Christmas 2011

We attempted to do every other year for the Holidays, but it was more difficult than we thought it would be for Christmas. We ended up having a crazier schedule than we expected, but it was nice to squeeze everyone in. I guess we should count ourselves lucky that we live in the same state as our families, and that both of our families live close together. We spent Christmas Eve with my family. We had a lot of little ones running around this year. It is crazy how fast a family can grow. I now have eight nieces and nephews. Six of them were there, and all but one of my brothers were there.During the day we played twister and baked/cooked, and that night we wore ugly Christmas sweaters to put a twist on our tradition. As we get older it has been nice to have this night to come together and continue family tradition.

everyone that was left at the end of the night

Kyle and I stayed up until midnight and he opened his birthday gifts from me. We spent Christmas morning with the Aamots. A much quieter and smaller tradition, but we will enjoy having one side smaller while it lasts.

The Aamot Family

Merry Christmas!! Love, us

Cohen B. Ingram

Another baby boy for the Ingram Family. Baby Cohen is the sweetest little guy. We stayed with Eric and Bridget over break, and spent every minute we could snuggling with their new addition. Kyle woke up every morning, picked up Cohen and fell back asleep with him on the couch. Pretty cute. I never had a lot of extended family growing up. I only knew a few of my cousins, and had two uncles. Most of our family still lives in Texas. It's nice to know that the next generation has no shortage of aunts, uncles, and cousins to love on them. So Cohen, get ready for a lifetime of being spoiled and loved on by your crazy relatives. 

 Love you, Love Us

I Freaked Lisa out by walking out on a frozen reservoir, and Steven and I tried to break the ice with a bunch of big rocks, but it was pretty thick. She left this part of the story out.

Steven and I standing on a frozen reservoir 

 

Christmas Tree Adventure 2011

      This year is our second Christmas together as husband and wife. Trust me, it's weird to us too! Last year Taryn and Steve, our old neighbors, bought us a Christmas tree permit. This year we decided to pay it forward and bought our new neighbors their permit. We decided to go this morning, since Sunday's have proven to be great adventure days for us in the past. I set my alarm early so I could bake some pull a parts and make coffee to take with us. By bake, I mean warm them up in the oven. We left our house at 8am and met Steven and Alanna on the way. They decided to go on a Christmas tree adventure with us, and we were happy to share it. 

     We hit the road and drove for about an hour until we got to the turn off to hunt for a tree. Last year it was snowy the whole way there. I was thinking it wouldn't be as pretty of a drive, but I was surprised by how beautiful it was even without being a winter wonderland. Once we got to the logging roads I was just excited that there was NOT snow, because no snow means no going in the ditch! Of course, what is a Kyle and Lisa adventure without something terrifying or hysterical? Kyle usually is in charge of terrifying me, and I'm the queen of awkward and hysterical. We were driving along when Kyle slammed on his breaks. He spotted some otters or beavers or something and was really stoked on that. Don't worry that is just a side note. A few moments later he slammed on his breaks again. This time he saw a creek (not a little baby stream, a creek) and decided he should drive down towards it. There wasn't no snow. Just no snow on the roads. This was not technically a road. We slid a little, but snow has nothing on our 4-wheel drive. Steven and Alanna pulled their jeep up next to ours. Kyle had crossed this with Steven in the summer apparently and thought it was a genius idea to do it again. Half of it was frozen over, and if you know me, you know all I was thinking about was WORST...CASE...SCENARIO. Deep dark freezing jeep eating hole under the ice. Waiting for a stupid boy with a 4-wheel drive car. He promises me we won't go across and he is just going to turn around. Lie. He started driving down the hill and into the water. I started screaming bloody murder(: I almost lost my voice when the ice started breaking and the jeep was not getting very good traction. Then the jeep started sinking into a huge hole...just kidding. We got across safely, and Kyle got a dead arm. 

