I love driving around to look at Christmas lights. Kevin and I took the kids in their pajamas after dinner tonight. I also took a cup of my favorite fruit wassail. Here’s the recipe, I got from a friend at MOPS.
1 can frozen orange juice
1 bottle (64 oz.) cranberry juice
1 large can pineapple juice
12 whole cloves
Heat together on the stove.
Add comment December 24th, 2010
What’s in those margarine & sour cream containers, you ask?
Well, you might have guessed from reading what I wrote on the top that they hold our snacks for the day. I needed something for the car ride around town. So I eventually found these containers, which were the perfect size for the goldfish and cheez-its.
Might not be revolutionary for some, but I do love reusing and repurposing things I might ordinarily have thrown away.
Add comment December 22nd, 2010
A friend from church was so kind to invite us over for some Christmas cookie decorating. I know the kids enjoyed playing in the icing, eating the icing, and then dousing the cookies with sprinkles. And I enjoyed eating.
Add comment December 21st, 2010
Today we got to keep Henry & Ollie while their mommy & daddy welcomed baby sister Lucy into the world. Henry & Colby are a few months apart, and Ollie & Carlee are a few months apart. I love getting to hang out with their mommy, and my kids love getting to hang out with these boys.
[Notice their Big Brother shirts.] :)
1 comment December 20th, 2010
Colby’s Kindergarten teacher gave him a copy of The Gingerbread Man on Thursday. He brought it home, read it, and then began asking when we could make gingerbread cookies. So, today was the day. [I'm always happy to oblige when it comes to baking, especially cookies and also especially at Christmastime.]
Here’s Colby reading the story while the cookies are in the oven.
Here’s Kennedy’s finished product – she made a few mini-houses (with the help of a cookie cutter but Carlee tried to rip them apart anyway) and a Gingerbread Girl, complete with bow, that took up 1/2 of the cookie sheet! [We watched the Girl to make sure she didn't run away!]
And, Kennedy is on a picture-taking streak… here’s a great one she took of her funny Daddy.
Add comment December 19th, 2010
Today we were graced with the presence of my cousin Lin and her husband Keith and their four children – Aubrey, Amanda, Garner, & Avery. I didn’t get too many pics but we laughed until our sides hurt and ate our annual Feliz Navidad dinner of chili, enchiladas, guacamole, taco salad, and a cornucopia of pies.
Here’s Colby with Garner (age 13). Can you see the family resemblance?
And Kennedy wanted her pic taken. In the background, you can see Lin & Aubrey (age 20).
This is Avery (age 10). Kennedy took a lot of Avery pics that looked a whole lot like this.
Katrina and Amanda (age 16) went to see a one-act play that night, so I didn’t get Amanda’s pic. Interesting fact: Kevin and I got married on Amanda’s birthday. So, we can always remember how old she is, because she turned 8 that year.
We are looking forward to seeing these Florida cousins again this next summer!
Add comment December 18th, 2010
Two very random and completely unrelated things happened today.
[I suppose that's the true definition of random, right?]
Anyway, Amanda came over and borrowed my wireless internet. Don’t worry, she gave it back. Then I made the casserole pictured below out of pretty much everything in my freezer. I called it Leftover Casserole. (I wasn’t feeling too imaginative.) It had: frozen peas, frozen carrots, cooked pork + carrots, frozen corn, frozen black beans, frozen bell peppers, and frozen orange peppers; layered with tortillas, sour cream & cheese. I thoroughly enjoyed the casserole and it was such a nice way to use up ingredients that I had lingering in my freezer, that would never make a whole recipe of anything else.
Also, Kennedy took this pic of Amanda. Kennedy actually took a couple of pics of Amanda but most were blurry. This was the best one and of course, Amanda’s eyes are closed!
Add comment December 17th, 2010
Today Colby’s Kindergarten had a party. His teacher gave each of them a small milk carton or a butter box and some icing and graham crackers; it was instant “gingerbread house” – worthy. The girls got to help a little but mostly they wanted to eat all the decorations.
Then, his class had a book swap, which to Kindergarteners means you pick a number and then take the book with the coordinating number on it. I was impressed that all the kids did so well – they were so focused in getting those houses decorated!
Add comment December 16th, 2010
Today at dance, Kennedy’s class did their Christmas show-and-tell. The parents were invited inside the studio so we could watch and video them. I had to stand by the door and keep Carlee from running into camera shots, so I got a lot of video clips and pictures of the back side of Kennedy’s class.
They’re still cute, nonetheless.
Carlee wants to dance too!
Kennedy reminds me of ME when I was 3 and in dance class. It’s a little strange [and yet wonderful!] to ‘look into the mirror’.
Add comment December 15th, 2010
Today I ended up taking 2 pics of Carlee. The first shows off her eyelashes [while she shows off her belly button]. The second shows off her personality. [I found her there when everyone else was buckled in the van, ready to go. She decided she needed a more swanky ride.]
Add comment December 14th, 2010
“…hung by the chimney with care….” So, where did the word “mantel” come in to play? I like the phrase ‘by the chimney’ serves the purpose very well. Plus, I never can remember how to spell mantel and want to confuse it with mantle, as in crust, mantle & core (the layers of the earth). Also topping my list of hardest word to spell is vacuum. Vaccuum? Vaccum. vacuum? Seriously.
Anyway, I digress. This is my favorite Christmas decoration in the house. I think it looks pretty darn good, if I do say so myself. Last year we took our Christmas card pic sitting on the fireplace hearth.
Now ask me how many times we’ve used the fireplace…? I hope we get to use it more this winter because it wasn’t very cold last year. But first we need to get some firewood. Anyone know where we can get some locally?
2 comments December 13th, 2010
I realize I’m cheating here but I thought these were neat. On the plane back from our trip to Disney World, we had a short stop-over in Panama City, FL, and the pilot asked if any kids wanted to come and tour the cockpit. Kevin took Colby & Kennedy in and took these pics.
[Technically from November 28th.]
What did we really do today? Tonight was our church’s Christmas musical. Earlier this week I got to hold Baby Jesus (aka Jenny), age 3 weeks. And, today it was 40 degrees outside, so it’s actually beginning to look a lot like Christmas…
Add comment December 12th, 2010
This year is the first year we have been able to set up our artificial tree, put on the lights, and decorate it with ornaments all in one afternoon. Why? We had help! The kids loved to help with all parts of the Christmas tree making. I loved watching them.
[Kevin had the hard job of lifting the kids up to put the ornaments on.]
I love our tree. Kevin’s parents gave us this tree when we got married, and they used it for some years prior. So, I really have no idea how old it is, but I’d consider it an antique. It’s so pretty.
Add comment December 11th, 2010
We made the trip to Houston’s First Baptist Church tonight to see their annual Christmas celebration program. This year Alicia and Katrina were in the choir, and Alicia pulled double duty by playing percussion in the orchestra too.
Here’s a pic from Kevin’s iPhone. I was completely amazed at the show, and if you ever get the chance to go, or MAKE the chance to go, take it!
1 comment December 10th, 2010
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