Greetings, everyone, I hope you had a beautiful Christmas, if you celebrate, and a wonderful weekend!
Luckily Lincoln made it onto Santa’s “nice” list this year and had a blast tearing through his gifts. I didn’t know if he’d get the concept of ripping paper off a present yet, and at times he was more interested than the paper than what was underneath it, but all in all I’d say he loved it!
We opened a few gifts at home including a music set (a 16 month old on a kazoo, I can’t even, so adorable!) then headed over to my parent’s house to spend the day. Santa was awfully good to the grandchildren this year. (Definitely missed the Christmas jammies memo, whoops!)
At times I’m wistful remembering Christmases growing up with a house full of cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles, knowing I can never go back and relive those memories (is that weird?) but I’m trying hard to make the mental shift and am looking forward to making memories with my kids as an adult. It’s cliche, but experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is a really special thing.
Oh my gosh, remember a few weeks ago when I told you about the gift we got my brother, aka the “wolf enthusiast”??? It’s a wolf shirt! He is one of the funniest people I know and somehow over the past couple of years he’s gotten really into wolves, and not ironically. I blame Denver. Obviously we have to support him in all his hobbies though, and snatched up this shirt the second we saw it. My Mom will probably kill me for posting this picture…!
We had a morning full of opening gifts, then it was time for the Christmas feast.
Green Beans and Bacon made an appearance, of course, plus Party Potatoes Deluxe, Grandma’s Holiday Salad, and a luscious Amana ham which I probably ate 2lbs worth over the course of the day.
Another Christmas in the books – ’til next year!
With one Christmas down, we’ve got another one to go. Ben, Lincoln and I will be spending the week celebrating this wonderful season with Ben’s family, but I’ve got some fun posts lined up for you over the next couple of days starting with the Top 10 2014 Reader Favorite Recipes!
These are the Top 10 recipes you flagged as your favorites over the past year as determined by your clicks, pins, and shares. Not all of them are from 2014, believe it or not, there are actually a couple from 2012 that made the list! Share new recipes, but eat the old, right? Or something like that.
Anyway, don’t think a single day goes by without me thanking my lucky stars that you check in everyday, give me awesome feedback (both positive and constructive,) are my eyes and ears in regards to things happening on the site, and for simply making Iowa Girl Eats possible. You are my inspiration and motivation to work hard and create daily. I feel so very lucky that I get to do this as my job, and it’s all because of you. Here’s to many more good times, and great eats, in the new year!
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Easy Cheddar Cheese Sauce
Easy Chicken Fried Rice
Healthy Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli-Rice Casserole
Cheesy Taco Soup
Crock Pot Sweet Potato and Quinoa Turkey Chili
Make Ahead Fruit & Yogurt Breakfast Parfaits
Autumn Chopped Salad
Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls
WHAT??? Skillet Tator Tot Casserole didn’t make the list??? That was MY favorite, hands down!
I made the Crock Pot Sweet Potato and Quinoa Turkey Chili Monday night, and we loved it! I used leftover turkey breast from Thanksgiving though : )
Lincoln looks like a resident of Whoville in those first pictures.
I’m going to have to say that out of all of these recipes, Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls was my favorite. Thanks for sharing these, I look forward to trying more in 2015.
I fell in love with the Thai Peanut Quinoa Bowls. I have made so many different version of this using soba noodles, shrimp, altering the sauce, swapping out the veggies, etc. It’s quickly become one of our favorite weeknight meals so thank you for creating it :)
Salads don’t normally tempt me in the winter but that autumn salad looks amazing.
My 2yo has those same jammies – one of my favorites!
Our hands down favorite IGE recipe is your skillet lasagna – always a hit!