Christmas Day 2011

Well Christina woke up at some ungodly time of 4:30 for Christmas. We have a rule in our house. The stockings are free grabs but you don't wake up Mom and Dad until they come down.

 Megan found this little thing on Pintrest and decided to make one. You basically take a loaf of bread and cover it with sugar, cinnamon and butter. Bake it for a while and then cover it with some icing. It's not good for you...but it tastes wonderful. Here is the link to the recipe!

 Jessica was most happy. Here is she is clutching her most precious new cell phone.

 Adria shipped Drew a big giant man mug.

 The Elder's came over for breakfast and so they could call home for Christmas. They always get to call home on Christmas and Mother's Day but now with all the wonderful technology they can Skype or video chat with home. This is Elder Freeman, from Meadows, Utah. He's playing with a magnetic toy that we got him.

 This is Elder Scott, he's from Genola, Utah.

 Christina completely warn out. We were in the office doing video chat with Adria and Dave.

Wir kauften einen Schrank!

What is a Schrank you may ask? Well it's a cabinet of sorts from Germany. We've been looking for a buffet or cabinet to go with the dining room table for a while now. And we just haven't found anything we liked. Things have either been to expensive, two small, two small and expensive or needed to much work. We've been hoping to score a good deal like the other furniture pieces we have bought and refinished. Then Drew stopped into this Germany Antique store. He was actually looking for a large German map for his Man Room when he spotted this. A few days later both Cheri and Drew stopped by for a visit and saw it.  A few family member antique'rs were called for opinion and soon thereafter the decision was made. For the price and the quality it couldn't be beat.

First, it came in pieces, this is the top piece sitting in the hallway. Imagine Ikea but in oak and all old school quality. 

A few side panels, back panels and shelves sitting on a hallway rug. Oddly enough that rug is from Ikea. 

 The base in place. All oak. Three large drawers. Thank heaven for felt sliders. Even fully assembled we can move it around without hurting the floor.

 It's just a big puzzle really, send panels that include one door each go in first. Help in place with wood dowels. You can't see it but the entire door is the glass and oak panel. There is a piano hinge that runs the height of the oak panel piece

 Built in screw to secure it to the bottom and top.

 Another view of one end piece in place

 Both end pieces in place. Next comes the middle door and the top.

The middle door and the top have to go on at the same time. 

 Finished....And Megan in the picture for size.

 A bit taller the Christina!

 The carved detail is what is really incredible.

Thanksgiving 2011

So we had our first Thanksgiving in our new home. First, this is our new dining room table. They dropped it and broke part of it when they were moving it into the house.....also with all the leaves in the table it's a tight fit for the dining room so we turned it a bit. The walls are still pretty bare but we're working on it. And Cheri wants to change out the light.

 PIES!! Pumpkin of course. Apple then Shoefly beyond that.

 This was a Costco special a few weeks ago. Cheri really liked it. Yeah - - and we're being "WILD" will it filled with water and lemons!

 So we made a few small pies to deliver to a few friends and acquaintances we knew that were either working or had to be at work for part of Thanksgiving.

 The kitchen! Enough said.

Raspberry Chipotle with cream cheese and crackers. We love Pirate O's Raspberry Chipotle Sauce. We brought a few with us from Utah and we may have even ordered one or two since we've been here. Yet we found a pretty close substitute at Costco

 Jessica made some of her Aunt's mints for the table.

And yes, we didn't appear to have taken any photos of anyone! Oh well. We had our neighbors over. They are new to the area as well, also from Utah, and work at the local Cafe Rio stores out here. In fact, they moved from UT to VA just to open the stores. It was a good time. We missed having all the family here or being in UT with all the family...but it was still a good day nonetheless.