Christmas Vacation

Bear with all my pictures. I promise it took more time to upload them that it will to look through all of them....


Weston loved the airplane. He was excellent even after 4 planes, 12 hours in delays and missed flights and a very cranky mommy. I'm sad to say, the 2 year old handled the travel better that I did.

Mike got to go skiing wih his family.

Wierdos in the hot tub. Don't you people know it's 10 degrees outside. I did end up taking a swim one night, but it was warmer.




Weston with his new Thomas PJs on Christmas Eve.

Opening presents Christmas morning.





Grandma Rachel

Weston got Grandpa Bob his first Harley Davidson.

Weston's new Thomas backpack

The view from the kitchen window.

Mike cleaning out the snow from Weston's pants.

Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Utah

We drove up to Rigby, Idaho to visit with more Kinneys. This is what we showed up to. It took more than an hour of shoveling before we could pull into the driveway.

The Rexburg, Idaho Temple. We left Rexburg while this was still under construction.











Weston playing in the snow with daddy. Mike is trying to build a snowman while Weston is trying to mess it up.

Peppermint Marshmallows

Peppermint Marshmallows

2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
¼ cup water
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
2 drops peppermint oil

1 ½ cups sugar
½ cup water
½ cup corn syrup
¼ teaspoon salt

Spray a 9X13 pan with lots of cooking spray.

Fit a stand mixer with the whist attachment. In the mixer bowl combine ¼ cup water, vanilla and peppermint oil. Sprinkle the gelatin over the liquid to soften.

Combine the sugar, salt, corn syrup, and remaining water in a heavy saucepan. Bring to a boil with the lid on without stirring. When this mixture is at a boil, remove the lid and continue to cook without stirring until it reaches the soft-ball stage (240 degrees)

With the mixer at medium speed, pour all of the hot syrup slowly into the mixing bowl containing the gelatin mixture. Be careful not to splash. When all the syrup is added bring mixer up to full speed.

Whip until mixture is very fluffy, white and stiff- about 8-10 minutes. Add a bunch of red food coloring if desired. Pour marshmallow into the sprayed pan and smooth with a rubber spatula that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Allow mixture to sit uncovered for 10-12 hours.

Sift powdered sugar generously over the rested marshmallow slab. Turn the slab out onto a cutting board and dust with more powdered sugar. Slice with pizza cutter into desired shapes. Dip cut edges into powdered sugar and shake of excess powder.

Handsome Weston

Weston got a new outfit from Grandma Cristy and Grandpa Calvin. He wasn't doing a good job of smiling for the picture so I brought out his Curious George. This was his reaction when George popped out from behind daddy and the camera.

Tagged: 7 Things

1. I eat apple sauce on toast. Really, toast up a piece of bread, add butter and then pile on as much apple sause as can fit. YUM. And don't recommend apple butter to me. I want them separate- and then together, thank you.

2. I am an emotional basket case while pregnant. My most recent episode: I cried while watching "The Simpsons".

3. I only like movies that leave me with 'warm-fuzzies' at the end. If there isn't a happily ever after- I'm not interested.

4. I am absolutely head-over-heals for my husband. I don't think a better man/better fit for me walks this Earth.

5. With the exception of stocking stuffers, I am ALL DONE Christmas shopping.

6. Speaking of Christmas- we are going to spend this year up to our elbows in snow in Park City, Utah. I am going to be so homesick for Florida. Really! What is Christmas without shorts, Palm trees and being able to walk around the neighborhood at night without FREEZING to look at Christmas lights. And how can you have Christmas day without going to the beach and building a sandman?

7. Can anyone argue with the fact that "The Sound of Music" is the greatest movie of all time???

If you can read this: consider yourself TAGGED!

BIG FIRE!

This is our funny of the week:

We are at some friends house for Thanksgiving. Weston comes running down the hall from the kids room and says to me "FIRE"!
Me: *nervous laugh* There better not be.
Weston, tugging on my hand: BIG FIRE!!!

He then drags me down the hallway and points into the closet where there is a big fire truck that he can't reach. Whew!

An Army Of Turkeys!

This is my Thanksgiving Tradition! An Army of Turkeys. I remember making them as a kid. They still make me laugh all lined up there ready for battle.

Weston's Halloween

Weston had fun discovering Halloween for the first time this year. For Family night we carved his first pumpkin.

For Halloween, Weston was a monkey. For those of you who remember the previous blog about Weston and his monkey costume- Weston gladly stepped into his monkey suit when I told him we were going to Julie (our next door neighbor's house) for treats.

We invited Weston's bestest friend in the world, Nicole, over for some trick or treating. The 2 of them had a blast. We joked that it was the happiest day of their lives when they realized all they had to do was say "trick or treat" and complete strangers would give them candy. They practically dragged us through the neighborhood.

Of course, when we got home it was time to dig in. Nicole has 3 open lolly pops in her hands and mouth. Weston ate some, but had more fun playing in it- he doesn't get that from me.

Remember trading candy with your friends/family?

The other day I was sneaking a star burst in the kitchen. When Weston heard the noise of a candy wrapper, he found me and said "trick or treat".