Ham Pot Pie

My husband is a super "comfort foods fan." It only took me, like, 10 years together- 5 of those married- to figure this out. Don't get me wrong, Mike pretty much just enjoys food in general, but I tend to try for the exotic. It was only recently, when I made something that I would consider "boring" that he told me of his love for things that remind him of being a kid. Go figure, that's why I like ethnic foods or things with "pizazz;" my dad was a super experimental cook. This Pot Pie is something I had played with last year, and finally decided to write it down.



A great way to use up left overs... This is a super easy recipe and something that can even be prepared the night before. Typically, I use the lazy man's frozen crust, but this time around I looked up a really simple one online... http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Ruths-Grandmas-Pie-Crust/Detail.aspx. This was easiest to use with the dough WELL chilled.



1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup flour

1/2 cup diced onion

2 tsp minced garlic

2 cups fresh or frozen peas and carrots (guess which route I went!)

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

1/4 tsp celery seed

1 cup chicken broth

1 cup cheddar soup (concentrated)

3 cups diced ham





In a large pan:



Melt butter over medium heat. Add in diced onion and sautee until soft. Add garlic. To butter mixture: combine flour, salt, pepper and celery seed. Mix well and allow flour to briefly cook. Afterward, add in chicken broth and soup. Stir, then allow mixture to come to a boil. Add peas, carrots and ham and allow to simmer. In a 9" pie pan, use one crust to fully line tin. Pour mixture over crust. Fill as much as possible- to heaping if you can. ( I had about a 1/4 cup of left over goodness) Cover with second crust and pinch down sides. Cut multiple slits in top to vent. This pie can then be stored in the fridge or baked immediately.



Preheat oven to 425



Bake for 30-40 min or until crust is golden brown and insides are nice and bubbly. If crust darkens too quickly, you can cover with foil. If the bubbliness gets out of control, place foil or a cookie sheet underneath pie tin to protect your oven. Allow to cool 10 minutes before serving then call your fatty, I mean husband, to dinner for some home cooked comfort food.

Moments of panic.

I've been blessed with two children that sleep VERY well. Most nights, Gigi is in bed by 9:30 with a "thank you, mommy" and "lub you too, mommy." I typically don't hear a peep from her until after 8am. Gabe is a little harder to get to sleep, but he's been getting into a better routine lately. More nights than not, Mike likes him to sleep with us. You may think that's weird, but Gabe is a great cuddler and Mike is a super softy. It has happened- more than a few times- that G will go to bed in his room and Mike will go get him when he goes to bed and bring him in with us. I don't mind too bad either; it reminds me that he's still my "first baby".

Last night wasn't completely out of the norm. Mike was at work and I had a meeting to go to, so I left the kids with a sitter around 7:30. When I got home at 10, the kids were both asleep in their respective rooms. I checked on Gigi, tucked her blankets back up and closed her door- like I do every night. I peeked in on Gabe, brought him an extra blanket, left his door open a foot or so with the hall light on, then went to bed myself.

To say that I'm a morning person is a SEVERE overestimation. I am SLLOOOOWW to wake up. BUT, I do have mom ears, and thats the specific reason I close Gigi's door at night - I typically wake to her turing the handle of the door and always to her closing the door behind herself (like she usually does). When my alarm went of at 6:50, again at 7 and finally at 7:10, I pulled myself out of bed and headed down the hall to the bathroom... where I stopped in my tracks and stared at Gigi's open bedroom door.

Now, at this time in the morning, it takes a lot of effort to get my wheels turning and I start playing scenarios out in my head:

Think, Carly, what time is it? It's 7 am... is anyone awake in the house? No, it's quiet.... Well, maybe Mike checked on her when he got home from work. That has to be it... why didn't he close the door? Oh well, go check on her again and close the door- if you are real quiet, she won't wake up and you can still go for your run... this is actually a good thing because that jacket I wanted to wear is in her closet... is she even?...uhhh... where the hell is she? She's not in her bed... at all!

Panic sets in, I look in Gabe's room- not totally unusual for him- he's sleeping sideways on his bed, feet hanging over the edge. I run into our room and around to Mike's side of the bed in case she fell asleep on the floor or something... I yell to Mike, "Gigi is not in her crib!" He jumps up and we start searching.

