Roasting Veggies

Vegetables are not my favorite food. It's no surprise that I prefer cookies and burritos but I have been successful at increasing my veggie intake this year. After all the Christmas goodies I have a renewed interest in adding some variety to these healthy plants. Dale picked up brussel sprouts on the stalk at Trader Joes and so I tried roasting them for the first time. Just in case it wasn't very tasty I added a few other veggies too. A little olive oil, salt, pepper and fresh garlic added some flavor and the oven added a nice brown.

It was actually a yummy vegetable dish. I prefer the roasted brussel sprouts over the ones that I cooked on the stove. I would certainly make them again. They are prettier than burritos, but they still don't taste as good to me!

Christmas Snow

 On Christmas Day after all the celebrations were over it was just Mowgli and me at home. There was a beautiful gentle snowfall so I pulled on my boots and Yaktrax to head out into the woods. It was a gorgeous walk and a wonderful way to end such a special holiday. We have had more than our share of snow this year but it certainly isn't over yet. We have a chance of a couple of inches today and more in the forecast for the middle of the week also. It's a good winter to embrace the snow!

Brrr

The temperatures have been dropping since I mentioned my forty-five degree walk yesterday. Mowgli and I braved the cold and wind chill for a morning walk. It was brisk but it will be even colder the rest of the week. We will spend most of New Year's week in the single digits during the day and below zero at night. It appears that I might be doing some mall walking.

Our Christmas

Oh how I love having my family in my home all together on a holiday. It feels just magical to me.  

 Again I feel so blessed to be so close to family and be able to get together often. It's wonderful to not have to worry about roads, weather or travel at the holidays. I love these times so much.

 

 This was our first year with two dogs in the family. Kirby was a great addition and both dogs were very well behaved.

 

 Aunt Breezy got Jay and Lincoln matching rain sticks and they were a bit hit. It was fun that Lincoln knew exactly what it was.

 Never too old for "Hello Kitty!"

Safety first!! I got Lincoln a helmet last year too but its seems like a very appropriate gift considering his love for speed and biking.

 I loved watching Lincoln empty the stocking that I knitted for him two years ago. He seemed to enjoy all the little things, especially the "monkey flips."

 

We even found time to play a game of dominos. It started during nap time but Lincoln joined us when he woke up. It was all fun.  

 Here is Lincoln all ready to go to Christmas Eve services after our family gathering. He is singing, "little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head." Going to church with Lincoln and his family was one of the most precious times of the holiday. Holding him in my arms, singing Christmas carols and remembering this same service with newborn Lincoln in my arms just two years ago was quite moving. I choke up too much to sing at points but love the music. It was especially sweet when Lincoln realized we were singing about baby Jesus and started to sing Away in the Manger even though the rest of the congregation was singing another tune. I sang with Lincoln! What a Merry Christmas!

 

Nonnweiler Christmas

 Keeping with our tradition my siblings and I gathered to celebrate Christmas on the 23rd. This year we were at the Rock Falls Community Center which is perfect when we bring four generations together. We especially love seeing the little ones and there are two more than when we gathered last year!

 

We mostly just hang out with each other. We eat plenty and talk lots. The kids play and run and we all have a great time.

 Then of course there is "the game." First the men play with the dice rolling to distribute the pile of $5 gifts. It's the game we have played for years with a few variations. The table gets bigger as the family grows but we still have lots of fun.

 When the men finish their game they all move and make room for the women's game. We always have lots of fun even with all the stealing of gifts. It's our big activity for the evening and keeps us from eating the entire time!

 

 I love this gathering and all the smiling faces. This year we had a great crowd with just a couple of people who couldn't get away from work. We will look forward to December 23, 2014 and hope to see everyone, including at least one new baby boy!

This Morning

Its a gorgeous day with lots of sunshine, blue skies,  glistening white snow and temperatures in the forties. I have so many photos from Christmas to sort and post but it seems like a good day to be outside. These shots are from my walk around the lake with Mowgli this morning. It was so beautiful. Now I want to get back outside to walk a mile in the neighborhood before the temperatures start to fall. It will be below zero tomorrow at this time which will give me more time to blog.

 

Merry Christmas

It's been a perfectly wonderful Christmas for me. It was filled with noise, love, family and lots of yummy food. I have photos to post later but I have been enjoying these days completely. Christmas truly is a most wonderful time of the year! I hope that the love of the season extends into the new year for everyone!

T'was the Night Before Christmas

 The stockings are hung by the chimney with care and great expectations for a wonderful family Christmas celebration. The kids will be here this morning and we will spend the day enjoying family, food and fun. I do love the excitement.

The preparation has been lots of fun too. I have delivered caramel corn and biscotti to the neighbors and cleared the gorgeous fresh layer of Christmas snow. It's a wonderful time of the year!

The Twenty-third

It's December 23rd! That's a holiday if you are a Nonnweiler. I am so excited to gather with my parent's, siblings and their families later today. This shot is from December 23, 1979. Dan and I were both newlyweds. Cindy and Sandi were teenagers! Now two of us are grandparents and the other two are empty nesters. Our family has grown considerably and there will be quite a crowd tonight when we gather at Rock Falls Community Center. It will be loud and chaotic, just perfect!

The Week Before Christmas

 Although a thin layer of ice sent me to the mall for walking on Friday, I was able to get out to the lake to walk the trails of snow earlier this week. I feel so good about my daily walks even when they are just a mile. Mowgli continues to be my biggest supporter in this endeavor and I appreciate that. The walking is paying off in many ways.

 

 I have also worked to add veggies to my day. An icy Friday seemed like the perfect time to boil lots of vegetables with some chicken and brown rice pasta. It was a yummy soup and I like the break from the raw veggies I take to work daily.

 

 

A broken toilet seat forced me to tackle a home project that was new to me. I have never changed or purchased a toilet seat but all of that changed on Friday. It was a fairly simple project but I have to admit that I was completely comfortable living the rest of my days without the experience or knowledge of how to change a toilet seat. I am glad it's done and grateful that it went so smoothly!

 

I still made plenty of time for Christmas knitting. The fireplace and Christmas tree draw me to my cozy chair and knitting needles more this time of year. Thanks to Jay for actually requesting a wine cozy! Never mind that it was for a hostess gift for an "ugly sweater party." I think it was the perfect thing to take!