Goodbye old friend...

As many of you already know, the week before Christmas Southern California experienced an incredible amount of rain. It poured for several days straight, without so much as a little peek of sunshine to break up the gloom. Normally, I love the rain. And love it I did, right up until Wednesday morning, when I was on my way to work and....

Yes, that is my poor little neon. I hydroplaned across three and half lanes of the 91 freeway, head first into a brick wall. Thank goodness I didn't take anyone else out with me, and I was fine, just a sprained wrist and some bruises and scratches. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for my car. It was a great car for many years, but there's no recovering from this one. But every cloud has a silver lining, and what a lining this cloud had. Actually, I think this was more of a platinum lining! On Christmas Eve, Chris and I went to "look" at new cars, and lo and behold...



Merry Christmas Eve to me! Isn't she beautiful?! We got a 2011 Chevy Equinox in twilight blue. We've had our eye on the Equinox for a while, but I was hoping to hold on to my neon for at least another year before getting a new car for me, especially since we just paid off Chris' Jeep the Sunday before. Obviously, that wasn't an option anymore, but now that I've got my new car, I'm okay with that! Every time I drive it, I fall a little more in love. And those heated leather seats at 5:45 on a winter morning make it much easier to face the work day! ♥

It's Beginning to Smell a Lot Like Christmas...

At least it is in the Strautman household with all of the baking I did yesterday! Every year I've wanted to bake some Christmas goodies to take to our neighbors but always run out of time. This year I was determined to make it happen! I woke up early and spent the whole day making yummy goodies. Chocolate peppermint bread, chocolate drop shortbread cookies, candy cane brownies, walnut fudge, and iced sugar cookies. Yum!

Good thing I'm not keeping all of these goodies for myself or I'd have to buy bigger pants!

The Merriest Place on Earth

Yesterday I was able to convince Chris to finally take some time off work and take me to Disneyland! We participated in the Give a Day, Get a Day volunteer program Disney had in the beginning of the year, and got two free tickets that I had been saving to use at Christmas time.

Everyone who's known me very long knows that I love Disneyland and all things Disney. There's something magical there that transforms me into a kid again every time I go. (Too bad it's too dang expensive for me to go very often!) Add a huge helping of Christmas cheer to Disneyland and, well, you've got a true wonderland!

Chris worked in the morning, so by the time we got there it was almost three in the afternoon. It was a rather grey and gloomy day, which was fine by me. I love to bundle up, so it was fun to actually need a jacket and scarf. Plus, I think the impending rain storm kept most of the holiday crowds at home, so the lines weren't too bad.  The longest line we waited in was for the Haunted Mansion, which I love anyways, but it's extra fun when they redecorate it with Nightmare Before Christmas! 

In the evening we enjoyed the amazing fireworks show, then traipsed over to the Rivers of America to watch Fantasia. The forecasted rain was finally arriving, but luckily it stayed at just a heavy sprinkle til we had left the park just after 11 and were on our way home. What a wonderful way to get in the Christmas spirit!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

The Shopping Holiday

I love the holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Years, and Black Friday! All my favorites in a month and a half! Every year I hem and haw about whether or not to get up early and brave the crowds for the Black Friday sales. Inevitably, I end up setting my alarm and heading out with the crazies! Unless of course I'm working, then my decision is made for me.


Every year after Thanksgiving dinner is over, I settle down with the paper and start going through all of the ads. I decide what is worth braving the crowds for and set my plan of attack. This year, I set my alarm and hit the road just before 3am. I know, I know, I'm officially one of the crazies. I made the rounds to all my favorite stores...

And got pretty much everything on my list! I came home happy and exhausted. I took a nap then decorated the house (pictures to follow at a later date!) What a wonderful start to the shopping season!

Oh how grateful I am...

This year I'm fortunate enough to have both Thanksgiving and Christmas off work. In years past (and also years to come, I'm sure) I've had to work one or both holidays, so I count my blessings whenever I have them off.

Following tradition, we went to my grandparents' house for Thanksgiving dinner. Chris slept in, enjoying a rare day off work, while I got up early and headed to my grandparents' house to help with the cooking. For the past several years, I've been going out early to help, and surreptitiously learn all their secrets! Everything they make is always amazing, and I'm hoping their skills will rub off on me.

(Sorry about the bad lighting, it was the only picture I got that day!

Maybe my mom or aunt will share their pictures with me...)

It was a wonderful day, as holidays with my family always are. The only thing missing was Dan and Rebecca. I'm looking forward to Christmas, when they'll be here for over a week, but I still missed having my little sister there helping me make the rolls. At least I know she has awesome inlaws to spend the holiday with back home in Utah.