The first thing I do is run downstairs and make sure the front and back doors are still locked. Then I check the pantry because, well, to be honest, she's a total fatty and if she was gonna HIDE somewhere... well, the pantry would be her go-to spot. She's not in there, or in the garage, either of the bathrooms...

Mike calls down to me, finally, that he found her. She had crawled in bed with Gabe and was completely cuddled up to him and under his blankets. While Mike's busy oohing and ahhing about how cute they are and how sweet it is that they love each other so much, I'm busy trying to swallow my heart that made it's way into my throat.

NOW, I can think how cute and sweet it is that my kids wanted to cuddle. Now. It took a good 4 miles of hard running to get that stress out. Phew.

Spring Special

New Clients, pay attention! I have a great new special for April and May! And, to my AWESOME existing clients? Pass it on and the referral rewards still add up for you!

I promise, my next post will be of my babies.... or maybe a new recipe, however I would need to actually COOK for that one...

Salon Update

I've been back at the salon now for a little over a month. Things have been going great; I feel right at home and would like to thank all my new and existing clients for coming down to support me. I'm truly so lucky to enjoy what I do and to get such satisfaction from the creative outlet- everyday is new.

I can't believe how quickly I BLEW through my gift bags! Oh my goodness! I also donated a gift basket to the Fife Booster Club Auction including a $150.00 gift certificate, an ADORABLE mini flat-iron and a handful of styling products for the event yesterday. I am still running all the other promotions:

$20 off COUPON

Referral Rewards- $10 for EVERY person you refer.

(side note, the referral rewards are good for $10 off for them, too...but it can't be used with the $20 off coupon. YOU still get credit, but they forfeit theirs if they bring in the other coupon too.)

Punch Cards- 7 services and receive your 8th haircut FREE

I'm also updating my client data base. I'm in need of home addresses, email, and birthdays. I will have different promotions both through the mail and email as well as birthday specials!

I often feel like my blog is written solely as an online journal and that nobody really reads this... so, if anyone actually does read this, PLEASE, pass the word on! I can't thank you enough!

Appointments can be scheduled in many ways: email me at cecrossley@gmail.com, call the salon at 253.891.1301, or by text/call to my cell 253.347.0390

And, because this is a question I get asked constantly, Here is a current price list

NOOOOOO!

It's a sad day in my world. My baby reminds me daily that she is growing up and this weekend proved to be a BIG step into big girl land. Gigi has learned how to get out of her crib!!!

NOOOOOO!

When I call Gianna my "good child," it's not that Gabe is a "bad child" (... all the time) it's just that Gigi is a really EASY baby. You ask her to go to bed, she says, "ok." You lay her down and tell her goodnight, she says "thank you, lub you." Seriously, she's an angel.

Usually after naps, I hear my little chipmunk calling for me, "mommmmy, peas? mommmmmy, help me?"-My little dollbaby. However, on Saturday, Gabe and I were down stairs when I heard a door click. In our busy house, I don't usually pay much attention to this, there are far to many people to be concerned about that. A few seconds later, however, I see my little girl appear on the landing of the stairs, holding her baby. She holds up her arms and proclaims, " Ta Daaa!" I kid you not. Ta frickin' Da.

My reaction was more like, "Oh no."

She's been pretty good with her new found skill, using it whenever she wakes up. She did get out one time each before both nap time and bed time. Sigh. We'll see how it goes.

My only consolidation is that Gigi, almost 21 months old (!!!!), is almost 6 months older than my monkey man Gabe was when he started crawling out of his crib, at 15 months.

It's a sad day when your baby is no longer a baby. I think I need a new one.

baby Gigi, 9 mo old

Pretty girl, 2/2010 20 mo

Fun times with growing babies....

Anyone who knows Mike and I know that our number one parenting goal is teaching good manners. Both children can be heard saying "Please" and "thank you" or "your welcome" (almost) always without provocation. We work VERY hard with this subject and are most often rewarded by them doing it with strangers, too. (Which most parents of little kids know, they never seem to "perform" when we really want them to.)

Our most recent step in the manners division is to reply "yes, ma'am" or "yes, sir" even when they don't particularly want to say so. This is a difficult concept to explain to a three year old, but he IS getting it... slowly.

