Happy New Years

It's New Years Eve, and I am sitting, enjoying a little bit of quiet time. Tyson is now asleep in bed (instead of crying), I have most of the trip remnants put back where they go, and a flute of bubbly next to me. The soundtrack to August Rush is on, and I am totally reliving the movie, which I loved. We've spent most of the day with family. This afternoon was the Maxwell family dinner, which is a great time to see everyone, and eat good food. I got to see some cousins I haven't seen for a couple of years, so that was a plus. Then we headed up to my grandma's and shared toasts to the New Year, and played Sequence (or if you're Dusty, connect 5). Tyson is still adjusting from the vacation. He doesn't like change very much, or strangers, so the Christmas break was very hard for him. But he was a trooper. It didn't help much that everyone was sick except for me and my Mom. And when I say everyone, I mean EVERYONE. Poor, poor people. Hopefully next Christmas will be better. :) Tyson was very ill on Christmas Day, so it was a bummer that he didn't want to open, look at, or play with his presents.

I am getting my list ready for my excursion to St. George tomorrow to spend some Gift Cards. I am looking forward to the trip because I am heading down by myself! Dusty and Tyson will stay home watching football, and I get to pick out fun stuff from my favorite stores, Target, Pier 1, and Tai Pan Trading. (thanks so so much to Mom, Kathi, and Sara). Up in Star Valley, my mom asked me if I had any Resolutions for the year. I honestly had not thought about it, but here is my belated list to her, and to all you folk out there.

Read at least 2 books a month (this shouldn't be too hard, but I thought I would start out easy)
Cook dinner from a pre-planned menu
Be more grateful
Plan a family reunion
Keep better track of the budget
Spend more time outside
Wake up earlier

In keeping with a Challis tradition, I will write these on a piece of paper, decorate it all cute, and post it where I can see it all year long. (time to refill the bubbly)

I hope everyone has had a good year. We have had a steady, constant year, with fun vacations, and memories. Some of my favorite memories are:

Swimming every week with Megan and Tyson
Taking pictures of my growing baby
Enjoying sister-moments with Allie and Becky
Welcoming Sara home from her mission
Driving around with Dusty and enjoying our little city
Spending time with my Mom this summer, cooking and watching swimming lessons
Attending the Greenshow
Sitting outside on a blanket with Tyson in the evening
Trying out new dishes to see what kind of Dusty-rating they would get!

Something Yummy

Here's a quick recipe we made for a dinner about a week ago. It's for caramel sauce on ice cream, or popcorn, if you're one of those. It's absolutely amazing, so I had to share it. We recieved the recipe from a family friend. Thanks Geri!

In a sauce pan, combine:

1 cup butter
1 cup heavy cream
2 cups white sugar
2 cups karo syrup

Heat on medium until soft-ball stage, stirring every once in a while. To check soft-ball stage, fill a small bowl with cold water and spoon a little of the sauce into it. If the sauce balls up, but doesn't harden, it is ready.

Next, add 1 more cup of cream and stir together. Cook for a few more minutes and voila! You have some yummy, spoon lickin' goodness. Enjoy!

As requested

Cardine, here are the pictures of my Christmas tree. I found that it's really hard to get good pictures of the tree in the spot we have it in. The lighting is pretty tricky. Here are the best ones.

A night one with the lights on.



Some new ornaments for this year. I really fell in love with the turquoise color.



Here are some day ones taken. But you really should come over for the full effect. (I'm totally saying this tongue in cheek)

Reasons to love winter

Afternoon lunch with hot drinks, yummy flavors, and good conversation with sisters, cousins, and a husband.



A baby's first time in the snow. (He loved it by the way. He learned how to throw a snowball.)

What I love most about Christmas is the music.

*Disclaimer: if you don't want to read one of my more rambling posts please stop now! :) *

I have been thinking so much lately about the music that surrounds this Christmas time. I believe that it is very special music, that some melodies were saved to celebrate the birth of Christ. One woman I spoke with recently said that all you need to celebrate Christmas was "the music and loved ones. You don't need presents, and all of the other glitter and glam." On Sunday after choir practice some of us were talking of how great it feels to make such wonderful music, and one lady mentioned how the choir is actually for the participants. If the congregation gets something from the music, great, but it is really for us, the ones singing. I agree very much.

I enjoy making this music so much that I pull out the piano music around October (much to Dusty's dismay). I simply cannot prevent myself from playing them no matter how hard I try. There's a good chance that if you walk by my house in the evening, you'll be serenaded to a Christmas song. There is something so much more meaningful about creating the music yourself. Pulling it out of your heart. I know that may sound cheesy, but it really is. I do not know how other's feel who cannot play a musical instrument, or sing, but I thank my Heavenly Father each day that I can.

So many of my favorite memories fall in this time period.

Playing in the Messiah Community Orchestra. What better music on EARTH is there than that? If you don't know the story of Handel writing the Messiah, you must read it. (skip down to the part of Handel). I believe I got to play each year in High School. I still hear the cello part better than all of the others.

Dancing in the Nutcracker and getting to hear that gorgeous music for hours everyday. Everybody recognizes music from it, even if they don't know it. A little off the subject, but I must mention how funny it was that I was a senior girl dancing with a 7th grade boy who was a foot shorter. But he was a fabulous dancer for his age. And I was so impressed that he could do lifts with me!

A mini music group with my family playing to our hearts content. Sara on the piano, Lauren on the violin, me on the cello, and my mom singing. I hope that we have the chance to do it this holiday. (and I am looking forward to playing my sister Bronwyn's new cello from the school. I guess it pays to be first chair!)

When I was a Senior (in HS), I was a in a music group that six of us formed. We sang for Christmas parties and things. The vocal talents of these kids was amazing and it was so much fun to add my part with them. It was also fun to spend nights with others who loved the music as much as me and could be surrounded by Christmas lights and trees. Remember, Katie?

I suppose what I really am trying to say is that the music of this season means so much to me. I have been blessed with so many opportunities to learn the music and share it with others. I am thankful to be able to be part of it in my own small, simple way. I suppose it's no surprise that all of the experiences have left me with special feelings.

I really must also thank my parents for paying for years of piano, cello, voice, and ballet lessons. They have given me something no one else could.

P.S. if any of you want some beautiful music from a very generous woman, go here. It's free downloads of instrumental, SATB, and vocal solos. Enjoy!