driving back across

not happy

After my voice box and Kyle's arm were damaged we drove back across and kept going on our hunt. We spotted a couple of trees in the distance and decided they were worth hiking to. We found a few really perfect trees but decided to explore a little more. Kyle's tree needed to be cut about half way up, but that's how he did it last year as well. We wandered to a little baby meadow with moose tracks! (or we think that's what they were) and a frozen over little stream. Steven was walking on the ice so Alanna went to search for a tree, and I don't blame her for not wanting to witness the ice breaking. He was jumping on it, pretty sure because Kyle was standing next to him saying "jump steven, jump". It didn't break, and Alanna was off giggling to herself about a tree she found. Steven turned to look at the Whoville tree and when he turned back around the ice broke. He didn't fall in, but it was a little funny. If he fell in it would have been a lot funny. What?! I had extra socks in the car he could have borrowed...

our ridiculous family

steven and alanna

barbed wire. check!

 Anyway, we snapped a few photos. Taylor was uncooperative as always. That dog hates getting her picture taken more than my mom. Finally Kyle just picked her up and was going to bring her back over for a photo, and we decided a ridiculous picture was all that was going to happen. Sometimes you have to just go with it. Alanna and Steven made the wonderful choice of the curvy Who tree, and we picked the giant one. 

While the boys sawed down the trees we mustached ourselves with old mans beard. Cannot believe how helpful we are. Our productivity is wonderful. 
After the trees were cut down and trimmed a little we (and by we i mean mostly just the boys) took the trees up to the jeeps. I had to get a traditional picture of me pulling the sled and Kyle doing most of the work...

We trimmed them up and they looked quite nice. Not as out of control as last year I know, but it was still our annual Christmas Tree Adventure. It was a good break from studying and our busy lives. It should be Christmas time more often.

finished!

Merry Christmas!!!

 Love, us.

Old and New

Being married comes with a lot of changes. Some you adjust to right away, and some I think I may never get quite use to. Changes go with living though. Unfortunately I still haven't found the rewind or pause buttons. As surprising as it may seem (or not) there are hundreds of moments I wouldn't mind going back to…and they all have two common threads: traditions and loved ones.

In my family the holidays have always been that time of year I knew what to expect. I found comfort in knowing no matter what happened we would always go to a Christmas tree farm and drink cider, and help my Dad pick out the best tree. I think he got most of the votes, but he always chose the best Christmas tree on the whole farm. We would go home and eat my dad's cookies and decorate them, and by decorate I mean I was suppose to put maraschino cherries on them but I ate the cherries when no one was looking. No matter how old my brothers get they still argue over whose ornament is whose. Hint: our initials are on the bottom boys! Christmas Eve for me always meant being together, laughing a lot, and attending a candle lit service that night. We would wake up for stalkings and mom frantically cooking for Christmas dinner the next morning. I would help her crumble bread and open cans. The contents of the olive cans would end up on my ten fingers. New years Eve my Dad always makes homemade ice cream. We all expect it even though we are grown up for the most part. Traditions bring comfort when everything else may be falling apart. Maybe because we know we always have our family, or maybe it's because it is stability in this far from stable life.  

Last year Kyle and I tried to be two places at once. Guess how well that went? So this year we are testing out the every other year. Kyle doesn't talk about any deep rooted traditions, at least not beyond the normal dinner and time with at least immediate family. I contribute that to him being a boy. Even if families don't have a million quirky things they do together like my family, it still means so much to have the traditional dinner and time spent with them. For Thanksgiving we spent our weekend with the Aamots and Kyles extended family in Spokane. I was nervous that I would be insanely homesick and fall apart at some point or other, but I actually felt welcomed. I left a sobbing message to Bridget while she was in labor. I missed it, and if I could have I would have flown home just for that night. We had Aunt Karen and Uncle Rob and Kyle's family over Wednesday night. It was so good to see everyone, and feeling blessed with some great new relatives helped being away from my family. Karen and Rob are full of hugs and I LOVE them for that. Baby Cohen was born Thanksgiving morning healthy and happy. We headed up to Spokane and had dinner at Kyle's Aunt Debbie and Uncle Bob's house. I think I filled up on cookies before any of the actual food was done! Kyle's cousins found a dead deer in the woods…newly dead…so Kyle kept it. The next night we went to a Thanksgiving parade and firework show. Rob almost gave Matt a hernia on the drive home, probably had to be there. We went back to Kyle's cousin Charlie's for soup and the unveiling of her Christmas lights. She goes ALL out. Like people driving by stop and stare. I guess these may become our every-other year traditions for the time being. I am okay with that though (minus the dead deer). As long as I don't miss any more Ingram births on my year away! It is nice to have family and new family that can make you laugh and feel loved. One thing I have to remember for next time though: do not try to keep up with a Catholic family when it comes to drinking wine. I will fail, and my body will hate me the next week, even if it is so good at the time.