However, last night, I told Gabe it was bedtime and, like everynight, he didn't want to go... He said (even better because he always refers to himself in the third person), "Gabey don't want to go night-night! Gabey watch TV!" To which, I replied, "No, buddy, sorry but it's time for bed." Then G said, "No mom, you say 'yes man!'" It took me a second to realize what he was implying, but he wanted me to say "yes, ma'am" to his demand to stay up. I had to try to explain that it doesn't quite work like that, but I give him credit for trying.

This is just a cute little snippet from my blissful car ride the other day. What's really funny? Mike sleeps the exact same way.

cheeseballs

I love my silly babies.

iHeart Stacy.

This is just a taste of the Valentine's pics that the Fab-U-Lous Stacy took for us.

BIG THINGS!!

This has been a long time coming; I have FINALLY made a decision to go back to a salon. I've been thinking about this seriously for over a year now, and the time is finally right for me to do it. Mike and I are so lucky to be in the position we are, and I very blessed to be able to make this choice out of want instead of need. I will only be working part time, Tuesday, Wednesday and every other Saturday to start, but I think it will be really good for me.

You see, I LOVE me kids, but sometimes... day after day... week after week... let's just say, I've earned my grey hairs. Fortunately, Mike and I are in the position for me to be able to work WITHOUT NEEDING DAYCARE! Yay for daddy time! I don't know if he really knows what he's getting himself into, but he offered!

I am also thrilled that I have kept a good relationship with my former salon-mates and will be rejoining them in their new (new to me) location in downtown Sumner. My first day will be Tuesday, February 16th. To kick things off, I'm going to be doing some BIG things.

First of all:



That's right, $20 off your next service! Simply print and bring in! But that's not all.... (enter cheeseball announcer voice here)

The FIRST 25 CLIENTS will ALSO receive a gift bag with over $20 worth goodies including lip gloss and treats!

AND, there's still more... Refer a new customer, either by passing on the coupon or simply sending them in with your name, and YOU will get an ADDITIONAL $10 OFF! These can be added up and saved or used whenever you like!

Last, but not least, I am also starting a punch card program.... 7 services and get a haircut free! Appointments can be scheduled either through the salon starting February 8th or through me, as soon as you'd like. I get a creepy feeling blasting my cell number over the internet, but email me or send me your email and we can go from there.

cecrossley@gmail.com

A little note to all my loyal "in home" customers over the past few years... I WILL continue to do the occasional house call, so don't be afraid to ask if that's what you prefer!! I have really loved the simplicity of my work for the past few years, and I never want anyone to forget that! Thank you so much for supporting me!

And.. a little shout out to my favorite photog in the world, The incredible Stacy Jacobsen is opening a new STUDIO also in down town Sumner. She's having a little party on Saturday to celebrate!

Pretty, Pretty Princey

Not to be out done, Princess Gianna needed her own post!

G to the B

My handsome boy is getting to be SO GROWN UP!!! He was cheesin' for me today! "Mommy, take my picture? Gabey smile for you?" He's such a good lookin' kid! I tell him- almost daily- that if he ever does anything to that perfect nose that I won't be a happy mommy. (G to the B is the evolution from "Gabey Baby" to "G.B." to finally "G to the B"...)

Turkey Meatballs

Over the last few months, I have taken a preference to cooking with ground turkey over ground beef, especially in the instance of meatballs or meatloaf. I've become partial to both the flavor and the leanness of the turkey. I love making meatballs as an appetizer for parties served both warm and cold or for sandwiches and pastas. I've made several variations of these, usually determined by what I have in the house at that given moment, and what I love is that they are so easy and always turn out delicious! Fun ingredients such as pine nuts and sun-dried tomatoes are great for a unique flavor, but since we've been counting calories, I decided to keep these fairly simple...

Ingredients:

1 package (1.25 lbs.) Jennie-O Ground Turkey Breast, thawed (I feel like I should get paid for all the shout outs I give, but they are consistently lower in calories than other brands)

1/2 cup grated carrots

1/4 cup grated yellow or white onion

1 Tbs minced garlic

1/4 cup apple sauce

3/4 cup canned diced tomatoes

3 Tbs egg whites

3 slices Sara Lee 45 calorie per slice bread

1/2 cup turkey pepperoni, minced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp basil

1/2 tsp ground black pepper

Dehydrate your bread slices. I like to put them in my oven heated to 170-175 and forget about them for a good 30 minutes to an hour.

Combine all the ingredients into large bowl and get good and dirty! Crumble bread slices as best as possible. Use your hands to thoroughly mix.

