Sunday, December 27, 2009

A FRIEND OF MY BROTHER'S HAD

a nine hour layover at the airport, so I picked her up and showed her a few of my favorite Portland places....
We at lunch at Old Town Pizza and I told her about their haunted past - we even ate in the elevator shaft....

We went to Voodoo Donut and stood in this crazy but SO worth it line....

And we went to Multnomah Falls....

All my men (who were frying all day) were thrilled when I came home with left over pizza and a sampling of donuts for a taste test....
The winning donut was tied between the blue raspberry donut and the maple bacon donut...

MY SISTER AND I DECIDED TO

make the Hot Chocolate On A Stick that I talked about in this post....
You can dip them in different chocolates too, but we decided to keep these ones plain so we could drink them straightaway.
So easy, so delicious - we'll definitely be making more!
Portia, you totally need to make these....

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 11 OF 15

Aloe...

Saturday, December 26, 2009

ONE OF OUR CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

from my brother Derek was a GE Deep Fryer and my men are all but grunting.
Today they fried delicious homemade french fries and then did a batch of pickles....
Deep Fried Pickles

Egg Wash:
1 cups milk
1 eggs
Pinch lemon pepper
Pinch dill weed
3 TBSP pickle juice

Whisk all ingredients together.

Breading:

1 1/4 cups cornmeal
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/8 cup lemon pepper
1/8 cup dill weed
1 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
Pinch cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients.

Dip pickle chips into egg wash and then coat with breading. Arrange dipped pickles on a sheet pan lined with waxed paper. Chill for 30 minutes.
In a deep fryer, heat oil to 375 degrees. Add chilled pickle chips in batches to the hot oil and fry for about 3 1/2 minutes or until golden.
Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

They are delicious!
Now they are talking about deep frying cheese, hot dogs, snickers, twinkies.....

THE CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS ARE

coming down and for me, as much as I have enjoyed having everything out, it's such a breath of fresh air to have things back to "normal".... One of the things I do miss are all the Christmas cards displayed.
We put ours on the back of our front door (yes, I know I'm still missing molding and base boards, but they are coming - yay!!)
How do you display your Christmas cards?

EVERY YEAR MY PARENTS HAVE A WHITE

elephant party the day after Christmas.
This year the kids played Christmas Bingo....

And then we played an exchanging game for our gifts....
We laugh so much at the white elephant parties, it's a great way to end the Christmas weekend....

SNEAK PEEK - LAUNDRY ROOM

I am not a fan of curtains in a laundry room, so we don't have them.
Sometimes late at night doing laundry, I'm not the most modest.
This is what I see when I look out the window - who knows what our neighbor has seen..... Now that we don't have midnight Christmas projects, we were able to tackle this window project that has been at the top of our list for quite sometime... We purchased Gila Privacy Frosted Window Film (19.99) and used the Gila Window Film Application Kit (8.99) to put it on. Super fast, super easy and save me hours of etching the window.
We are thrilled with the results and the price and I'm sure our neighbor will be glad too!
I'd show you more but we still have purple molding and we have major plans for this room. It will be quite sometime before you see it....

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 10 OF 15

Black....
Check out Sherri and Ivon's Color Challenge Photos too...

Friday, December 25, 2009

AFTER WE HAD OPENED ALL OUR GIFTS AND

the weeest of the wee ones had had his nap, we headed to the Peterson's to continue our celebration over a scrumptious Christmas dinner....
And there was one thing Brad and I had in common....
We had never tasted a beet. Until tonight.
We hope your Christmas was as wonderful, loving, delicious, joyous and full of gluttony as ours was.....

MY MOTHER'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY

is Danish and the only Danish tradition I know is Ebelskivers.
Luckily, I got my own pan and my sister-in-law taught me how to make them a few years ago. I had eaten them but never made them myself. It's a hit with our family and the boys LOVE it when we make these.
We started out our Christmas with this delicious traditional Danish breakfast....

