HBD #9 to #4! 🎉

Our Shecklet #4 had her final single-digit birthday today! She requested mini hamburgers on Hawaiian rolls. We had a few family members over to celebrate with us on the 19th and then she skied on her actual birthday. Year #9 seems to be off to a great start!

Feeding a family

I never know just how much I’m going to need when it comes to making dinner. I try to always error on a bit too much. I’m a fan of leftovers, so extra food means lunch the next day is easy.

I caught up with one of my uncles last week and during our conversation, he asked what I make for dinner (since there are 6 of us to feed.) I told him sheet pan dinners are a favorite of mine since they’re often so easy to put together.

I made one tonight, so I decided to send him a picture.

Friends 💗

We got to celebrate my godson’s birthday this afternoon. I didn’t get a picture with him this time, but I DID get one with his mom!

Christmas Eve 2021

We attended 4pm mass at our parish to celebrate Christmas. Aunt Larissa joined us for mass and afterwards we had heavy appetizers for dinner. Jake returned to church to run the cameras for streaming the 10pm mass.

Gingerbread houses – 2021

We decided to try something new and hot glue our gingerbread houses together before decorating them. Since we didn’t plan on eating them, it saved in frosting and time! Win-win!

After the decorating was completed, we polled several family members and here’s how the results came out:

Best use of frosting: #4 (Shecklet #3)
Best use of candy: # 1 (Shecklet #2)
Best traditional house: #3 (Shecklet #4)
Best whimsical house: #2 (Shecklet #1)

Cookie and house decorating

Our friends the J’s hosted us and another family for an afternoon of sledding and cookie/gingerbread house decorating. It was SO much fun! The table was decorated in such a festive way and the treats, including a hot cocoa bar, were amazing!

Pork chop stockpile

Costco had a great deal on pork loins, so I grabbed two so I could replenish our marinated pork chop supply. Gotta keep the grill master stocked with options!

Two loins sliced up = about 50 chops. I made up four different marinades (making multiple batches of my favorite, cilantro lime.) I’m looking forward to some tasty winter grilling!

Dinner at IKEA

We took Jake to the airport this evening – he is heading to Vegas for a conference. Since it was dinner time, I decided to let IKEA do the cooking tonight.