Shape them into balls- larger than golf ball size, maybe 1.5 to 2"- and place on a cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.

Yield: 24 meatballs, at 41 calories a piece!

Try serving 2, sliced in half, with 1/4 cup of marinara, 1/4 cup part skim mozzarella, open faced on a slice of toasted 45 calorie bread and you have a yummy meal for only 237 calories!

Wow. 2009, where did you go?

Christmas was awesome this year; my husband spoiled me and my kids are amazing... all the typical blog gushing. We had an amazing season- a great end to a great year, with the exception of the very untimely and unexpected passing of my wonderful sister in law, Shelby's, mom this last week. My heart goes out to Shelby, my brother, Sam, and all the the Ratto family.

This next year promises to bring lots of excitement. Aside from the everyday miracles in watching my own children grow, the coming year has blessings around every turn. Gabe and Gigi are expecting their first AND second cousin this April. Two of Mike's sisters, Cassi (expecting a boy) and Kelsie (expecting a girl) are due within two days of each other. It's an exciting and emotional time for the whole family. There are also the weddings of my TWO best friends this year. Mariah and Travis are getting hitched in May, and Jen is eagerly awaiting the return home of her husband, Justin, so they can have their wedding ceremony in November.

On the down side, I'm fat. I need to get my chubby butt in good shape for all these weddings I'm in. I hate being out of shape. I feel better when I exercise and my clothes fit... but I REALLY HATE making new years resolutions. They never mean anything to people... most people quit the first day and the rest within the first month. Regardless, I WILL start exercising. My wonderful husband bought me the most wonderful gift ever: a new stroller! I've needed and wanted one since Gigi was born, 18 months ago! But, I'm not doing this because it's a New Years Resolution, instead, because I've always loved to walk and run... I just took a 6 month break, now I'm back, and, hopefully, my back will be back.... or something like that...

Holiday Goodness

I'm not a very big drinker, and I'm definitely not a RUM drinker, so when Mike asked me to make Hot Buttered Rums for our Christmas party, I figured I wouldn't even taste them. I found a recipe online and it got great reviews, so what do I do? I change it. I did try it as it was called for, but I REALLY liked how mine turned out. (You make a mix that goes in the fridge or freezer then you mix it with the alcohol later.) They were the hit of the party and then Mike asked me to make a ginormous batch for the bar and I had people who had sworn their recipe was the best ever ask for MINE. They said it was their new favorite! So, since I've taken to putting different recipes to my blog, I thought I'd add this one, too! I forgot to mention, I ALSO made this drink with vanilla vodka and that was more my style, but I don't know what you'd call that... Hot Buttered Vanilla Vodka...??? It doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

Anyway.

AMAZING HOT BUTTERED RUM

1 stick unsalted butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1 tsp molasses

1 1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp (plus a pinch!) of ground nutmeg

pinch of ground cloves

pinch of salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup vanilla ice cream (softened)

Dark Rum (or Vanilla Vodka)

Hot water

Whipped cream or Cool Whip (optional)

Cream together softened butter, sugars an molasses. Add in Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves, Vanilla and Salt. Beat until well mixed. Add softened ice cream (too cold and it hardens your butter!) Beat well and then store in fridge until set.

In an 8 oz glass:

Put one heaping ice cream scoop worth of mix into glass. Add 2 oz of rum. Boil your water and remove from heat to slightly cool. Pour very hot water into glass and fill. Stir until melted. Top with whipped cream or Cool Whip and a sprinkle of nutmeg. You could also garnish with cinnamon sticks!

yield approx 6-8 drinks

Monkey and Banana Cookies

A great and inexpensive party favor, I've done sugar cookie treat bags for the past two years on Gabe's birthday. This year, I had a little left over dough, so I thought I'd share how I did it.

Sugar Cookies

3/4 cup shortening

1 cup white sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (for easter cookies, I use 1 tsp lemon extract!)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups flour

Thoroughly mix shortening, sugar, eggs and flavoring. Blend in baking powder, salt and flour.

Cover and chill for at least one hour... or overnight.

Heat oven to 400 degrees.

roll dough 3/8" thick (1/4 " if using cookie cutters) I just started using powdered sugar in the place of flour to powder my work surface. It doesn't keep things as "sticky-free" but it does keep the dough from getting that pasty taste it can get after multiple rolls with flour.