The recipe I use is:
2 c. buttermilk
2 c. flour
3 eggs, separated
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. sugar
Beat whites. In another bowl, beat egg yolks and add sugar, salt and buttermilk. Add soda and baking powder. Fold in beaten egg whites. Grease Ebelskiver iron and fill cups half full. Cook and turn. Serve warm with butter, jelly, syrup, powdered sugar or any other toppings you might like.

My great grandmother refused to have Danish spoken in her home and sadly, along with that, Danish customs and a lot of our heritage wasn't passed down.

If you know of any Danish customs, I'd love to hear about them.....

WHAT A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS MORNING

we had!
Two of my favorite gifts from my husband - The "P" that we designed together (then he did all the work) and a new camera which was a TOTAL surprise....
Thankfully Larry hung it straightaway because I was SOOOO excited. This weekend we will have a before and after on this corner.
If you're wondering, YES - we are going to be selling these letters. More on that soon!

We opened stockings; these are all stockings my mother has made for us. Aren't they awesome!...
And then our house was TRASHED....
Grandma and Grandpa Joan came over with Uncle Robbie bearing gifts....

And it got more trashed....
I almost started twitching but I was too busy admiring these incredible slippers they purchased for me when they were in Germany....

WE WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS

We are so thankful for Christ's birth, The Atonement, everyday miracles and that He lives...

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 9 OF 15

Red...

For more color challenge photos, check out Sherri and Ivon....

Thursday, December 24, 2009

A WONDERFUL, FUN, DELICIOUS

family filled Christmas Eve with lots of laughter, love and presents is what we had...
We make graham cracker houses every year and the kids REALLY look forward to this sweet, delicious, sticky creative time...
And everyone got wonderful, thoughtful gifts....
We had a blast but it wasn't the same without Derek and Stevie-Poo.
P.S. - I received some homemade gifts I'm really excited about and I'll be showing you later.....

THERE IS A LOT OF

excitement over here because after a year of waiting, it's FINALLY Christmas Eve.....

Lach - Dec 2007

We're almost ready but still finishing up last minute touches. How about you?

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 8 OF 15

Sahara.... I love these fields of wheat on the outskirts of town...

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 7 OF 15

Green....

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

FOR RUBY TUESDAY...

I love how the old red paint is crackling and so weathered.
I found this door on this trip to Forks, Washington.

If you would like to participate in Ruby Tuesday, post a photo you have taken with red. A little or a lot it's up to you. Click here and follow the easy instructions.

LET IT SNOW, LET

it snow, let it snow.
My boys are REALLY wanting it to snow for Christmas....
Ferra Marcel Young in Wisconsin while serving his mission

Lucille Ida Huntzinger Young at Strawberry Mountain in 1940

I've been smiling at old photos today and patiently waiting for snow.
I think we'll be waiting a long time....

DEAR FATHER CHRISTMAS~

I would really like a few more of these lessons....
I really, really, really would....

OUR DOORBELL RANG LAST NIGHT

and Santa was on our doorstep....
When Santa left:
Me - Oh my goodness, how lucky are we to have Santa come to our house! Wasn't that awesome?!
4 year old - That wasn't Santa.
Me - I think it was, but if he wasn't, he's a really good Santa Helper.
4 year old - (in a Mom, you are really stupid voice) That was Grandpa Joan.
Me - No way.
4 year old - It was. It was Grandpa Joan.
Me - I don't think so but how do you know that?
4 year old - (Again in a Mom, you are really stupid voice) Because I'm smart.

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 6 OF 15

Brown....
Check out Ivon and Sherri's color photos too....

Monday, December 21, 2009

THIS IS NOT JUST A

Christmas movie in our house....Are you Jack and Sally fan?

MY BOYS GOT SOME

Grandma Joan lovin' this morning when she helped us celebrate the first day of Christmas Break and we helped her finish celebrating her birthday...
Part of her birthday gift from us, was for us to treat her to some homemade cinnamon rolls and hot cocoa.
It was a delicious morning....

SLOW SHUTTER NIGHT

photography with all these Christmas lights is becoming a little addicting and I'm ready to go out on the town and see what I can come up with....
I'm really digging the straight lines vs these from the other night....

