Happenings and the Holidays

It's been almost a month! Here is a little bit of what we have been up to : )

Even though we have been busy with work, I have tried to try out a few new meals/recipes so that I didn't fall too much into a rut:

1.) PepperJack Gratin



This was a great side dish that made eating simple grilled chicken not so boring.

2.) Chicken and Sweet Pepper Fajitas



After sauteing the peppers and onions we added some fresh cilantro and grilled chicken.
The fajita spread is a cream cheese spread with garlic and onion powder. It was a great meal that was light and flavorful!

3.) Shepherd's Pie

First time using the broiler-definitely underestimated that thing!
This was a great one dish meal for a cold Fall day.
For your reading pleasure :

You know your in the South when. . .. .

1.) Temperatures are predicted to hit a low of 30 degrees that night and these signs crop up all over your apartment complex.

2.) You call a sub at 6 a.m. in the morning and their spouse answers the phone only to inform you that, "they can't come to the phone, they are working out in the barn."

3.) 75 % of the student population on any given day of the week, WILL wear Sperry's to school.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Highlight of our Month: Surprising our Family in Chicago for Thanksgiving!

We had an entire week off and were blessed to be able to get some much needed rest with our Family-In T-minus 3 weeks not only get to be together with them again, but will also be joined by Shane's Family as well-can't get much better than that! Here are some pictures from our week:


Boys being Boys

Alex and Nicole at Autie Toni & Uncle John's on Thanksgiving Day.


Nick & Danielle Reminiscing about their relationship with Aunt Deb.
(They recently changed their Wedding Date to January 1st 2011, so this Christmas break will be full of celebrations.)

Nani giving advice/Old Italian Remedies for Danielle's stomach ache : /

Matching Coats
Christmas Decorating, Post Thanksgiving




Gideon doing his part

Byron wasn't feeling well, so he layed low with the little guy



Merry Christmas!


Shane and I ended our trip with a Friday night trip to Wheaton College Football Chapel, where Shane was a last minute guest speaker, and an afternoon at Wheaton's 2nd Playoff game Saturday against Bethel-It was a nail biter and a frost biter, but in the end Bethel took the win-it was sad, but also good to feel back at home in Wheaton.