Holiday recap and a love story

Happy 2011!  How was your holiday season?  Mine was pretty spectacular, to put it mildly.  There was a fantastic Christmas with my family.  Woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on the ground.

We Kemps traditionally enjoy a very quiet and relaxing Christmas Day.  Lounging around in front of the fire, enjoying cinnamon rolls and coffee, watching movies, and baking lots with my mom.  To name a few, we made molasses crinkles, peanut butter fudge, and one more treat that I'll share with you later this week.  And, obviously, eating of said delights.

Over the next week, I had some great visits with relatives, Matt's family, and friends.  There was even time for an afternoon wintry zoo trip where the sea lions just about stole my heart.  Oh, and surely the most epic sporting event I will ever attend in my lifetime -- the NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field.  We were stunned, to say the least.  Our view was amaaaaaaaazing!

So the Penguins lost in a bit of a ho-hum fashion... honestly, I didn't even mind.  It's a measly two points from a regular season game.  I consider myself lucky to have simply attended!  The pyrotechnics, superstar hockey talent, Pittsburgh sports icons (Mario, Franco and Jerome... clutch!), and general atmosphere made this an experience I'll remember for the rest of my life.  Favorite parts?  Malkin's goal and ensuing celebration, obvs, and the teams' entrances onto the ice.

With all of that excitement, it'd be easy to say that my year has gotten off to a stellar start.  While that's true, 2010 ended in a pretty fantastic fashion, ensuring that 2011 will be a year full of welcome changes and new adventures.  Remember when I briefly mentioned that Matt and I got engaged and then blew right past it to talk about peanut butter fudge?  Yeah, what a bum I am.

After 3 1/2 years of dating, Matt proposed on the Tuesday before Christmas!  We exchanged gifts the night before, with Matt presenting me with a Winter Classic survival kit -- the keystone item was a Malkin jersey for yours truly.  Being the crazed Pens fan that I am, I was totally and utterly ecstatic about my gifts and wanted nothing else.

The next day, I came home from work to find Matt at my apartment, peeking out the front door.  Once inside, the tree lights were on and the yule log on TV (you know of my yule log obsession).  He said he'd forgotten one of my Christmas gifts, something little, and to close my eyes.  When I opened them, he was down on one knee with the ring.  Some tears of joy, lots of head nodding before I could squeak out a "yes" in my state of pure shock.  So blessed to have met this guy at work long ago, a la Jim and Pam :)

Two very happy people indeed!  So, there may be a few more wedding-related posts this year in addition to the bundle of new recipes I'm waiting to try.  I hope none of you mind too much!  (Guys, my apologies ahead of time.)  

Hope all of you had a healthy and happy start to your new year!