FINALLY

You'd think that with all the time I had off around the Holiday's I would have made the time to update here, but nope...I am SO far behind and here's my attempt to catch up.

SNOW

We don't get a lot of snow. And sometimes in the winter you just crave it a little.

Our winters usually consist of the weather men claiming it was coming. We were gonna get it...just a trace of snow. I would get a little bit excited and the next morning there would be NOTHING. But this year we really got it and A LOT of it! I loved EVERY minute of it!

This is our house before it really started coming down

Our backyard...we had to carve a path so that Calie would go pee

It took Bryan forever to shovel out our driveway and put on chains so that we could get out of the house. I got to drive too and it was so much fun!

We had about almost 2 feet of snow in some parts

It was SO beautiful

CHRISTMAS EVE

I made Christmas Eve dinner this year.

My favorite moment:

He dressed himself after dinner in this. He put Jaden's boots on, my mom's white belt, Jaden's hat and paraded around. His full tummy was hanging over the belt. He looks SO proud!

Not such a great moment:
Gabe in timeout trying to see us from upstairs

Opening Christmas PJ's

These boys are like the energizer bunny...They never stop...trying to get a picture of them together in their PJ's was pretty much impossible. lol

Look at that face

We have a picture of me in a box of wrapping paper too when I was about Gabe's age.

CHRISTMAS

Chaos and stress or not, Christmas just always seems to be the best. We slept at home Christmas Eve and picked up coffee at Starbucks on the way over to my parents. I can't believe they were open.

We had a White Christmas.

Opening up stockings from Santa
Cool Tractor's from Grandma and Grandpa
I love Gift Cards!
Mom and Dad Happy about something

Jaden got this Dino that walks and growls and Gabe was totally freaked out by it. (Still is)

I think it's was time for a nap ha
Tool Set
Jaden got a new bike
Mom's purty table
The whole family

What a day. Next year I swear I'm going to figure out a way to slow it down a little bit.

Pizza Margherita

Pizza dough (I use the dough balls from Winco)
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
2 roma (plum) tomatoes
1/4t salt
1/8t pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1T olive oil

1. Heat the oven to 425. Lightly grease the cookie sheet.

2. Unroll the pizza crust dough. Press the dough into a 12-inch circle on the greased cookie sheet, pressing from center to edge so edge is slightly thicker than center.

3. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese over the dough, leaving about a 1/2 inch border of dough showing.

4. Slice the tomatoes, and arrange on cheese. Sprinkle the salt, pepper and 2 tablespoons of the basil over tomatoes and cheese. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Drizzle with the oil.

5. Bake about 20 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Sprinkle with remaining 2 tablespoons of basil.

A must try!!! It's SO GOOOOD!

Baby it's cold outside

I LOVE SNOW!

I can't even tell you HOW excited I was this morning to wake up to snow. I thought at first that it was going to be a teaser, like ALWAYS, but we got about 5-7 inches here at our house. LOVE IT!

We went to church this morning. They decided to have just one service and no classes. There wasn't a ton of people that came, but it was fun and the sermon was good. We drove home afterward and Gabe napped while Bryan and I had lunch and watched a movie.

When Gabe woke up we all went outside to play for awhile. It is SO cold out. Windy too. Gabe, Calie and Bryan had a blast and I took pictures.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...finally getting into the Christmas spirit

Tuesday after work I went to pick up Gabe, then met mom and went up to see Janell at the hospital.
Well we went to dinner first which was an experience. Gabe had french fries. Yup that's it...french fries. What happened to my good eater. I miss the times when he would eat anything and everything.
It was a nice dinner just mom, Gabe Uncle Minny and I. Gabe calls Uncle Minny "Mimie"

After dinner we went to St V's. Walking in was so strange. The last time I was there we brought Gabe home. It was weird, all these emotions and memories...it's amazing that the smell and look of a place can take you back. It felt like it was just yesterday, yet so long long ago too.

We saw Janell. She looked good, but bored. I so remember that feeling. Janell got to come home today. She is still on strict bed rest and they have her on a ton of meds. We all still think that we'll have a little new member of the family by Christmas, but we shall see.
Gabe was starting to get tired and VERY cranky so we left. He fell asleep in the car and when we got home he woke up and I gave him a quick bath and rocked him to sleep. He cried the whole time. It was so sad and I felt so bad that I didn't get him home sooner and into bed.

Wednesday Jenny had her friend who is also a nanny come over with the 2 kids she watches and they made Gingerbread houses. Jenny said that Gabe was not at the least bit interested in putting the candy on the house. He ate it all up plus a ton of Graham crackers. HA
On our way home I had Bryan stop at the Bank by Nate and Teresa's and so we drove in their neighborhood to look at lights and see how festive their house was. When we went by their house I said "There is Uncle Nate, Aunt Teresa and Kambrie's house" and Gabe said "Wooooooooow" It was SO cute! At that moment I obviously felt myself getting into the Christmas spirit. FINALLY
When we got home Bryan put away the trash cans and Gabe and I walked down to the culdesac to the left of our house and looked at lights. The people right next to us put up A LOT and I think every house in the culdesac had lights up. Gabe was extremely excited. We walked around and went home.

