Turkey cookin

So... Julie asked me why I hadn't told this story and really she is right, it is pretty funny in hindsight.

The day before Christmas Joshs mom got really, really sick.  She always cooks the turkey and ham so we have never had to do it before.  Well Friday morning I got a call from Julie saying mom is really sick, we need to spend the day cooking for her so she doesn't have to do it.  OK.... how hard can cooking a turkey be?!

We brought it to my house and stared at it for awhile trying to figure out where to begin.  We started by pulling out the neck and ripping the heart off the hind end.  But there was this huge piece of plastic stuck in its butt that would not budge, it was still a bit to icy inside.  We searched around for the giblets package but realized they didn't put one in this bird.  We waited ever so patiently for the dang bird to thaw but it was taking forever so I got this great idea to go and get my blow dryer and stick it in the birds rear end,  Julie held the birds legs apart and  it was working wonderfully until we started smelling hair product, so we ended that idea.  It had gone on just long enough to thaw it enough to get out the plastic piece.

We put the bird in and 6 hours later it was done.  In the meantime Joshs mom called and asked if we had pulled the giblet and heart package out and cooked it for Josh, I explained that there was no package and the heart was attached to the bird above the rear end.  She sounded very suspicious of the whole thing but said... "well ok."  I decided to be nice and cook the neck and heart for Josh since he loves them.  After they were done I proudly told him to eat up.  He refused saying that is was obviously not the heart since it had bones in it and skin on it and wanted to know what the heck it was.  Julie and I fought for awhile with him until Julie was cutting up the bird and found the giblet and heart package cooked inside the bird.  We then had to figure out what the heck that heart was, we came to the conclusion it was the tail.  I guess we should have figured it out when we had to rip it from the hind end of the bird.

I also should say... have you ever seen a turkey neck??  A few years ago Julie saw the neck and asked if it was the turkeys "dinger"... we explained if it was it would drag on the ground when the turkey ran.  So everytime I looked at the neck while cooking I imagined this turkey having this "dinger".

We took the cooked bird out to Joshs mom and dads and told them the story of the bird cooking and after laughing so hard I thought they might pee themselves, they told us we should show Martha Stewart how to cook a bird!

It ended up being pretty tasty, but it was quite the experience.  Now we know and will be great turkey cookers!

1 year anniversary!

Today is my 1 year anniversary since I quit smoking!  It is honestly almost hard for me to remember what my life as a smoker was like but I know it feels so good to have the freedom being free of smoking provides.  I am now past the part where the smell of a cigarette makes my mouth water and am now to the part where it just plain stinks. 

This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done!!!

Chef Ry

Rylan LOVES to cook, bake or anything that involves being in the kitchen.  I keep telling him he can be the next Guy Fieri... I LOVE that guy!  Anyway... he is now taking a cooking class through the 4-H program and he is loving every second of it.

For Christmas he got his own "Chefs outfit"... he loves it!

Check out this little chef

Christmas 2010

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  It really did not feel like Christmas at all this year so it was a little hard getting into the spirit but all in all it was a good day.   I do have to say that Jace was so excited this year I thought his little heart just might blow up.  I don't think he ever thought Christmas would get here.  Jace asked for 3 things this year.... a bike, a Nintendo DS and an X-box 360 and what the heck?!  He got all 3!!  Santa brought the bike and then grandparents filled in the rest, lucky kid!  Ry really wanted a bike and santa came through for him too.

We also took our annual picture with my side of the family... so fun to look at every year!

TWINS!!

On the 14th of Decemeber the Love family was given to beautiful little blessings.  Joshs brother Jerry and his wife gave birth to twins.  Calvin Joseph and Amber Kay were both healthy and about as perfect as can be.  How fun it will be to have twins in the family!

Sledding and tree decorating

 Last weekend the boys went sledding.  They LOVE to sled, again I do not like the cold so I sat this one out but from all the pictures it looks like they had a great time!

On Wednesday night we decorated our tree.  This is one of my favorite traditions.  I remember growing up we would go and pick out a tree as a family, turn on the Chimpunks Christmas music and decorate the tree together, it is a tradition I have carried on.

Snow day!

Yesterday we woke up to almost a foot of snow at our house.  I honestly cannot remember when it has ever snowed a foot over night!  Makes days like those tough being a bus driver, that is for sure.  But luckily it was a snow day here in Homedale and the boys and I didn't have to go anywhere.

The boys were so eager to get out and play in the snow but anyone that knows me knows I HATE the snow!  So luckily for them Aunt Julie was happy to come over and play with them.  They really are lucky to have her... in so many ways.

All in all it was a great day at home.