Thanksgiving is always an opportunity to reflect on our blessings, and I can't help but be amazed at how very blessed I am! I have an amazing husband, who really does balance and complete me, awesome parents, the best little sister ever, and a wonderful extended family. I have a good job that I love, a safe and secure home, plentiful food filling my pantry, and two snugglepups and a sweet kitty. Above all, I have the gospel, knowledge of the Savior's atonement, and the love of my Heavenly Father. Oh how grateful I am.

Everybody ought to have a sister...

This last weekend I drove up to Provo to visit Rebecca for the weekend. It's been a while since we've been able to hang out, so I was really looking forward to the visit, and it did not disappoint!

What a long drive, but it just flies by when I blast music and sing along! And let's face it, there's not a lot of scenery to distract you until you reach Utah. I do love this street though, makes me smile every time!

Zzyxx Road, who comes up with this? My theory is when they were making the freeway signs, they got to the end and went, "hmmm we've got all these letters left over at the end of the alphabet, what can we spell with these?" and ta-da, Zzyxx was born!

I arrived on Friday evening, just in time for Becca to make dinner for me and Dan. Do I have good timing or what? Dan's a pretty lucky guy though, besides how awesome my little sister is in general, turns out she can cook too! Yummy chicken enchiladas were on the menu. Now as we all know, I'm not much of a Mexican food fan, but I have to admit these were pretty darn good. And simple too. I might even have to make them for Chris. I don't know though, I wouldn't want to give him a heart attack from the shock of me making Mexican food! :)

Saturday morning, we headed over to the Bijou market, an adorable little craft show featuring handmade items. Becca's sis-in-law Kate had some of her artwork featured there, and I have to say I was blown away. Her artwork is so adorable! You can check out her amazing art at her Cinnamon Ink shop on Etsy.



After the market, we did a little shopping at the mall, then headed home to bundle up for the BYU game in the afternoon. Dan's dad has season tickets and invited me to accompany them to the game. Pretty awesome, right? This was actually my first game at BYU, and it was a blast! Cold, but a blast! BYU did great, 40-7 over New Mexico. We had a great time hanging out, and even watched the game a little while we were there! :)

As you can see by how bundled up we are, it was a little chilly! But hot chocolate helped with that!

On Sunday it snowed lightly on and off. It was interesting going with Rebecca and Dan to an actual building for church; in the past, her student ward was actually in one of the lecture rooms on campus. Her ward is a young married couples ward, and it was pretty neat how everyone in the ward is pretty much at the same point in their lives. We were planning on having dinner with the Utah Forbush's, but unfortunately Rox's cold took a turn for the worse, so we ended up staying in Provo. Dan had some homework to work on, and Becca and I decided to watch a movie. We watched Coraline, a movie I've wanted to see for some time. It was....weird. Very weird. After that, we just made dinner and enjoyed our last evening together.

Monday morning, I saw Becca off to work, then got ready and headed out myself. Dan was home to see me off and lock the door behind me. I spent the morning doing some shopping in Provo, then started the long trek home about noon. I was fortunate enough to not get snow coming through Beaver, and the trip home went by pretty quickly. It was good to get home though. Dan and Rebecca have a pretty comfortable couch, but I missed my bed! And Chris of course. :) I miss them already though, and can't wait til Christmas when Dan & Becca are here!

Strawberry patch

In our front side yard, we have an empty little spot that was envious of all the fruit trees we've planted lately and wanted in on the action. I decided it was a perfect spot for a little strawberry patch. I did some research and discovered this is a great time of year to plant strawberries in SoCal, since it doesn't get cold enough during the winter to kill the plants. So this morning I planted 34 strawberry plants!

Yes, I know they look a little sparse right now, but they'll fill out and become a beautiful little strawberry patch by spring! I'm hoping to have enough to make some strawberry jam next summer. Yum!

Impromptu Date Night

On Wednesday night Chris and I were given tickets to see The Weepies at Coach House in San Juan Capistrano on Thursday night. Ever heard of The Weepies? Yeah, me either. But they were fabulous. Very laid-back, indie feel to their music. I loved it. It was quite a drive, in ridiculous traffic no less, but it was fun once we got there.

Here's a little snippet of the show.

Here's the full version of one of their songs I liked.

Love them!

I Left My Heart in San Francisco (in January...)

I was looking through pictures on my computer, and came across our pictures from our trip to San Francisco we took in January. It was our first real vacation since our honeymoon, and it was wonderful. We drove up the PCH and stayed in the city for four nights.

On our way up the coast

Overlooking the city from Alcatraz Island

Enjoying the evening at Pier 39

Shopping in China Town

Just before the show

King Tut exhibit at de Young Museum

It was an amazing trip. Looking at these reminded me I promised myself we'd try to travel more. Sounds it's time to take a long weekend and get out of town!

With an aching heart...

