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Snow Sledding Fun!

December 23, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

Christmas Eve is tomorrow, and our house is brimming over the edge with excitement!! I am sure it is in your homes and families by now too! The spirit of joy and celebration is definitely in the air here, as we prepare for the reflection of Jesus’ birth. It is solely the focus in our home and family, if you know what I mean. ; ) To see our children relish in the true joy of what Christmas is all about, with such overwhelming child-like excitement and happiness (which is so contagious), as we embark on all of our Christmas traditions, is such a fulfilling feeling as parents.

But on Saturday, there was finally enough snow to really play in! We went sledding!! Well, Kid-Daddy and our kids did—I took photos, which is still playing to me! What made it even more fun, is the snow kept on falling while they played in the winter wonderland. It really made it all the more exciting, if not a bit of a challenge for the photographer. lol. Still got some fun shots though. My frozen shutter hand was worth it. It thawed, with a little pain. So just sharing some of their snow-fun-filled day before Christmas Eve and Day is upon all of us.

This one below cracks me up the way J is amused by the rope having a ride too!

Only A would wear her glasses sledding. And wear a hunter’s hat too, no less. She loves that hat.

The race is on!

Stunt Girl!!

Maybe not……lol

There were lots of giggles echoing in the snow hills valley!

And lots of climbing back up for another run…..

Now am I the only mother that LOVES these faces with a squished brow from winter hats?? Sometimes, I tie it just a little tighter than necessary, just to gush at how cute they are!

Who needs sleds? Not my fools.

But I love my fools! They just make for more laughter!

Catching snowflakes, of course. I love these shots…

What a day!! Good thing we had a big thermos of hot cocoa waiting in the van!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing the fun with us, without getting cold!

We Interrupt This Advent Season, for Daddy-Boy’s Birthday!….

December 20, 2008 By Laura Leave a Comment

……Just as we do EVERY Advent Season. What a time to have a birthday, right before Christmas! Huh?? Birthdays are so important to us, and Michael/Daddy joined me in the 40 Club yesterday! So it was extra special. But every year, I always feel like we’re ‘squeezing’ his celebration in, amidst the preparations for Christmas. Switching gears and temporarily redirecting our attention, pretending we’re not frazzled by it. I feel guilty! There is usually lots of nonchalant planning for the rest of our birthdays in our family here…which are all in the summer and fall. But 6 days before Christmas we’re all just pre-occupied with last-minute-things-to-get-done. (And we have SIMPLE Christmas’s next to most anyone we know.) But when I realize his birthday is in a few days, I’m afraid I’ll forget! (Good thing I have the kids…they would never forget such a thing.) I’m just saying….I wish his conception was at least a month or so before it actually was. Just so we’d be able to give him the absolute undivided attention he SO deserves. But you know….what’s ‘done is done’. And we know who did it. ; )

So he did want a low-key day anyway, as a snow storm was due to come in, and he didn’t want plans to go anywhere in a blizzard. {A} actually got up early to make his birthday breakfast of our traditional birthday pancakes. And I actually jumped out of bed early to help her. I was the one that made the coffee and burnt the sausages. : ) But breakfast together was very nice! I don’t think the kids took their eyes off the windows the whole time though, waiting for that snow to start falling. They also gave him their cards they made for him. Note: {A} has called her Daddy, ‘Daddy-Boy’ since she was 3 or so. And she still does at 11. The story of that is a post for another time. Just thought I’d mention it in case you’re puzzled by that.

We THOUGHT we’d at least have some snow fun on the way that day. So we got packages ready to send out that morning, and got those to the shipping place. But it didn’t even start snowing until almost 3:00, right before it started getting dark out, and Michael had decided by then he really wanted to go visit his 96 year old friend, and make sure he didn’t need anything before the storm really came. So he went and had a nice long visit with him. This sweet old man is dear to all of us. You may remember our post about him, Mr.Bill, on Veteran’s Day. But Michael has become especially close to him, and goes to his home to visit with him 1 or 2 times a week if he can. Michael completely enjoys Mr. Bill’s company in a very sincere way. He’s there for hours sometimes, and comes home smiling with lots of stories. And the same happened on his birthday. Which is nice. Even though I was worried while he was gone because he was still out in blizzardey conditions. But he came home safe and sound, cheerfully telling us how, in light of his birthday, Mr. Bill shared tips with him about how you live to be his age. While was gone, {A} baked his cake. (She insisted. She insists on making her own on her own birthday. I know I’m starting to look really bad here, and I’m afraid it gets worse.)

