On March 17th, Everyone is Irish!

In case you haven't been keeping count, it has been 3 months, almost exactly, since my last big holiday bash. To keep the withdrawal symptoms at bay I organized a great green fest to celebrate the luck o' the Irish.

I was so excited that I planned it weeks in advance and decorated my house way early, ensuring that we were properly prepared to usher in the Celtic celebrations.

Here are some of my decorations:







As you should now know, my parties revolve around great company and good food and I take an immense amount of pleasure in being able to create a relaxing, enjoyable experience for my friends. My first big rule when I host a "formal" party (meaning I printed invitations) is that no one is asked to bring food. Please understand that it's not because I think I'm the best cook (because I know I'm not!) but because I don't want anyone to feel any stress or burden by coming. It also helps that I love cooking for my friends. With all of this in mind, I geared up for a fun Irish and green themed meal to serve.



First on the docket: Irish Country Stew. This is chock-full of yummy veggies and flavor. I wanted it to be authentically Irish, so my ingredient list included: cabbage, leeks, parsnips, carrots, onions and bacon. I was quite pleased with the results :)



I also whipped up a couple of loafs of Irish Soda Bread, using a recipe provided by an Irish grandmother. Holy cow! This was by far the most popular dish of the night with everyone requesting to take some home. :) Here is the link to the recipe on my foodie blog: Gourmet Gossips



I was excited to find this lovely imported Irish Cheddar in our grocery store. I served it with British Melba Toast and it was also gone before the end of the night.

Other green themed foods included:

Green Trifle, made with green angel food cake, white chocolate pudding, blackberries and lime flavored whipped cream

White Chocolate popcorn, dyed green, of course

Spinach Dip (a party mainstay) served with Wheat Thins



To round it all out, I made homemade root beer (our teetotalers' replacement for Guinness). I carbonated it with dry ice and it was a major hit. I sort of felt like we were a bunch of kids when everyone gathered around the kitchen to watch me put the ice in the root beer. :) Luckily, not only did it look fun but it also tasted great!



There was no need of silly games or gimmicks because we had such great company. I turned on some Celtic music in the background and everyone chatted away for hours. I have to admit that I had an absolute blast and was grateful for that so many friends came! Sadly, my brain didn't think to remind me to take pictures of everyone dressed in their green duds, but I assure you that they looked great!

After the festivities had died down, Alexander and I decided that this definitely needs to be an annual tradition, so plan for it now friends; I'm thinking March 16, 2013 sounds like a great day for a party!

The Stuff Memories Are Made Of

Alexander and I were lucky to be able to go out to Utah to say goodbye to Tyler as he leaves for his mission to South Dakota. I'm so proud of you Tyler!! We had an awesome time and it was really hard to go back to Kansas City.

Here are some of my favorite memories from the trip:

Melanie and I singing "You and I" and "Keep Your Head Up" at the top of our lungs as we drive back to Mom and Dad's.

Denise and I getting in the shortest line at Walmart and waiting longer than anyone else around us as the rednecks in front of us argue about who is paying for the iTunes card.

Bryce and Alexander swapping mission stories and discussing the grossest food they've ever eaten.

The narcissistic photo shoot at 10:00 at night with Melanie and Natalie.



Making 38 enchiladas for Sunday dinner.

Tyler to Annalee: You are addicted to caffeine!!
Alexander: It's her headache medicine.
Tyler: She's addicted! Not a day has gone by that I haven't seen her with it!
Alexander: That's 'cause you give her headaches.
(PS, I don't drink it every day, he was just making one of his silly exaggerated comments.)

Staying out till one o'clock in the morning giggling with some of my best friends from high school.

Listening to Tyler hum on the other side of the wall practically the entire night as he wrote and refined his farewell talk.

Visiting Jen and Zac's lovely home and losing track of time as we try to make Hallie giggle.

Singing "I Believe in Christ" with my sisters at Tyler's farewell and trying desperately not to cry.

Mom and I spying on Denise as she cuddled with her new boyfriend.

