Dancing Fool

Andy and Hye Jung's wedding was this weekend. Danny loved the lights from the disco ball.

Let it snow!

Had to get a picture up of Danny's first time playing in the snow. Not sure if he knew what to make of it, but he face planted in it at one point and handled it well. Looks like I may have a skiing partner for future trips!

Christmas!

Wow! Talk about a whirlwind holiday. Christmas flew by with so many activities I think we're just now recovering. Danny had a really good Christmas, got appropriately spoiled by grandparents, aunts and uncles, and got to try his first cookie (that went over well). We had a good Christmas as well, but talk about being worn out!

Danny lucked into a white Christmas on his very first one!

The best part of course is the wrapping paper. Who needs toys when you can make so much noise with this stuff?

The first truck (insert manly grunting sounds here).

Look What I Can Do...Part 2

Look What I Can Do...

Stand up, so I can chew on the couch.

Open drawers.

Crawl under tables, helped keep Mommy and Daddy busy on Thanksgiving.

It's cold and rainy

That's perfect weather for hamburger stew. Luckily we had everything on hand tonight.

Hamburger Stew

1 T. vegetable oil

1 lb. ground beef (I like 85%)

1 onion, cut into 1/4-1/2 inch dice

3 carrots, cut into thick rounds

3 stalks celery, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

1 leak, halved and cut into 1/4 inch slices (optional)

1 T. butter

3 T. flour

1 qt. beef stock*

4 medium red potatoes, cut into chunks

1 cup Guinness (that's half a can)

1 cup canned diced tomatoes

1 T. fresh thyme, chopped

1 T. fresh rosemary, chopped

In a large dutch oven heat the oil over high heat until it begins to smoke. Add the ground beef and brown (not gray, get it brown so there are brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan). Remove the beef from the pan. Return the meat to the pan. Add the butter and melt. Saute the onion, celery, carrots, and leak until the onion begins to brown. Add the flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the beef stock, scraping up the brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Add the potatoes, Guinness, tomatoes, thyme and rosemary. Bring to a simmer and continue to simmer for 30 minutes or until the carrots and potatoes are cooked how you like them.

* There are more rants on the internet about stock than pretty much any food topic. Yes, I agree, homemade is best, but there's also reality. I do recommend using Kitchen Basics Unsalted stocks from the store. They cost a bit more, but you can control the seasoning and it has really good flavor.

Happy Halloween!!

Colorado

We had our first family road trip in September (a little late on the post). Spent a long weekend at Rocky Mountain National Park. Had a great time hiking and exploring. Don't think Aaron and I realized how out of shape we were. Danny got his first cold, but still had a lots of fun.

Bear Lake (I think?)

Fall is elk mating season

Alberta Falls

Danny loved being in the backpack, he got mad when we took him out of it.