Daddy's Birthday

We celebrated Jeremy's birthday in February. Jet really wanted to wrap a present for him so I helped him wrap a package of Andes mint chocolates/chocolate mints(?) for Jeremy to open.

Jeremy had an appropriate reaction when he opened them.

Have I mentioned I love my family so much?

Jet also helped me make Jeremy's birthday dinner.

Ah, my kitchen helper. 

Jeremy was thrilled about that, too.

I do love my family so much. 

December Holidays

Let's talk some December holidays that weren't Christmas and New Year's Eve.

There were a lot we didn't end up celebrating because of sickness. Nobody found treats in their shoes on St. Nicholas Day. Sigh.

We did get back to our tradition of someone being sick during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, though. Woohoo?

And since that day, December 8, was also National Brownie Day, somebody did make brownies for us to eat during the devotional. 

December 11 was International Mountain Day and I did take a sunrise picture with mountains.

I also managed to make Teriyaki chicken because that day was also National Teriyaki Chicken Day.

Jet helped me make waffle batter for National Maple Syrup Day on December 17. I love that he's my kitchen helper.

Jet loves decorations and lights as you know so he and I were able to go for a walk in City Center Park in Orem on December 18. Jeremy called us when he was going to pick us up but I totally forgot to "answer the phone like Buddy the Elf," even though that was the holiday and I knew it.

When we got home I was telling the story to the kids when my phone rang. Jr. Jr. had called me so I could answer the phone the right way that night. Thanks, Jr. Jr. We of course then had our traditional Buddy the Elf breakfast for dinner.

We used our Fablehaven Cookbook and followed one suggestion for making Tanu's Heartening Soup (shelf cooking style with substitutions) the night before the Winter Solstice.

Then I got out on the Winter Solstice, December 21, for a morning walk around City Center Park while the lights were on. I love doing that in December/early January when I'm up for it (which I wasn't much up for it before January- just those two times).

 We celebrated Lucky's birthday in December. He took balloons to his classmates and we "partied" at home. Jet helped me make Lucky's birthday cake (and put the candles in) and luckily Lucky asked for a really simple dinner. 

Thanksgiving 2024

Thanksgiving. Food. Family. But not family as food.

Most of Jr. Jr. didn't make it into the picture and somehow part of me in the corner there did?

 

Jet helped me make rolls.

 

Nichole made deviled eggs (Lucky helped a little).

This is us making food in the kitchen while singing along to ABBA music. 

Nichole is fun to sing along to music with.

 

Jeremy and I prepared and cooked the turkey.

 

In the midst of the preparation, I had some ripe bananas that needed to be used up so I made Irresistible Banana Bread from The Fiction Kitchen Trio Cookbook. The bread turned out fine but I must not have greased the pan well enough because this is what happened.

But when life gives you lemons... er... bananas... we just picked at it while making Thanksgiving dinner. Why not?

Happy Birthday, Charles Schulz

The birthday of Charles Schulz was November 26. We thought about getting Red Baron pizza but ended up making homemade pizza instead. We also had "peanuts," and "Peppermint Patties," and lemonade.

Jet was once again a big kitchen helper, from stirring lemonade to poking holes in the pizza crust. I appreciate him.

We also danced around while doo doo dooing Charlie Brown music.

 

That evening I was able to participate in the Ultimate Book Club of Book Clubs online with Sarah M. Eden for her book, Snapdragons, which I was able to finish in time for the book club. I enjoyed it, both the book and the book club. I love to hear little behind the scenes things about her writing, books, and the future Seeking Persephone movie.

Jet joined me for a little while until he got too wiggly and the kids had to come get him. He does like to snuggle with his Mommy, though.

November 27 was Electric Guitar Day. We talked about Jr. playing his guitar but I can't remember if he actually did or not. I know he did one day recently. Sigh. He doesn't have an electric guitar, though.

Jr. Jr.'s Birthday

Remember that one time we couldn't find enough birthday candles for my birthday (see post from July 21, 2019)? I didn't want that to happen again so sometimes when I'm out shopping I'll pick up birthday candles just to make sure we have enough for the next person's birthday.

I got the candles out of the cupboard for Jr. Jr.'s birthday. We have enough. We have enough for the next couple birthdays. We even have enough if we did a candle for each of Jeremy's and my years.

My kitchen helper wanted to put the candles on the cake. What a sweetie. 

He also wanted to blow out the candles. Sigh. We were finally able to sing to Jr. Jr. and he blew out the candles himself. By the time he did, some of the candles had melted together thanks to their proximity, which is fine. Thanks, Jet. You did a good job placing the candles. 

Lucky is only pretending in this picture. Jet actually tried.

I think Jr. Jr. had a good time.

So You Want to Know Even More About August, Huh?

August 19 was International Bow Day. Jet and I did some coloring on a Minnie's Bow-Toons coloring page. We may have watched a little bit of the cartoon later (I can't remember).

Ah, bonding time.

It was also National Potato Day. Continuing with using A Season of Family Meal Plans by Jordan Page, I learned how to make "baked" potatoes in the Instant Pot. I like doing it that way. Along with the potatoes we had Sheet Pan Bell Pepper Chicken but I cooked it on the stove instead of in the oven. I can do that. I'm a shelf cooker.

It was also Mr. Snuffleupagus' Birthday. Our kids don't know who Mr. Snuffleupagus is. They didn't grow up with Sesame Street. Jeremy and I had to explain to them who he is.

August 20 was National Lemonade Day (it used to be in May). We made a pitcher of lemonade to go with our Tex-Mex Bowls (using leftover fajita filling) and spanish rice. I made Cilantro Lime Ranch Dressing from A Season of Family Meal Plans, volume 3. The recipe in there is simpler than the recipe I've used in the past to make cilantro lime dressing. I liked it better after it had been refrigerated for at least a day. Mmmm.

Jet was my little kitchen helper again. He decided to help spin lettuce this time. He didn't bother waiting for me to cut it up first. That's fine. I'm so glad he likes to help me make food. I hope it continues.

August 22 was Be an Angel Day. Dinner was angel hair pasta (of course) with leftovers. Jet was an angel and ate better than any of the other kids when it came to dinner. He got first choice of cupcakes for dessert.

After dinner, Nichole and I went to a Relief Society activity, a sourdough class. It was cool to again see a demonstration but it reminded me that I am not in the season of my life to make sourdough. It is a long complicated process. I did enjoy the samples and socializing, though. I do like to eat sourdough. I just can't commit to it right now.

August 23 was National Cuban Sandwich Day. I tried out some new techniques with cooking (I am constantly learning) and made Cuban Sandwiches (even if they weren't authentic).

August 24 was National Waffle Day. We made a whole bunch of waffles with the intent to freeze some of them for easy breakfasts. Ha. They didn't last long enough to be frozen. 

That day, Nichole, Jeremy, and I went on a UCB field trip to Jordanelle Reservoir- Rock Cliff area. That felt good.

Jeremy also decided to try out a new look that day. Look closely.

August 26 was National Toilet Paper Day. I used some to wipe up tears while I was crying.

August 27 was Banana Lovers Day. After our Cajun Green Beans & Pork Bites and roasted potatoes (both from that same cookbook listed above), we had Frozen Banana Bites (also from that same cookbook). 

August 28 was National Bow Tie Day. We had bowtie pasta along with macaroni with our dinner. We also had Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps, apples, and carrots.