Goodbye 2011... Hello 2012

Well I guess it's all over... 2011 that is *grin*.

Last night we pulled out a fancy table cloth for the coffee table, covered it with delicious finger foods for our annual new year's eve party and invited my mom and dad to join us :) We had cheese and crackers, hummus and veggie chips, fresh oysters that I breaded and fried, black Alaskan cod which is seriously to die for when you steam it in the oven....

and poached pears in a merlot and grand marnier sauce. I've been wanting to make these for a long time and thought it would make a lovely dessert to eat at the stroke of midnight :) I made a syrupy reduction out of the poaching liquid and then drizzled it over the warm pears and vanilla bean ice cream. So yummy and a lovely way to ring in the new year!

My dad just happens to be a new year's baby as well so today we got to have another party for his birthday with homemade sushi. We made California rolls and others with smoked sockeye salmon, shrimp croissants and my mom made cherry cheesecake for his birthday cake. I think I've eaten enough for an entire week in the last 24 hours LOL.

I'm not one for new year's resolutions usually as I tend to break them but last January I had vowed to live life more intentionally and 2011 lived up to what I had envisioned so I plan to do a whole lot more intentional living in 2012!

But when I read this lovely excerpt below from Ann Voskamp's blog, A Holy Experience a few days ago it just made me say 'YES'!

“I don’t really want more time;
I just want enough time.
Time to breathe deep & time to see real & time to laugh long, time to give You glory & rest deep & sing joy…
I just want time to do my one life well."
{read more here}

I can't agree more whole heartedly with what she wrote and I am looking forward to everything this brand new year brings my way :)

Happy New Year,
Rosina

Busy Hands

Busy hands are happy hands :)

My little guy spent a good portion of the afternoon helping me in the kitchen today. It seemed that every time he was left alone and with the older two he got his feelings hurt or there was a squabble so I put him to work *grin*.

He was my personal dishwasher, washing soup pots, dough hooks and anything else that looked like it needed washing even if it really didn't :) His little fingers turned pruney and his cheerful disposition returned. He's quietly playing with his little men and horses beside me now and I can hear the other two monkeys giggling in the other room... all is happy again on the home front :)

It always does the trick. A gentle way of getting him back on track and I just love how when they are little they don't look at helping out as being any sort of chore. If only I could harness some of the energy for myself! LOL. My house would be spick and span in no time *grin*.

Hugs,
Rosina

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

Hugs,
Rosina