We had Fajitas for dinner last night. OMGosh it was so good and nice to have something different. I was getting stuck on the sameO recipes and making the same things over and over. Bryan was in heaven and Gabe ate a little bit. The steak was a little hard for him to chew still.

Jenny had given me some curtains to try out in our bedroom and they looked good, but I got this hair brain idea to change the bedding back to the original ones we had. Right after Gabe was born I think I was still a little in the nesting stage and found bedding on sale. I was tired of the original stuff, well we painted our bathroom when we first moved in to match the original bedding and we aren't going to paint it again anytime soon. I decided last night I was tired of our room not looking complete and totally mismatched so out with the new and in with the old. HA
Looks SO much better...I think.

SO glad it's Friday tomorrow!

Sum-up

We had a VERY busy Thanksgiving weekend...

Thursday - Thanksgiving of course
Friday - Get up at 4am to go shopping with Moo and Sara and dinner that night with friends Michael and Kara
Saturday - We got up and went to Omsi when they opened up at 9:30. I can't even tell you how much fun Gabe and Jaden had. It was pretty exhausting for us old folks running around after them, but so much fun watching them play and interact.





Sunday - We went to church, came home and took naps and relaxed for the rest of the day



Tuesday I thought that my allergies were really bad, but by the time I got home I had a full blown cold and I did not feel good at all. Bryan had made a fort for Gabe with blankets and our dinning room table so that was fun. Wish that I had felt better though.


I ended up staying home on Wednesday because I just felt so icky and I ended up sleeping the morning away while Gabe played and read. He was a good sport. I slept the whole time he was down for his nap and felt worse when I woke up. About a few hours later I felt 100% better and it pretty much was over. Glad that I took the time to rest so that I got over it quick.

SO glad I was over my cold fast because there was NO WAY I was going to miss a night out with my friends.



I left work at 4 on Friday and drove to Moo's. got ready there and then we went to Betty's. T picked up Kimberly and before we left Wayne took our picture.
We went to Serratto's for dinner. We had a cozy little table by a window and had such a fabulous time. We laughed, had yummy food, good drinks and had great conversation. Seriously I wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else. I love my friends!
We got to the restaurant around 6:40 and didn't get back to Betty's until around 10:30. We stayed and talked there for a while and then left. I took Moo home and didn't get home until after 1. I was SO tired all day Saturday but it was totally worth it!

We had a pretty lazy rest of the weekend.

Sunday I put together my weekly meal menu and this is what I made tonight. It was delish!

French Dip Sandwiches

Au jus:

* 1/2 tsp olive oil
* 1 small shallot, sliced thinly
* 1-2 cloves of garlic, minced
* 3 -4 cups of beef broth
* 3 tsp bouillon crystals
* 1/2 tsp thyme
* Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in a small pan then add shallot once it's hot. Sauté for 1-2 minutes then add garlic. Cook for 60 seconds, stirring frequently. Add broth, bouillon crystals, thyme, salt and pepper. Cook for at least 15 minutes for flavors to combine. Taste and re-season if needed.

Sandwiches:

* Roast beef, sliced as thinly as possible
* Hoagie buns

Toast the buns under the broiler in your oven. Place the roast beef into the au jus then remove after 20 seconds. Let the juices drip back into the au jus pan then place on the hoagie. Serve with au jus.

SO YUMMY!
Enjoy!

***Random Thoughts***

• I think that I'm not going to post anything in DailyGabe anymore. Originally that was Bryan's when I was working and he had Gabe Wednesday and Thursday's and I barely do a good job at updating this blog. So there you go.
• I decorated the house a little...I love this time of year but I haven't been into it this year. We need to get our tree. I think that will help. I also think that I shouldn't have packed so much into the 4 day Thanksgiving weekend. I usually get out my decorations the day after Thanksgiving and put it all up. I don't regret doing what we did...just wish I would have made time to get out the decorations sooner.
  Speaking of Christmas decorations. I have these bells that I got at a Pottery Barn after Christmas sale like 8 years ago and Gabe put them on his feet and walked around in them the whole time I was decorating. It was Hilarious!
• I think that I want to take a photography class. I love taking pictures and want to learn more about how to use a camera beyond the auto function.

OK I need to go to bed. nighty night! :o)

I am SO Thankful...

I LOVE this time of year! I LOVE Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas. It's a time that I realize how blessed we are. And we're thankful. I do believe the more thankful you are in life, the happier you are. Thankfulness is something that I've really been thinking A LOT about lately. It's not something that I should only do around the Holidays. I want to be more thankful and for it to be something that I feel more ALL the time not just around the Holidays.

I'm thankful for the "regulars"...the givens. You know, our house, our clothes, our car. So thankful. But this year I've been thinking a lot about all the "little" things I'm thankful for.

Like how Gabe pats my back whenever I pick him up.

Or how he'll grab a book and walk over to us, turn around and back up into our laps.

I'm thankful that my mom makes us a huge wonderful dinner on Thanksgiving and I want her to know that I appreciate it so much.

I'm so thankful that my dad drives me to work 3 days a week and I don't have to ride public transportation.

