2009 Year In Review

My first full year of college.
Made my first B :(
Hospital stay with Alaynah
Change of schools for the girls
Long Summer
Church Crisis
Grew stronger and hopefully wiser
Great year in marriage and family!!!
Learned alot
Gained a pants size :(
Lost some friends
Gained new ones

Not a year I would want to relive - but one that will shape my life for the better.... Ending it with my family celebrating Jason's birthday.
Ahhhh... Sighs of contentment!

My Christmas

My Christmas was the best ever. It was spent with my family and full of traditions that we are creating! One of those traditions is serving Christmas dinner to my family. And not just any Christmas Dinner - a meal that would make Martha Stewart proud. I don't do it for the fancy meal, but because it is my way of serving my family in a special way. So many people think I am crazy or going "over board". But I don't feel that way. It seems fitting to me to serve as we celebrate my Savior's birth. He served selflessly and in a small way I try to celebrate that on Christmas day. By the end of it all my feet do hurt and I am tired from trying to get serveral gourmet dishes all ready at the same time. But I would be telling a lie if I said I was worn out. (Like the lady who dusted herself with flour and acted like she had slaved all day in the kitchen making rice krispy treats!) I never am. I feel fullfilled and at peace. So here is a glimpse of Christmas - Luttrull Style. This is my favorite table. My sweet mother-in-law bought me these dishes last year at Thanksgiving and I just love them.

This year we did our advent calender a little differently. It was magnetic and every day we added another piece of the nativity scene. It is awaiting baby Jesus, which will be added Christmas morning. The girls adored it!

We began our day right - Luke 2

The girls were most excited about giving each other the gifts they had picked out especially for the other. It is a blessing to have see a giving spirit in your children.

So Christmas dinner began with appitizers: White-Chocolate Cherry Fudge, Caramel & Chocolate Tartlets, and Peanut Butter Cookies

Oh, and most importantly - Egg Nog. Not just any Egg Nog - my special secret recipe. I think there would be a riot if I didn't make this every year!!! It doesn't look like much - but the homemade whipped cream I add puts it over the top.

I tried roses this year for the first time. I really liked them.

The majority of the house is decorated in silver, white, and a little grinch green - but my dining room is decorated in red and gold. The red has even spread to the kitchen!

This is a picture of the first course: Pear & Walnut Salad with Cranberry-Champagne Vinegarette. This was only the second time I have ever attempted to cook with wine (I think Champagne is wine???) I didn't like it, but everyone else thought it was delicious!
After the first course I was too crazy to take any more pictures of the food. But the second course was: Roasted Beef Tenderloin with a wild mushroom sauce, Roasted Fennel and Cabbage with Parmesan, Candied Carrots, Cream Cheese New Potatoes, and Yorkshire Pudding

And for dessert: Choco-Berry Mousse and Ooey-Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake with homemade brown sugar whipped cream.

My house smelled fantastic! Everyone's plates were really pretty. The conversation was sweet and, although several members of my family were missing this year, the entire night was wonderful. Memories were made and everyone went home full and satisfied.

What a wonderful day!!!!!

Next year, everyone is invited!!!!

Excitement on the way!!!!!!

Three new graphics for the awesome things happening at SBC!!!!! I am so excited about each and every one of them...