McKay and Alexander going on a pizza run during "the lady party" (aka Jewelry Party).

Mom asks me, "Are you going to the store? Tomorrow is hundreds day. I need 100 kisses." Dad walks in just in time to hear the last sentence, raises his eyebrows and says, "That will take me all night!"

Tyler and Alexander going out to lunch. Tyler ordered a Zesty BBQ burger with no zest or BBQ, just bacon.

Annalee: I haven't taken a picture with Tyler yet.
Tyler: Sorry you guys. Mom said no sexy pictures tonight.

Melanie tried to teach Hallie to push a certain noise button on her toy but Hallie preferred to push the button that played the music. Melanie tried over and over but Hallie ignored her. Finally, after much bugging, Hallie turned to look Melanie straight in the eyes, picked up the toy, and pushed the noise button repeatedly before then calmly looking away and pushing the music button.



Some photos from the "photo shoot":

Me, Melanie and Natalie


Natalie and Tyler, the twins


Tyler, Alexander, Melanie and Natalie


Tyler, Me, Alexander and Melanie


Tyler, Melanie and Natalie

Christmas 2011

This was the first Christmas I have spent away from my family so I was worried that I would be super homesick, but this Christmas turned out quite lovely and special despite the separation.

We started out our celebrating by hosting our 1st Annual Ugly Sweater Party and boy was it fun! I cooked up quite a spread of food including my first ever attempt at my Grandma's homemade rolls. We also had a white elephant gift exchange which was really fun! We ended up with a black elephant carving from India and a CD of the Messiah.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures at the beginning so most of us had shed our sweaters by the end. I also was unable to get a pic of one of the other couples.


Alexander


Stephanie and Jack


Kelley and John


Kathy and Joe

Christmas Eve Alexander and I were invited to spend the afternoon with our good friends at their family party. We had an enjoyable time and it was a fun diversion, although a tad awkward at times. ;)

I spent the rest of the evening tiding the house and getting everything ready for Christmas. My mother instilled in me the idea that the house must be spotless on Christmas. We were promised Santa would not come until our rooms were clean, like really clean, as in everything out from under the bed clean. So I cleaned away.


The tree Christmas Eve

I loved going to Sacrament meeting on Christmas Day. It was such a beautiful way to celebrate the birth of our Savior and I appreciated the spirit that it brought into the rest of our activities.

We were blessed to be invited to eat Christmas dinner with our dear friends who we also shared Thanksgiving with. I made garlic mashed potatoes, sauerkraut with apples and bacon, homemade rolls and a coconut cream cake. Our hosts provided a succulent ham and other delicious accouterments. We then played a lively game of Lord of the Rings Monopoly which I accidentally won. ;)

Christmas evening I skyped with my family while they did the annual singing at Grandma's house. I admit to getting a bit teary eyed as we sang our favorite Christmas songs. However, I was so grateful for the modern technology that allowed me to be a part of the joyous gathering. I love and miss my family so much that this was an incredible blessing for me.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I am sorry to see it end. Thanks to all of those wonderful people who made this holiday so special for us and kept us from feeling lonely! Love you all!






Godiva Opening her New Ball


Our Annual Christmas Ornament

Christmas Memories of Miracles

Christmas is my season. I think of it all year long and can hardly wait to change out the Thanksgiving decorations for the Christmas ornaments (poor Thanksgiving...). I adore everything about Christmas! The music, the smells (cinnamon and pine), the twinkling lights! There is nothing quite so spectacular as sitting in a dim room next to a glowing Christmas tree. I think it brings back the feelings of childhood, remembering how I would stare in amazement at how beautiful our tree always was.

Along with those feelings come a flood of memories that cannot contain themselves. So many of my Christmases have been filled with wonders and miracles and it would be a shame not to write some of them down.

I will preface these stories with the note that growing up my family was of humble means and thus, many years we found ourselves the recipients of other people's generosity and compassion.

