So, Owen got influenza....

It started like this, the morning after Christmas

And turned into this

Then a trip to urgent care when he literally could not stay awake anywhere, anytime.

Poor guy.  He was just the most sick he has ever been.

Dyl was sick too, but not as bad.

I hate cold and flu season.

Christmas: Food

For St. Nick's Kraig put the Artisan Vegan Cheese book in my stocking.  I set to work on making homemade vegan cheeses that, quite frankly, taste very much like dairy cheese.  This is because they are cultured with enzymes just like regular cheese is.  They are high in fat- also like regular cheese- because they are made with cashew butter.  They are smooth and creamy and so, so, so delicious.

In process: grains for rejuvelac, finished rejuvelac, soaking cashews, and nearly out of sight finished cheese.

Sharp cheddar

Vegan cheese plate with gruyere, cheddar, almonds, raisins, crackers, pear and olives.  OMG.

Anyway, back to Christmas.  We made snowmen pancakes.

 Epic lunch salads

took naps

ate vegan cheese cannelloni and stuffed mushrooms

Oh yes.

 and tiramisu with vegan mascarpone.  It was so. delicious. O. M. G.

The Christmas Season

If you know anything about me, you know that Christmas isn't just one day or even two.  It's the entire month from Thanksgiving to Christmas day.  We started decorating right after Dylan's birthday party....

My anniversary gift came in the mail just before Christmas!  Kraig bought this for me in Kaua'i.  I love it!

We picked up our Christmas tree from a local fundraising event

Kraig and I went on a lovely date night to an art show

Salt dough ornaments
 

Paper snowflakes...

...and real snowflakes.

Christmas morning!

Ready for two eager boys....

It was a lovely holiday season filled with lots of our favorite activities (Christmas ship parade, Peacock Lane light festival, the Fifth Annual Buesch Cookie Exchange, and lots and lots of vegan eggless nog which might be my favorite part....)

Dylan and KJ's First Birthday Party

We had to reschedule the birthday party for 2 weeks later than originally planned because Owen came down with a terrible sickness the night before the party.  Sad trombone.  That gave us more time to prepare, though, which is always good.

As per usual, I made sweet little felt banners, dragged all the party decor out of storage, and made way too much food.  We had homemade coconut ice cream and sweet little lemon tartlets for dessert.  It was a lovely party, if I do say so myself :-)