a Happy 7 years

I know I said I would see you next year, but Joel and I got to go to our absolute favorite restaurant, The Black Cypress to celebrate our seven years of marriage! I had the most amazing desert I've ever tasted. Lemon poppy seed cake, with a pomegranate red wine reduction sauce, roasted pistachios and whipped cream. I almost cried. But, I did not remember my phone, so I have no picture. It's going on my to figure out and make list.

Happy New Year.

Happy Christmas!

Luke2:11-14
"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to: You will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger." And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"


I got my moccasins. Totally not expected. Thank you Joel.
And, tomorrow is our seventh anniversary! I'm so very lucky. We got spoiled rotten over here, I hope you all did too.
This is chilling in the refridgerator, and I need to start making this to go with our Duck and roasted chestnuts. I'm seriously looking forward to dinner.

Happy Christmas to all our friends and family far and near, See you in 2011!

Love,
The Penneys!

looks perfect

I think I'm going to need some more pomegranates.

Picture, and recipe found here.

advent season

This advent season is the first season we got around to doing a calendar with the kids. They have reached the age of anticipation and it has been so fun. J reads this for our family worship and then S gets to look inside the pocket for the corresponding day. I mostly stuffed the calendar pockets with Andes candies because they are good, but on the weekends I put a little piece of paper with an activity written on the inside. The kids love the treats obviously, but they are also loving the countdown. As are we.

beautiful baby blankets

Love these baby blanket kits from Purl Soho. The color combinations are brilliant. They also look like they would be heavy and warm. Makes me want to wrap small people in it.

This week's menu

This list is short because Christmas is this weekend!
Which means there will be lots a family party dining.

1.Vegetable chili with cornbread
2.Salmon stir fry with vegetables and thin noodles
3.Lentil soup with beef
4.Curried chicken salad with homemade salted french bread


And also, I made some fudge.

So easy and super good.
I used this recipe. Because the ingredient list was the shortest I could find. I altered it a bit the second time I made it by adding 1/4 cup of heavy cream. Everyone could use a little heavy cream right?

they finally did it

I am a moccasin girl. I have been for a very long time. Being part native (a very small part) made it seem natural. But, really I just think they are awesome. And so versatile! I bought my first authentic pair about 13 years ago at a pow wow in my home town. They are hand made by ya tribe whose name I forget, but they have been wonderful. They had to downfalls though. I cannot wear them year round because they are soft soled, and not warm enough in the winter. I've been holding out on getting myself another pair. Because I don't like the hard plastic soles you used to get on some pairs, and still, just one layer of leather is no where close to getting me through an Idaho winter. Then, J.Crew decided to sell these.


Yes, they have a rubber sole. Yes they are lined with shearling. And, yes they are on my Christmas list. Because I would wear them. Everyday. Like this.

car safety

I'm wishing I could face all three of my kids towards the rear after reading this article. And in case it still sounds silly to you, watch the video. We aren't the biggest people you'll ever meet, so my almost 5 year old is still 35 pounds. But tall enough that I'm not quite sure it would even work. But I wish it would. Luckliy, we are not in the car very often. And in our town, when you get to a highway chances are you're the only one on it. Does anyone with a baby over one still have them rear facing?

the perfect loaf

Skill, and technique. Not to mention ease. I have so much to learn.

christmas trees

We are forming a new tradition of cutting down our Christmas tree at this beautiful farm. For the past two years, we end up going after a snow fall.