My earliest Christmas memory is still tainted with the childhood joy I felt when I ran into the living room on Christmas morning and saw our couch literally covered with stuffed animals and dolls. I was probably three or four at the time and my eyes went wide. I then looked to the left and saw a little vinyl playhouse. It was essentially a square tent of cheap materials, but oh how I loved it! I still remember that it was decorated with red shutters around the windows and flowers along the bottom. I was so happy that year! As an adult I shared with my mom how much that Christmas had always stayed with me and she told me that was a year when they had had almost no money. She had gone to DI and bought all the stuffed animals for practically nothing. She had been so sad she couldn't buy new things and so worried that we wouldn't like it and she felt that it was a miracle that my sister and I were so happy.

My first memory of Christmas being given to us came when I was five. I had 3 younger siblings and my mother was younger than I am now (!). My father had recently been permanently disabled on the job, making it difficult for him to work. A group of unidentified elves doorbell ditched us leaving a live Christmas tree on our porch along with a box full of presents, including a beautiful pink stroller that I pushed around for years. I can still remember exactly where I was standing when my parents opened the door and I saw that brand new stroller, waiting to be filled with dolls and teddy bears! I was ecstatic!

Years later I remember being 10 or 11 years old. My family was once again fairly destitute and I remember my mother saying that we were not going to have Christmas presents that year. Since Christmas morning wasn't going to be the same, I opted to stay the night at my Great-Grandmother's house. Close to midnight my mom called us on the phone telling us that my dad had received a Christmas miracle. Just minutes earlier, quite late at night, my dad had sold an old car giving my parents money to buy us a little Christmas. Since no stores were open on Christmas day, my parents left early on Boxing day and we had "Christmas morning" on the 26th instead.

When I was a teenager, for several years someone in our ward (we think, they were anonymous) would leave a box on our porch containing two presents for each of us. One of the presents was always a shirt or a sweater and the other was a toy or other gift. I remember one particular year when I was in high school and I was so elated to receive a popular and expensive brand of sweatshirt in my favorite colors and a bottle of Tommy Girl perfume (which was all the rage). My parents would never have been able to afford either of these gifts and it meant so much to me that someone would take the time to choose something that a self-conscious 15 year old would be excited to wear to school.

I am fully aware that Christmas is not about presents and that my family didn't need to be given gifts to be happy. However, the joy comes not from the present itself, but in the giving and the receiving. The simple act of being able to give someone something that they would appreciate brings an inner peace and joy that is indescribable and is the essence of the Christmas spirit. The receiver too feels the love of friends and of our Savior, knowing that they were being thought of and that the Lord cares enough for each of us to give us the little things that may be small and unimportant that we wouldn't normally be able to have. I think this is the true miracle of Christmas: being able to feel and share the love of our Savior with those around us. :)

Tom the Turkey

Tomorrow night the Young Women are having a Thanksgiving potluck, because let's be honest, we need as many Thanksgiving dinners as possible ;). We are also going to make Thanksgiving table decorations. I found this cute idea for Glowbirds and I thought it would be perfect.*

I decided that I needed to practice making one first to ensure that I knew what I was talking about when I gave the instructions and I am pleased to say that it turned out to be SO STINKIN' CUTE!

I mean, seriously, look at this face! He looks so excited to be here! :)




This little craft really got me excited for Thanksgiving, despite the fact that this will be the first year I don't get to spend it with my family. Regardless, we will have an exciting day as we have been invited to enjoy dinner with our good friends and their four rambunctious children. :)

*You will notice I made a few modifications, namely, my votive is not quite a bubble, rather it is less round but was $1 at Walmart (bubble votives can be found at Hobby Lobby for $2, but I was being careful with the budget). Also, I used organza ribbon for the tail-feathers and craft foam for the beak and wattle.

Halloween 2011

This Halloween has been much more eventful than last year. We were invited to a cool pumpkin carving party on Friday where I carved both our pumpkins (hopefully I can get some pics from the host since I was a loser and didn't take pics of them). Alexander's pumpkin is the whale-shaped fast food speaker from Homestarrunner.com, which is admittedly super random. I carved a simple cat into my pumpkin. The party was a blast though and we had a great time.

