Best Of...2011

The week between Christmas and New Years is a funny thing. It flies, right? Between baby Jesus and resolutions...there is so much to contemplate!

Blakely's grandparents are here (Tim's parents) and we are enjoying all that the island offers with wonderful company!

I'm stealing moments here and there to pray and contemplate the new year. Two more days and we usher in 2012...whether we're ready or not.

Since I love all fresh starts, I'm a sucker for resolutions. Yep, I make them. Every year. Sometimes the same resolutions carry over each year, well most of the time. But, hey, it's still a new beginning and I can't pass that up.

My list is still undecided, but I'll share soon. Instead, I want to embrace 2011 for a minute. Here is our family "best of" list for the year.

{you may have read this already}

Best Vacation: Chicago and NY (for Tim and Katie)—To the grandparents (for B)

Best 1^st First Birthday: Blakey’s mainland luau

Best Milestone Birthday: Katie’s 30^th (birthday Olympics)

Best Company: All of them! (we love our visitors—mahalo)

Best Movie: Soul Surfer

Best Accomplishment: Blakely learning to walk, talk, and surf (well, close to surf)

Best Unexpected Success: The papayas on Tim’s trees

Best First Try: bathroom renovations DIY

Best Musical Artist: Amy Grant (every year)

Best Amateur Surf Comp: 3^rd annual Tandemonium (we’re getting better)

Best Actual Surf Comp: Billabong Pipeline Pro

Best Work Milestone: Tim’s five years with Chevron

Best Gratitude: Thanking God for B’s continual development in spite of her congenital hypothyroidism

Best News: Baby girl #2 coming in May

Best Reason to Celebrate: John 3:16 (Jesus Christ)

Do you have a list of "bests?" Although not every day is a great day, it does help to focus on the high points before the year closes out. 

 Enjoy your last couple days of the year, my friends!

Failed Family (Xmas) Pics!

Merry Christmas Eve to you and yours!

Here is the snapshot of this moment:

My inlaws soaking in some sun in the front yard
My baby stirring in her crib
My husband playing a {silly} "new" game on his phone
Two pots of soup simmering on my stove
Newly constructed gingerbread house on my table
Well, that's about the gist of it. Here I am... a few minutes to journal some memories and share some love with you all.

You know, I thought I had a photogenic, happy-to-smile-for-the-camera little girl. Well, until she turned two a few months early. :) The one day that I had the right slice of time and someone to man my camera (Thanks, Alicia), B turned off the camera charm. Completely. Stinker. She was happy alright. Spirits were high. But, a Christmas picture?...not on her list.

For fun, here are the failed attempts. Have you been there? Tried and tried for the right shot and ultimately didn't get it? Seriously, I even curled my hair for these fam photos. Oh well, at least I still think she's pretty cute. Chalk it up to "funny" memories. There's always next year. By then, I can most likely communicate a bribe!

When I Was 8 {and Russian Teacakes}

The house smelled like chocolate and cinnamon. I hurriedly flung the front door open and slid around the corner and shrugged off my Jansport.

Mom, we're home! I cried out excitedly.

Before she could leave the kitchen for a home-from-school kiss, I had already folded my lanky body into the corner between the boxy speaker and the record player.

I lifted the needle and replaced the current record with Amy Grant's Tender Tennessee Christmas. I started with song #4. The intro to Emmanuel made my entire 8-year-old body feel like Christmas all over!

Never mind that it was just three in the afternoon. Our Sunnyvale house was a Christmas wonderland! The tree was lit up, cookies were fresh, Amy Grant cooed, and hot cocoa was on its way. Christmas couldn't have been more magical.

Now that I'm 30 (that came fast), have my own home, my own lit up tree in broad daylight, and my own little girl, Christmas seems just as magical. Probably because Amy Grant's Tender Tennessee Christmas is still at the top of the play list. ;) And, amidst the hectic-ness of the season, I still make time to bake rich and aromatic cookies for anyone who comes this way!

I baked another round of my favorite Candy Cane Russian Teacakes yesterday. This time I snapped a few pics and thought I'd share the love cyber-ly. Since I can't offer you all a cookie, here's a very simple recipe! So simple and common, I'm almost embarrassed to share it! ;) Just five ingredients. Try it out, play some Amy, and enjoy your moment!

Candy Cane Russian Teacakes

1 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons powdered sugar
2 cups flour
1 cup crushed candy canes (or chopped walnuts)
1/3 cup (or more) reserve powdered sugar for coating

Bake for 12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Here's the run-down!

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Crush your candy canes (I suggest using a rolling pin, but use it more like a hammer and less like its intended use.)

3. Cream butter and vanilla till smooth
--it helps to let the butter soften, but I usually forget to do that. --recipe works fine with margarine too.

It may seem a bit lumpy, but since I'm not a perfectionist I just move on to the next step and the bumps and lumps work themselves out! ;)

4. Combine sugar and flour and blend into mix
--I just dump it in and let my Kitchen Aid do the work on a low speed.

This part takes a few minutes and I eventually help the flour residue on the sides and bottom to mix with the rest.

5. Mix in crushed candy canes (or chopped walnuts) 
--again, the mixer does it for me. This recipe is also good with macadamia nuts!

6. Shape into 1 inch balls
--I grease my cookie trays and prep my extra dough. In the picture below, the uncooked balls are on the plate and the cooked ones are on the sheet.

7. Bake for 12 minutes at 350
--I use two cookie sheets and set my timer for 6 minutes. Then I swap the trays in the oven (from top to bottom) and cook the remaining 6 minutes. If my balls are on the big side, I may add a minute, but don't bake too long. They'll look a little "uncooked" -- and that's okay!

