A New Year

We started this new year off right - at the mall in our Nana's best!!

Just kidding, this was just some exchanging business in the days leading up to new year's. We love dressing up in the girly girly clothes that Nana picks out for Georgia. She's such a lady! 

There was a decent amount of snow outside so we finally took Georgie out sledding :)

Her face just melts me. She looks like such a marshmellow!

She had so much fun outside.

At the top of our backyard:

It's the perfect slope for sledding!

We spent New Year's Eve day in Provo with Aaron & Kristen and their family. They were staying at the Provo House so we went over to the Provo Beach resort for some fun! Yes I try to match my baby on occasion :)

Watching Paigy, Sydney, & Coby on the high ropes.

Learning mad racing skills from her daddy:

Love this girl SO much! 

We ate good food at Marley's Gourmet Sliders - if you haven't been there, it's GREAT! We finally headed home so Georgia could catch up on sleep. That night, we went to Tucanos in SLC with the rest of the Winger siblings. We even woke up Georgia in the middle of her sleep at 9:30 to party with us! Tucanos had all sorts of New Year's Eve party gear there, but Georgia only made it until 11 so we stuffed ourselves full and headed home, making it just in time to snuggle up in bed for the New Year :) I barely made it I was so tired and full!

We had lots planned for New Year's Day! It started in Midway where we met the Hoke's and family for lunch and then headed over to the much anticipated Ice Castles. It didn't look stroller friendly so we packed up Georgia in the baby sled and she had a ball! Not to mention turning heads left and right all down the street, people loved the baby in the sled! 

I wasn't even sure if they would let the sled in, some of the passageways were pretty narrow, but they OK'd it. And I'm SO glad we brought it so we didn't have to carry her around the whole time. The kids all wanted to pull her too, I didn't even have to break a sweat! 

I'm not going to lie, the "castles" were less than impressive... with what they advertised, I was expecting an enclosed area with tunnels or something (ridiculous I know... it's man-made and where the ice skating rink used to be) but it was fun to be there with family and the kids so that made it worth it. 

Baby Calvin quickly joined the bandwagon for a free ride. It was awesome! 

They both loved it :)

The kiddos: 

Aaron and his two crazy adorable twins! 

We spent the rest of the afternoon sledding down a big hill near Soldier Hollow with all the kids. We sat Georgia in the snow and she just explored and had fun! Thankfully she fell asleep on the drive back to Provo and had a decent nap in the car. We brought dinner home from Kneader's and relaxed at the house until everyone wanted to go to the Provo Beach resort again. This time they did the flow rider! So Georgia and I hung out, played arcade games, and scarfed down a Pineapple Dole Whip :) they are just the same as the ones at Disneyland! Loved it. It was a great end to our New Year's Day and we loved spending it with family and outdoors in the beautiful weather. It was chilly, but thankfully sunny and pretty!

There are so many things I'm grateful for right now and I'm determined to make this year even better than last! (let's hope anyway :) I really don't know what life with two kids is like...)

Among our resolutions... starting this girl on the toothbrush! I know... I'm super late with this. Yikes. But my pediatrician said no toothpaste until TWO years old!! Just water. Does that seem pointless or what? Is that normal across the board?? I think her monster teeth need a little power cleaning but I'll hold off for now :)

The year means a new ME! And I'm starting with my home. I'm branching out and exploring with baking, cooking, and all things SCRATCH! Something I have never attempted in my life. But I must say, it has brought me much happiness and I don't think I can go back! 

Who can come back from homemade scones??

These babies were delicious, but like eating a large and filling cookie for breakfast, so I will not be making these on a regular basis :) I cannot say the same for my 8.5 month sister:

We have baking brain waves 700  miles apart. Yes, she google-mapped that distance. She is more like me than she thinks :)))))

One of my go-to dinner dishes, courtesy of my best little bu-ud, Nikki, but with my own twist on it, creamy lemon chicken with onions and peppers. I love this dish! It's so easy and yummy! And so good paired with rice and garlic toast. Even the leftovers always go fast!

One of my Momma's home recipes, Oahu Chicken with pineapples. Sooo good. I always thought this dish was too difficult to make and not worth my time, but I was wrong wrong wrong! I love it. Such comfort food and always reminds me of home.

And this is my not-so-appetizing-looking take on another of my Momma's special recipes, apricot chicken. I used to request this EVERY YEAR for my birthday dinner. And I can't believe my mom always indulged me! It looks simple, but my mom is super gourmet when it comes to Asian food and she would bring out her big wok, bring the oil to the right temperature, and hand fry all the chicken in the crispiest most delicious breading and THEN top it with this amazing sauce and usually pair it with my favorite Chinese chicken salad AND have a 7 layer twice chocolate torte cake for me after that. She's amazing. I can't say I will ever do the same for my kids. Haha maybe someday... this is my crappy/lazy take on it:

The same delicious sauce, but instead I use Target's crispy tenderloins because believe it or not, they are actually really good. Any other brand is enough to make me gag, but Target's are spot on for quick, easy, and yummy white meat chicken tenders - don't judge me till you try it. I paired it with my mom's Chinese chicken salad and absolutely loved it. 

And this here is what appears to look like lunch but is indeed NOT.

Growing up, temple trips to the LA temple always consisted of two things: Mr. Noodle (or Tito's Tacos but I always hated it because they never had any sour cream - something I cannot eat Mexican food without) and Diddy Riese's for dessert. They have a selection of cookies and ice cream that you choose from and make your own cookie ice cream sandwich! I always choose Cinnamon sugar cookies and mint chip. And I wanted that. So I made it happen! The cookies were actually too simple, I was nervous I wouldn't like them but they were perfect. And the mint oreo (and mini marshmellows, much to Zach's dismay and whining and complaining and more whining) ice cream turned out AMAZING! I loved it so much, it was perfect! But also not good to have around for a week because I couldn't stop myself from eating it. 

And then there's lemon cake. You can pretty much eat lemon cake any time of the day. Because it has lemon in it. Right? 

I have been craving all things lemon for so long and I finally found a pound cake recipe that called for less butter and some Greek yogurt and seemed easy enough for a cake (and worth waiting that long for to bake in the oven - I hate waiting for cakes to bake!) It was nothing short of delicious. The more I ate it, the better it was. It was dense and moist and the glaze was amazing. I didn't hesitate to eat it for breakfast & dessert. 

Aside from exploring in the kitchen, I want to be happier. Laugh more. Be more loving. 

This cracked me up. Like every time I saw it it was more funny to me. Because it is completely 100% true for me. Enjoy :) 

Let's just say my main New Year's Resolution is to get through this year. With two babies under two. Wish me luck :) or send me help! Here's to 2014!!