"Ring"ing in the New Year

It's hard to believe that it's 2011. Shane and I were recently talking about how we vividly remember 10 years ago, and how crazy it is that so much has happened in that time: high school, college, marriage, relocation, new jobs. I remember 10 years ago thinking, as an early teen, "2010, seems so futuristic-by then we will all be in our 20's, married maybe? having kids?" The thought blew my mind-yet here 2010 has come and gone with 4 of us married, one with a little boy, and life flying by. The New Year is a great time for reflection and gratitude for all the things the Lord has given us and all the places he has taken us, literally and figuratively.

Christmas

Shane and I were so blessed to have 2 weeks off for the Holidays-this allowed us to take the time to travel up to Chicago and not only spend Christmas with my family, but be blessed again by His family flying out from Oceanside to my parents house to spend a week with us as well. Christmas Eve was buzzing as usual as my parents hosted close to 50 family and friends ( but I guess with all of us that makes it nearer to 60-yeesh!) Christmas day was nice and low key starting with the traditional waking up and opening gifts and Christmas morning breakfast. Racquel made awesome allergy friendy egg bakes and we all enjoyed sitting around taking the morning in slowly.

It was so special for Shane and I to share not only our first married Christmas together, but our first Christmas EVER together :) We have really enjoyed starting our own traditions as a new family. We started by waking up and exchanging stockings we had filled for each other before we opened any other gifts we had gotten each other or from family members. It will be fun to continually add traditions as the years pass and our family grows.

Christmas Night my Nani and Uncle David came over and we tortured them by watching the old musical White Christmas. To our surprise, while movie was coming to a close and the actors sang and danced in jubilation at the long awaited "White Christmas," we looked out our own windows only to find giant fluffy snow flakes falling to the ground. It was spur of the moment and past my bedtime but we all geared up and ran out to "play" in the snow and walk a couple blocks to Racquel and Byron's house to see if they were still up!

Danielle & Nick's Wedding

(Photo Stolen from Lauren Wiens on Facebook : ) )

Here's where the "Ring" comes in : )

Sadly, in the rush to pack up and drive up to Chicago before the snow hit, I forgot my camera, and hence have little to no pictures of Danielle's wedding or the Holidays for that matter : (

There are probably plenty on Facebook though already so if you go now I'm sure you could catch a preview : )

On January 1st, 2011 (at 11:00), we welcomed Nick Masi into our family as Danielle became a part of his! They were married New Years Morning and are now enjoying their honeymoon in Jamaica.

We were all excited to yet again expand our family and support Nick and Danielle as they begin their life together. It was a bitter cold day, and Shane and I mixed our own little Airborne cocktails at the wedding to battle our head colds, but it was a beautiful ceremony and reception and we wish them the best as they venture into both of their last semesters of college together this Spring when they return.

Side Notes

GFree Bisquick "Wowee!"

(Gluten Free on the Right)

Although it has been on the market since this past Fall, I had yet to actually use it to make PANCAKES!

The first day back from Chicago I decided to do a simple meal (not easy....just simple), something that didn't take much thought, and I decided on breakfast for dinner-we hadn't done it for a while and I had a taste for turkey bacon and eggs! I whipped up some whip cream for strawberries and got out the gluten free bisquick mix along with the original mix--with two bowls side by side I mixed them each with their own ingredients and prepared to be dissapointed with my flat deflated crepe-like pancakes.

I was in for a surprise! The pancakes were delicious and fluffy! If my memory serves me right they tasted better than any pancake I can even remember tasting (though that was over 5 years ago), and the texture was amazing! Anyone who has yet to simply make pancakes with this mix needs to try it tomorrow morning! Such a great treat!

Gadget of the moment- Strawberry/Tomato Huller

I love this little thing! I may have to wait for the summer til the strawberries are more in season-but I love this little gadget that Racquel gave me as part of my Christmas gift-cute and fun!

Recent Reads

-Over Break I finished up C.S. Lewis' Great Divorce and Shane is now on the 2nd book in C.S. Lewis' space trilogy.

-I really enjoyed another one of C.S. Lewis' classics and though Shane got stuck in a few slow parts, he seems to be enjoying the series.

-Along with this book Shane is reading multiple others, some devotional, some pertaining to coaching and leadership. As I type this I realize I can't name any of them off the top of my head so I won't even try!

-I will most likely start on a book my mom let me borrow called Feminine Appeal-so far I have only gotten through the forward and the opening critical reviews : ) It has John Piper's stamp of approval so it must be good : )

Project of the Moment

Not only am I slowly trying to put together an address book after losing my flash drive with all of our addresses from the Wedding, but Shane and I are excited to finally pick out pictures and frames to fill up our Dining room wall! Post Project Pictures to come!

Looking Forward

Shane and I have a lot to look forward to in the upcoming year:

-A February visit from my parents

-The accomplishment and closure of Shane's 1st year of teaching & the completion of his Certification program

-A trip to Tennessee to spend with Shane's side of the family in June

-Multiple Friends' Weddings (Ann & Nick, Hannah & Justin, Linds & Peyton)

-Time Off & Time with friends and family

-Welcoming Lauren & Dan's little girl into the world!

-Celebrating our 1 year anniversary!

-And the unfolding of anything and everything the Lord has for us this year!

Ready or not 2011, here we come!

-M.W.

P.S.

This is for you Mom : ) Our little tree being swallowed by gifts!