What a Way to Start the New Year!

In other words, "We're all Together Again, We're Here, We're Here!

New Year's Day was a day to remember. Whenever Jenni, Mark, and family are here from Washington, it's time to celebrate. We just don't see them often enough.

the entire family (minus Sadie who was napping like a good little girl.)

Jenni and Mark made DELICIOUS real whipped cream-topped citrus pancakes that were devoured by all. We maxed out our dining room table with ten adults.

Grand-babies entertained each other at their own china adorned table. (I'm brave, am I not?)

Note to self: Buy a lemon zesting tool and two more baby booster seats.

For those who would like to give them a try, (and believe me, you WANT to give them a try) here is the recipe.

from sophistimom.com

citrus pancakes

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

1 egg

1 egg yolk

zest of 1 lime

zest of 1 orange

zest of 1 lemon

citrus syrup (recipe follows)

whipped cream (optional)

1. Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.

2. Measure out milk in a glass measuring cup, and whisk in eggs, butter and zests. Pour into dry ingredients and whisk until just incorporated, but still lumpy.

3. Grease a nonstick griddle set to medium with a teaspoon of butter. Spoon out batter by 1/3 cupfuls onto the griddle and cook until small bubbles form on the batter but do not break. Flip pancakes and and cook for 30 more seconds. Place all finished pancakes in a warm oven until ready to serve.

4. Serve with citrus syrup and whipped cream.

citrus syrup

1/2 cup pure maple syrup

juice of 1 lime

juice of 1 orange

juice of 1 lemon

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Whisk all ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 5 minutes.

And after breakfast....

it was like Christmas morning all over again. Cousins gave gifts to cousins,

and siblings to siblings.

Sadie's awake!

All five of my adorable, kissable, sweet from to to toe grand-babies

And to top it all off...

A trip to the new In and Out in American Fork was a MUST. We were assured that it wouldn't be as busy as the one in Draper. Hmmm....

The Best is Yet to Be

To my Randy,

It's been 29 years today. I fondly recall...

• the day you asked me to be your wife... Somehow you knew I didn't need more than 10 minutes to make my decision.

This photograph was taken that very day. Remember?

• how you, my parents, and I all slept in the same hotel room the night before our wedding day.

• the fact that your wedding ring didn't quite fit, but I shoved it on anyway. Did you not even wonder at that point?

• that early morning nine months later when you called my parents and announced, "It's a girl.... and a boy!"

• how embarrassed I was when you preformed grocery cart ballet in the grocery store. Do you remember drenching my back with the vegetable sprayer?

• how you make people smile.

• how you were late for dinner one winter night because you helped pull three cars out of the snow.

• your faith and determination the year you lost your job.

• the morning you shaved the mustache that had adorned your face for as long as I had known you. How you climbed back into bed, tapped me on the shoulder, and made me scream!

• the day I sat in awe of your extreme patience with our teenage children; "I don't want to have any regrets," you explained.

• how nearly every meal I cook is somehow your "favorite".

• the anniversary you declared, while shaking your head, "We've been married for 17 stinkin' long years!"

• how warm and comforting your hands feel as you place them on my head and bless me to overcome.... headaches, fear, frustration, fevers.

• how you manage to make me laugh when I'm in a bad mood.

• how you still like to hold my hand.

• that evening when you were called as the bishop or our ward. It's an amazing feeling to realize the Lord knows you like I know you.

• the day I was suffering from self-imposed whip lash. You washed and rubbed my feet to help me feel better.

• how you lovingly endure concert after concert after concert.

• how every day is a new adventure.

• The day you became "Potts" and I became "Gammie".

• how your eyes tear up when you remember my mother.

• how gently you care for my father.

• how you dance with our grand-babies.

• how you dance with me!

There were those who thought I was taking a chance marrying a photographer. I had no doubts when I said, "Yes". With you, life has been a dream and just keeps getting better.

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

I love you.