Thanksgiving

This was the first Thanksgiving that Aaron and I hosted at our own house. I have been looking forward to this day for as long as I could remember. The wedding china was washed and would be used for the first time, new linans and placements were purchases and the menu was planned. Everything was set EXCEPT I got sick. I was so Thankful for the help that my amazing husband and mother gave to me on this day. They both completly stepped up and took over all the cooking. I don't know what I would have done with out them. 

I am thankful for many things

1. My family who will always be there when I need them
2.  My son who can bring a smile to my face now matter what mood I am in
3. The wonderful Friends that I have in my life who are my support system, my entertainment as well as what helps me get through the day
4. I am so thankful for everything and everyone in our lives, we truly are blessed.

2011 Thanksgiving

Menu

Apple Cider

Mini Quiches

Backed Brie

Crackers

Red Grapes

Pumpkin Fudge & for Dessert

Butternut Squash Soup

Turkey

Sage Sausage and Apple Dressing

Green Bean Casserole

Sweet Potatoes & Apples in Caramel Sauce

Mashed Potato

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Vanilla Ice Cream

 Some of our new favorite recipes 

Sage, Sausage and Apple Dressing

Recipe courtesy Food Network Kitchens

Ingredients

    16-ounce bag stuffing cubes

    6 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for greasing the pan and topping

    1 pound fresh sage sausage, casing removed

    1 medium onion, chopped

    2 cooking apples, such as Gravenstein, Rome, or Golden Delicious, peeled, cored, and chopped

    1 to 2 ribs celery with leaves, chopped

    1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

    3 cups chicken broth, homemade or low-sodium canned

    1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

    1/2 cup walnut pieces, toasted (See Note)

    2 eggs, beaten

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Put the stuffing cubes in a large bowl and set aside. Butter a 3-quart casserole dish.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and break up with a wooden spoon. Cook until it loses most of its pink color, but not so much that it's dry, about 5 minutes. Add the sausage and pan drippings to the stuffing cubes. Melt the remaining butter in the pan. Add the onion, apple, celery, and salt. Cook until the vegetables get soft, about 5 minutes. Add the broth and parsley and bring to a boil.

Pour the vegetable mixture over the stuffing cubes and toss until evenly moistened. Mix in the walnuts and eggs. Loosely pack the dressing in the prepared pan and cook uncovered until the top forms a crust, about 40 minutes. Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of turkey pan drippings or melted butter over the top. Cook until the top is crisp and golden, about 20 minutes more. Set immediately or warm.

Tony's Chocolate Pecan Pie

Recipe courtesy The Neelys, 2008

Ingredients

    3 tablespoons butter, melted

    3 eggs, beaten

    3/4 cup brown sugar

    2 tablespoons flour

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    3/4 cup dark corn syrup

    3 tablespoons bourbon liquor

    1 1/2 cups pecan halves

    1/2 cup mini milk chocolate morsels

    1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell

    Homemade whipped cream, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Melt butter in a small saucepan. While butter is melting, add beaten eggs to a medium sized bowl. Stir in brown sugar, flour, vanilla extract, corn syrup and bourbon until combined. Add butter when just melted.

Mix in the pecans and chocolate morsels. Mix all together. Pour mixture into pie shell.

Place on a sheet tray and bake for 50 to 60 minutes.

When ready to serve top with a dollop of whipped cream.

Homemade Whipped Cream:

    1 cup heavy cream

    4 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

    1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Pour heavy cream into a bowl and whip with an electric mixer for a few minutes, until it becomes thick. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until soft peaks form, about 2 minutes. Fold in vanilla extract.

