Happy 2008! From Zürich

I threw on some sparkles and then we got bundled up and headed to downtown Zürich...

and battled the crowds to celebrate the New Year!

At midnight there was a fantastic fireworks display. Fireworks is one of my favorite parts of life

I loved our view through the silhouette of the tree.

Here's the grand finale of the show across the lake from us.

Christmas '07

Jared and I headed back to the U.S. for Christmas. First stop New Jersey...to see my nephews! Even though everyone was sick they were cheery and fun to play with.

Hudson was climbing everything everywhere!

On Saturday I needed to get some things at the mall so Jared and I loaded up the kids and hopped in my sister's mini van. As we were driving Jared said, "this is foreshadowing for the future isn't it." He (Jared) took a 2 hour nap when we returned.

The boys were actually really good at The Gap as Jared searched for a present for his brother. Johnny asked me with a concerned look on his face after seeing Jared's concentration on picking out the perfect outfit, "Is Jared ok? Is Jared doing all right?"

Favorite quote from Johnny, "I'm not too happy about his pull-up situation." After my sister made him wear pull-ups one night as a punishment because he wouldn't poop in the toilet that day.
Here he is hammering the candy canes along with Hudson for the gingerbread house.

Favorite Hudson quote.

"Ala, are you happy? I'm happy." Hudson and Johnny call me Al-a.

Johnny had fun piling all of the candy into the doorway so the people couldn't get out.

It was fun to see snow in the backyard.

We all made a snowman. Hudson was very proud.

Then we pulled the boys around on the sled. Jared took over when I got tired.

When Hudson wouldn't want to do something he'd say, "I don't think so." Here he is playing the piano with Jared. He LOVED Jared, often asking, "Where's Jarwed, or I want Jarwed to do it."

Next stop South Carolina

My first Christmas with the Jacobs was grand.
It all started out with a nativity scene. Then it progressed to silly string, presents, games, ice skating, eating, jumping, eating, some sleeping, running around, movies and joy!















Presents and silly string.

Oa on her Giraffe!

Eating...whether we're happy about it or not.










































Snuggling!























Video Game playing

Frozen

This is the fountain at the main train station near our house. Completely frozen. I just checked the temperature outside at 9am. It's 23° F. And this is after Jared has already gone out for his morning run. Yup, that's cold. How are all you guys in California feeling?

Got Cooties!

Something good

I got this idea last night and I scanning my friend's latest Cook's Illustrated issue. Puffed patsry treats. Well, I had some puffed pastry at home and sun-dried tomatoes from the market last week. One has sun-dried tomatoes, goats cheese and chives in it. The other kind I put basil and some kind of soft cheese that I had in my fridge. It was like a triple cream brie. Very good.


I made little pockets, (Jared called them hot pockets.) I can assure you that mine were better than ones from the vending machine in college, which I'm sad to say I ate when there was nothing else in the middle of the night to snack on while I was up studying.

They turned out nice and golden and so good. Well, I guess you can't go wrong with puffed pastry. I actually really like h'orderves and finger foods. I could live on them. Take me to a party with finger foods and I'm in heaven.