Merry Christmas!

Here are some pics from Christmas. We spent Christmas Eve w/ the Gallaghers in NH. Christmas day was spent with our friends, the Connors & O'Connells (Gallaghers, Connors, and O'Connells.... sounds like the Irish mob... right?). We had a nice time!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

This is my very first Christmas tree since I got married. I've somehow managed to make it to Utah for Christmas every year (except one when we moved in to our house and I was pregnant w/ Kiley). My mother always has a gorgeous tree, so there is a high bar for yours truly. I think my mother would be pleased with my tree. I have lots of lights, weaved in and out of each branch, and lots of pretty things hanging off of it. Kiley thinks its pretty great. I think Kullen thinks its ok too (he's a bit of a grinch).

Catching Up

This is the funniest picture of Kiley from the other night. She had every necklace she possesses on, has her sunglasses on upside down, and was absolutely jamming to the song this book plays (yes, it has a play microphone attached to it). I'm so glad the shot came out. Because this is such a fun phase to remember.

We had Kiley's Uncle Ryan and Aunt Melanie (my brother and his wife) come out to visit a couple of weeks ago. We had so much fun while they were here. I love it when my family comes to visit. I could keep them well-past their departure date, hands down, every time. It's hard to live so far away! Kiley was just "talking" to her Grandpa Judd on her Barbie phone today about how we couldn't come over, because we "have to take an airplane to get to your house." But then she informed him that "Aunt Melanie is calling..." and that she had to go. She makes me laugh.

By the way Aunt Melanie, this kid won't brush with the Belle toothbrush because it's yours. We're keeping it at our house for you.

My child is a 2-year old genius! Check out these balloons she drew (I drew the picture of her daddy)!

Curry Pumpkin Soup

I just made this soup lastnight and it is soooo yummy and so seasonally appropriate! My husband doesn't think soup is a food, and Kiley won't eat it, so I have lots all for myself. I skipped the carrots and celery (my fridge was bare!), used dehydrated onions instead fresh, and halfed the recipe for just me. So good! The curry gives it a good kick!
2 Tbsp. butter
2 medium onions, chopped (1 cup)
1 medium carrot, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 tsp. curry powder
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
2 15oz. cans pumpkin
2 14oz cans chicken broth
2/3 cup water
1 cup half-and-half or light cream
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground black pepper

Melt butter over medium heat. Add onions, carrot, and celery. Cook 10 minutes stirring occassionally, until softened. Add curry powder and pumpkin pie spice. Cook and stir 1 minute. Add pumpkin, broth, and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, 15 minutes. Remove from heat, cool slightly.
Blend 1/3 mixture at a time in food processor or blender (I didn't have to do this, b/c I didn't have the chunky veges). Return to soup pot. Stir in half-and-half, salt, and pepper. Heat through.
Yummy served w/ dried cranberries and croutons sprinkled on top. Enjoy!

Leaves and more leaves!

Kiley was treated to a tractor ride last week when our neighbor cleaned his leaves up and hauled them to the woods behind his house.

She is also getting this Halloween thing figured out. We had our ward Trunk-or-Treat on Tuesday and she thinks trick-or-treating is pretty great! I think she'll be excited to go again tomorrow night. She's a fairy princess (a "pink princess" as she would say).

The Apple Festival

So we sluffed church today (Stake Conference) and went to the Apple Festival here in town. They had tons of carnival rides. Kiley would have had us spend $50 on tickets in no time just to ride them time and time again. When we left, she cried the entire walk back to the car (about 15 minutes), screaming "I don't want to go!" Are we mean parents or what?

It's Fall!

Fall in New England is so truly enjoyable. The trees are all aglow with yellows, bright reds, fuscias, and brilliant oranges. Last weekend we went on a fall drive, which may become a yearly tradition for us. It was absolutely gorgeous. It included a ferry ride across the Connecticut River, a french patissere (sp?) and a visit to Gillette Castle (Kiley kept asking where the princess was...). Yesterday we went to Pumpkintown, USA. Yes, it exists. A town complete with a saloon and barbershop full of scarecrow-like people with pumpkins for their heads. Pumpkin pigs and pumpkin cows. It's actually pretty cute. Today I'm hoping to hit the orchards for apples and mums. Yeah for fall!!!

Top 5 Headlines From Our 4 Days in RI:

1. We rented a little house on the beach that was too cute.

2. There was a major storm for most of our time there (you know they're major when they have names. I think this one was KYLE).

3. We headed in to Providence to hit the Children's Museum on Friday only to find it was closed. So instead we went to the "Teddy Bear Museum" at the mall (a.k.a. Build-A-Bear).

4. Saturday we went to Mystic Aquarium where Kiley seemed to enjoy seeing all the animals & fish. When asked, she told me her favorite part was "Nemo" and the cookies I brought for her snack. Go figure.

5. Despite the storm, we were still able to enjoy the beach everyday. Kiley loved the blue boat.

Kiley's first day of school:

Kiley's finger this week:

Kiley's finger 3 weeks ago:
(For those who don't know, Kiley fell while carrying a flower pot. It broke, and nearly severed the tip of her finger off. A night in the ER, yours truly fainted, and we had to postpone life for a couple of weeks to ensure that it heal as well as it has (whew!).

My sister has talked me in to trying a blog. I have no idea what I'm doing or how to make it look nearly as fancy as hers . . .

Kiley's finger is getting better. We actually have a fingernail growing. Hurray!

We have started the work/school schedule and are getting in to the routine. Kiley still has difficulty with drop-off , but we're getting there. Today she painted an apple and had fun playing in the sand. It's really a neat facility. They take pictures of the kids and create a scrapbook for you of their time there. I can't wait to get Kiley's.

Work is crazy. I have so many employee issues to investigate and navigate. Delicate territory. Hopefully I don't land myself in a legal suit.