stand on a street corner and wait for cars and buses to douse you as they dash through the flooded intersection. For more fun, let the driver think you were caught unaware; fall down and send the culprit away with a great laugh. If there's a playground nearby, take advantage of the slide, which, in addition to being very slippery, is bound to have a juicy puddle at the bottom to cushion your landings. For more adventurous thrill seekers, get a flexible, plastic toboggan and try your luck on a wet, grassy hill. When you return from your puddle-jumping excursion, recuperate in front of the fireplace with some hot liquid refreshment."
I think my microwave is dying. By the way, the picture below is not my microwave, but a free image from Google--Just wanted to point that out, as my kitchen walls have geese on them (left over from my grandmother), not this nice tile~
Anyway, I was making Kyra's lunch today, and the plan was to reheat the carrots from last night. I put them in a Rubbermaid container, like always, entered 15 seconds and hit start. All of a sudden, snap, crackle, pop, and FLAMES were shooting around inside the container. I immediately opened the door, and took the container out, thinking there must be some metal on it somewhere that I didn't see. A second look didn't find anything obvious, so I put them in again. Yep, you guessed it--More Flames.
At this point, I called my husband and asked him if he knew what was wrong with the microwave. He didn't, so I thought it must be the carrots. They were cooked in a pot on the stove last night, so maybe they had picked up some of the metal flakes from the bottom of the pot???? Needless to say, I was not going to feed Metal-filled carrots to my daughter, so I dumped them in the sink and went to vegetable option #2--reheated squash, which had originally been cooked in the oven.
In the meantime, Kyra is crying, because she's hungry, and no food is appearing. I gave her her sippy cup with some milk, to tide her over, and went back to tackling the microwave. This time, I put the squash in a container that I know has no problems, and tried again. Although there were no visible flames, the same sizzling sound and a new player showed up: a burned-hair smell. Although I'm not a big fan of squash, I Know it's not supposed to smell like that!
So I gave up trying to use the microwave, and Kyra finally got to eat---Mac and Cheese and applesauce, which she probably preferred anyway :) And David said he'll look at the microwave when he gets home. Isn't it funny how we can take something like a microwave for granted, but then when it doesn't work, we suddenly realize how much we rely on it? How am I going to reheat my coffee? Maybe I'll have to go to Starbucks instead?!?!??! :) Blessings, K~
Today our mission was to locate the perfect Christmas tree. And in my family, that doesn't mean a Parking Lot Tree, although for some people I realize that arrangement works well for them. Not us! Unless you're covered in mud, and/or have hiked for several acres, over hill & dale, you've not had the True Christmas Tree Hunt experience--Think Clark Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when they hike through the backwoods---classic!
The journey began at our front doorstep....Daddy & Kyra wait for Mommy to grab her warm coat, gloves, etc.
Now all that's left is to decorate the tree & then put all the loot, as David calls it, under it. I'll be sure to post those pictures, as soon as we've finished. Although, I think we'll leave all the decorating for tomorrow. I think tonight we'll just relax with a cup of hot cocoa & watch a movie, or something. Blessings to all! K~
