Monday, December 1, 2014

Hallmark Christmas Movies

I love Hallmark Christmas movies. They started this year on Halloween. They're sappy and totally predictable and that's what is so great about them.

From the wrapper of a chocolate. Will do!
I was mentioning at work that I was planning on watching one on Saturday. Every Saturday and Sunday night at 6:00, they premiere a new one for the year. Anyway, it sounded fun to everyone, so I extended the invitation. I made chili and they brought treats. A few of us enjoyed time together. The movie was not a great one. It was more geared to kids, but we had a blast anyway.
The first movie night: Ali, Erin, Annie, Becky, Jenny and me. Notice our treats.
The next week, a slightly different crowd came and I made baked potatoes with bacon, cheese, sour cream onions, chili, etc. They brought chocolate and licorice. This past weekend was Thanksgiving weekend and no one was available, so just me and Jamie Wigington watched. We had a great time. She mentioned that she needed to put up her tree so the kids could decorate it when they got home from their dad's house. I went to help her after church yesterday. We ran out of lights, so I went back today while she was at work and bought lights and finished the job. She's a good friend. They just went through a divorce and I imagine the holidays are tricky, especially when you're alone and the kids are with dad. I'm glad she lets me barge in on her life.


AFHS Preference 2014

Mel asked her friend Caleb Greening to preference. It is a formal girls-choice dance. She couldn't quite find a dress she wanted, so I suggested she make her dress. That girl has a great fashion sense. We walked into the fabric store and she found the perfect brocade for a top and we found a black taffeta for the skirt. It was inspired by a design made by Kini on the show Project Runway.



We made the skirt long at first, but Mel felt a short skirt would work better with what the other girls were wearing. It was stunning with the skirt long. It was fabulous short, too. Mel pretty much made the whole thing, with me telling her what step to do next. It turned out great and it had pockets! BEST feature ever!
The master at work
It's done!
All the girls

The whole gang!


 

Mel and Caleb
My girl even got to drive because she's had her license for 6 months. My baby is not a baby anymore!

November Awesomeness!

I'm listening to Christmas music as I write this post.

I love Thanksgiving and Christmas and everything that leads to it!

Derek and Rachel, along with Rosie and Charlie, came to town for a couple of weeks. Hogle Zoo was free last Wednesday, so Jen met Derek, Rosie and me there. We had a fun couple of hours walking around the zoo. I didn't have work all last week. Well, I didn't have BYU work. I did go to Weight Watchers to start my training. I go back tomorrow and Wednesday.  Anyway, the zoo was fun and the weather was beautiful. It was in the 50's. Lovely! We followed the zoo with a lunch trip to Moochie's, a sandwich place in SLC. Jen and I shared a meatball sub sandwich. Rosie got spaghetti and Derek got a cold Italian sub. Delicious!


Jen treated us all to the train ride at the zoo!

"Grandma Dana" and "Grandma Jenny": Party Animals!

...because there's nothing cuter than a kid eating spaghetti!

Rose added to our "Thankful Board" that's been hanging in the house all month. She wrote Jesus and Kids. Thought those up all herself. I finished a few food items after the zoo on Wednesday. We went to mom and dad's to help them eat a lasagna. It was great. Thursday morning, we got up and walked a benefit 5K. Keenan, Derek, Rachel and I walked. Mel watched the kiddos. Once again, the weather was fabulous!

We cleaned up and headed up to Jen's. It was a pretty quiet Thanksgiving. Mel thought it was the worst one EVER. It was just Jen, Scott, Emily, Andrew, Christian, mom, dad, Derek, Rachel, Rose, Charlie, Sam (the dog), Keenan, Mel and me. Oh, and a friend of Andrew's joined us when it was obvious his family left for Thanksgiving dinner without him. I think he enjoyed Derek's antics, as we all do. Well, I don't think mom enjoys them much.

Some of us took a break from food to strike it big at Sports Authority. They give out scratch cards with values from $10-$500. Well, we all gots 10's. Keenan and I went back at 5:00 am and got 10's again. Oh well...one of these years we'll get the 500. What would I do with $500 worth of sports gear? I don't know. I guess I'd buy a lot of workout gear and shoes.
The Sports Authority gang: Emily, Mel, Keenan, Rod's friend, Rod and me!

Me and Rachel in Thanksgiving aprons. Rachel looks serious about that pizza cutter!

Mel being goofy Mel

Sammy just waiting for uncle Scott to give him some turkey...just a bite

The Adcocks (and friends) are thankful for...

My plate with the lovely bread made by Rachel and salad made by me
On Friday, I fought with caramel syrups all day. Well, not all day, but...you know...candy...

I wanted to make homemade caramels to sent to Richard and Mo Russell and to Keen's family. It took 5 batches to get 2 that were worthy of gift giving. The others were too hard and would require a serious dental disclaimer. I finally got it right. I got packages ready to send off, including a package of JUST CANDY for Kamiko. He just wants candy right now.

We got a package in the mail from the Russells that included a fabulous cookbook and an apron they won in their ward cookbook. They signed it for me. I wore it as I made their caramels.


One is in the oven right now. 49 to go...