Christmas in Utah: Christmas Eve

Wow, I get happy just looking at all these pictures.  We loved our time in Utah with our families.  We had a sort of Christmas Day with my family on Christmas Eve because that was when we could all be there.  It was a perfect day.

The Christmas tree at my parents house :)

Our Christmas Eve breakfast - these were the BEST pancakes I have ever had.  Recipes for the syrup and pancakes are at the end of the post!

Sterling cooking bacon :)

Yum.

Mom and Dad

Sterling

Me taking a picture of Matt :)... watch for the picture I took later in this post.

Hayley with her cute note cards. :)

Whitney with her Kindle from Grandma and Grandpa

Katelyn and Mikayla with their Kindles.

Here is that picture :)

Matt's really good at writing like a little boy. :)

My husband has the BEST smile :)

I have a gorgeous sister-in-law. :)  Look how cute she is?!

Derek with his early birthday present from Uncle Sterling and Aunt Hayley... haha :)  If you were there, you'll know why this picture makes me laugh.  Derek is the cutest.

Ryan studying the scriptures. ;)

Cute Addy with her Daddy.

Melissa with checking out her new necklace. :)

Gorgeous Melissa with her new sheets :)

This is my favorite picture of Addy.  She is always so willing to "pose" for pictures.  Such a cutie.

The traditional appetizers on Christmas Eve. :)

After dinner we played "Minute to Win it" games. :)  I didn't get pictures of all the games, but let's just say the girls team won...

Haha, Melissa trying to get this wheat thin from her forehead to her mouth... she did it on the first try I might add.

Derek was our Joseph, Addy was our Mary with a towel as her baby.  They were SO cute to sit there during the nativity story.  This picture makes me want to squeeze them. :)

Addy with Matt.  It's taken some time, but I've forgiven her for saying that she likes Matt better than me. :)  During the prayer before dinner she walked, with arms folded and eyes squinted, to where Matt was sitting just to rest her folded arms on his leg.  We love this little girl.

All the kiddies in their Christmas PJ's.

With all the craziness happening we were able to get one picture of everyone together.  We sure love and miss all these people

Truck-stop Buttermilk Pancakes 

(we halved this recipe)

Ingredients:

5 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

6 tablespoons butter, melted

5 cups buttermilk

5 cups all-purpose flour

5 teaspoons baking powder

5 teaspoons baking soda

1 pinch salt (optional)

5 tablespoons sugar

Directions:

Whisk together the eggs, milk, butter, and buttermilk.  Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and sugar; stir into the wet ingredients just until blended.  Adjust the thickness of the batter to your liking by adding more flour or buttermilk if necessary.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray.  Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface.  Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.  Continue with remaining batter.

Yummy Syrup

Ingredients:

1/2 C butter

3/4 C buttermilk or cream (I used buttermilk)

1 C sugar ( I used brown at Christmas but it tastes great with white as well)

1/2 t baking soda

1 t vanilla

Directions:

Combine butter, buttermilk/cream, and sugar. Bring to a boil. Let simmer for 5 minutes or so and then remove from heat. Immediately stir in the b. soda and vanilla. It will get frothy, but it will settle down. Just be careful not to use too much baking soda, a little less than 1/2 t would be better than a little more.