New Traditions...

This is the 3rd year that our whole "Utah" family gathers together for a Christmas Brunch and $10 gift card "white elephant" exchange. We started doing this in place of drawing names and going to an expensive dinner. It was all to much money during an already "tight" time, so we came up with this idea instead. Danny and I host it at our house and I do the cooking, although this year I got help from D, Michele and Eric and we were barely done in time...whew!

This year we had a Blintz Cake with fruit sauce, maple sausage, scrambled eggs, potato cakes, asparagus wrapped in prosciutto, shrimp cocktail and bagels and lox. It was all very yummy if I do say so myself.

We exchanged gift cards to restaurants this year and there was a special surprise of a $25 gift card hidden in the bunch. The kids also got their Christmas gifts from Danny and Me since we are going to California for Christmas. I really enjoy this new tradition that we've started and I hope we have many more years to come. (Don't forget to get the Blintz recipe at te bottom of this post.)

BLINTZ BRUNCH BAKE

2 pkg.-8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1 container (15 oz.) Ricotta Cheese

5 eggs

3/4 cup sugar, divided

2 tsp. grated lemon peel
3 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 cup flour
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, melted
1/4 cup milk

1 Tbsp. CALUMET Baking Powder

PREHEAT oven to 325°F. Beat cream cheese, ricotta cheese, 2 of the eggs, 1/4 cup of the sugar, lemon peel and lemon juice in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended; set aside. PLACE flour, butter, remaining 3 eggs, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, milk and baking powder in separate large bowl; beat with wire whisk until well blended. Spread 1/3 of the dough onto bottom of greased 13x9-inch baking dish; cover with cream cheese mixture. Gently spoon remaining dough over top. BAKE 45 minutes or until center is set. Cut into 16 pieces to serve. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired. Serve with fruit sauces.

In Our Hearts Forever...

We lost are boy on November 27, 2008 to cancer. It was a horribly difficult day for Danny and me. Thank goodness we have a wonderful Vet and assisting staff that loved Cabo very much and they made the process a little easier to handle. Cabo hadn't been feeling well for about a month and my "mothers" intuition kept naggng at me that there was something wrong. It ended up being bladder cancer. Poor Cabs was feeling pretty yucky for the last week or so and I can at least rest easy knowing that he is no longer in pain, sick and uncomfortable. I believe in Heaven and I believe that all good creatures live out eternity there. I know he will be loved and cared for in my place. Our lives will definitely have a "large" empty space without him, but we are so blessed have had him in our lives. He brought so much joy and entertainment. Everyone loved him and revelled at him. It will be sad to enter Petsmart and have no one ask "Is that a horse?" he touched many lives and we are so proud he was ours. We love you Cabo!

Happy Turkey Day!

Despite losing Cabo the day after Thanksgiving the day of the event was very yummy and nice. It's always good for us all to be together! We missed the Correa's as they were in Vegas for a soccer tournament, but we celebrated none the less. I think this was one of the most successful Thanksgivings we've had...as far as the food goes. Everything was scrumptious! Here are a few shots of the day....

"I want to hear you say it"..."Vampire."

The countdown was long and torturous. We encountered many hours of movie trailers and still photos. We clung to every interview and teaser. We held onto our books and read them over and over. The wait is finally over...TWILIGHT is here!

Once upon a time there were 11 young women who liked to cook and dream of Edward. They made plans to wait to together and enjoy the moment as one. After a days of buying advanced tickets, waiting in line for wristbands, eating scrumptious food, sitting in line at the theatre and an hour in the stadium the moment had finally arrived. The event that these 11 girls had been waiting for was at last here. Would it live up to the expectations? Is he "really" Edward, the one we pine for? Could we stay awake to make through a midnight showing? (hee, hee) HELL YES!!!!

Well, the movie has arrived and it wasn't disappointing for sure. And if I didn't love and obsess enough over Edward as it was, I'm really in over my head now! If I didn't think that Robert Pattinson was the right person to be Edward, I was wrong. There can now be no other image in my head than him. What I would give to stand on a dance floor and have him kiss me on the neck...aaahhh! (If you've seen it you know what I mean!) No matter what else happened in the movie or whatever my thoughts are on how it followed the book's story line I will never forget those 2 hours with Edward. Watching him come alive before my very eyes was so satisfying.

Needless to say we girls had a WONDERFUL time! Even if I do feel like someone beat me up this morning. HA! It was a long day and night, but so worth it. I hope all of you Twilight fans get to the theatre to see Edward and that you aren't disappointed.

..."and so the Lion fell in love with the Lamb"...

waiting in line


Kathryn, Amber & Amy

Michele, Cindi & Heather

Jen & Jill

In the Theatre...

Michele, Christy, Heather & Brittany

Kami & Jen

Jill & Kathryn

Kathryn, Amber & Amy

Edward's first appearance!