I DO NOT have any fancy baking equipment. To make both cookies, I used a large glass (which doubled as my rolling pin), a medium glass and the top to a sprinkles container.

Cut your face shape out with medium sized glass. After cutting my medium circles and placing them on my ungreased cookie sheet, I used the perimeter of a circle as my guide for cutting the ears out. Using the round top to my sprinkles, I cut two 3/4 circles for each head.

Fit them onto the head. 10 and 2 works well, higher and you get mickey mouse...

This picture doesn't do much justice, but you then "score" the pieces together. To do that, using a toothpick or another fine, sharp impliment, scratch fine lines from one piece to the other. I will usually pat down the area and then score again.

To make the banana shape, I made a full circle with the large glass then cut into that with the medium to make a crescent moon shape. Consider making your "moon" slightly more narrow than your desired final result because you cookie will grow :)
When I transfer onto the cookie sheet, I bend the shape into a more obtuse angle and then cut the points off either end.
Icing for sugar cookies is all about consistancy. Too thin and it becomes transparent and then crunchy when dry, too thick and it gets dry and powdery looking and doesn't stick well (especially important when you are putting as many sprinkles on as these cookies have)

I like to use:

1/2 stick butter (1/4 cup) softened

3-4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

4-6 Tbs milk

mix together with beaters adding sugar gradually and one Tbs. of milk at a time. This seems anal, but consistency is so big to me, I alway will take the time. Your icing should be light and fluffy but have a slight satiny look to it.

To make the flesh color, I tint the white frosting with cocoa powder. It does give it a slight chocolate flavor, but it is very light. Frost the whole cookie with this color.

Using construction paper, draw a circle close to the size of the head and then draw the shape of the face. Also, cut two gum drop shaped pieces of equal size to fit in either ear. Cut these out and poke a hole in them with a tooth pick.

Fit these pieces onto the cookie being careful not to push the toothpicks too deep into the ears. If they happen to crack, use some of your icing to "glue" them back together. It really does work (trust me, it happened a few times!)

Sprinkle generously, lightly pressing into the exposed frosting. Remove the patterns and use a toothpick to cover the toothpick holes and move any loose sprinkles.

Use more sprinkles for the nose and two white chocolate chips for the eyes- upside down and pushed in.

I used more frosting, darkened to a rich brown with lots of cocoa powder and additional help from red, blue and green food coloring. It should end up being about the color of Hershey's chocolate. Put into a baggie with a tiny bit cut off the corner, I used this for the piping... dots on the eyes, the mouth and the outlining on the banana.

Allow to dry for 24 hours (preferably out of the eyesight of 3 year olds.) The less handling the better as the sprinkles can become loose.

Vanilla Mini Cupcakes...

I LOVE CUPCAKES and am constantly trying new recipes...I really like how these turned out, light, but not too crumbly, sweet but subtle and the tops have a nice, light crisp to them. I, also, really liked these in the mini size for the party. They tiny size totally justified having two...or three...

Vanilla Mini Cupcakes

Here is the yummy cupcake recipe I used...

Makes approx. 4 dozen mini (about 2 dozen regular)

1½ sticks butter (softened)
1¾ cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 1/2 tsps vanilla
½ tsp salt
2½ tsps baking powder
2½ cups flour
1¼ cups milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Line mini-muffin tins with paper liner

In a large bowl: cream together butter and sugar. Add in eggs, vanilla, salt and baking powder- beat well. Add in flour in three batches alternating with milk. Mix until very smooth.

Fill paper liners to the top, but not overflowing for the best size. Bake for 13-16 min until the edge of the tops are light golden brown and toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.

Cool on rack completely, at least 30 min to an hour. (If they are still warm, your frosting can melt!)

Delicious Cream Cheese Frosting:

This is my favorite frosting... more flavor than buttercream and subtler than most cream cheese...

1 stick butter

4 oz cream cheese (half package)

1 1/2 tsps vanilla

4-6cups powdered sugar

approx. 1/4 cup milk

Cream together softened but not warm butter and cream cheese. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and one tablespoon of milk at a time until desired sweetness and consistency. Frosting should be very thick but smooth. For this particular cupcake, I prefer a sweeter flavor to a strong cream cheese, so I tend to add more sugar. It's easier to thin the frosting while keeping your desired flavor than to thicken it up without making it too sweet so I ALWAYS add milk in slowly and sparingly.

