Happy Holidays

The Holiday Season is in full swing.  Christmas shopping is being done.  Radios and choirs are blaring the cheerful comforting music of the season.  Snow is falling.  Trees are up.  Stockings are hung.  There is a feeling of joy and LOVE in the air, even through the hustle and bustle.  

I LOVE this time of year and everything about it.  The memories I have of ice skating with my family as a child, riding on grandpas sleigh singing Christmas carols, reading the nativity each Christmas Eve and always getting to be the angel are all things that I will cherish and hold dear in my heart forever.  But they aren't the main reasons that I love this time of year.  I LOVE it because it is a time that we get to reflect on Christ.  We get to remember his humble birth, we get to remember his life and ministry here on the earth, mostly we get to remember to be more like him.  We remember to give a little more and receive a little less. We remember to enjoy and cherish the important things in our lives.  We remember to LOVE as Christ loves each one of us.  

We would like to wish you all a HAPPY HOLIDAY season and let you all know that we LOVE you and are grateful for your friendships and examples.  

Here is a quick update on the happenings in the Packer homestead during 2009.  

Daniel finished out his last few semesters at BYU-I with a bang.  He is now working cleaning carpets for a company called Heaven's Best.  He is still a "BEAST" on the basketball court and can be found at the Center Stake playing often.  He is starting to teach guitar again and serenading Thomas and I as we dance and sing.  His favorite music artist at the time is The Swell Season.  He is in the scouts in our ward and can do a mean round of applause.  He also says he is the BEST of the BEST and I must agree because he just got done doing all of my dishes!

Sadie also graduated from BYU-I this summer and is so glad to finally be done.  She now gets to focus her full attention on Baby T and Big D.  She has definitely become a fan of all things beautiful, Audrey Hepburn, vintage, the color aqua and of course clothes and eating fabulous food.  She is also in the scouts with Daniel and has learned a lot about little boys and what it takes to keep them quite and happy.  The answer is usually a snack believe it or not!  Her favorite song at the time is definitely 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin Groovy) by Simon and Garfunkle, but the new and improved version by Danny D. Packer.  She dreams of owning her own washer and dryer someday and asked for kitchen supplies for Christmas.  

Thomas is officially not a baby anymore.  He has reached the ripe old age of 19 months and is growing like a weed.  He loves to color on anything.  He is a really fast runner and can throw a ball way better then I can.  He likes to dance, sing, play the piano and guitar.  He loves going to nursery and borrowing their crayons.  His favorite thing at the time is Elmo and his favorite song would have to be either Popcorn Popping or the Crocodile song.  This year for Christmas he wants a bike or an electronic truck (you know the ones that you actually drive and are every kids dream).  We will just have to see what Santa brings this nice little boy.  

This has been a fabulous year for the Packers.  We are still living in the Burg and loving being spoiled by our families.  We can't wait to see where 2010 takes us.  

xoxo the Packers

My Sissy

This is my sissy ALISA.  Some of you may know just how COOL she is, but for those of you who don't know her let me introduce you.  

Alisa is very SMART....SMRT and one of the best teachers that I know.  I someday hope to be half the teacher that she is.  She is tough and she always says all the right things.  

Alisa has great tastes in general.  Growing up I couldn't always say this because she tried to be uniquely funky with her style but it just came out as horribly mismatching in every way.  Don't worry folks she has blossomed (thanks Grandma Dunn) and now has impeccable tastes.  I also think it is fair to say that we share the same favorite store... ANTHROPOLOGIE.   Alisa loves loves loves shoes... 

Alisa and I growing up (and still) are very very different.  But thats what makes us get along so well because she definitely picks up my slack.  

Alisa LOVES to read.  She reads really really fast and she always has a book in her bag.

Alisa likes adventure and to be outdoors.  As a hobby not a lifestyle!  

Alisa has beautiful freckles and the longest eyelashes ever that curl perfectly.  

Alisa has a great sense of humor even if she likes to torment certain little brothers, but who doesn't?

Alisa likes to craft and create, but she isn't obsessed she just likes beautiful things!