Thankful for our family (old and new) and friends. Love, us.   

Weekend with Dad

This past weekend was Dad's weekend at WSU. Kyle's dad wasn't able to make it, but my dad was really excited to be able to come. He made the trek over on Friday (thank you Veterans, including my Dad). Friday night I made lasagna, and it turned out pretty good, but I make it often enough that I have it down now. After dinner I headed to my ballet recital. Yes, you read correctly. As mentioned before I am taking ballet. For Dad's weekend all of the dance classes put on a recital. Rather embarrassing if you ask me. We're talking leotard, pink tights, bun recital. My Dad and Kyle came to watch, and I'm sure get a little chuckle out of it. I remembered the whole dance, and didn't mess up at all, but it was nothing special. My Dad was either happy he didn't spend money on ballet, or wishing he had! Saturday we went over to Moscow and my Dad and Kyle wandered through tri-state and some pawn shops…boys being boys. My Dad is usually described as easy going or quiet. Kyle is usually described as…well, not those things ha! They get along really well though, and that makes me one happy girl. In my family Kyle is just that, family. I love that even when Kyle's Dad couldn't make it, my Dad was excited and wanted to make sure Kyle had a good weekend still and felt the love of a father. I know Kyle's Dad would have done the same had my Dad not been able to come. Saturday night we went to the Coug football game (THEY WON!). I was not thinking and wore my UGGS. It was snowing. Slushy snow. My feet got absolutely soaked. Kyle was not very happy with me, but it was not my intent to see how cold my feet could get without frostbite setting in. I swear on frosty the snowman. Needless to say, we left at half time and watched the Cougs win against ASU from the comfort of our couches. Sunday we went to church and then I did homework while the boy napped. We went to palouse treasures too, and Kyle found a sledding treasure, my dad found a snow shovel treasure, and I found books to cozy up with. Seeing a theme. Winter is here! My dad and I played Yahtzee. He won one and I won one. This morning my Dad headed home. He came by my work and got a coffee first and met all my cute old men. They were pretty excited he came in, it may have easily been the highlight of some of their days…except Frank who came in late, and his highlight was asking his doctor to leave his middle finger out of his hand cast! Love that ornery old man. It was good to have him here for the weekend, and we already miss having him here. Even if we didn't do a whole lot, it was still fun.  

Families are messy crazy things, but at the end of the day they come through more often than not. I have one amazing Dad, and even if the weekend was short it was good to make those memories and spend time with him. Sometimes just being around someone we miss and love gives us what we need to make it through.  

Dad's Weekend 2011

making turtles

me and dad

kyle and dad

all of us

at the game! in the snow...

trying to stay warm...fail

all 3 of them crashed

dads weekend ballet recital

recital

For those of you that aren't aware, I am taking ballet this semester. I danced a little in high school, but I was never all that graceful. I think it is one of those talents that needs years and years of refinement and practice. My teacher was trained in Russian Vaganova ballet. An extremely technical form of the dance. I love that she is so technical because I am really learning the art behind each movement. More than anything in the past few months I have learned that we are capable of amazing things when we put forth the effort.

"We are fools whether we dance or not, 

so we might as well dance"

Bridget and Eric are having a baby boy, Cohen Ingram. He is due on 11/24/11. We will be with Kyle's family for Thanksgiving, so we will miss it, but will get to meet him two short weeks later. I am excited and admittedly jealous. Their lives are about to be filled with more joy then they can possibly imagine. 