(For a more "crystally" finish to your frosting, you can add Bakers Sugar which is a VERY fine granulated sugar. There is a bit more of a texture, but it's not grainy like regular sugar. You will still need to use powdered sugar.)

Cupcake decorating for the cheap... I put my frosting (typically colored with food coloring) into a plastic baggie and trim off a corner. I start on the outer rim and swirl my way to the inside.

Count To Three

Yesterday, we celebrated Gabe's birthday. We had friends and family over for a pasta feed. I LOVE when I get an excuse to cook for people, because otherwise, I rarely do it.

Gabe was well behaved and Gigi stole the spotlight, like normal. He got some great presents: clothes, a few toys (including a new Woody, RC from Toy Story, a drawing board, and some books), some movies and even a sled! And, Gabe, the master of enthusiasm, said things like, "Oh my gooooodness! Thank You!" and "So cool!" for every gift.

Thank you so much to everyone who came out to celebrate!

I took a few pictures before the party started, but didn't pick my camera up again the rest of the time.... ooops.

(watching the snow fall.... "come make 'snose'man, daddy!")

(treat table)

(monkey and banana cookie party favors)

(the mini cupcakes were a hit! I tried a new recipe and loved how they turned out... they were moist and soft in the middle with a slight crisp to the tops! YUM!)

We've been working on teaching Gabe how to answer basic questions... What's your name? How old are you? etc... He's doing so well! He sticks out his hand and says "My name is Gabey!" (we are working on, "it's nice to meet you"). When we ask how old he is, he says, "count to three!" It's too cute to correct.

Keeping the season alive...

I've never really seen Christmas through the eyes of a child... until now... and, wow, how amazing it really is. I have never enjoyed the season as much as I do right now.

For the first time, Gabe is really into Christmas. I mean, REALLY INTO CHRISTMAS. It has been such a joy. We watch Christmas movies on a loop. "The doggy movie" ("The Grinch" (he loves Max)), "The Choo Choo Movie" ("Polar Express"), "Frosty," "Santa"....the list goes on.

(They NEEDED "tickets" for the "Choo Choo Movie")

Gabe also LOVES our trees. He takes EVERY SINGLE PERSON who comes in to see them. "Come see Christmas! Come on! Christmas, this way..." He is so awesome.

(We came upstairs to find Gabe asleep here...)

(looking facing through the railings....)

(...right at our Christmas tree)

Mike and I have started taking the kids "Christmas Lighting," as well. We bundle the kids up, grab some cocoa, drive around town and point at houses. The kids' enthusiasm levels NEVER drop. 30 minutes later, Gigi is still exclaiming, "WOOOOW! PRETTY! COOL! YELLOW! BLUE!" And, Gabe is squealing, "LOOK, MOM! CHRISTMAS! SEE CHRISTMAS?! SEE SANTA?! MORE CHRISTMAS, MOM!" It's an absolute blast.

I hope every year is this exciting.

This is just an audio clip, but you get the idea.

Christmas preview!

It's safe to guess, my parents don't know about this blog. So, with that, I am so excited to post part of their Christmas presents! Last weekend, the absolutely fabulous Stacy Jacobsen met up with us to take some pics of the kids! Mike and I even snuck in for a few- the first time since we got married 4 and a half years ago! As always, I am in awe of her amazing work! Thanks, Stace!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

It'a the MOST wonderful time of the year....

Christmas has hit at the Crossley house! We made our annual trip to the tree farm this year the day after Thanksgiving. The drive to Belfair is SO worth the selection. Mike took the usual hour to find the first tree. And, yes, I said first... "We" decided that we needed TWO trees this year.

(dancing to the Christmas music piped around the farm)

(Sweet babies, Gabe almost 3- Gigi almost 18mo)

(pretty girl)

(mountain man)

(carring tree #1 back)

(G Helping with my turn on tree #2)

(as my dad (classy man) would say, our Fam Damnly)

(Yeah, that's a big tree)

(The "small" tree in the living room)

(The big tree fills our dining room.... it's over 13ft if you were wondering.)

The absolute best part of the trees? Each morning since we've put them up, when Gabe and I go to get Gigi in the morning, he tells her, Come see Christmas, Gigi!!" We are SOOO STOKED about how excited the kids are this year!