Well... It's been a while since I've updated! I guess I've been kept busy with Emily being home. Sadly, however, Emily has gone back to school. So the past few days I've been lamenting the fact that she's gone. Tonight I'm making rice pudding to send with Asa in his lunches. I think it will be a nice treat!

Since I've written last Emily and I have attempted some new creations! We tried making sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, as well as veggie lo mein. We had chinese for my dad's bday and from the way he heaped seconds on his plate I think we could all assume he loved our creations! We had a blast and were thrilled to find new recipes that taste sooo delicious!

I received a cake decorating set for Christmas from mom and dad. I had a blast making Emily's birthday cake! She likes funky modern things so I thought a black and white cake was perfect for her. It was a fun confetti cake with a little layer of raspberry filling.

The weekend before Emily's birthday we took a trip to NYC with our friends, the Yoder boys, from NC. They had never been to the city before so we were able to see lots of the typical NYC sights. We also went ice skating in Bryant Park on friday night. That was something new for us, we had a blast!

Since then I haven't been up to much... working at the PO... making bread... and trying out other recipes. I have finally mastered the frappachino!!!! SOOOO amazing! Emily and I enjoy treating ourselves to them once in a while!

Here's a drawing I just started working on... it's a close up of some of my flowers from the wedding... I was bored :)

NEW yummy rolls

These are some new Cream Cheese, Raspberry, cinnamon rolls that I made! I made three pans to take up to Lake Placid with us this weekend and then I made a little pan for us to test tonight! YUMMY!

This is one of my favorite pictures from Christmas morning!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

My Family went to Florida for Christmas so here are some pictures to show them the beautiful winter wonderland they're missing!

Finished Product!

WELL after having our tree for about a week we finally finished all the decorations!

Tis the season....

Our first Christmas is a very exciting time! I have been wanting a Christmas tree for a few weeks now and last night Asa came home from work we ate dinner and we decided to head out on our great adventure! WE drove down to my grandparents house and up on their hill, in the dark, we found out tree! It was perfect out... the stars were shining and it wasn't cold at all! Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa for the tree! Here are the pictures of our amazing night! We







WE kind of forgot a saw... somehow! So Asa had an old dull hatchet and a blade that you put IN a saw that he ended up using! It was pretty amazing how fast he chopped it down!


Putting the tree on top of the car This is the amazing tree skirt that my Grandma made for me!


The interesting thing about this tree is that it was actually two trees grown into one! I thought it was quite fitting for our first year together <3



This pic is for you grandma!!! Thanks again Grandma and Grandpa for EVERYTHING!!!

I was just thinking tonight how good old friends are always the best... <3 and then I got thinking about my two childhood buddies who were always there for me... and how on my special day they were there for me... opening the doors and I walked down the isle to meet my husband...



Thanks guys for helping me with every whim and wish! You were my right hand men!

(photo credits go to Jenny Yoder! Thanks for the pics girl!!! They are A-MAZING!!!)

knitting

So now the deer is ofically all cut up and in the freezer. I am so happy to have it over with! It took three nights to get it completely cut up. We ended up with 18 bags of steaks and a bucket of meet that I still have to can. (Mom's going to help me with that process)

I've started knitting! My boss is an amazing knitter and so I've got a private teacher :D we're starting with a simple hat.








I took some pictures of it because Mom's in Florida with Grandma and they want to see it! I have really enjoyed it a lot. It's pretty relaxing and it's actually fun to be making something other than dishcloths!



Today Emily comes home and my Aunt Sue also arrives in town. They're going to be coming over for dinner tonight and so we should have a nice houseful. I'm hoping we can break out some games... They like dutch blitz so maybe we'll play some of that . I haven't seen them since the wedding and even then I wasn't really able to spend much time with them!


The other night I edited one of my wedding picture... Photo taken by Laura Marks