Ellie Decorated

As I went to wrap some Christmas gifts this year, I pulled out the basket of yarn to decorate the gifts. It brought back a great memory.

Last December, I was talking with my Mom on the phone. I was in the kitchen and I heard Ellie running around upstairs. I didn't think much of it at first because she loves to run around with her toys. The ruckus kept getting louder and I told my Mom that I needed to go and see what Ellie was up to. When I got to the top of the stairs, this is what I saw...


I moaned and my Mom laughed and said that I needed to hang up and get a picture of it.

Ellie doesn't usually get into things, so I didn't think anything about it when I placed the newly purchased yarn on the bed. She loved it so much, we decided to buy her yarn for Christmas.

This event is one of my favorite Ellie moments. I also love it because my Mom taught me that it's important to laugh, even when the new skein of yarn is strewn all over the family room.

Another Project Done

We finally have a headboard (of sorts) for the bed that we have had for over two years.

We made the platform for the mattress ourselves. I stained the wood and Dwight put it all together. It's a custom size, so we haven't been able to find a headboard that would fit. Last week, I found some bamboo placemats that were the perfect color so we lined them up and attached them to the wall using upholstery nails.

First Attempt

Yesterday, I made Ciabatta bread. I actually had to start it on Saturday night, because it required a starter - a combination of flour, honey, yeast and water. The starter had to sit for over 12 hours. I added flour, salt, yeast and olive oil to the starter and let it sit for another three hours. The Ciabatta dough is extremely sticky, so it was harder to work with than the wheat dough I am used to. The directions said to "handle it like a baby" so the air bubbles wouldn't burst. I think I was a little too rough with my dough so I didn't get the huge air pockets in the bread, but it tasted wonderful.

We dipped it in a mixture of olive oil and balsamic viniger.

I have figured out what I will do differently next time, but I think it was a pretty good outcome for my first attempt.

Happy Birthday Stephanie!

Today is my sister Stephanie's birthday. I think it is wonderful to have an older sister. I loved being her shadow when we were growing up. She never made me feel like I was in her shadow, but she allowed me to tag along, just like her shadow. She has always made me feel important.

When we were young, we would make paper dolls, and decorate our doll houses. She taught me how to create wallpaper on the doll house using candy bar wrappers. She also inspired me to make a water bed for my doll using a ziploc bag filled with water. She is still a fabulous designer. I love to go to her home and see what she has done, although I don't get there very often, because we live so far apart. When she posts pictures of her home on her blog, I try to zoom in as close as possible on each one, so I can see the details and steal her design ideas.

I was so excited when she turned 16 and she could drive me around. She was patient with me while I panicked in the car and put my foot on the dash board each time I felt she needed to stop or slow down. I have always had the knack for being a back-seat driver, even when I'm in the front seat.

We are more than just sisters, we are great friends. I love to be able to talk with her, laugh with her and enjoy her. We have many fun memories. For more about Stephanie and our adventures together, click here.

Happy Birthday Steph!

A New Favorite

I have a new favorite snack - Pomegranate arils.

They are tasty, juicy and crunchy. I like putting them in salads, or eating them by the spoonful.

Don't you love how I threw out the word arils, like I have used it numerous times before? I had no idea what an aril was until I read the instructions on how to cut the pomegranate.

It's Beginning To Feel Like Christmas

We got some decorations up and it snowed a little today, so it's beginning to feel like Christmas.

The Christmas tree with and without Ellie.

(Dwight wanted to get a picture of her too, since she was posing so nicely.)

We still use the ornaments we bought at Walmart the first year we were married. We have added a few things over the years like the pine cones we gathered on the Hill Cumorah in New York.

This year, I decided to add some framed art to the tree.

The fireplace and mantel.

Notice the branch with the stockings. It's the branch that traveled with me from Stephanie's house, to New York, to Seattle and then to Utah.

Light

On Monday, we went to see the Christmas lights at Temple Square. The weather was perfect for walking around and enjoying the lights.

I find it brilliant that we celebrate Christmas so close to the darkest day of the year. I think it is a perfect way to remember the light. I love to see all of the Christmas lights and think about how amazing it is to have both electricity and the light that comes from the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that we are in trying times, but amidst all of the gloom, there is light. There is hope, and joy and love.

I am grateful that I have a knowledge of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that by following Him, and His light, I will be truly happy. He is the light and the life of the world.

John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.