Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It was so fun waking up to a White Christmas on Miss Audrey's very first Christmas! It was a fabulous time being with family (but missing Nate), eating good food, opening gifts, and loving Jesus.

Christmas Morning! And, of course, we had to put all the bows on her head! We normally do this to whatever unlucky cat is playing in all the paper but for some reason they have gotten the shaft since some cutie arrived.

Aunt Alli arrived - we made ugly sweaters, played the wii, and had lots of giggling at inappropriate humor!

Even Mammaw made it for Audrey's First Christmas! She has this magical touch that puts Audrey right to sleep!

And Happy New Year!! We spend New Year's Eve at Justin and Tiffany's house with their little boy Colton, who is just 2 days older than Audrey - and already sitting up!! - We're still working on that!

We stayed up waaaaaaaayyyy past bedtime! Whew! We did have cabbage, pork, and black-eyed peas to bring luck in the New Year! YUM - Here's the recipe from my Aunt Carmen:

Sausage Cabbage and Rice

Ingredients

1 lb smoked sausage (or other)

1 head cabbage

1 onion (or 2 bags of Seasons Blend)

1 tsp sugar

Salt – few shakes

4 – 5 cups cooked rice

Kitchen bouquet

Red pepper

Cut sausage into bite size circles. Brown in 6 quart Dutch oven or similar pot. You may spray with Pam, but do not add any oil.

After sausage is “charred,” add onion and lover heat. Cook until onions are wilted and browned well.

Add cabbage (chopped in bite-size pieces). This will fill pot to top, but it will cook down. Pour about ¼ cup water over top to keep cabbage from sticking.

Add sugar, few shakes of salt, and red pepper.

Stir occasionally as cabbage cooks down.

Add Kitchen Bouquet for color (mixed with a little water).

Cook about 45 minutes. Add cooked rice. Be sure rice is sort of watery before adding rice so mixture won’t be too dry. If necessary, add water during cooking.