"Time is passing. Yet, for the United States of America, there will be no forgetting September the 11th. We will remember every rescuer who died in honor. We will remember every family that lives in grief. We will remember the fire and ash, the last phone calls, the funerals of the children."
                        -President George W. Bush
                             November 11th, 2001

Our New Tree

For Labor Day, Chris decided to dig up the dying bush in our front yard and replace it with a new alive one. So after he tore it out, we were off to the nursery to pick out a new bush. While we were there, I convinced him to try a fruit tree instead. So, ta-da! Our new dwarf blood orange tree!

Isn't it cute? And someday, it''ll be a real tree! :) Though I know it doesn't look like it, I even helped Chris plant it. I have the sunburned neck to prove it!

Happy Independence Day

"'This Nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." Elmer Davis

"Those who won our independence believed liberty to be the secret of happiness and courage to be the secret of liberty." Louis D. Braneis

"If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace." Hamilton Fish

"We must not be free because we claim freedom, but because we practice it." William Faulkner

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." The Declaration of Independence

Sneezures

I have a tendency to sneeze multiple times in a row. Many multiples actually. And they're itty-bitty kitty-sized sneezes. One of my friends at work dubbed them as "sneezures". If you've ever heard it, you know what I'm talking about! In honor of this fact about me, I offer this adorable picture. It made my day! Enjoy! :)

Hello Summer...

Well, it's June, it's hot, and it's officially summer! Okay, well, not officially, the actual first day of summer is June 21st, but when has SoCal ever waited til then to warm up? Anyone that knows me knows that I am not a summer girl. I don't do heat, I rarely do sun, and I certainly don't do hot stuffy sweaty days! Yuck. Luckily, my air conditioning works fabulously, so I can tolerate the summer in relative comfort. I, however, did not turn it on today. Bad idea! It's so warm and stuffy in my house, if I even think about cooking anything my brain just shuts down. Sounds like an impromptu date night to me!

Done!

I just finished working my last graveyard shift for this year.Yay! Back to days for the next 8 months. Now, instead of staying up all night long, I get to be an early bird and head to bed at a ridiculously early hour. I do enjoy the graveyard shift while I'm at work, but hate what it does to my personal life, since Chris and I only get to really see each other 3 days a week. Also, to all of my friends and family who kindly have not been calling me during the daylight hours, it is officially okay to call me again. If I'm not awake when you call, I should be!

One of my favorite memories is from the summer after we were married, and I was on the graveyard shift. I came home from work at 7 and immediately fell asleep, as usual. I woke up at about 8:30 to find Chris still in bed next to me. A little concerning, considering he started work at 8. I asked him why he was still home, and he said he wanted to sleep next to me for a little while. I said, "But I was asleep, I didn't even know you were there!" He replied "I know. But I knew you were there and that was enough." Isn't he a sweet guy? I think I'll keep him...

My grandparents

On Friday I got the chance to visit with my grandparents and go out to lunch with them to celebrate my grandma's birthday. I've been blessed with a really awesome family, and a whole lot of it is due to these two. Some of my favorite memories from when I was a kid are the times we would go to my grandparents' house in Brea. Along the back fence they had the most awesome row of boysenberry bushes. I'm planting some boysenberries in my backyard this weekend! Now that I'm older, it's fun to visit with them and hear stories about when they were young. Plus, now I can get really great gardening tips from my grandpa!

How does your garden grow? So far, not so good....

Friday and Saturday I replanted my garden for the third time. We put up a temporary fence to keep Laska out of the garden area, but it took some trial-and-error before we were able to make it puppy-proof. I decided to forgo the seeds for the squash and zucchini, and used seedlings instead. I also added cucumbers, spaghetti squash, oregano, rosemary and cilantro to the garden. Next I'm planting some grapes, boysenberries and blackberries along the fence. Yum! If you're nice, I might share some veggies this fall. And depending on how those squash plants produce, you might find a bag full of squash on your porch whether you're nice or not!

How does your garden grow?

A month or two ago, Chris built me a beautiful raised garden bed for our side yard so I could plant some vegetables. I've been wanting to give it a try ever since we bought the house. This last weekend I decided that I had procrastinated long enough, and we finally started our garden. First we had to buy 30 cu ft of soil and compost to fill it. That may not sound like a lot, but when you're carrying the packages one-by-one to the backyard, it's a lot! And I did help carry them!....a little...have I mentioned Chris is really strong? :)

By the time we had all the dirt in the backyard and were ready to get started, it was dark. So we kept on working using flashlights and the light from the living room window. And now I have a beautiful garden that I'm going to try my very best to keep alive. I planted 3 different types of tomatoes, red and green peppers, summer squash, zucchini, carrots, basil, sage, and parsley. Here's my garden so far!

And so, it begins...

Christopher Galen Strautman, son of Ralph and Marjorie Strautman.
Elizabeth Ashley Strautman, daughter of Glenn and Doreen Forbush.
Married March 3rd, 2007 in the Redlands California Temple.

This is our blog. Enjoy!