Week in photos: Puzzles, Playdates, Ear Surgery and Christmas!

It's been a very busy and (mostly) fun week!

My office decided to close for the holidays so I have been enjoying my time off and the extra, focused time I have got to spend with Ben.  He has been my little errand running buddy.

We did a little shopping:

And a little decorating:

He also "helped" me put together a new lamp and a new table.  (We did a little re-arranging of furniture) :)

And before we knew it, Christmas Eve had arrived!  We decided to open all of our gifts to each other on Christmas Eve to space things out a bit from opening gifts with my parents on Christmas morning.  One of my resolutions for next year is to let Ben help me more in the kitchen.  I got him his own hat, apron and gloves along with a set of child-safe knives.

 

On Christmas Day, we had my parents along with Fred, Shirley, Lisa and Evan over - a very happy repeat from how we spent the day last year and hopefully a new tradition!  

 

They found the bath crayons Ben got from Santa :)

Rachel and I did a little babysitting exchange this week - she watched Ben so we could go with my mom to see Star Wars, and then we watched Raleigh so they could run some errands.  These two really have a blast together.

 

 

 

Ben has been OBSESSED with puzzles lately.  Puzzles, words, spelling, writing, and reading.  So we used some Christmas money to get him a new puzzles supply!

And finally, Ben had ear surgery (tubes) this week.  The entire procedure and recovery was such a non-event.  He was a little confused immediately following the surgery, but he had zero pain and was back to his normal self within a couple hours.

 

Meal Planning: Week of December 28th

Review from last week:

Flank steak:

 

Chipolte Chicken Salad with Avocado Crema - not pretty but very tasty!

Chicken and Potato Florentine Soup (in progress).  I halved this recipe and still had soup for DAYS and even had some to give away to my coworkers.

 

Christmas!!!  As usual, we spend our holidays eating!  Food not pictured here, but I made the French Toast I was so eager to make and eat again that Sarah made at the cookie exchange.  And it was probably the easiest recipe EVER and came out perfectly.  Don't be surprised if I invite you over for brunch instead of dinner in the future because I'm going to be finding reasons to make this again (and again).

The rosemary, thyme, salt and peppercorn crust we put on the Prime Rib:

The cheeseboard (joint effort with Lisa and Evan)!

The holiday cocktails brought by Lisa and Evan:  Rosemary Infused Citrus and Cranberry Holiday Pop Cocktail.  MAKE THESE.  I'm going to make my own rosemary infused simple syrup to put in my champagne on New Years :)

Plan for next week:

Monday: Slow-Cooker Jerk Pork with Caribbean salsa

Tuesday: Leftover pork over rice and salad

Wednesday: Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats and salad

Thursday: New Year's Eve! Take out Indian Food :) 

Friday: Spaghetti Squash Enchilada Bowls

Week in photos: Cookie Exchange, Christmas Treats and I'm on the Naughty List

Last weekend, Rachel (and Raleigh) came over to bake cookies for the Chi Omega cookie exchange!  We had a lot of fun and realized that baking is hard when you would rather be drinking and talking.  We also took the last batch of cookies out of the oven about 15 minutes before the power went out!  I was living in SERIOUS FEAR that we were in for another several days without power - but luckily it came back on at 11 pm that night.

Ben and Raleigh watching "oooh ooh ahh ahh" (Curious George).

 

All the cookies at the party.

All the ladies!

 

The amazing food Sarah made.  I'm still dreaming of it and can't wait to make that french toast!

 

 
Sarah had a really fun game we played where we chose from a bunch of mason jars with secret contents to determine if we were naughty or nice.  I chose naughty, and got these amazing teeth that Ben absolutely loves.

 

So a couple weeks ago, I was celebrating Ben writing a "B".  This quickly turned into "BEN" and now is all the letters and we are constantly spelling and writing things together.  It's amazing.

So many treats in the house this month.

The other night, Ben asked me if he could have "1 more treat".  I told him no.  And instead of throwing a fit, he calmly walked over to the chalkboard and told me I was going on the naughty list :)

Ben had fallen asleep in the car one afternoon so he was extra snuggly when we got home.

Playing Candyland at bedtime.

This is what happens on a no nap day :)

Meal Planning: Week of December 21st - Christmas!

Review from last week:

Flank steak (made by Greg) with roasted cherry tomatoes.

 

  BLT's and tomato soup.  Sometimes the most simple meal is the BEST.

 

Pasta and salad.

 

Plan for next week:

Saturday: Going out wine tasting and to dinner with Kristin and Craig!

Sunday: Flank Steak and Salad

Monday: Chicken and Potato Florentine Soup

Tuesday: Leftover soup

Wednesday: Mac and cheese

Thursday: Chipolte Chicken Salad with Avocado Crema

Friday:  Christmas!  We are hosting and I'm so excited about it!  For breakfast, I'm making a Texas French Toast Bake that Sarah  made at the cookie exchange party and I have not been able to stop thinking about.  For dinner, we will make a Prime Rib with Rosemary Salt Crust, Burgundy Mushrooms and bake a loaf of bread - the rest will be brought by our guests :)  Looking forward to an evening with family and friends!

Week in Photos: The Lights of Christmas, JLO's Baby Shower, and Ben wrote his NAME

Hilary and Violet came to town last week!  We wanted to do something Christmasy with them, so we all decided to buy tickets to The Lights of Christmas up at Warm Beach!

None of us had been before - and it was absolutely worth it!  The weather held out for us (it was POURING all the way there and all the way home) and the kids seemed to love it.

 

The real reason that Hilary was in town was for Jamie's baby shower.  We spent a lovely afternoon with Jamie and all her friends showering her and baby Jailyn with everything they could possibly need for her arrival in February.

 

Afterwards, Hilary and I went out wine tasting and to dinner!

Typing letters:

I continue to be amazed at how interested Ben is with all things letters, spelling, reading and writing.  It's a seriously explosion of learning and interest and I can hardly keep up with him (although I certainly LOVE trying)!  He is also quite passionate about puzzles at the moment!

He also is so interested in helping us with everything we are doing.  He wants to participate in all activities and we are constantly trying to do a better job of letting him help.  My main goal for the holidays (my office is going on break soon) is to have him help me a bunch in the kitchen :)