eat sleep and farm

What is love? Ethan asked me this the other day and I actually stopped and had to think about my answer. Its such a loaded word. Its packed full of so much emotion and can have such a long description. I pointed out to him what my love for him is, what Jason's and my love for each other is and what his love for us is. Then pointed those types of love to a Love greater than any earthly love we'll ever know; God's love. As the days have passed, that conversation has been mulling itself over in my brain and when that happens, I know its either God telling me I'm not giving a matter to Him and resting in His care, OR , He's giving me something great and wonderful to spend my time meditating on. In this case it was the latter of the two :-) I want to be a person who loves others. And not just because they're cute, lovable people... but because I know that God created them, loves them and has called me to show Christlike love to them. That means love without status,

this is what we will be making for New Year's Eve. Just thought I'd share...

Cranberry Chicken & Pears ( from Susan Branch's Christmas cookbook) 1/2 C. butter 2 large garlic cloves, minced 2 TBL shallot, minced 4 whole chicken breasts, skinned, boned and halved 1 C. cranberries, coarsely chopped 4 ripe pears, peeled & sliced 2/3 C. Brandy 1 C. heavy cream 1 C. sour cream 1/4 C. parsley salt & pepper, to taste Melt the butter in a large heavy skillet. Add garlic & shallot ~ cook 1 minute. Lightly flour chicken breasts & cook (in batches, using all the butter as needed) just until done, about 4 minutes on each side. Remove to platter & keep warm. Add cranberries to pan; cook & stir 1 minute. Add pears & cook till slightly softened. Pour in brandy and flame, shaking pan till flame dies. Add creams, stir & heat through, don't boil. Salt and pepper to taste. Pour save over breasts and sprinkle parsley over all. If you are careful not to overcook the chicken, this dish can be made ahead and and rewarmed in

This was our first Christmas, just the 5 of us... all day long. Jason and I commented throughout the day to each other, how surprised we were at how much we enjoyed it and didn't feel homesick. That's not to say we didn't miss our family, because we did... but God really blessed today and gave us so much joy in each other. I must say, it is different (in a good way) to be able to celebrate in just the way we wanted to. To be able to have specific conversation with our kids during dinner, to be able just lay around and fully enjoy one another. It was blissful. Speaking of bliss, we did enjoy a very fun filled evening at our friends the Bliss's house tonight! We went over after dinner and played games, sang karaoke, ate too many sweets and just had fun lounging around and talking. Good times. The Brinks, Vieiras and Haidles joined us - great night. (for those of you who don't know, these are all people J and I have known about 15 years and they happen to live up her

This was technically Christmas Eve - they open 1 gift the night before! Jason told them they had to close their eyes before going in the playroom to see it... a new kitchen play set!! Rachel w/her stocking candy :) princess bubble bath Ethan got me gum for my stocking :) Kara wakes up... cuddly kisses for my sweet girl. She "helped" Daddy pick out a gift for me :) I just loved this look on her face. I told her there was "no more" of what she wanted You know you're a hard working Daddy when you get this excited over a new lunch box set for work :) Kara enjoyed sitting on the boxes and carrying around gift bags MORE than getting gifts :) I love this face. Even though he's being pouty, I like the look Jase captured on E's face. He's sad that gift time is over. He got all excited though, when we told him he now got to play with all his gifts :)

Ethan requested that I take pictures of all his new gifts and "can you put them on the picture site on your laptop so Nana and Papa and Joe can see what we got for Christmas?" So Dad, Mom and Joe... this post is for you :) I did my best to get pictures of all the gifts, but I think I left out a few along the way... this is a cute (healthy) food play set from Costco A stroller tall enough for Rachel ::Wild Animal pop-up book:: this is one of the only good shots I got of the doll house... Doug & Melissa art set (thank you, Great Pop!!) Sorry Mom... this is the only pic I got of her with the cart and she had just woken up. She does love it - she played with it all day! Ethan's new Star Wars ship... it makes noises from the movie :) they got lots of play dough :) ::paper for the easel:: the Nerf gun from Daddy The art station (the other side is a white board and you can also put rolls of paper on here. thank you, Papa and Nana!!

We didn't take many food pictures, but I thought I'd post the ones we did take... salad, sweet potato casserole and cranberry pear chicken we had more on the menu, I just didn't pile it ALL on my plate :) the cranberry pear chicken was amazing. Ethan deemed it "your best food ever" looked over and caught Kara eating play lettuce :) our big boy... she's not supposed to use her fingers, but she's eating her salad, so I won't complain.

After dinner we decided to take advantage of the beautiful sunset and warm(er) weather... bundled in jackets, we went on a walk around our neighborhood. Starting off... kids run down the hill me :) looked over and saw my goofy man sitting w/Kara IN the stroller I love Ethan and Rachel's worried looks :) heading home... I guess we DO get snow :) my little miss Jason took this one of Rachel and I really like it

I love playing games with their last name :) We had a blast at our friends Jason and Katie Bliss' house Christmas evening. Ash Bliss is Ethan's new very good buddy. Mr. Jason (Bliss) dancing w/the kids my husband FINALLY did Karaoke!! I had to post this, because the look on my face cracks me up. mixing Kara, my music lover Juliet Bliss - Kara's new friend Kara loved their tree ornaments :) carrying gift bags around - this is all she did today :) Rachel, lookin' cute Jason & David