                                                     NYC

                                           San Francisco

Alisa knows how to think in a crisis.  This is one of the number one reasons that I LOVE my sister.  She isn't emotional and so when crunch time hits she just digs in and gets dirty and does what needs to be done.  For example she came with us to dinner tonight at Bajio's.  Which have I ever mentioned that I LOVE.... well I do even if that is besides the point.  So we were eating our fabulous green chile stuffed quesedillas and enjoying one another's company when Thomas started coughing right after putting some yummy rice in his mouth.    This caused him to gag and in turn throw up everything he had just eaten.  I am embarrassed and don't know where to begin cleaning.  Should I clean up the table and then take Thomas to the restroom, or should I take Thomas to the restroom and clean him up and then come out and tackle the table.  It was about this time that I feel my throat get all tight and tears welling up in my eyes (remember I am the emotional one in the family) when I realize Alisa was forcing napkins into my hands and then whisking Thomas away to the bathroom.  She is so level headed and doesn't even blink an eye. She is the person I decide to always have with me in a crisis from now on.  

THANKS ALISA for being my life saver tonight, it was messy and smelly but that didn't stop you.  I think that you are pretty COOL and I feel pretty lucky to be your little sis.  

xoxo

Surrounded

My life is surrounded
with cars, stinky socks, basketball, blue, balls, hats, stinkers (you know what I mean), actions figures, with "saving the world" sound effects, green, dogs, sticks and dirt.
My life is surrounded with a man and a man child..
... which means that all of my christmas shopping is MANLY.  
NO bows
NO pink
NO beautiful
NO glitter
Just MANLY shopping.  Which looks a little bit like this.

VERY manly right.  Not only did he find a football that he couldn't let go of.  He found a broken ball that he decided made the perfect hat and wore it all around the store.  I thought it was adorable and hilarious.  Even if my life is surrounded by manliness it is moments like this that make it perfect.  PERFECTLY MANLY. 

Ornaments

It is that time of year.  

My FAVORITE time of year.

ORNAMENT time of year.  

Which doesn't just mean that we all get a new ornament.

It means that Thanksgiving and Christmas are HERE!!!

I love the sights the smells the sounds.... I LOVE IT ALL!

This year for our ornaments I decided to make silhouettes of each of us. 

Here is how I made them....

1.  Take a picture of your subject with the light behind.  I took ours at a window during the day.  Notice that this can prove harder then thought if your subject is 18 months.  

2.  Then I printed off the picture just onto regular paper because we are going to cut it out.  

3.  Then as I just mentioned cut out the picture using scissors or an exacto knife.  ( I am sure that I spelled that wrong)  Be VERY careful to leave even the tiniest of details.  

4.  Get the material or paper that you want the silhouette to be on and cut it to desired shape and size.  I used some colored paper but your favorite fabric would work perfectly. Then you are going to trace around the cut out picture onto the fabric or paper. 

5.  Now paint in the traced picture using a little paintbrush so that you can get all of the cute curly hairs and such!  I AM NOT A PAINTER.  Let me repeat that again.  I AM NOT A PAINTER.  Ask Daniel there have been many times that I start painting something and ruin it and throw it away...  But I DID THIS all by myself!!! SO YOU CAN TO!

6.  Let DRY... completely

7.  Attach some string and either mount on some wood, cardboard or just more paper.  It just depends on how heavy and sturdy you want it to be.  You could even put them in a fabulous picture frame and tie some ribbon on to that!  BE CREATIVE!  I was being frugal and didn't want to spend any extra money, so I just used stuff that I had around the house which worked perfectly for me.

I have wanted to attempt making silhouettes for awhile now.  I have wanted to do big ones of us on our wall, but I was too afraid.  Now I know that I can do them... and so can you.  GIVE IT A TRY.  Or call me and I'll do it for you!  SERIOUSLY... 

Happy Holidays and Silhouette Making

XOXO

the Domestic Goddess

TWENTY FIVE

(like father like son... love of soda)

So this is what 25 looks like?

Breakfast of choice, today it was breakfast burritos.

Well wishing signs posted in your honor.

Getting new basketball attire.

Eating steak for lunch with great company.

Wearing crowns.

Playing guitar.

Making wishes with RED STAR balloons.  

Taking naps. 

EATING at a quaint little restaurant of choice. Maybe you've heard of it, Mcdonalds?

German chocolate pie with vanilla ice cream.  

25 sounds Great doesn't it?

Did you also know that 25 is bigger than 16!

Daniel reminded me of this a few times yesterday.  

I wonder if at 16 this is what this 25 year old thought his life would be like.  

He probably thought that he would be the lead singer in a rock band.

The star shooter on a college ball team.

Being the ladies man that he THINKS he is. 

Maybe he isn't doing these things, as a 25 year old that he thought he would be.  

  But Baby T and I are sure glad that we got to celebrate this momentous occasion with him.  We sure do LOVE you Big D. 

and.... JUST REMEMBER THAT 25 IS BIGGER THAN 16!

