Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Why I have been too busy to blog, this month...

The storm has passed!

I love December...for all of it's craziness and stress as much as anything else. My next few posts are a look at some of the things that have kept the Skidmore family busy over the last couple of weeks. These have been...


Baby it's cold outside

The only thing missing, this time of year, is my mom. She was such a huge presence always, but especially at Christmas. I have been telling my kids how much their Grandma Peterson loved buying them Christmas toys.


I miss her, now.

But, we feel her with us at the cabin. That's why we go.


Christmas wouldn't be complete without a trip there.







12k's of Christmas!!

This was the first year for this race that benefited local animal shelters.

The kids loved getting to pet all of the sweet dogs, but I hated how much my knee hurt the entire 7 1/2 miles. I have been off of my legs since. I'm feeling so out of shape and our race is in less than 2 months! My break is just about over:(









A Night in Bethlehem

This year's ward party required us (and by 'us' I mean 'the kids')to dress as though we were there when the baby Jesus was born (who knew what a few pillow cases and stretchy headbands could do?!).



(Fia's friends, Kitty and Rivers)

Of course, Fia would make fast friends with the livestock.

It was fun(ny) to see everyone in period dress. We kind of thought that Bishop Johnson, front and center, looked like Aladdin.




Christmas Sweets and Sharingtime!!


This season was filledwith a lot of baking for me. Here is the recipe for the Orange-Ginger Baby Cheesecakes that I made for the Relief Society Christmas Party.


Ingredients
3/4 cup finely crushed gingersnap cookies (about fourteen, 1 3/4-inch cookies)
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour


Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. For crust, in a small mixing bowl, combine crushed cookies, brown sugar, and melted butter. Divide crumb mixture evenly among sixteen 1-3/4-inch muffin cups. Press crumb mixture onto bottom and up sides of each cup. Bake in a preheated oven for 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup of the marmalade, the egg yolk, and flour. Divide cheese mixture evenly among the muffin cups. Bake about 15 minutes more or until a knife inserted in the centers comes out clean. Cool cheesecakes in tins on a wire rack (centers will dip slightly). Remove from muffin tins. Top each cheesecake with about 1/2 teaspoon marmalade. Serve at once or cover and chill up to 24 hours.
3. Makes 16 servings

I just have to add, Martha Stewarts' glitter kits are awesome.

Phoebe's Birthday Party!!

I have heard over and over again, how much people hated their Christmas-time birthdays, when they were young, because they felt overlooked or they got jipped on presents.

So, for 7 years, now, we have waited until at least a week after Christmas to celebrate Phoebe's December 26th birthday.

That's why I was so surprised to hear Phoebe say that she wanted an entirely Christmas-themed party, this year.

We had it just days before Christmas with red and white decorations, Christmas wreath (donut) decorating, ornament painting, and a gift exchange. She loved all of it, especially, the penguin cupcakes that she and I made the night before.

Here's the link.


Reese and Janie

Phoebe with Katie
The whole crew!

Christmas Morning!!

Merry Christmas, my babies! I hope you like what Santa brought you...







...I know Lila did!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Now, it feels like Christmas. All I needed was a little snow and my favorite peeps.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

It's On!

We finally have a full team..a PERFECT full team...


So excited to do this with these awesome women.

Thanks for going crazy with us,

Sara

Summer

Heidi

Aimee

Brittny

Melissa

Cheryl

Lisa

Sandi

Brook

and Kelly!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Anxiously awaiting...


Who says you can't find a cute twin bed?? I did, for weeks and weeks. Until I found this for Phoebe's room:

It should be here any day:)

Monday, November 30, 2009

Even moms can pull all-nighters!!

As much as I love shopping, I hate, hate, hate crowds. That's where the irony comes in-

I went Black Friday shopping. Why?? Because Sara convinced me that it would be fun.

And as we approached Old Navy and saw the line that snaked around out front, I knew I had been duped.

Actually, it was fun just to stay out all night with Sara. The funny part is I found a lot of stuff, but nothing I bought was 'on sale'. Go figure...my mom would have called that one! Wish she was there:)


Hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

(thanks for the pics, Sara)

Friday, November 20, 2009

THE Pie

I've found it!

My signature Thanksgiving pie. And Martha Stewart calls it an 'advanced' pie. (But, between you and me...it's not that hard;)).

The key is the crust, so follow the directions to the T.

My one piece of advice...don't let your stomach get the best of you, causing you to dive into it right out of the oven. It really is best after cooling completely. (I'm making it Wednesday, along with my pumpkins.)

So, here it is...Apple-blackberry Pie with "Fall Leaves" Pate Brisee'
Enjoy...I did!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Thursday, November 5, 2009

All Hallow's Eve

hThis was the first year that my little goblins all wanted to dress dark and scary. Don't tell them, but I think they came out cuter than ever.

Cade was sweet not to wear his skeleton mask around Lila. She was terrified of it.


Phoebe was so surprised that she won 'Best Costume' at Trunk or Treat. I wasn't.

It's scary how sweet they are.

Fia, the Midnight Fairy



Daisy

Monday, October 5, 2009

Happy October Conference Sunday!

Nothing says Conference weekend like family and some home cooking.

Here are a couple of fall recipes that you may enjoy;

Brianne's Easy Spinach Salad

organic baby spinach
crumbled feta cheese
bag of glazed walnuts (in the mixed nuts aisle), crushed in the bag with a meat mallet
craisins
broccoli, cut into small bite-sized pieces
red onion, diced
Paul Newman's Balsamic Vinaigrette

After deciding how much spinach you need and mounding it in the bowl, just eyeball equal amounts of the other ingredients (first, broccoli, then, onion, then walnuts, then craisins then feta). When you are ready to serve, pour on 1/3-1/2 of the salad dressing(according to the size of your salad).

Bakerella's Pumpkin Pie Bites

You'll find this adorable recipe here.
Happy Fall cooking!
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