Wednesday, December 31, 2008
New Year's Eve
More Christmas Family Gatherings
This is a very close friend of the family...my Granny kept her father when he was a baby and my Aunt Faye treats him as her own son! He had twins (a girl and a boy) and named his daughter here Elonia after my cousin (Faye's daughter) who died 2 years ago. Her twin brother is named London and I could not get a picture of both of them looking at me. They are very cute!
My cousin Kelsie showing the monogrammed apron we bought her.
Kelsie's parents Tiffany (my first cousin) and Fortino and their other daughter Kayla. Baby Kayla...so cute!
Is it just me or do you take pictures of food too? It was all just too beautiful to forget!
Faye's beautiful decorations!
I love Crossing things off my to-do list…I’ve been busy this week!
Pedicure
Cleaners
Alterations
Wash and Vacuum Car
Get Car Serviced
2 Doctor's Appointments
Buy and Install Car Seat
Iron Clothes for first week of school
Pack clothes for weekend trip
Confirm hotel for weekend
Read Oprah's January y Magazine cover-cover uninterrupted!
Read The Leader in Me by Stephen Covey
Buy activities to do with Maddie and Eddie on New Year's Eve
Make Budget for 2009
Organize and/or shred financial documents
Make appointment at weight loss center
Return items from Christmas
Take down Christmas in Bedroom and Bathroom/Clean
Buy Granny a Birthday present
Make Christmas and/or New Year Movie
Confirm car rental for weekend
Organize information for a meeting next week with Professional Development Department
CLEAN OUT ATTIC!
Pack all Christmas items in house
Order pictures from Snapfish/make Christmas Book
Put new pictures in frames
Write New Year's Resolutions
12/31/08 Crossed through more itemsJ
Saturday, December 27, 2008
22 Months Paper Pregnant
Total Ham!
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Merry Christmas
Christmas Tradition #25
Christmas Tradition #25
This is my Granny's famous Orange Butter Coffee Cake. We have Christmas Breakfast/Brunch and she always brings it. It melts in your mouth and is so comforting that you could literally eat the whole pan! Here's the receipe if anyone wants to try it this year.
Orange Butter Coffee Cake
1 packet red star active dry yeast
¼ cup water
1 cup sugar
½ cup sour cream
2 ¾ - 3 cups flour
1 cup toasted coconut
2 Tbsp. orange rind
2 eggs
1 tsp. salt
½ cup melted butter
Preheat oven to 350*
Soften yeast in warm water in mixing bowl. Stir in ¼ cup sugar, salt, eggs, sour cream, and 6 Tbsp. butter. Gradually add flour to form stiff dough, beating well after all additions. (For first additions of flour use mixer on medium speed) Cover, let rise in warm place (85-90*) until light and doubles ~ 2 hours.
Combine ¾ cup sugar, ¾ cup coconut, and orange rind. Knead dough on well floured surface ~ 15 minutes. Roll out ½ dough to 12” circle. Brush with 1 Tbsp. melted butter, sprinkle with ½ sugar and coconut mix. Cut into 12 wedges; roll up starting with wide end and roll to point. Repeat with remaining dough. Place rolls, point side down in 3 rows in a well greased 13x9” pan. Cover, let rise in warms place until light and doubles ~ 1 hour. Bake @ 350* for 25-30 minutes until golden brown. Leave in pan, pour glaze over cake sprinkle with ¼ cup coconut. Serve warm or cold.
Glaze
Combine in saucepan: ¾ cup sugar, ½ cup sour cream, 2 Tbsp. orange juice, and ¼ cup butter. Boil 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Christmas Tradition #24
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Christmas Tradition #23
Monday, December 22, 2008
Happy Birthday, Mom!
When Madison saw us getting ready (wearing nice clothes and putting on makeup in the middle of the afternoon) she knew something was up...she went into her room and changed her clothes (on her own) and said she needed to put on something 'fancy'! Then she joined me in the bathroom while I was doing my hair. She put on a little makeup...
She also seems to favor the right side of her face.
Christmas Tradition #22
I love Christmas concerts of any kind, but my all time favorite is Amy Grant. She began having Christmas concerts in the late 1990's in Nashville when we first opened the Sommet Center (concert/sport venue). I went to her concerts every year for a while. Tonight I'm taking mom to hear Amy Grant and Vince Gill at the Ryman Auditorium for Mom's birthday (the 23rd).
Other seasonal events I've enjoyed through the years are the Nutcracker, The Nashville Symphony, and the Rockettes. We're lucky in Nashville we have a lot to choose from throughout the year, but especially at Christmas time!