New Year's Resolution....

Well, I don't really do the whole resolution thing. But after the year that our family has had there are some changes that we have made that I hope to keep going no matter what new things happen. We as a family have cut way, WAY back on the amount of "STUFF" that we buy that isn't an essential need for living. I think that this is a good thing and helps the kids to really see what the world is like and how to appreciate what they have. It seems that our countries way of living is if it makes you feel good then you NEED it. Well, we all know that isn't necessarily true. More is sometimes just more. While it is fun to get something new every once in a while, it isn't a requirement. This is hard for me as much or more than it is for the kids but we are doing good and I hope to keep up this way of thinking. And remembering to be thankful for the little things, like a warm bed and a clean water to drink. And really try not to have good intentions but really do them!

Christmas Scarf from the heart

This year Chloe & I made some gifts instead of buying them. The scarf that I am wearing is the one that Chloe knit for me. I loved this yarn so much and wanted to make one for myself but I didn't have enough yarn after I made everyone else's. Chloe was so sweet and made it for me all by herself. It is a stitch that I had just taught her and she did an absolutely beautiful job! I love the from the heart gifts!

For you knitters this is the Brioche rib stitch. It is very stretch and reversible. The stitch looks the same from both sides.

Photo by Hudson, 4 years old.

White Christmas...UMMMM

The snow hasn't stopped yet...it snowed all night and is still snowing at 12:30pm when I'm writing this. We are up to 2 feet here! It is so deep that Hudson can't walk in it and Chloe looks like she no legs. I am worried that the glass top of my greenhouse will break from the weight of the snow. Mike tried to get some of it off this morning with a big push broom but couldn't really get much off. My arbor looks like a camels back with the huge mounds of snow. I am not a big snow bunny to start with but this is over the top!

The kids have been giving the birds old bread crumbs each day. The pile is usually gone the next morning. And the raccoons seem like it too.

It took us from 10:15 am to 4:15 pm to go from our house to Bellevue to Sammamish back to Bellevue and then back home yesterday. The roads where better in the afternoon but we still didn't go over 35 except on I-90. All the back roads, which is all of them where we live, don't get plowed so they are so treacherous to drive. Mike drove yesterday thankfully. When I am in really bad road conditions and have the kids with me I get very stressed.

Do you have any sonw photos of where you're at?

Christmas Cheer!

Here is our HOLIDAY CHEER for all of our friends and family!

Hickory, our giunea pig, is getting into the Christmas spirit with her reindeer ears.

Here Hudson and Hickory are decorating the tree together. (Hickory is under the tree peaking out.)

The holiday season...

We at the Stedman house have been busy preparing for the holidays for weeks now. The kids and I have baked 10+ dozen cookies to give to friends and family but now with the snow they are sitting in the freezer waiting for their debut. Of course we have also snacked on a few of them...that is one of the reasons that this snow is bugging me. I want to get them all out of the house! They are way to tempting and of course I bake my favorites. This year we tried a new recipe from Mike's Grammie which turned out pretty good, a bit sweet for me but Mike likes them. I have all of her recipes from 80 years of running a house. We went through and found some more that we want to try out. I like having recipes from an elder in the family. It is fun to make recipes of old and Mike's favorites from his childhood.

What is your family doing to enjoy the holidays?

Do you have a favorite recipe that you would share with everyone?