Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

First off...Merry (Be-lated) Christmas and Happy New Year!!!! I was able to spend a wonderful, albeit very busy, Christmas week with my family. Kiki and her family came down from Idaho and spent the whole week with us. I was fortunate to have the whole week off from work so I was able to spend time with them. We tried to cram as much fun in as possible....

The Annual Arthur Schaub Family Christmas Party was held on the Monday before Christmas. The turn out was a little disappointing; probably because it was held at an earlier time and my aunt and uncle who live out in way west Phoenix hosted it and most of us live out in way East Valley. Anyways, those of us who did go had great Mexican food, and a visit from Santa.My cousins Kristal & Adam Tieman sitting on Santa's lap.

My cousin-in-law Beth, cousin Kandice, cousin Kristal, Uncle Ken, Aunt Kelly holding Beth's baby Cadence, Aunt Jan, and Aunt Donna.

On Tuesday we went to the Desert Botanical Gardens to see the Chihuly exhibit. I thought it was just as spectacular the second time around.

Wednesday night we had our Schaub Family Christmas Eve activities. My family always celebrates Christmas Eve together and there are 2 things that we ALWAYS do...

1) Eat pizza
Kara is eating her first Christmas pizza.

Kiki is enjoying some of Papa John's best.

2.) Read/Act out the story of the birth of Christ.

Here is the cast of this years production. After watching the "live" version acted out, we usually watch the Luke 2 video put out by the Church.

Here are a few other shots I took Christmas Eve while the kids were anxiously crowded around the Christmas tree waiting for "PRESENTS"!

Kate, Enoch, Kaylie, and Jacob
Jacob, Ellie, Audrey, and Zack.

Again, I hope each of you has a wonderful and safe New Year's Eve and I wish you a coming year full of blessings, laughter, strength, and beautiful memories.

Love - Megan

Hummus -- The Most Delicious I've Ever Tasted

I just came up with the most delicious Hummus that I've ever tasted. It is soooooo yummy! I just had to share

Hummus
1 (15oz) can of garbanzo beans, drained
2 TBS lemon juice
1 1/2 TBS tahini (my roommate found it at Walmart -- it's sesame seed puree/oil and looks like runny peanut butter)
1/2 a head of roasted garlic**
1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 to 1/3 C. olive oil

In a blender or food processor, puree all of the above ingredients. If you want it really creamy, blend longer and add more olive oil.

**roasted garlic -- cut a whole head of garlic in half (cut it horizontal to the counter - you should have a top half and a bottom half). Put the garlic halves on a sheet of tin foil with the garlic cloves facing up, drizzle olive oil all over the garlic and add a dash of salt. Seal up the tin foil so that you make sealed packages. Put the packets on a cookie sheet and bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes. When done the garlic will be toasted and squishy. Use a fork to pop out all of the little cloves.

Enjoy!

Sweet things in life

On Saturday my mom made gingerbread houses with some of the grandkids. It's something she tries to do every year. She carries on the tradition she started when my brothers, sister and I were young. Every Christmas she would make (from scratch) the COOLEST gingerbread house you ever saw. Every kid in the neighborhood would come over to see our gingerbread house. Now, because of shear number, she buys a couple of kits, but puts just as much love and attention into assembling them with the munchkins.

Saturday was also the day for sewing. I've decided to make all the Christmas presents I giving out this year (ambition with a touch of lunacy). Saturday I sewed adorable pillow cases and 2 aprons. I'm now seamstress, but I think they all turned out adorable. Now I just have to finish all the others gifts on my list.

Some hiking and some Chihuly

Sorry, I haven't posted in a while...I've been busy. So I thought I would at least put something new up tonight. Here are some photos of a few things I've done in the past couple weeks.

Went hiking with my parents up the Barnhardt Trail, which is south of Rye, AZ.Went and saw the Chihuly exhibit at the Desert Botanical Garden with a friend. Chihuly is one of my very favorite artists. In fact, one of my goals in life it own a small piece of Chihuly art -- mind you it would have to be VERY small for me to be able to afford it. The exhibit was MAGNIFICENT and I would highly recommend those who live in AZ go see it. It will be at the DBG until about March.