Friday, December 19, 2008

Record snowfall in Las Vegas & Spokane















This week marked record snow fall in both Las Vegas & Spokane (where we live, and where we just happen to be going for Christmas...what luck). They have over 30" on the ground right now. Might have to buy some long johns before we fly up Monday. This is a picture of one of the pine trees in my parent's yard, so pretty with the snow covered branches and Christmas lights. Wonder how they got that star on top, it's actually quite a bit taller than it looks here - as the bottom 3 feet of the tree are covered in snow. We're looking forward to our visit, but not the snow and the cold. All of the kids will be home which is a rarity, but a lot of fun. My brothers, dad and Mike usually spend a day at war, paint balling in the wilderness, and I plan to meet up with some girlfriends from high school for lunch (yearly Christmas tradition), and do lots of shopping. I asked my mom to hold off on baking all the Christmas goodies so I could help since we haven't had any time to do that here (sorry friends, maybe for New Years). My mom goes all out and usually makes all of the following: Mexican wedding cookies, frosted sugar cookies, Sees fudge, toffee squares, peanut butter squares, divinity, butterscotch drop cookies, and caramel corn. What are your favorite Christmas goodies? We also have a special breakfast Christmas morning, something like my Aunt Carol's Breakfast Strata, fresh fruit, and sticky buns, or maybe these this year, with fresh squeezed orange juice (or liquid gold as we liked to call it growing up). I came across this in my favorite cooking magazine, looks like a lot of fun, especially if you have kids. We spend Christmas Eve at my Grandma's with the rest of the family and have our big dinner that evening. We play games, sing Christmas songs, and play the piano, then open presents from Grandma. Christmas morning we do stockings, and open the rest of the gifts then enjoy great food and relaxation for the rest of the day. What are your Christmas traditions?

3 comments:

KJ said...

we are forging a new trail this year, doing our own thing. Yay! We'll have a simple dinner--tender roast, roast veggies, potatoes, rolls, chocolate cherry cake and martinellis Christmas Eve. Breakfast strata and danishes in the morning, then stockings and gifts with our little guy, and if it takes all day I'm happy with that. I always make coconut joys and fudge, my mom always makes lemon poppyseed bread and a traditional turkey dinner.

Jack Attack said...

can you believe the snow! funny, I posted our Chritmas traditions yesterday too. Travel save and Merry Christmas.

kate said...

sounds like so much fun! i love how much you love to cook, something that i don't regularly enjoy! too bad you guys aren't heading down to tri-cities, we could totally meet up! we'll be in oregon over the break!