HOMEMADE GIFT IDEA

When our older boys asked us for a white wipe board to help them both stay organized, (yes, I almost had to sit down due to shock), I was elated and all over it.
My friend Adrienne made a huge organizational board for Jamie at our Yaya Gift Exchange and so I used her ideas to make two small ones for the boys for Christmas....
I went to Craft Warehouse and purchased white frames using 40% off coupons. I like their frames because they are wide and really sturdy....

I purchased white board and cork squares. They also have squares of metal, chalkboard, etc... and they all have a sticky back. You attach the squares to foam core...

Beware the squares have different thicknesses so a little trimming might be in order to get them the same height...

We will be attaching a holder for the dry pen on the side and getting clear push pins for the cork.
My boys are not into the fru, fru so we kept it plain.
But if you have girls, you could go crazy with it!
I think frames do wonders with making the ordinary and practical look better and finished....

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 5 OF 15

Purple....School bleachers. Go Team Spirit!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

ROMANCE AND ELEGANCE

comes to mind when I see this photo of my Great Grandmother....

Martha Louise Sessions Huntzinger

I think she looks stunning....

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 4 OF 15

Orange.... This little guy was a wonderful find in a tide pool in Fiji....

Saturday, December 19, 2009

IT IS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

for the Pizzi's Annual Christmas Party and this year's theme was UGLY SWEATER....

I may have taken Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on toothpicks as an appetizer and I may have won Most Obnoxious Sweater....

I may have been super excited to see friends who have moved away....

But came back for the can't miss, super duper fun Christmas party....

There may have been some really funny gag gifts...

And this favorite person of mine....

may have given me a mini make over.
And there just might be a lot more photos on Facebook....

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 3 OF 15

Silver....

Friday, December 18, 2009

WE HAD A FUN DOUBLE

date and saw Surrogates.....
We always laugh so hard when we're with the Despains.
We liked the movie, have you seen it?

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 2 OF 15

Grey.... This photo was taken at Mill Creek.....

Thursday, December 17, 2009

SLOW SHUTTER

speeds + zooming out = some psychedelic photos....
These were all hand held, next time I will use my tripod for even more uber - stunning effects....

COLOR PHOTO CHALLENGE - 1 OF 15

Turquoise... This photo may have been taken while trespassing on an urban decay photo walk....

AND THE SECRET INGREDIENT

is marshmallows!
My boys love waffles and they love to experiment with "secret ingredients"....
Landon picked marshmallows this morning and made sure every hole had one in it. Add as soon as it comes out of the waffle iron and it gets oooey gooey warm.
Yes it's a little reminiscent of something Buddy the Elf would do, but it's actually good.....

I AM DIGGING

this garage door rehung barn style...
REALLY digging it....

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS MADE

by preschoolers ROCK.... Hope your Christmas plans are coming along swimmingly. I actually could use a little more time.....

I'VE BEEN HAVING A HANKERING

for some REALLY good hot chocolate and my friend, Portia sent me this link for Hot Chocolate on a Stick.....
Stir one of these into some steaming hot milk and it turns it into luxurious hot cocoa.
I'm SO going to make this....

I HAD SOME NAVY DUCK

boots when I lived in Boston....
With reports here and there about possible snow (I'll believe it when I see it), these duck boots are quite tempting for my tootsies.
Santa, can you hear me? I'm a size 8....

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

I HAVE A CONFESSION


Dear family and childhood friends,

Twenty three years ago I did not try to commit suicide, but I did try to hurt myself really bad. While out taking photographs for a high school class, I closed my eyes and fell forward off a steep ridge. My friend Katie went to get help. When I realized I hadn't hurt myself "bad enough" I decided to run away. I walked and walked and it took me a while to realize I had no where to go. I thought I would get in trouble so I did what came naturally to me at the time and I lied. I pretended that I had amnesia and kept up the lie with things I thought I was "supposed" to do, like flashbacks.

At the time, my home life wasn't the best. I hated my parents and they hated me. I hated myself and I hated the world. I was pretty messed up in the head and I wasn't a good person.

