A Few Blogs for Some Facinating Info!

Over at Books We've Read I have made up my list of my

Top 10 (really more) books of 2010!

If you are looking for a good book to read, or one to stay away from, read that list! Oh, then comment and tell me what you liked!

Today happens to be Zak's 18th Birthday!!

I made a video about his whole last year. It's my first.

Come and enjoy!

Colesdaily.blogspot.com

Today is also Heather & Steven's First Year Anniversary!!

I interviewed them and that sweet thing is on the Cole blog also.

Just trying to keep you all up on all the news!

OH, and for our Fantasy Football, Zachary and Kylie tied for our Family Playoffs. But, Zak won the tiebreaker for that since he has a better overall regular season record. (Steven won the best overall season.)

Zak is currently filling out the paperwork to be a registered voters. What a good citizen!

Took Some Time for the Tree!

Finally, I took some time to help the tree!

I enjoyed all the effort. I think we ate dinner very late that night, but we still ate!

See the musical note? That is a new ornament that we given to me and Candice for singing at a Relief Society evening.
Remember making those balls??
And making the Angels and hearts?

We are singing and ringing bells over at the Cole's Blog starting on Christmas Day, come visit!
Chase also got cake all over his pants, you can see that over there too.
Much hilarity ensues.

I decided to share the Payne family's Christmas decorations! Howdy, all!
We decided to wrap ribbon around the tree this year as opposed to draping it down the sides. It was fun. Just so everyone knows, those of us in Utah, including Candice got together at Nana & Bumpa's for a little sing fest and visit Sunday night. I thought it was a great way to kick off Christmas week.
Nana, Bumpa, me, Diana and Katy went to Tatia's ward Christmas program - which she wrote and directed. She is amazing people! Amazing! It was so beautiful and she has a wonderfully talented choir... and I'm not just saying that.
Diana, Kate and I went to Nana & Bumpa's after church for brunch where Bumpa made us waffles on his new waffle iron Christmas present. YUM!
Enjoy the pictures. I love our stuffed animal collection. We have a bunch more not in the chest. I took special pictures of Stitch because he's hard to see but such a cute character. There was no way to put him in a more visible place because of all the other stuffed people who had to be there. Fun, fun, fun!
Diana and Kate cut out snowflakes and made a wonderful snowy mess, but easy to clean up.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

 Christmas is my very favorite time of the year, full of glowing lights, warmth, love, giving, delicious smells, and even better food! I can hardly ever keep from decorating as soon as possible, and this year was no different.  Thanksgiving night the tree went up, and I've been loving it.  Every night we are sharing a Christ centered scripture or Christmas story, and we are both excited to start some of our very own 'little family' traditions.  So without further ado, here are a few snapshots of our Christmas home and goings on.

 

This is our tree at night.

 I didn't like how our tree looked, so added popcorn garland! Sadly, Steven ate the rest of my popcorn before I could finish, so the top of our tree is missing garland. It  bugs me, so I'll pop some more :)

  

This is our mexican santa, from Mexico. He keeps watch over us, in a 

non-creepy way.

 

I been doing A LOT of baking and candy/chocolate making.



This is Steven acting out the gift of the Magi  for our nightly Christmas story.

Merry Christmas! Love, the Coles.

What does Christmas look like in everyone else's home?

Cole's Thanksgiving

Just sharing the pictures from our Thanksgiving...Enjoy! We did!

These are our place settings...little pilgrim ships. They have everyone's name on the sail AND M & M's in the ship. They were delicious. They were made by the efforts of Julie, Kylie and Nana. Nana decorated the tables. Beautiful!

This is the FOOD table before the food is on it.

This is Kylie's decorating ideas....props provided by Nana.
oh, back to the eating table

Time to eat!

We had 2 tables. All in one room. Worked out great.

The other table.

The food table FILLED with the food!

I'll describe what you see from the back and left to right:

mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce

Turkey, gravy (middle-ish), green beans (made with fresh beans!), pomegranate jello, plain red jello, ham

The turkey. Thank you.

Another view of the table

The other table.

Teo, entertaining himself.

That is Silvia sitting by Christopher. Silvia is Gil's cousin.

Hmm...did I not take a picture of the DESSERT table?? How strange of me...

It was filled with delicious items. Sad you missed seeing it.

We had a great time.

If you were not on these pictures, PLEASE post pictures of YOUR Thanksgiving!

Lettuce be Thankful

Growing lettuce in NOVEMBER in Arcadia, CA. Beans are right over there, out of the photo. I'll tell you how our salad is in a couple of months.

Lost phone...New phone!

Ok! After keeping my old phone with its missing back piece for 5 years I truly lost it...unless SOMEONE decided to throw it away and not tell me...so I have a new phone! But almost all my numbers were lost so please send me your numbers. At least one from EVERY family...more if you want to!

And while I am communicating - here is a message for all family still in Salt Lake for Thanksgiving - Can we get together for some pie later this evening? You know me...queen of the last minute! We have movies and food and philosophy to discuss!

I love you all! Happy Thanksgiving to all...and to all a Good Night!
Tatia

P.S. In case you have lost my number - here are a few clues...
Begin with the last two digits of the year I was born
Then the household cleaner I use
and finally, the age I wish to be when I am resurrected!

Thanksgiving Menu!!!

OK. My girls all like to watch cooking shows on TV, so when we realized we were NOT going to St. George for Thanksgiving Haley went online and found some new recipes for us to try...Here is our Thanksgiving menu:

Foolproof Turkey Breast by Guy Fieri

I just made a brine with kosher salt, brown sugar,
molasses, fresh sage leaves and peppercorns (lots of water).
It smells divine. Tomorrow we will rub the turkey
with lots of different spices and lemon zest...

Honey Glazed Roasted Vegetables:
the glaze is made of olive oil, honey, fresh thyme sprigs
and sherry vinegar...




Browned Butter and Hazelnut Mashed Potatoes - I also have to make some of Nana's mashed potes for Sophia!


Green Beans sauteed with lemon and garlic


Haley wanted Stuffed Sweet potatoes with Pecan and Marshmellow streusel (a recipe by Tyler Florence) but was ultimately overruled and so we will be going with Allysa's sliced yams with pecans, cranberries, and maple syrup.

I found a Poached Pear, Macadamia, and Spinach Salad with Goat Cheese recipe from Food and Wine Magazine. I have to poach the pears
today in red wine, sugar, lemon peel, anise seeds,
a cinnamon stick and a vanilla bean!

And finally the Stuffing....courtesy of Stove Top mixed with applesauce. It really is Delicious!

For dessert, Haley wanted Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Spicy Caramel Apple Sauce and Vanilla Bean Creme Anglaise ( recipe by Bobby Flay) and Chocolate, Chestnut and Orange Trifle by Giada. We are going with Apple Crisp and Pumpkin Pie!
Oh! The kids are also making a Turkey Gobbler for a centerpiece/appetizer.
What are you eating?