#64

Tuesday November 22

I don't feel well

My Poor Little Monkey

I am so sorry, last week I threaten to return you because you were being a little devil. I feel so bad, I had no idea you had another ear infection and a double ear infection at that. No wonder you were such a crabby monkey, you just were not feeling well. You have no idea how bad I feel, I never want to see you in pain. We spent Wednesday sitting on the couch cuddling and watching 24. You are not a big fan of cartoons, you will watch only a handful of children's shows for some reason they just do not interest you. When you hear the theme song for the T.V. show 24 comes on your little ears perk up and a smirk spreads across your face. What can I say even at this young age you are into the good guys saving the day and watching him blow up some things along the way. What Can I say you are a boy.

Feel Better My Little Prince
Mommy

#63

Tuesday November 15, 2011

Dear Aj,
 I love you, will always love you but I swear this weekend I felt like I could return you! You started to throw full blown tantrums, these tantrums included throwing your self on the ground, kicking your legs and screaming. At first it was kind of cute and then funny but in the end it just got plan old. I took you shopping with me, you are always a gem when you go shopping. Normally you sit in the cart and observer the people and the objects that we pass by, you are always the happiest when we are out running errands so I thought that going out would be something you enjoyed. This weekend however you fussed and fussed, you actually became the kid that cried when you could not have something. Like I said you were close to being returned. Then the night time would roll around and you would crawl into my arms with your bottle and we would cuddle. I love it when you cuddle with me, these are the moments that I look forward to, the ones that I will cherish. I don't think you can every become to big to cuddle.

I love you Baby Boy
Mommy

What are you Planning Little Boy?

#62

Tuesday November 8, 2011

Aj,
I look at this photo and think professional head shoot :-) This gets me thinking about who are you going to be when you grow up? I have never sat down and dreamed about who or what you will become. It does not matter to me if you are the president of the United States, a doctor or a contractor, I just want you to be happy and fulfilled in what ever path that you take. If I had to take a guess at what you will be interested in when you get older I would have to say my top 3 choices would be
1. Musician - you are constantly drawn to the toys that you can make music out of. A drum set is your favorite toy right now
2. Baseball - you have quite an arm on you! I will put you in your playpen to switch over a load of laundry and by the time come back in the room you would have thrown all of your toy out! Your target is always the sleeping dog.
3. Building - Blocks are another favorite of yours and you love to build them high
Only time will tell the man that you will become, together we will travel that path. There will be times when I guide you on how to become a better person and believe it or not there will be times when I will be learning from you. Together we will learn and grow. Together we will find your dreams and make them come true
Love your
Mommy

Our First Family Vacation

The Arboretum 

At the Universty of California Santa Cruz

We  spent our family day exploring the grounds of the Arboretum. Even in the late fall months we were still able to find some amazing flowers. Later that day we stopped in Half Moon Bay at an amazing English Pub for some Fish and Chips

Shea's Bday

 Happy Birthday Sweet Little Girl. I have had the wonderful expirence of getting to know you over the last 7 years. Keep staying sweet, keep learning everything you can and most importantly keep being true to yourself. You are perfect just the way you are!

Happy Birthday 

Butterfly themed Party

Watching the big Kids play

Shea, Lanie, and Tatie

Party!

Crazy for Ballons

#61

supposed to be Tuesday November 1, 2011
To my precious little Boy,

I try to write you these letters every week, but sometimes life gets in the way, so I am about two weeks behind. In the two weeks you have changed so much, it is hard for me to remember the little boy that you just were. I feel like everyday you learn something new, you learn to walk a little faster and you become more like a little man. I can just sit and watch you play and be amazed at the things you are consistently learning and figuring out. How is it you know to pick up a toy car or plane and make the engine sound with your mouth? Or when I get you dressed for bed you have figured out that you need to push you leg through? I should not be schocked that you are figuring out the ways to the world, it just shows me how fast 61 weeks can fly by. I do not know if I have told you recently how in love you still are with music. It is not uncommon to see you crawling around with a drum stick. If you can you would eat, bath and sleep with the drum stick. You are on the search for new and interesting sounds and prove that by finding and making musical instrument with just about anything.

Rock on Little Man
Mommy