I moved in with my aunt and uncle my senior year. They thought they were helping me but I was just running away. That move though, I honestly believe saved my life. I don't know what I would have kept trying to get the attention I thought I needed.

When I moved to Boston I had planned on cutting off all communication to everyone I knew and start new. I don't know why I didn't do that, but I'm so glad I didn't do it.

After three wonderful shrinks, around age 21 things began to click inside my brain and I figured out who I was, what kind of person I wanted to be and what was important.

My relationship with my parents and family is wonderful now and I have a great life. 15 years ago I finally told my father the truth.

So why the public confession?

I don't lie anymore and I tell the truth about this situation as it arises when questions are asked. Questions are being asked but not to me and I don't want any family member to feel like they need to cover for me.

Loving family history as I do, I should set my family history straight. Laura did not have an accident causing amnesia, she was just a troubled young girl who was a big fat liar. I go into the folder of ancestors who had skeletons in their closet (and we have some doosees!)

Our family finds humor in it now and can laugh at the past. I know many of you might be angry with me for lying to you and hurt that I didn't confide in you for the past twenty three years. For that I am truly sorry and hope you can forgive me. If you can't just yet, I understand.

Most people think my life is an open book and for the most part it is, but I, like you, do have my secrets....

I COVET

this ceiling.....
That ceiling would be amazing in our bedroom...

I WAS LOOKING THROUGH SOME

family photographs last night and these are some of my favorite winter photos...
Aunt Lucia, Uncle George and my father

My mom and Uncle Dennis pulling my Grandpa Mark

Grandpa Mark and Grandma Betty

Grandpa Mark pulling my mom and Uncle Dennis
These photos just make me smile....

WHERE'S THE STINKIN' SNOW?

Landon associates winter with Christmas and snow with Santa. He is so worried that if it doesn't snow, Santa won't come....

They look for it a lot, especially on rainy days because he just knows it's cold enough and he's just oh so frustrated with Mother Nature....

Monday, December 14, 2009

I'M ALWAYS LOOKING

for a great gift
for the men
in my life.
I was thrilled
to read the
Stocking Stuffers For Dudes
post over at Oh Happy Day...
This one was my favorite...

DEAR SAINT NICK~

We thought we were prepared, but after 5 hours of no electricity....
we realize we need a lot more of these....

and these....

And after some water and pipes not getting along on Sunday, along with some other household improvements needed....

we need some of these....

and these....

MY MOTHER IS

an amazing quilter who hand quilts and loves to NOT use a pattern....
This is one of my favorite silly photos of her
I wanted to show off the amazing quilts she made and personalized for my boys a few years ago....

Larry J loves dragons and medieval times...

Laird loves wild cats....

Landon loves Spiderman and super heros....

Lach loves longboarding.
She has also made a stocking for each one of us kids and grandkids. I'll show you those when I get ready to put them up.
She's amazing!

I ABSOLUTELY ADORE

my sister and one of the best trips I have taken was to New Orleans when she turned 30.
Click here for the New Orleans post.....


She's been reminiscing and it just made me smile because I loved the trip, I adore her - she is amazing and I adore her fabulous friends too....

Sunday, December 13, 2009

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT

that there are honest people.... I lost my wallet and didn't realize it until I went to Winco late last night with my sister and it wasn't in my purse.
Heart dropping to stomach and ready to cry, I remembered that I had been in Winco earlier that day with my 4 year old.
Realizing that Winco was a great place to start retracing my steps, they checked in their safe and someone had turned it in and nothing was missing.
I'm sure that it was tempting to keep the wallet, especially this time of year.
The little that was in this wallet is big to us and I'm so thankful that nothing at all was missing, everything was in it's place and someone honest turned it.
Thank you!

Saturday, December 12, 2009

IT WAS QUITE BRISK AS WE

watched the Parade Of Lights downtown.
Everyone was in wonderfully festive happy moods and some of the cars and floats were beautifully amazing!
The wee ones and I were looking for two areas. First, Daddy, Larry J, Laird and other longboarders were skating in between the bikes and the Cherry City Roller Derby Girls and second, Santa Clause....
We sat with super fun friends...
And we saw the longboarders and Santa Clause....