Christmas 2011

A few of our memories of this holiday season. 

Or should I say a few of our good memories that didn't involve pneumonia; that WAS NOT a gift.

Kyla met Santa at Disneyland. Now we don't do "Santa gifts" at our house but I've got no beef with the guy. And like everything Disney, it was done right. Truly the best Santa suit I've ever seen.

Kyla also met a storm trooper. It was hard to tell if she was more excited about meeting Santa or the trooper.

It was fun to see the kids actually interested in seeing each other open gifts this year.  It's like seeing selfishness slowly falling away.

Grant's favorite gifts this year were Legos and... pajamas. Look at his face (below) have you ever seen a kid so excited to get pajamas?

He is so into Legos right now that he spent the gift cards he got from aunts and uncles on more Legos. A Star Wars fighter, Batmobile, & Joker helicopter to be precise. 

I just love how rich the colors came out in this one. Kyla is wearing the  Santa footie PJ's Grandma Connie gave her for her birthday in November.

Kyla's favorite gifts this year were a new watch and the purple dress with matching earrings that she's wearing, and looking far too grown up in, below.

My favorite memory this year happened on Christmas eve. After dinner we all got our Bibles and bible studies and sat together at the table. Kyla and Grant each have a daily devotional book at their reading level. They took turns reading the Christmas lesson from their books to the family. William then read the Christmas story from the gospel of Luke. We prayed together. Then we used some questions for that scripture our church had put together. I was able to see both educational growth, from their reading aloud, and spiritual growth, from their understanding and follow up questions. I thank God for that time. I was truly blessed by it.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing

This is the salad dressing that first made my kids like salad.

Chinese Chicken Salad Dressing

• 2 T. smooth peanut butter
• 1/4 c. rice wine vinegar
• 1/4 c. soy sauce
• 1/4 c. sugar
• 1 tsp. sesame oil
• 1 tsp. chili oil, if desired
• grated ginger to taste, if desired
• 1/4 c. canola oil

Put the peanut butter in a bowl and slowly wisk in soy sauce. Add vinegar, sugar, sesame and chili and wisk. Add the oil either by slowly wisking in or putting everything into a mason jar with the oil and shaking until combined. Chill for 30 minutes in order to let the sugar dissolve. Shake again to combine before dressing your greens.

Roasted Garlic Ranch Dressing

Grant has an extreme fondness for Ranch dressing but I can't stand Hidden Valley. We keep it on hand for him but if I'm making a salad for a nice family dinner or for company I won't put that stuff on it. I've tried several recipes for Ranch style dressings. I've tweaked them and played with them and this one is the winner.

It's also really good in the summer with half an avocado (or more if you like) blended into it. Of course if you add the avocado leftovers can't really be saved because they'll brown.

If you give this a try let me know what you think.

Garlic Ranch Dressing

• 6 cloves garlic, roasted
• 1/2 c milk
• 1/2 c sour cream
• 1/2 mayo
• 1 T cider vinegar
• 2 T fresh or 1 t dried parsley
• 2 T fresh chives ( or the green from 1 green onion, but use chives if you can. The flavor is so much better)
• 1/2 t seasoned salt
• 1/2 t pepper

Put the garlic, milk, sour cream, mayo and vinegar in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.

Roughly chop the herbs. Add the herbs, salt and pepper to the food processor and pulse a few times. If you over process/blend it your dressing will turn green. It will still taste good but it’ll be green.

Dressing will look a little thin. Put it in a jar in the fridge for 15 minutes or so to allow it to thicken up.

*If you want to extend the shelf life of the dressing use canned evaporated milk instead of fresh.