Then it was time to start preparing his birthday dinner of choice. Well….the thing is, what he really wanted was his own specialty dish….his family’s pizza. (There is a pizza recipe/tradition in his family) So yes….<gulp>…..he pretty much made his own birthday dinner. I really tried to get him to choose something else that I could make but he said no, that he didn’t mind at all. (He never minds making his family pizza. I think it’s a bit of work, since he even makes the dough. But…. it’s a family tradition.) He’s really not about that ‘special treatment’ on his birthday. He doesn’t ask for foot rubs like I do, or anything. He’s ‘all set’. The pizza was good though, as ALWAYS. Doesn’t it LOOK good??

Afterwards, we had cake. Which happened to be the Thunder Cake we posted about, from our studies of Patricia Polacco, because that’s what he wanted. Just so you don’t think that I really did NOTHING, I did frost the cake, and sliced the strawberries (and let’s not forget about the coffee making and sausage burning in the morning). Doesn’t it look lovely??

It tasted good too!

The rest of the night we spent generally parenting. You know,…helping the kids with their showers getting to them to bed, and taking care of some Christmas stuff. It surely wasn’t the day of fun int he snow we thought we were going to have, but he enjoyed his day none-the-less. Had a nice long visit with his friend, got all of his favorite foods, etc….what more could a birthday boy want?

I am sure you’re thinking…”Are there any pictures of the birthday boy in this post? And to that I have to say….Of course there is!!!

He’s a looker, huh?? Even handsomer than the days we were ‘courting’, as he calls it. He’s getting that distinguished look, that comes with age. He is just so handsome. Ask my sister.

Anyway….today, the day AFTER his birthday as I post this, we DID get the fun in the snow we were looking for!! The kids….the big one and the 4 younger ones, went sledding, and I took photos. I’ll be sharing photos of that in the next post. Just need to go through them and be reasonable about how many to keep and/or post. Sure was fun taking photos of them having a (snow)ball!!! (I know…OH BROTHER!!) I’m a witty one, huh??

Happy Birthday, Daddy-Boy and Love of My Life!!

Finger-Painting — A Beautiful Mess

December 13, 2008 By Laura 2 Comments

We’re really good at making messes! Such a beautiful mess this time though. And what fun making it! This time our mess was made in the way of finger-painting!

finger-painting_4

Christmas is fast approaching, and believe it or not, this whole mess is another home made gifts craft project. It’ll be a very useful gift too. But I can’t say what they’re turning out to be just yet. For now, just enjoy the colors!! If you are like me, and colors make you happy….you’ll be loving this post. If not, you’ll wonder what the point was with all these photos, all of which maybe look the same to you. Because otherwise, I don’t have much else to say tonight.

Some of the kids’ masterpieces on the floor. They came out so great!

Below; one of my favorite shots.

I’d love to tell you what we were making, but it might spoil someone’s Christmas surprise. I was thinking after Christmas, I may make a post featuring the home-made gifts reveal…with photos of the finished products. What do you think?? That is, if I’m still blogging on behalf of my family, and our days here. I’m not sure if I should go bigger and louder in the new year – or shut the blog down altogether. I’m at a crossroads. It’s all good. Just not sure if I want to re-focus my energy here.

Anyway….hope all of your Christmas preparations are going smoothly. And most importantly, that you are enjoying the season. It’s so easy to get lost, and forget what all the fuss is really about. I generally get lost easily…ask anyone. So my motto is….”keep it simple”. SO much more enjoyable and fulfilling, for all of us, when we keep Christmas simple.

Blessings to you. Thanks for dropping by.

Taco Soup Recipe

December 11, 2008 By Laura 1 Comment

Here’s a soup recipe that’ll be sure to warm your chilled bones. If you love tacos, you’ll love this taco soup! I do love tacos, and I also love soup. Good soups – which are usually home made of course. I also LOVE Panera Bread’s Broccoli Cheddar Soup (and so do our kids). I had some today as a matter of fact. It was just the pick-me-up I needed in between the stores of a little Christmas shopping. Ate it in a quiet van. It was the weirdest experience! lol

Now I didn’t invent this Taco Soup recipe, but I did revise it a bit to make it…well, better! No one needs as many beans as was in the original recipe, to start. Unless you just want a bowl of beans, with a little burger mixed in. My kids keep asking me when I’m going to make my Vegetable Soup again. (That was another altered version of a recipe. ) But I just feel like that’s a spring/summer soup…when vegetables are fresh and more locally grown. This is a heartier soup that suits winter meals, and they love this one too. So here’s how I make it, and I hope you give it a try if it sounds good to you:

Ingredients:

1 lb. extra lean ground beef (I use 85%)
1 onion, chopped
1 15.5 oz can pinto beans / undrained
1 8 oz can *Green Giant Niblets Corn / undrained * (we use this brand because it’s sweet and and has snap)
2 8 oz tomato sauce
1 pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
1 1/2 C water
Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Brown beef with onions in large saucepan; drain.

