Thursday, December 25, 2008

Merry Christmas!



We're having a true white Christmas here in Seattle. There has been snow on the ground for over ten days and it's snowing again as I type this.

Even though our family is all spread out this Christmas, John and I are keeping the family traditions going. We have the King's College Choir, the Nutcracker, and the Johnny Mathis CDs on a continuing loop. On Christmas Eve I made winter cookies (recipe by my great grandmother) and John made his family's traditional xmas eve treats -- bbq meatballs, clam dip and pasties. He is making Muscovy duck w/ blueberry sauce for dinner tonight. Yum!

My mom sent a couple of old childhood ornaments for our tree, and we were happy to see "the Pauls" and "the Rainies" make an appearance on my parents' dining room table (a very important Christmas tradition)



I took Queets for a run this morning when it was still dark and it was fun seeing all the neighborhood lights. John and I opened stockings and presents and we've been cozy and snuggled up all day (he is battling a cold).

We feel so lucky and blessed for everything we have, our wonderful family and friends.

Merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Stock up, hunker down



That's the headline on the Seattle PI today -- we're supposed to get an even bigger snow storm this afternoon (plus high winds and freezing rain)

We've been having lots of fun tromping around the park and the neighborhood. All the dogs, kids and sledders are out and everyone is having a great time.

I'm just hoping that with this next "arctic blast" we don't lose power.

Last night I had the urge to bake something, so I used ingredients we already had in the house to make Chocolate Icebox Shortbread with buttercream frosting. Very tasty. And after all that butter I'm thinking I should go for a run this morning...

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Snow!


We had a big snow on Saturday night (Dec 13). John and I got home late from a Christmas party and took this pic in front of our house. Of course, that was also the night our wonderful friend Joy was in labor with her first baby -- a boy named Cedar! Congratulations Joy and Jim!

The streets are still very icy in our neighborhood and we're supposed to get more snow tonight. Woohoo!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Ah, Portland

What a great Thanksgiving we had in Portland. Bob and Sara were wonderful hosts, and it was fun to see their condo all decorated and finished.

We had some good walks and outings, looking at houses for mom and dad -- up around Washington Park, near John's office, and also in Northwest, not far from Bob's condo. We played Bobby's Wii (John liked golf, I liked cow racing). We had an amazing dinner at Three Doors Down (see amazing recipes for penne with vodka sauce and white bean dip) and we ate amazing pizza at Ken's Artisan Pizza. AND, after a day of Christmas shopping we stopped at a chocolate cafe for heavenly "drinking chocolate". Mmm.

In other big news, when were were in Oregon we picked up our drift boat and we visited the Von Duffin's (where we got Queets) -- we'll be getting a puppy this spring/summer!

Mostly, we're all just hopeful and excited that we'll all be able to be in the same city before too long.