8. When cool, roll in reserve powdered sugar

Now! Enjoy! It's super easy to double, triple, etc... this recipe! It makes for easy home baked gifts for neighbors and friends!

p.s. I'd be remiss if I didn't say that the real reason Christmas remains so magical for me is because of the very real celebration that Jesus Christ was born as a human baby and died on the cross 30 years later to give us everlasting life! Of course, Amy Grant does add to the magic, too!

Mele Kalikimaka! I'll trade you some sun for some clouds today! xoxo

It's a Wrap: Beloved Guests

Christmas is a week away! It comes quicker every year!

We are staying on island this year. In just a few days, Tim's parents fly in for the holidays. Yay!

At the moment, it's silent in my living room. I'm soaking it in.

Although, I'll always choose a house full of loved ones over a quiet, sunny afternoon alone. Don't get me wrong, I crave the down-time, it's just that I also adore hosting family and friends!

Andy and Alicia left us for a week on Kona and are back home in Yelm. How we miss the NW right about now! Just this morning we officially said farewell to our dear island family Chris and Amber. Lucky for us, we had them (and baby Luke) at our house for a bonus few days! We are especially grateful for the time we have with family and friends at this time of year!

I have a few cute pics to share today, but this week I plan to share a favorite (easy) Christmas cookie recipe and some failed family pics... just for fun!

Fortunately for me and Tim, Blakely doesn't get tired of the beach (which is close and free). Her new favorite beach activity? Sand boogie boarding! Especially with her cousin, Sawyer!

Mele Kalikimaka! Enjoy a gingerbread latte and warm coat for me! xoxo

Blakely and Sawyer take the Waves

Pine Trees.

If you come visit us here, we will go!

It's not really called Pine Trees, but hey...once you name a place, that's it.

Today we took the cousins surfin'.

While I can't complain about the white sand and blue water, I'll be honest... I could go for some icy car windows and an oversized sweater. Thanks to Andy and Alicia, we now have a real pine tree Christmas wreath on our door. Tis the season! Mele Kalikimaka.

Pretzel Jello Link and Cousins

Aloha!

I've been MIA! My ohana and I had a lovely Hawaiian Thanksgiving. While we greatly missed the rest of our family on the mainland, we did have Andy, Alicia, and baby Sawyer with us (and we still have them!!!).

I hope you are so full of leftover turkey sandwiches and your favorite Thanksgiving dishes! I know I am. The pretzels in my pretzel jello are finally getting soggy, but the salty sweet leftovers still melt in my mouth.

I actually think I like the leftover turkey on my turkey sandwich a few days later better than I do on Thanksgiving day! What about you?

Okay! I only have a handful of minutes!

Alicia snapped this cousin love from the front seat -- well, they're finding their vibe anyway!

Also, click here for a blog post from my dear friend and owner of Pemberly Bake Shoppe, Holly! She keeps up an amazing cooking blog with life stories! She blogged about pretzel jello today! I'm so honored! Enjoy! Her blog posts are always worth the read and her recipes are inspiring and delicious!

LOVE!!!!

11*11*11

Today comes around only once in a 100 years!

Kind of fun!
It's also Veteran's Day and I'm grateful for all who have served and continue to serve our country!
In honor of the numbers aligning, here are 11 current reasons for choosing joy my life.

Numero Ono: My almost 20-month-old rocks at independent play. Sometimes I feel badly that I'm not always engaging her, but I'm oh-so-grateful for the moments she gives me to work or rest. I just snapped this pic of her this morning on my cell phone.

Secondly: My love and I were just in the city that doesn't sleep. And little sleep we did get. It was such a blessing to explore a couple vibrant far-away cities!

Number Three: Our lilikoi are on fire this year! I can't wait for lilikoi pancakes, lilikoi yogurt, lilikoi butter, you get the idea...

Foursies: My hubby makes me coffee every day. I go to sleep excited to wake up and drink a cup (or two or three) of hot coffee!

Cinco: Our mini church (aka: bible study) is pretty much the goofiest and most loving group of people we could meet with weekly! Here are the girls Halloween weekend--pre karaoke as our singer selves!

The Sixth: In just a week-and-a-half, this 13-month-old ham is coming to stay with us! And he's bringing his parents along. We're stoked. :) BTW--Sawyer's dad is in the Air Force and I couldn't be more proud of my brother's heart for our country. Happy Veteran's Day, Andy!

Sevens: Thanks to Timber we have fresh, home-grown papaya a couple times a week! Yum!

Numero Ocho: I've been introduced to Essie nail polish and re-inspired to have pretty nails! The color goes on smoothly and doesn't chip for at least a week! I love it!

{silverlipsbeauty.com}

Niner: My husband rocked my skinny jeans (better than I can) and dressed up as Justin Bieber for Halloween. Oh, I love him! (I was 90s Gwen Steffani).

Tenth: My casa. My hale. I love my home. This is where I find my family. It may be small, but hey...it's easy to clean and I love having all my favorite people smooshed into one room! Cozy!

Eleven: While I love the little things that bring me smiles, I am by far most grateful for God's love! Feeling how deeply I love my daughter, reminds me that I understand just a fraction of how much our Jesus loves us, His children. I'm honored today that God has put a call of service in the hearts of so many. Happy Veteran's Day!

{We Heart It}

Friends and Family, I hope you feel covered by joy today, too! Love on a service member today if you can! Let's keep them all in our prayers!