Add all remaining ingredients except cheese; stir. It’s important NOT to drain the cans of beans and corn! That’s where some of the flavor and liquid comes from. Bring to a boil. Simmer on medium-low for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. At this point it’s ready to eat really, but I like to turn it to low and let it continue to simmer, still stirring occasionally – letting all of the ingredients get to know each other a little better.

“Hello!” “Hi there!”

Then just serve up in bowls, and top with as much shredded cheddar as you’d like. We like a lot. : )

If you try it out, let us know how many gold spoons your family gave this recipe. : )

Cocoa and Crafting

December 6, 2008 By Laura 1 Comment

We’ve been doing more crafting than usual around here lately, as Christmas gifts. I’m way behind in blogging about them, but in thinking about that I realized in a different light….they are Christmas gifts!! Surprise gifts, of course. Granted, the recipients,,,our extended family….rarely visit our blog. If ever. But, you know, they MIGHT. And we really don’t want to ruin their Christmas surprises. So…..I guess I just won’t post the finished products, until maybe after Christmas, and if anyone concerned visits and guesses what we made, oh well!!

So for one of our first projects a few crafting Sunday’s ago, we were discussing what and how we were going to do what we were going to do. The plan was to hand sew them, until my husband said,

“Well, why don’t we just bring up the sewing machine and figure out how to use it?”

(me) “WHAT? What sewing machine? We don’t have a sewing machine! ”

(him) “Yes we do. It’s downstairs in the basement.”

(me) “We DO?! Where did we get it?”

(him) “It was your mother’s”

After a moment of stunned silence and a confused stare, I think I ended up on the floor, laughing hysterically. Outright bafflement hysterics. WHY you ask?? Because TRUST ME, my mother never sewed a day in her life! In fact, she had one of those trigger gun things that shot plastic things to put a button back on. And anyone reading this, who knew my mother, is probably laughing at just imagining my mother sitting at a sewing machine. I loved my mother, God rest her soul. But she was NEVER the sewing type! She was just not the real domestic kind. In fact, neither am I, by genetic-nature, that is – believe it or not. My early years as a wife, was on the comical side. I loved this man, but really….did I really have to do all those things they do? I wanted to want to. But…where WAS the WANT to?? Only for him. You know? Love is a crazy thing. I had to grow THAT bone, and I DID! In time. Granted, it’s still growing. But I have found deep and abiding joy in things I never knew I could embrace. In fact, I feel myself really…going back in time, if you will. My husband has really noticed how I have evolved over the years. In fact, he actually called me “my little pioneer woman’” the other day. And I think I gushed, “Real-lly?” Truth be told, I was beaming with pride. Because I am admiring their ways more and more every year. Thus…hand making some gifts, I suppose.

So he goes downstairs, and low and behold, he comes up with a SINGER, and dusts it off. Well I’ll be darned. There it is. I tried to remember seeing it before. In a closet maybe? In my childhood basement? Hmmm. Just not sure. Anyway….he got to figuring the thing out, because he’s mechanical like that. And he was suddenly seeming to be MORE than enjoying it. Can I just say?…..

Men and their toys!!

He showed {A} and I how it worked, …..and showed us. And showed us some more. He just didn’t want to give it up. Finally, he let {A} in there to give it a whirl, and I did a few as well.

Then {A} happly sat down to do more too. But Daddy was itching to get in there! Seeing his hand?? Next thing we know, he tells her “OK, time’s up!! It’s my turn. Let me in there.”. Maybe a little uncomfortable to announce this, but not as eager as he was to have another turn, apparently!! Oh ,,,,just look at the show-off sewing with one hand. Cute though, isn’t he??

The little ones were helping too, on another part of the project. They LOVE projects of any kind. Family crafting is the most fun. Usually. : )

Our little dolly, always willing to roll up her sleeves and get to work.

Maybe you can guess what we made on this day? Probably. The great thing is, besides getting one project done, is that we know how to sew with a machine now! Granted, we’re not pros, but {A} may be before long. She’s pretty ambitious at that machine on just about a daily basis. You should see the the little things she’s made already!

Gosh….my girls, AND BOYS, just may get that genetic-domestic bone thing.

Men and their toys!!

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