The perfect cupcake afternoon

Yesterday I spent a lovely afternoon with these two men.

We ran scouting errands.

We drove through downtown I.F.

Admired some fabulous old houses that I would love to fix and domesticate.

We "patiently" looked around at styles and clothes.

We bought a festive holiday sweater for baby T.

We played on the mall toys.  Note to self... they are way more fun when you don't put money in them.

A dear friend told me to enjoy these days while Daniel isn't working/going to school because he will be for the rest of his life.  

I needed to hear that and so I took her advice to heart. 

We stopped at the closest Starbucks for a raspberry italian soda and a vanilla cupcake that looked divine.  

Only it wasn't. It was as hard as a rock and probably a few days old.  

Now I am craving the PERFECT cupcake.  

I think that I will go and try to make it.  
Don't worry I already ate my fruits and vegi's for the day.  Did you?

Wish me luck!

xoxo

the Domestic Goddess

LOVELY LOVE

Have I ever mentioned that I LOVE this guy?

Well I do and it isn't just because he makes me laugh.  Real hard sometimes.  He even made me laugh until I cried the other night and that hasn't happened before.  

It isn't just because he waited to kiss me (in public) until our wedding day.  Just because he knows that I am a private person.  He is also an AMAZING kisser!  

It isn't just because he is a great dad to this little MAN.

It isn't just because he tells me that I am beautiful.  See he is shouting it to the world 
right here I am not making this up...

It isn't just because he works real hard for Thomas and I.

It isn't just because he is so manly and strong.

It IS ALL of these things... and mostly because he is the only person that has ever made me feel this way.  You know IN LOVE and I know that he feels that way about me too... that is why I LOVE him.  You can see the LOVELY LOVE in my eyes 3 years ago, and it is still here today.  

Diet

It seems I am in a constant battle with myself to be BETTER.

I love food and nutrition

BUT

today I want to be BETTER

So here is the deal I am making a goal of ADDING something to my diet

Sounds like my kind of a diet... getting to eat more!

note: when I say diet I am not talking about the kind where you eat strange items for a few weeks to drop a few pounds and then go back to your old ways only to gain it ALL back

When I say diet I mean EVERYTHING that we eat, a PATTERN in which we eat 

or a LIFESTYLE.

Now that I got that out of the way 

I want to add something to my diet...

(at least) 5 fruits and vegetables each day.

Some of you are thinking that I am crazy because you eat at least 10 a day

That is fabulous for you... just ignore this post and go on with your life

BUT, for those of you who aren't sure what you eat I want to 

CHALLENGE you to join me in my journey

RULES: 

1. Eat a total of 5 fruits/vegetables combined each day

2. Make it a variety from day to day (I find myself eating apples, carrots and bananas ALOT)

3.  Don't be afraid to try new Fruits and Vegis

4.  Aim for "5 a day the color way" 

5.  Introduce new foods by looking up new recipes

Oh how we LOVE pomegranates...

* As mothers with young children don't be afraid to introduce new foods.  If they don't take to them the first, second or tenth time... KEEP TRYING because I think I have hear that it takes at least 20 times. (don't quote me on that)  Thomas will devour something one day and not touch it the next.  I just have it there and let him decide.

I am so excited and I hope some of you will join me in my journey.

Just think of it as a healthy support group or something.

Now that I have bored you all (since you already do this, I am sure)

Just like I bored this little fellow while he was eating his snack

I will leave you now.  

But not without a little reminder... This diet is all about ADDING more and more

that is why you can go ahead and make my cinnamon LOVE rolls 

from my last post and NOT feel guilty. 

Go ahead and check it out!

Cinnamon Love

This recipe has been requested by many...


I hope that this recipe brings happiness to all and maybe even a few kisses from the Mr.


Cinnamon Roll Love.... Recipe from the Kitchen of Mary Ann Dunn (She is the Queen)




in a large bowl combine 


1 can evaporated milk
1 can (same can as the evaporated milk) hot water
3/4 cup oil (any kind... vegetable or canola)
3/4 cup sugar
1 Tbsp yeast


keep the above ingredients warm until it reacts completely... may take up to an hour (I sometimes fill the sink with HOT water and place the bowl in there to keep it warm)


Then add 5 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt


mix it all up then add

4 eggs
2 more cups of flour (add more if needed for the right texture.  SOFT dough, not glossy, not too sticky)  This is key you don't want to over mix and make the mixture stiff.  You want them light and flaky.


