'Tis the Season!

We hosted our annual Mustache Egg-Nog Party in Charleston and had some enthusiastic participants. Here are a few captured 'staches. Can you guess which one is my husband?

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The poetry was awesome, thanks to Justin A. and George R. We even had a power-point presentation by Sam P. that was entertaining and educational! People dressed to impress, some in their fabulous Christmas sweaters, others in outrageous Goodwill and the Super-Bad Suit Emporium finds. Joel's egg-nog was delish, as usual. We've had quite a few requests for the recipe, so here you go!

Joel's Famous Egg-Nog
12 Egg Yolks
2 Cups Sugar
4 Cups Cold Milk
4 Cups Cream
Vanilla
Nutmeg
1-2 Tbls. Rum Flavoring

Mix yolks and sugar in mixer. Slowly add cold milk. Chill for 3 hours, or overnight. Beat 4 cups of cream until thick, not whipped. Fold into chilled milk mixture. Season with Vanilla, Nutmeg, and Rum Flavoring.


This year the holidays will be taking us to Sunny California. For all of our friends from the west, we will postpone our Utah Mustache Party until 2009. If you find yourselves in California during the 23rd-30th, let us know. We'd love to get together for more festivities and good times.
Merry Christmas!

"That sounds like R to the S to the V!"
said the nurse, who apparently, is right...bummer.
We are sick, sick, sick!
Poor Tessa. The rest of us are on the up. No more fevers.
Tessa's sad little cough breaks my heart.
Apparently this is the worst season ever for RSV.
Keep your little ones healthy!

The Bully

What do you do? There's a kid at school that calls Kimball a name every day during lunch. Today it was "Butt-face." Apparently the bully is not in K's class, but Kimball knows him as "Dray-Dray." Then there's a girl in Kimball's class that kicks him under the table. Kimball says,

"She used to be my best friend, and now she is mean to me."

We didn't think we'd have to experience these scenarios so soon. So we find ourselves asking, What is the balance between teaching your child to defend himself vs. turning the other cheek? And is tattling always bad? I mean not when someone is getting hurt. And, how much should we be involved? I mean, how much of this could be conjured up in Kimball's head? He has quite the imagination and takes things pretty personally. Today he said,

"Mom, maybe I should pretend to be Dray-Dray's friend, invite him over for a play-date, and then I can do Karate on him...I'll kick him in the stomach, like this, pow, kachoo,pow, pow, koo, koo, etc."

Don't ever cross Kimball. He is pretty conniving. But at the same time, he has a very sweet-heart, and would never hurt anyone (well, no one other than a certain sibling who might be driving him crazy). Kimball, by virtue of being the big brother, cares for people smaller and younger than himself. He makes friends with those that don't have any. I really am so proud of my sweet boy...but, how do you deal with bullies? Advice please?

Thanksgiving in North Carolina

We had a great time in Winston-Salem for the Holiday. Here are some pic's. Enjoy!