Going Through Life One Blog Post at a Time
Homemade Marinara with Meatballs is simmering on the stove.
Next up is homemade pasta made with my new KitchenAid attachment! Should I make Bucatini or Rigatoni? Do I be traditional and make Spaghetti? Maybe, I could make Fusilli or Macaroni! Decisions can be so hard.
I decided on Rigatoni, and I learned a few things about using the new attachment. It was surprisingly easy once I got everything working properly.
And, yes, dinner was delicious if I do say so myself!
How do you buy a new coat for a growing, near-teenage boy? Well, you buy two sizes too large, knowing that the coat will probably fit perfectly within the year.
Andy has been wanting to complete a challenge in Strava called the Rapha Festive 500 for the past several years. The challenge is riding 500 kilometers between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Unfortunately, the weather has never cooperated and he has never been able to complete it. He is trying again this year and took this photo coming home. Wish him good luck and safe rides!
Christmas was different for us this year, but it was still a great day. While both Laura and John know about Santa Claus, I found Laura up and staring at the Christmas tree at 7:00 am. I love that she still has that “Christmas morning excitement.”
As the kids have gotten older, we have had to find new ways to mess with them on Christmas morning like giving them each a lump of (char)coal! John would not open his after he saw what Laura got.
The kids loved their presents. John was excited to open six different hoodies. Yes, he actually asked for hoodies. Also, he really liked his new Scout book cover, video games, gaming keyboard, and XBox controller for his computer.
Laura was especially excited to get her “dream” colored pencil set along with an art portfolio, the comfiest sweatshirt “ever”, several books, and various Destiny 2 things.
Don’t worry about Andy and me. We were not left out of the fun. Andy received three, signed Phil Gaimon books and a Cookie Fondo t-shirt…
…while I WON the present lottery! I can now make 12 different types of pasta between the two attachments.
The rest of the day was spent playing video games, relaxing, and preparing food. Andy made Prime Rib again this year.
Uncle Jeremy joined us for Christmas dinner and we enjoyed great conversation, good beer, and the last of the day.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Our Christmas Eve traditions were a mix of old and new this year.
Old – I spent part of the day preparing food and baking for Christmas day.
Mix of old and new – We read “The First Christmas” and “The Night Before Christmas,” but the kids each read a story this year instead of Andy reading to us.
New – We had Christmas Eve dinner at Glenn’s Cafe. Andy discovered that they were open yesterday and called to make reservations. It could not have been any better!
The food was fantastic. Our entrees were perfectly cooked and the dessert and wines were wonderful.
The kids even tried oysters. For Laura, this would be par for the course, but it was particularly shocking for John because he hates all things seafood. I think he might be maturing a little.
We all decided that Christmas Eve dinner out was the way to go for the future. It was time as a family, enjoying great food. It was the perfect way to ring in Christmas.
There is nothing better than Warm Springs Ranch at Christmas.
Despite being a drive-through display this year, it was still fun.
The Clydesdales are simply beautiful, and there were several outside for people to see.
There were even ponies outside with their mothers. Unfortunately, I could not get a good picture up close, but you can see Marvin in the background.
I am already looking forward to 2021 when we can get out of the car and see these amazing horses up close again!