Let rise for 1.5 hours or until dough has doubled
Then Roll out on a buttered counter top into a rectangle depending on the thickness desired
Spread soft butter over the dough
Add as much cinnamon and sugar as desired... quite a bit
Roll up dough and cut
Let rise again in the pan (buttered) until doubled


Bake 350 for 20 minutes (I over cooked mine in this picture so maybe go a few minutes less and then do more if needed)


* I use this recipe for regular rolls as well
* I use regular all purpose flour... never tried anything different don't know how adding wheat would turn out
* For frosting I just mix powdered sugar, butter, milk and vanilla (but the other day I did a caramel topping and they were divine)
*these take a lot of time because of all the rising... but if you have the time they ARE worth it.  They also can be made in advance and then frozen to be used at a later time.  
*DON'T laugh because I like really detailed recipes... so when I give them that is what you get as well.  

Listen

I'm listening to these two....

Dance to music, father, play ball, try to get into doors, read stories, play guitar, try to talk, encourage and laugh....

All while I am supposed to be napping.

It is just too much fun LISTENING

so COOL

Yesterday I tried to be "COOL"
Some would say that I am a nerd for doing what I did.
But, I thought it was a fabulous idea.
Alisa, Mom and I jumped in the car and headed to SLC for a book-signing.
Not just any book signing... Pioneer Woman's NEW cookbook signing.
(I am sure you all think I am real "cool" now)
Well I think I am, and I was excited.  I wanted to meet this lady that cooks up a storm and has hilarious stories to go along with everything.  I really wanted to meet her and just breathe some of the same domestic air she breathes.  I wanted to be on her blog...Daniel even said he would pay me 50 dollars if I could be that cool.  

Oh how I thought we had it all planned out. 
Pick Alisa up from work, check.  Map Quest the bookstore where the signing was to be held, check.  Chocolate for the car, check.  Girly, Girls Just Want to Have Fun music, check.  Make sure someone is watching the man child at home, check. Cute shoes, check. We had it all right?
That's what we thought until we showed up at the quaint bookstore and saw a HUGE line.  
People had been lining up since the night before to hear her speak and get their books signed. 
WE HAD NO IDEA this woman was so famous in SLC.
After lining up for a few minutes and getting the scoop, we learned we could be there until 1 in the morning with still the possibility of her leaving as soon as it became our turn.  I know that would be just our luck and so we did what any other "COOL" person would do.... we left.  
Our dreams of meeting this woman extraordinaire were dashed.  Now we would never be as "cool" as she is.  At least that is what we thought until we started driving around Sugar House and all of our thoughts were turned to these beautiful original houses that I WOULD DIE to live in.  (is that a bit extreme?)  Then we ate fish tacos are Rubios and we were completely happy with the decision that we had made.  (plus I got to see the Yankees win the World Series and that definitely wouldn't of happened if we had stayed to see P.W)


Plus the trip wasn't a complete waste because today we were able to spend some time in my favorite store of all times....ANTHROPOLOGIE.  Just being in there makes me happy.  The colors, the fabrics, the dishes oh the dishes, the smells, the books, and today I was able to purchase some knobs to go on a hutch that we just inherited from Daniels Great Grandma.  I love the sentiment that comes with things you inherit.  That is why I didn't want to completely redo the whole hutch.  I just felt that it needed a slight face lift.  Here the beauty is (I didn't dare show the whole thing because it is messy, can you believe that?) I figured this would help you get the idea.

Here is a close up on the handles.

Here is the final product.  Nothing fancy.  It still has it's timeless beauty but a little more color and maybe a more modern look.  I bet you can't tell that I don't have a ra-ra on and that I have a face mask on in this picture, can you?  Well both of those things are true, as well as the fact that I have my birds (that Thomas loves) in there from my Great Grandma that are one of my favorite aqua colors.  

As far as me being really cool and meeting P.W. I wasn't very successful.  As far as me having a fabulous time with two fabulous women that I Love.... I would count this girls trip a success.  Even if I did miss my Man and Man Child like crazy.   

HOME

The word HOME to me means so much more then just the place that I live.  

Today as I gathered with many woman and discussed this matter there was a list that was drawn up.

This list compared and paralleled our HOMES to TEMPLES.  

Some of the principles we learn about in the TEMPLES that should be applied in our homes are:

1. A place of GATHERING. 

prayer.. learning...counsel...work....play....dinner...

2.  The pace should be set by the slowest member in the group.

 no need to RUSH everything we do (and become stressed because there is always someplace to be and something to do)

3.  The JOY of REUNION.

 we all need a little after work smooch and a "honey how was your day?"

