Christmas and the Pioneer Woman

Sing with me... (cue musical note) It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas... everywhere you go. (cue musical note)

Yeah yeah... I know. We haven't even had Thanksgiving yet. Get off your high horse and cut me some slack.

This might be the most I have looked forward to Christmas since I was a child. We bought Chase's Christmas gift and I absolutely cannot wait for him to open it. I can't wait to revel in the fun that is Christmas morning. Mounds of christmas paper, new toys and family sitting around with hot chocolate.

So Adam and I broke out the holiday bins from storage and started doing some decorating. Usually Adam does this with me kicking and screaming (internally of course) but this year I was a willing participant. Lights on the porch... musical Santa's that I remember from Christmas at my Grandmother's house (she was a collector)... Christmas ornaments from years past.

Yeah, I am definitely in the spirit.


So is Riley... can you tell?


and this kid... he's all about the spirit.

Oddly enough I don't think I was this excited last year or the year before... well to be fair Christmas 07 I was likely still in the throes of postpartum. But even Christmas 08... I wasn't this thrilled. But now that Chase is old enough to really get it and really have fun... yeah, it makes it that much more for me.
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On an entirely different note... I am becoming quite the adventurous cook these days. I made my first ever recipe from the Pioneer Woman's website and it came out great! Usually I am so intimidated by her recipes that I read through them for the fun commentary and great pictures but never attempt it on my own.

Not this time... I decided that Sweet Acorn Squash with Rosemary was too good to pass up.

I love acorn squash but I've only ever had it one way... not anymore. This will become a permanent side around our house. Although I will use fresh rosemary next time. I used the dried stuff and it wasn't bad but I think the fresh would have sent it over the edge.
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Unfortunately Chase is sick (just a little cold so far) so we will be missing our Thanksgiving shindig tomorrow morning. I hate that we won't be there but it's better for all involved. I don't want Chase to get anymore run down and really be sick for Thanksgiving... and I would hate if he infected one of the kids, or *gasp* one of the babies. Too many vulnerable so we are hunkering down again tomorrow. I foresee lots of playdoh, coloring pencils (thank you Bernice and Cari!), stories and toys in my future.