On Saturday I had the privilege of helping to host the ward Halloween trunk-or-treat and carnival. Back in April I asked if we could have one this year and volunteered the young women and young men to put it on, which technically meant the YW leaders put it on. I spent a good portion of the day setting up and finalizing details of the event and it went off without a hitch. We had a great turn-out and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. We had a cool crawling maze on the stage complete with fog machine and strobe light. We also had a beanbag toss, a donut eating off a string thing, a ring toss, a fishing booth, a cupcake walk, pin the nose on the pumpkin, a target toss with velcro balls game, and pumpkin bowling (where we rolled pie pumpkins into pins). In the background we had a sweet Halloween mix CD that Alexander compiled and the adults had a great time munching on apples and popcorn and sipping apple cider. I had a friend taking pics for me, so once I get them I will post them.

Of course I decorated the tables because I have this decorating disease. Luckily I went very simple and I personally enjoyed nibbling on the candy corn.



Alexander and I dressed up for this event. We didn't decide on our costumes until Thursday, so I was in a bit of a rush to sew and put them all together. In the end we won Best Couples Costume, so I think they turned out well.

Hansel and Gretel: These aren't the best pics, Hopefully I will get one with us together that was taken by a friend at the trunk or treat. Aren't we so adorable?





And finally, the traditional big-eyed and innocent picture:

Sebastian & Bethany's Wedding

On Sept 24, 2011, Alexander's brother, Sebastian, married sweet Bethany. We were privlidged to be able to fly down to Phoenix, AZ to attend. As an added bonus, I also got to assist in the decoration of the cultural hall for the reception.

We arrived on Wednesday afternoon, just in time for me to attend Bethy's bachelorette party and Alexander spent the evening with his father. We got up bright and early the next morning to decorate the church and we were there until 5pm when we finally left. During that time we set up a dropped ceiling and put up wall panels of pictures along with decorating the tables and entryway. There was no official backdrop, but a faux wall was put up to break up the monotony.




The centerpieces were damask-style candelabras with battery lights along with 2 bud vases holding 3 pink roses each. The tables had white tablecloths, black satin overlays, and a white damask runner to complete the look.



The wall panels were made up of a white horizontal strip, with a black vertical stripe, gathered in at the middle. I hung pictures of the bride and groom with light pink ribbon at alternating heights and then spot-lit the pictures to add ambiance.



Thursday night we were able to go out to dinner with Alexander's best friend, Robert, and his awesome wife Natalie. We had a blast catching up with them and we really miss hanging out with them on a regular basis.

Friday morning dawned with us rushing to help Alexander's parents host the wedding brunch in the backyard. They had everything anyone could have ever wished to eat including: fruit, eggs, bacon, sausage, German meats & bread, veggies and a variety of delicious tamales. Afterwards the brothers helped each other get ready by trimming their twin goatees and making faces in the mirror.





Here Sebastian is fighting off the wedding day jitters:


The ceremony was beautiful and the day was gorgeous (albeit very bright and hot!).

Husband and Wife:




The reception that evening was lovely, although my date was stuck in the line all night. (As a side note, if you are not already married, please DO NOT put the ENTIRE wedding party in the line, it is miserable for the bridesmaids and groomsmen as well as for all of your guests, creating incredibly awkward moments for all!)



Cutting the Cake:


The First Dance:


Throwing the bouquet:


After the reception Alexander and I stayed to help clean up and then hobbled (literally) back to our hotel room where we rested our feet in our awesome Jacuzzi tub (we had an awesome free upgrade!). Needless to say, we were exhausted on Saturday and we lounged around all morning. We spent the rest of the day with Alexander's family. On Sunday we were lucky to be able to go to church with Robert and Natalie and then they graciously took us to the airport for us to make the long trip home.

We had a great time and really took advantage of the "vacation" in the midst of our packing up the house and moving. We are sad to leave the family and friends behind but hope that we will be back again very soon.