longest post - EVER!!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!! We sure did!! It's been awhile since I posted but I will try to make it short. My kids came in from Colorado on the 19th. It's nice to have them here! The first day Ryder needed to do some shopping so we went into town, since we were in town we met Scott for lunch - I love doing that!! I had them help me make pork and shrimp dumplings - I quadruple the recipe - it's one of my favorites!! It's easy and delicious!! The link takes you to the recipe I use but I close the dumplings - using the egg around the edge. We use a peanut dipping sauce - not sure where I found the recipe.

Peanut Dipping Sauce
1/4 c water
1/4 c peanut butter
2 T soy
1 1/2 T seasoned rice vineage
1 1.2 T chile paste with garlic
1/2 t sugar
 Just mix it together - mmmm Or if you just like the soy sauce dip

1/4 c soy sauce
3 T rice vinegar
chopped green onion (1)

dumpling elves

Scott made 4 kinds of cookies this year - he let us each pick our favorite. My favorite are the star shaped cookies (snowflakes pg 39 we used pecans). All the recipes are from the Betty Crocker Cooky Book. Chocolate crinkles pg 23, Thumbprints pg 77 and Brown Sugar Pecan Rounds pg 89. The kids and I made a recipe for caramel corn that we call "crack corn" None of us are huge fans of caramel corn but this stuff is crazy addictive even the cat likes it - DELICIOUS!!!! The recipe comes from my friend Katie. If you would like the recipe email me. 

We finally got our tree up and decorated by the 22nd or 23rd

look at that floor I still need to work on!!

cat left me a gift

curried pumpkin soup Scott made mmmmmm

Here are some of the things I got for Christmas....

tea from Lupecia I got in my stocking!

hand carved Russian Santa

Scott bought him in Texas at A Taste Of Europe

for the front porch - but may be too nice to set outside

O...M...G

even the pattern is beautiful!!

I didn't get this for Christmas but I tea-dyed it for the Easter piece

and then I started it - yes that makes 12 WIPS!!!

Taylor knitted us scarves!!

metal heart box

my people - don't look at the unfinished walls!!

Ryder bought this for me

Uncle Milton's Fireflies in my room

coolest measuring glass ever

 I made another traditional bread - my family loves it but I don't! They call it potetsa but when you look it up online it it called potica. It's European  bread with a walnut filling. We make it into a shell shape but online it's a loaf. They put butter on it and warm it in the microwave. I will share the recipe - email me if you want it.

cardamom braid left over from Thanksgiving and my potetsa  

inside of the potetsa

I finished Gratitude!! I ordered Joyfulness and it is out for delivery today - then I will be DONE!!! THAT is joyfulness!!

 We went to the city center - Indianapolis is set up in a circle and is called "The Circle City" at the center is this awesome war memorial!! They decorate it from the holidays

standing next to the monument

 We also went to the Indianapolis Museum of Art

ohhh muscles

Taylor has a head cold but the rest of us are well. We are going to bring in the New Year at home. We will have snack foods  (cheese and crackers, dip and chips) . We will play lots of games. I hope you all have a safe and fun New Years celebration. Thanks for stopping by!!