Here are a couple of photos I took for Bridget. Cutest belly ever.  

our little family

We took some fall photos with our little (very little) family. You and me and the dog make three. 

Pumpkin Carving 2011

We Carved Pumpkins tonight. Kyle carved a TMNT guy, and I carved christmas trees and the Grinches name with a heart. I'm just really excited for christmas and all things involved. Kyle has a hidden talent for pumpkin carving. I'm not sure why this is, but he is legitimately good at it. I just hack away and hope I finish with ten fingers. Happy Pumpkin Carving! love, us

It's officially starting to get pretty here. Too bad it won't last long. I'm not ready to welcome the snow. 

Haunted Palouse

typical. as you all know. 

not okay with this. not okay.

about to enter the haunted woods. 

We finally got to have an adventure. Much needed. We went to the Haunted Palouse this weekend. This little tiny town (Ferndale size for my Bellingham loves) goes all out every year. They all dress up and play the role. There is two haunted houses and a haunted hay ride...into the woods. I watch too much criminal minds, so this creeped me out. All I could think was someday I will say I was there...the place of the haunted Palouse massacre. We went with Steven and Alanna and Kim and John, and Kim's sister. Alanna and I had dibs on each other. People were walking around scaring everyone. This one lady was absolutely terrifying. Until we saw her on break texting! We were walking down the street and this lady came out from behind a stand and Alanna and I screamed and jumped, then quickly realized she was not part of the Haunted Palouse...definitely just a normal person. Sorry!!! In the Haunted house Alanna and I walked in the middle ( maybe holding hands) with Kyle and Steven on each end. Kyle was leading the way and I promise this is the truth-he jumped and yelled more then once. He magically doesn't remember this, and denies it up and down, but trust me, he did. I thought the house was over. Then I found out we were only half way through and going back in. Not okay. I don't even know how to explain this house. Think of the scariest situation possible that also happens to be safe and fake. I was in it. I almost peed my pants at the end. There was something in a cage and I could see the outside so I was thinking, "cool I made it, now RUN." I wasn't focused on the thing. Until he jumped at me and I realized his cage ended. Awful. The next house was not bad at all. In fact we laughed at several points because the acting was so stinkin' bad. It was a good break from this tough semester for us, and even though I HATE scary things it was a lot of fun.

I am doing my best to be daring in the kitchen. Kyle and I love cooking for and with each other, which has been a blessing. I use to hate cooking, and I'm not sure I would always use the word love even now, but I am getting skilled at certain recipes. Not to toot my own horn, but I make a very delicious lasagna. The one thing I cannot do that Kyle I'm sure misses, is bake. Who has two thumbs and destroys chocolate chip cookies every time she tries to bake them...THIS GIRL. I can make you the best from scratch cupcake you've ever had, but when it comes to baking cookies I fail every time. Then there is my mother-in-law. Her cookies are phenomenal. Really though, if I could bake cookies like her I would be a sumo wrestling champ! Since I am not up to par on my cookie making skills I search for other fun baking projects. Below are some caramel baked apples that I took a whack at. They turned out amazing, and I was pretty proud of myself. If I had a stop watch I'm sure Kyle ate his in under one minute...as he does any food he enjoys!!    

before the oven

finished! Cute fall dessert for any occasion

All things Fall

Well aren't we cute

chandler bing

Elissa's visit!

discovery of peppermint schnapps in hot cocoa!

              

kyle & Taylor's first "hunt"

So Far this year our fall has been a blur of homework and studying. We have gotten to enjoy games, friends, and Kyle has gotten into hunting. The thought of a poor deer being cut up and hung for several days just does not make my stomach hungry. That is definitely what happens by the way. I am a big fan of meat (thats what she said) but not when I hear about it being hunted down and chillin in meat sacks. Anyway, in just two short weeks we finally get to head home for a weekend. I'm really excited to get my fill of family and people I love.