Christmas Candies and Ward Party

After making Christmas candy last year and since we aren't making it home for Christmas until late, I decided to make candy on my own this year. Which really worked out since they were having dessert contest at our ward Christmas party. Sadly, I am terrible at being patient and pretty bad at making caramel. Gratefully Ellie and Jake will eat just about anything sweet no matter how funny it looks.

For the ward party, we took marshmallow balls, tuxedo brownies, and caramel pretzel sticks. Sadly, even this a display like this, I didn't win the blue ribbon.

 The Saturday of the ward party was busy because Jake was on the non-committee, committee for the party. So we arrived early to set up and Ellie just ran around with other kids while we kept busy. Eventually her friends showed up. 

Kate and Ellie, the almost twins.

Ellie and Elena, almost inseparable.

I know she looks more Valentines day than Christmas. I just don't have any cheesy Christmas outfits and 10 minutes before running out the door, Ellie hid the cute Christmas ribbon I was going to tie in her hair. (Hiding things is her new favorite game. The sad part is only about half the time does she actually remember where she hid something.)

Part of the activity was house decorating. Scrooge here didn't want any preview photos of the masterpiece.

A few members also presented the Nativity. Ellie seemed really interested in watching, that is until we started singing. 

Yes, she was really dancing to Christmas hymns.

After the presentation, a special guest arrived. Ellie understands that you sit on Santa's lap and have a picture taken, but she doesn't understand that you ask for gifts which is really nice right now.

Finally after long work, the cookie house was finished.

Casey, Jake, and Ryan with the final project.

I know many of you are asking where all the decorations are, why isn't it all pretty and colorful, etc. This picture doesn't do it justice but this is an exact replica of the Hong Kong Temple covered in icicles (although it's not supposed to be that cold in Hong Kong). That is a tiny angel at the top, complete with candy cane trumpet.

Holiday Cookies

Since the Holiday season is all about eating treats, Ellie and I decided to make some the other day. Cookies are definitely something she can help with as opposed to caramels, chocolate caramel pretzels, etc. So we put on our matching aprons (Christmas gift from last year), and made cookies.

Making the sugar cookie dough.

Ellie was a great help except that every time I turned my back she would try to take a beater, the spatula, etc out of the bowl to lick it. I guess she does belong in our family. 

Dough ready for the fridge.

The dough was rolled out and cut into cookies (snowmen, little boys, and moose aka reindeer) but I don't have any pictures because Ellie needed lots of help cutting the cookies or else we ended up with little finger marks. Also, they never got decorated. I didn't want to attempt that without Jake's help and since Jake loves sugar cookies, he helped Ellie finish eating the cookies before they were even frosted. Maybe next time. 

Family Christmas Ornament

To celebrate for the Brundage Family Christmas party, they asked all the families to make and bring an ornament for Grandma's tree. Since we couldn't attend, I just made one and shipped it out. This is how it turned out.

Yes, we included the best picture we had of the soon to be baby. A little cheesy, but hey even they don't want to be forgotten.

New family photographer

Ellie has decided she wants to take over as the official picture taker. There are a few problems. One, she usually holds the camera backwards (trying to look into the lens instead of through the view finder). Two, if she turns the camera the correct way, she usually misses the subject. Three, she isn't good at pressing and holding the button so 3/4 of the time she doesn't actually take the picture.

Trying to take a picture of Ellie and mommy

Taken while I wasn't in the same room.

A famous self-portrait.



Adventure at the Aquarium

After the accident, Jake's parents came out for a few days and then my mom came out for about a week. Because I didn't want visiting parents to come out just to take care of me and our place, I tried to do something fun. Unfortunately, Steve and Connie weren't able to stay long enough so they'll just have to come back to see the sights. We were able to take a quick visit to the Aquarium with my mom. 

Friendly turtle saying "Dude".

It would have been a better night had dinner not been so rough. We called ahead and were told there wasn't a wait but when we arrived there was a 15-20 minute wait that ended up being longer. Then it took forever to bring us our food. Luckily the fishes are so cool that we still had a great time.  

Look daddy. Fishy.

 

Amazing colors on these starfish and anemones.



Check out the multi-point starfish in the back.



Look at me.

 Yes, Ellie and her preggers mom crawled under to look through these bowls at some fish.


A big fish.

Grandma, see the turtle.



Oh, sharks!

DO-do, do-do, do-do...

 Watch out for the sneaky one in the back. Don't worry, the glass tank was something like 16" thick. 

I touch, mommy.

Ellie did touch one of the rays but it startled her so much because it flapped right as she touched it that once was enough. She really enjoyed watching them swim.