4.  What we do with our hands is as important as what we say with our lips. 

I have a HUGE thing with HANDS and I think that our HANDS tell a STORY and should tell a patient, hardworking, loving story.

5. A place to LEARN our TRUE IDENTITY.

I LOVE this one.  I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have that I am a child of GOD.

That I am LOVED.

That I have a family that can be together FOREVER.  

Below is a picture of a favorite temple of mine.

The temple in Hawaii.

It was there that I gained a greater testimony of these things that I was taught in my own HOME.

As women it is our place and calling to be the CREATORS in our homes.  

I am excited to CREATE this feeling of sacredness in my home for my family by doing

a few other things that were discussed today that I loved and hope help others.

 As WOMEN we can

1. ORGANIZE our homes

2. SEPARATE the LIGHT from the DARK

3. Bring BEAUTY and VARIETY into our homes

4. Bring LIFE and then give NOURISHMENT to the life (both physically and spiritually)

5. REST

6. COMMUNICATE with the Lord by returning and reporting

HaLlOwEen...

WITCHY WITCHY
SCREAMY SCREAMY
HAPPY HAPPY
HALLOWEEEENY

A few of the hard core TRICK or TREATERS
Sadie (music staying warm)
Thomas (guitar)
Brady (SCARY skeleton that Thomas was fascinated by)
TY( himself)


THE STAR of the show


the MUSIC note (had to be there to cover a stain)
Not the easiest place to pose for a picture.


Thomas and Daniel
Looking so photogenic walking down the street


A cool in motion picture


Buddy with Grandpa and Grandma
Grandpa (soldier... who actually retired after 30 years of service)
Grandma (just with sweet hair/anything you think she should be)


THe Best part of the night.
Checking out the GOODS


I hope that everyones Halloween was as enjoyable and SPOOKY as ours was.

This year our theme (daniel excluded he was too cool to dress up) was MUSIC. Thomas was a guitar that I made for him and I thought I could be the music and so I just lightly stitched a black felt note on a white shirt that I had.

We went to a Carnival on Friday night in West Jefferson. We played a lot of fantastic carnival games. Daniel's favorite was throwing sponges at the principal, I was extremely frightened by the spook alley, and THomas just LOVED being there.

Saturday night we went TRUNK or TREATING which was perfect for us. NOT too much candy and we weren't out in the cold for too long either. He was dancing in the streets for everyone. After someone put a candy in his bucket we stopped and took them all out to examine each piece before we moved on to the next. By the end he had it figured out and was running to the next car and grabbing multiple candies at each place. WE enjoyed some tacos up at my families house and then went TRICK or TREATING at Grandpa Packers house. Thomas enjoyed holding the bowl for all the the kids that came around.

Boots

These boots were made for walking.
And thats just what they'll do.
One of these days these boots
are gonna walk all over you.





Thomas LOVES shoes (he definitely got that from ME) and here he is seen showing off Hanna's fabulous boots! I think they are perfect, don't you?

BRAVE

I recently became brave enough to...

CUT MY OWN HAIR

This is something that I never thought I would do. After cutting it Daniel said to me, "You must be feeling very confident in yourself right now." And my mom said, "Wow you are brave, desperately brave." I am not sure what was meant by both of these comments... because I thought I did a pretty good job considering I could only see the back of my hair with a hand held pocket sized mirror and only one light in our bathroom works right now so things were a little dark. Then again maybe these are the reasons that I think it looks so GOOD!





What do you think??

I looked out the window...

And what did I see?

POPCORN POPPING AT THE PACKER'S HOUSE!

Sunday night we made some popcorn( a new cinnamon recipe that I found that is highly recommended if you like cinnamon and popcorn of course) and Thomas LOVED watching it POP while singing one of his favorite songs. The POPCORN song of course!


He also liked eating it! But who wouldn't?


p.s. I have a hilarious story about this song. At least I think it is hilarious. We have some kids that live next door to us that like to come up to our patio door and watch/wave to us A LOT. We normally don't mind we just wave back and they get embarrassed and run away. Only to come back minutes later. One night during FHE we were singing our favorite POPCORN song and Daniel quietly said, "look over at the window". I looked over and through our closed blinds (just with a tiny crack open) there was our neighbor girl looking at us through the window. Not only is it hilarious that she was "looking" at us through a tiny crack and for who knows how long. We noticed her right as we were singing "I looked out the window and what did I see... a little korean girl looking right back at me."