I'm thankful for my sisters.

I'm thankful for times with friends like getting up early and waiting in line with a warm coffee to shop the morning away with Marcia and Sara. Dinner tonight with Michael and Kara and time with Teresa tomorrow afternoon.

I'm so thankful for the little hand that reaches for mine when he's not sure about something. (Gabe is already so independent and there might be a day that he won't need my hand as he goes through new adventures in his life.)

I'm thankful for disposable diapers.

I'm so thankful for how Gabe knows to pray before eating and before bed. How we'll sit down to eat or set him in his crib for the night and we hear his little voice say "ray ray".

I love how we'll be at the store, the park, a restaurant and Gabe will say hi to strangers as they walk by or sit next to us.

I loved how the other day I was out in the garage putting in a load of laundry and as I walked in the door I heard this little "HIIIIIIEEEEE" as he sat in Bryan's game chair like he was waiting for me to come back in.

I love how excited Gabe and Jaden get when they see each other and how last night Gabe was making Jaden laugh hysterically.


I'm so thankful that even though Bryan talks the big talk about how tough he is, Gabe's got him wrapped around his finger...he's such a great Dad.

I'm so thankful that even though Bryan and I had a disagreement yesterday that we were able to sit and work it out like ADULTS and totally enjoy our Thanksgiving day together.

I'm so thankful I get to be a mom.

Look at those eye lashes

I'm thankful for my testimony of what I know is true....we have a loving Father in Heaven who wants us to return to live with him again some day. I'm thankful for the example of Jesus Christ in my life and that I can share all this with my kids.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

~Our Family tree of Gratitude~

Gabeynese

"Hell-OOOO"

It's amazing that this simple word, that we use so nonchalantly everyday, can totally bring a huge smile to our face and amazing joy to our life.

Bryan and I love the way that Gabe says this word.

2 flats in one week, come on

What a week...seriously though we have actually had a pretty boring week. SameO SameO stuff...get up, go to work, come home, make and eat dinner, play, bathtime, bed...

A few things that have made this week not so boring:

1.) Flat tire Tuesday!
I rode Max transit to my truck and drove away to meet Jenny and Gabe. I was minding my own business when the guy behind me was waving at me. That's Weird I thought. Stopped at a stop sign and he got out of his car and ran up to mine. "you have a flat tire!"
DANG now what?? I drove a little ways down the street and parked in Papa's Pizza parking lot. Called Bryan...called Jenny...called Teresa (since I was supposed to be going over to watch K that night). Jenny said that her dad and Nate (her husband) were right by me and that they would come help me change it. What a blessing. Jenny and Gabe met us there too. Jenny got right in there and started helping. I kind of felt stupid but as Bryan said later that night, he married a prissy girl. YEP!
To Do: Get AAA

Gabe and I made it to Nate and Teresa's on our lovely spare tire and had fun playing with K while Nate and T went out. PHEW

2.) Flat tire Friday!
Yesterday we all piled into the car to take Gabe over to my mom. Curchunk Curchunk Curchunk Brayn: "WE HAVE A FLAT TIRE!" What the heck is going on? I get out of the car....no the tires look fine except I hear this loud hisssssssssing sound. Bryan moves forward and I see this HUGE piece of metal sticking out of the right back tire. SIGH
Back home we go to switch to the truck and try and get to work before 9.

This morning Bryan changed the flat and took the car in. He got an oil change while there (thanks dad) and while the car was up Bryan looked at all the tires and all but one had screws in them?
I think we have someone throwing screws out their windows in front of our house as they drive by. Seriously...
Also we have a leak of somesort? They cleaned it up and are going to check it next time we go to see if it has leaked again.

AH Car problems MY FAV (((rolling eyes)))

Some good news though they were able to patch up every tire...the holes weren't that big and damaging that we had to buy new tires. (((thumbs up)))

And now for some cute and funnies of Gabey Monster!

Gabe's new sitting position when watching cartoons. HA

Daddy taught Gabe to throw up his hand and yell "CHARGE" when he whistles na nana na nana

Deals

Ok, I'm starting to get into this.
I have never been a very patient shopper. I never take time to look for cool deals or get the best price on something. When I see something I like I usually just got it.
That is before I had Gabe and am desprate to get home to be with him. I will pay less for something...look for deals...cut coupons...walk away and not buy something that I SO would have before.

I'm actually loving saving the money and getting GREAT deals too.

So speaking of a GREAT deal...Kate came over a couple Sundays ago and she showed me this deal on Commen Sense with Money.

AWESOME DEAL!!!

I got 2 bras and a pair of panties for $15.99.
I got them this morning and they fit just right and I actually like them. You know how somtimes you buy something online and when you get it they aren't that nice or what you thought they would be like. Well these are nice bras! I can now throw out my bra's that are poking me under my arms because the wire has snuck through the fabric. HA

Thanks Kate!

What a day

Yesterday was probably one of the hardest day's I have ever had to go through at work. We had a layoff yesterday and it was so sad! 18 people in our office and 80 firm wide.
I am so tired and sad for those that lost their jobs. :o(

I have never been so thankful that I have a job.