mahi = chicken = mahi

on the way home we stopped by disney to hang with some dear friends who have been in japan for the last few years. it was great to be able to catch up and just hang out!

we even came away with free dessert and sombrero after a hilarious dinner mix-up. can't beat that!

hang time in GA

conference in georgia (hugh) = vacation (lauren)

but before you go feeling sorry for hugh, the week wasn't all work. it was kind of a nice break for us from the hectics of our normal week. the conference also happened to be in the city he used to live in, so we both got to catch up with great friends...

and do a little working out on the wii...


and take a little tour of WWII europe...


hugh also helped out with a little problem they were having with a pesky leftover bomb

just kidding :)

'beard month' is over

but so you guys can be in on the experience,
here are some photos ...

come on baby bosch

a few pics from the baby shower we hosted this past weekend...

pie

i shared with you my family tradition of making hot cross buns at easter... but neglected to share our christmas counterpart- mince pies. yum.

some background: a mince pie is a british sweet pastry, traditionally eaten during the christmas and new year period. they are mini-pies made of a flaky pastry and filled with mincemeat - a preserve typically containing apple and dried fruits like raisins and sultanas.

in england (and of course south africa), mince pies are considered father christmas' (santa to the rest of you) favorite food. therefore, instead of cookies by the fireplace, children leave a couple of mince pies out on christmas eve.

i love these tasty things... but i love even more the tradition that surrounds it, sharing it both with others around the world and with my wonderful family!

mince pie trivia: in the 17th century, oliver cronwell made the eating of mince pies on christmas day illegal (this was voted the fourth "most ridiculous britist law" in a pretty funny 2007 poll)

sic 'em

this is random, but i must say- i agree!


wednesday night's basketball game between No. 4-ranked Lady Bears and No. 2 Oklahoma...




"The former President told the Associated Press, 'This is our first outing since I left the presidency and I can’t think of a better place.'"





*Thanks to the Baylor Proud blog for the story and pics : )

dress up

cupcakes

a friend of mine gave a lesson on the art of cupcake decorating today. it was seriously fun stuff.


some of my fellow cupcake decorators...



a sample of our work...


thanks sara!

way to go kirsten!

my little sister is a police officer now!

we are SO SO proud of you kirst!


you've worked so hard and it's obvious. and folks, just to brag a little, she's been top dog in so many of the courses and scenarios, impressing everyone. she's even one of the team leaders and so has had lots of additional responsibility throughout. she seriously rocks!

we love you so much and wish that we were there!

music

this girl went to baylor, so i heard about her and her music through friends... i can't stop listening to it!


check out her website. you can listen to her stuff there as well as on iTunes:

erin mccarley

we've figured it out!

about a year ago we bought this telescope from a friend. it's a sweet telescope, but we have never been able to actually see anything out of it. while my dad was here for christmas he started looking at it and ta-da!

i wont go into the details of how idiotic we were before. let me just say that the obvious 'how to' is wrong.

are you surprised?

christmas

very excited about her homemade pot holders

shake, shake, shake. "i just KNOW it's hawaiian sand! i KNOW it is! I KNOW it's hawaiian sand"
(actually lip gloss)
then later, "oh, nothing in this is moving around making a noise, it's just my hair hitting the container"

cousins


an after christmas sail.
right before a "hugh! where are you going!? that way!"


beautiful weather!

the turkey saga

a christmas turkey. in photos.

this year we had the opportunity to get a turkey from a local organic co-op and decided to make it for christmas dinner... our first turkey.

hugh knew that i wasn't excited about getting into the raw turkey's business and took over the initial handling and preparations. he quickly decided that he wanted to try and do all the prep- and i was happy to say okay!

hugh and dad rigging the thing to brine in the fridge...



the dressed bird...


done!


delicious! Sr, you'd be proud.

carols and foosball

the winning red team

the nutcracker

____________________________________________________________________

with our ballerina friend, dewdrop. aka marissa.

christmas sweaters and a cookie exchange