We are Family...

Mark's family came out to visit for Christmas, and while they were here we had family photos done.  We realized a few months ago that we hadn't had formal family photos done since Mark and I got married 6 years ago, so we thought it was about time to do so!   Mark's Mom, Lori, knitted all of the beautiful gold scarves for us, and they turned out beautifully.  Without further ado, here they are!

Mark and Ginny

Mark and Ginny again

The Stewart children, LtoR: Mark, Ginny, John, Heidi

The Women LtoR: Ginny, Lori, and Beautiful Heidi

Mark's parents Doug and Lori

The Men LtoR: Mark, Doug, and John

The entire Stewart clan LtoR: Mark, Ginny, Doug, Lori, John, and Heidi

Mark's family comes to visit for Christmas

Mark's family came to visit for Christmas, and we did family pictures.  We also went to the Trail Center to see the Gingerbread display.  They have these cute little gingerbread people that you can take your pictures with.  Lori was the only one willing to take a picture with them. 

Gingerbread Lady Lori

We also have been walking by the river quite a bit this winter, and this is what we usually see. 

Huge chunks of ice in the Missouri River

So Sad Today...

While shopping for Christmas groceries this afternoon, Mark's sister called and informed us that the Provo Tabernacle burned down today.  All that is left is the outer walls.  I've never felt any sort of attachment for any material object, but I realized today just how much the Provo Tabernacle meant to me, and how many memories I have made there.  I have many memories of going to concerts there, attending regional conferences for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and even one New Years Eve First Night in Provo going to take shelter from the cold and listening to the beautiful music that was being played.  I have to admit, I have had a heavy heart today at this great loss.  There was millions of dollars worth of equipment that was lost in the fire, but you can't put a price tag on this irreplaceable historical landmark. 

Lunch at a Pub...THE Reuben

Last night, Friday, Mark and I were both craving Reubens, so we decided to look into where we could find a really good Reuben.  Looking at the Urbanspoon website the reviews said that Crescent Moon is the best place to get a Reuben, due to its closeness to Blackstone Hotel, where it is supposed to have originated...

So the story of the Reuben goes something like this: A group of guys got together to play poker, and while playing they would discuss sandwiches.  They came up with the Reuben, which is Corned Beef, of which Nebraska is a major producer, on Marbled Rye with Sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Thousand Island Dressing, and a side of YUM!   Does it look like we enjoyed it?  We did!  Not to mention my Chili Cheese Fries were to die for and Mark's Fried Green Pepper Rings were amazing!

Looks Good, doesn't it?

So if you like Reubens, and are ever in Nebraska, stop by Crescent Moon and have one.  Warning: If you go on a Husker game day, be prepared to refuse a bunch of Husker shots!  Every time the Huskers score, they give a free round of red shots to everyone.  We were only there for 2 touchdowns, so we only had to refuse it twice.

Then to finish off our date night, we went to Jones Bros. Cupcakes, which was recommended to us by a friend.  They were so good!  We asked the guy which ones to get, but he only made it worse.  He proceeded to describe all of the different cupcakes, making the choice only that much harder to make.  So we decided to get three, and share half of each one.  We got the Husker Red Velvet, which is their signature and our favorite, the Chocolate Raspberry, our second, and the White and Black which had Godiva chocolate in it, which was our least favorite, but still delicious!  We also got hot chocolate which was super yummy!  All in all, a yummy night!

Thanksgiving, YUMMY!

First of all, I have to say that I am so grateful for my wonderful husband!  He has been such a big help these past few days in getting ready for the Thanksgiving feast.  I also have to express my gratitude to all of the missionaries out there that are so far away from home serving our Heavenly Father.  Theirs is a service greater than any of us can comprehend, and I am indeed grateful to them for it. 

That being said... I am also VERY grateful that they came for Thanksgiving dinner and helped us eat all of that food!  There was a ton!  At one point I had eaten so much, I could no longer taste what I was eating, so I knew it was time to stop. 

I will back up a little here.  Most of our local friends here in Omaha were either going out of town, or already had plans to eat with someone else.  We were still able to have the Woods come over, and it was a lot of fun!  The Woods had already invited the missionaries, )which by the way, we have 4 of them in our little branch now, Go Conestoga!), so the missionaries came too.  We had already had them over for dinner twice this week, so I am sure they are sick of us, but they were good sports and came any way. 

The Woods made some really amazing pies, and lumpy mashed potatoes, and I LOVE lumpy mashed potatoes.  They also brought some Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory, but I didn't have any because we don't want to open up that can of worms again!  I think that the majority of the weight Mark and I have put on while living in Omaha could be directly traced to The Cheesecake Factory.  It's a horrible place to go because it is so good!

We did the turkey, and somehow it, uh, didn't get turned on in time.  We were totally on our A game this week getting everything done the way it was supposed to be, but then the most important part we don't get turned on.  DUH!  By about 10:30, (dinner was at 1:30), I am wondering why I don't smell the turkey.  We feel the side of the roaster, and it is STONE COLD!  So we turn it all the way up to 450 degrees to hopefully catch up, and we were only about 30 minutes late with the turkey. 

We asked the Elders what was their favorite foods at Thanksgiving, and Elder Mohr said he love Pecan Pie, Elder Dee likes Pumpkin Pie and Egg Nog, Elder Latu hasn't had Thanksgiving until the mission because he is from Tonga, and Elder Curtis said he loves his mom's Baked Macaroni and Cheese Casserole.  So, the Pecan Pie I found a good recipe for, and it was yummy, I found a recipe for pumpkin pie from scratch, and I emailed Elder Curtis' Mom to get her recipe for Baked Macaroni and Cheese.  So, besides the turkey being late today, I think it was a success.  I have to say, I loved the Lemon Supreme pie that Alicia made.  So yummy!

Towards the end of dinner we let the dogs out to clean up the crumbs for the kids.  The Wood's little girl, Melynn, who is super cute by the way, kept saying "OW!" every time Polly licked her.  I think she was trying to let us know that she didn't appreciate the licks!  After dinner we found one of the Feta Turnovers on the plate that aparently was not liked by the Emmett.  Mark said he saw him take a bite, pull a face, and then out it back on the plate.  So funny!  We can't wait to have some of our own little cuties!  What a fun day!