Christmas

Christmas this year was a bit different.  The weather was suppose to be bad Christmas day, so instead of leaving Christmas morning, we drove up Christmas Eve.


We had our Christmas a few days before we left.  I actually have pictures this time of me, Brian and Maggie opening our presents and us opening presents in Ohio.

Brian got me a Staub Oval Cocotte and Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking.  I liked the movie Julie and Julia so much so that is why he got me those.  You can do so much with a dutch oven.

I got him his own beer making kit.  He had a suspicion, but he was surprised none the less.  He says he can't wait to make is first batch of beer.

Since we left on Christmas Eve, we were able to spend Christmas Eve dinner with my family for the first time in about 3 years.  It was nice to wake up on Christmas morning and already be at our destination instead of driving 9 hours.  Christmas morning was spent at my sisters house to watch Lukie open his presents from Santa and breakfast, then it was back to my parents house in the afternoon to open our presents from them and dinner.

Christmas Cookies

Every year I try to make Christmas cookies.  To be specific Chocolate Chip cookies and every year they turn out horribly.  They either end up burnt or way under done.  One year I even misread the instructions and doubled the butter.


This year I was determined to make the cookies and not have them fail.  If they did, I vowed I was never going to make a Chocolate Chip cookie again.  I set out to make sure that I had freshest ingredients and I promised myself to be patient.  I decided to let the butter and eggs get to room temperature, instead of straight from the fridge and I used a small ice cream scoop.  I double checked in directions and did everything that I was suppose to do.

After I don't know after how many years, I was able to make the perfect Chocolate Chip cookie.

And they turned out great!  I had finally conquered the Chocolate Chip cookie.  I don't know if it was the butter and eggs at room temperature or the ice cream scoop, but all I know is now at Christmas time I will be able to make one of my favorite cookies!

Christmas Party

Last night was my Christmas Party.  It was a last minute decision to go and it was a good thing that we did.  I ended up winning one of the top door prizes that evening.  I won an iPod Touch.  I must say that it is pretty awesome.  I couldn't believe that I had won.  Everybody was asking me if I wanted to sell it.  Of course the answer was No.


I was able to get a couple of game apps and put a movie on it last night before our trip to Lexington today.  It was nice to have a distraction for the ride there and back.