-9

There is winter storm making its way across the country. It’s very cold. 

We pretty much stayed home watching movies. 

 Lincoln loves the cold. 

Gingerbread

Grace got her hair done today and it looks really pretty. We went to “the big bag of rusty nails” for lunch and it was yummy. 

 Ethan wanted to make gingerbread cookies. They turned out amazing. Maybe the best gingerbread cookies I have ever had. I’m going to save the recipe. 

I also made carnitas from the favorite things party cook book and they were also delicious. It was a good cooking day.

Most noteworthy, after being on the waiting list for 10 months we finally made it to next in line for

The Mayo Clinic. In March we will go there for a whole study and hopefully some great help and advice for EDS. A long awaited miracle!

Also it’s super cold and getting colder!

Ingredients 

For Gingerbread Men

• ½ cup unsalted butter softened (113g) 
• ½ cup light or dark brown sugar tightly packed (100g)
• ½ cup unsulphured molasses (120ml) (I use Grandma's or Brer Rabbit brand and avoid using blackstrap)
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 ¾ cups all purpose flour (345g)
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

For Icing:

• 3 cups powdered sugar sifted (375g)
• 2-4 Tablespoons milk
• 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Decorative candies and sprinkles as desired

• 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• Decorative candies and sprinkles as desired

Instructions

For Cookies:

• Combine butter, sugar, and molasses and use an electric mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment to beat until ingredients are creamy and well-combined.
• Stir in egg and vanilla extract until well-combined. The mixture may look piecey/like it's separating, this is fine and it will come together when you add the dry ingredients.
• In a separate, medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices (ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg).
• With mixer on low speed, gradually add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture until the dough is smooth, cohesive, and completely combined.
• Divide the dough into two parts (it will be quite sticky, use a spatula) and wrap each tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.

Rolling and Cutting Cookies

• Once dough has chilled, preheat oven to 375F (190C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (alternatively bake cookies directly on ungreased baking sheet)
• Generously flour a clean surface and lightly flour the dough as well (see note).
• Use a rolling pin to roll the dough to be approximately ¼” (.6cm) thick, and use a cookie cutter (my cookie cutter for these was about 3.5” long) to cut out shapes. 
• Use a spatula to place cookies on prepared baking sheet, spacing at least 2" apart and then transfer to 375F (190C) oven, and bake for 8-10 minutes.
• Allow cookies to cool completely on baking sheet before decorating. 

Gingerbread Cookie Icing

• Combine sugar, 2 Tablespoons of milk, corn syrup, and vanilla extract in a medium-sized bowl and stir until combined. Look for a consistency where the icing that drizzles off the spoon and back into the bowl holds its shape for several seconds before dissolving back into the rest of the icing. If frosting is too thick, add more milk, about a teaspoon at a time, until the frosting is thick but pipeable. If too thin, add additional powdered sugar until desired texture is reached.
• Transfer to a piping bag with a piping tip (I used Wilton #5), or place in a Ziploc bag and snip a small piece of the corner off. Pipe frosting on cookies and decorate with decorative candies, if desired.
• Allow frosting to harden before enjoying (this took only about 30 minutes for me, but may take longer if your frosting is wetter)
• Keep uneaten cookies sealed in an airtight container at room temperature.

Lights

Grace has been crocheting dinosaurs.

This evening we drove to Clifton Mills for the beautiful light display. It was so pretty.

 

Just things

 

I’ve been working on this puzzle since Saturday night. Today we finished it and it’s missing a piece!! So disappointing!

We’ve had a nice couple of days. Yesterday we went to the movies and saw Avatar. We also went to Dicks and Lowe’s. 

Today I made taco soup for dinner. Right now I’m in bed reading. I can hear the tv playing Dune down the hall. It’s pretty cold outside but inside it’s nice a warm. It’s nice to be here with Nana and Abba. We are enjoying quiet days and looking forward to Christmas. This time of year is always a happy pause. The old year is drawing to a close and it’s a good time to reflect with gratitude on the blessings the year brought. 

Next year there will be so many changes. Lots of good ones, things that are exciting to look forward to. Some that are a little sad. Some that are a mix. Time always marches  on though! I am excited for Ethan and then in half a year Grace to start college. I’m excited for poppy to be born. I am excited to be done with living in two states, and to continue with school myself. It’s going to be good:)

Ohio

 

Friday Grace and Blake exchanged gifts. They went to the movies and then Grace had her fourth annual clarinet Kwanzaa. 

Ethan went to shadow an optometrist. Then he met up with Jeff, Zach and Patrick to play football, “oh I thought he had a broken finger”, you say? 

Yes he does. 

After they went out to dinner.

I met T & D for dinner at Fords Garage.

Saturday we got up early and drove all.day to Ohio. We had a good drive. We listened to some great podcasts and lots of music. At the end of the night we listened to Dry Bar comedy. 

Today we went to church and they had a beautiful musical program.

Emma and UB came for dinner. We also helped Nana finish up her decorating. 

Catching up

Last night we went to candlelight. It was my last planned YW activity. The parks are always magical at night and the kids had so much fun.

We all rode the land together. I couldn’t believe we fit on two boats!

The night before that Kayleen and Lisa and Michelle threw a favorite things party. It was super fun! We had 20ish women there and it was fun to get to know some of them better. I brought my favorite herbal tea and a soft blanket for my gift. I left with a cookbook! Vanilla paste! And anthropology kitchen towels! 

 

Today Ethan and I went to a new place for lunch, Azteca Del Oro. It was nice and so yummy! 

We went to celebrate me finishing my first semester of grad school! Yay! 

Love these Christmas pictures! Looks like Darcy is not a fan but her sisters have gotten over their “hesitation”.

And we sold the house. Well we accepted an offer. There are a couple hoops to jump thru still but it looks like we’ll be homeless in a month. 

30, Flirty & Fun

Today is Jenna’s birthday. I can’t believe she is 30 years old. Seriously? I was looking at her baby book this morning and it seems like that was just the other day. Now she has three little girls of her own! 

Jenna is an amazing woman. She is calm and reasonable. She is adventurous and goal-oriented.  She serves people willingly and cheerfully. She is a deliberate and intentional mother, a fun friend, and a delightful daughter. 

I am always happy when I can chat with J or spend time with her. 

I admire so much about Jenna and am so grateful that she is my daughter.

Jenna is smart, musical, athletic, compassionate, funny, always up for an adventure, joyful and kind. 

This year she has faced health problems, postpartum life, a house flood, and other challenges with grace and perspective. I love this girl so much!

 Happy Birthday!!