Happy New Year

 

Happy New Year 2009

I can't believe the new year is here already.  Time goes by so fast especially as an adult.  Wow, as a child I thought time went by so slow.  We'll be all cozy here in New Jersey snug in our little home.  I think I will take down the Christmas tree and most of the decorations.  Some of them are pretty crispy!  Don't have any special plans for the New Year.  My manly man is working New Year's Eve in the big city.  Right around the area this picture was taken, can you tell where it is?  So if your going to be in this particular area, check out the handsome 40 year old scanning the crowd looking for...maybe you...!  Hopefully he'll be pretty safe.  I am going to request he wear his Kevlar vest for this assignment, just in case.  Our plans at home will be keeping warm and maybe, eating!  (My favorite!)  We went to the library yesterday and I checked out a couple recipe books.  Maybe we'll try something new the next couple weeks.  (The recipes I copied were for ~ Beanie Weenie Soup, Tortilla Soup, Tomato Soup Spice Cake, Thai Peanut Noodle Toss, Corn and Tomato Soup) I've had some cravings for homemade french fries and french toast.  Sounds good.  I think I am hungry, yep, it's lunch time.

 

Many blessings to you in 2009!

Great Christmas

 

"The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family."

Thomas Jefferson

 

"Being myself is never the same in the world as it is at home with my family."

Wes Fessler

 

"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs, and returns home to find it."

George Moore

"Make love easy to find at home, or it will be hard to find anywhere."

Wes Fessler

Before Baking

 

 

Opening Gifts

Each year for the past three years Banjo has been able to find the gifts that are his and open them just like a professional.

 

Fresh from the oven.  Today there is only few cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls left.  This is one of my favorite dough recipes.  I've been making this recipe since I was 14 years old.  My Dad loved this recipe, maybe because it made so much dough and I'd make cinnamon rolls for him and my brothers.   (Miss you Dad!)

A special treat, our 10 pound honey baked ham.  Haven't had one of these since about 1990 when a dear friend bought one for us.

No fancy china today just everyday and it doesn't match the table cloth!

ps.  That is cider on the table (f.y.i.!!)

Enjoy your weekend with your loved ones everyone.  Praying for you all!

On the Menu

 

On the agenda for our wonderful Christmas celebration: 

Breakfast~ Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, foo-foo coffee

Christmas Dinner~  Honey Baked Ham, Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes, Stir Fried Green Beans, Ambrosia Fruit Salad, Pumpkin Pie (from our Fall Pumpkin Patch trip) New York Style Cherry Cheesecake and homemade rolls.

Friday will be a celebration too as Daddy has the day off.  Not sure if we'll try leaving the house or not.  Probably not.  The people here in the east invented the term 'combat shopping!'  I do not like shopping around here at the busy times of day, any time during the week after 2 P.M. or during any time that is a holiday or sale day.  It is crazy!  Anyway...my Friday has a meal plan too~  Crackers, cheese, summer sausage, cut up vegetables and dip, grapes and leftover pie.  Yum.

I Love Food!

We will refrain from opening any presents tonight.  There aren't that many, so tomorrow will do.  We will put some  Christmas music on in the morning and eat our fresh from the oven, warm, homemade cinnamon rolls.

Enjoy your Christmas celebrating with family and friends!  Merry Christmas!!

Church Programs

Yesterday we had two Christmas programs at church.  Attendance was down for both programs due to the weather.  I was blessed by them both.  I love to sing to the Lord!  The first picture is of the adult Cantata, "The Name Jesus"  the last are the ones from the childrens program last night.  If you look really careful, you may even see me!  My bigger men didn't get to be in the photo's...sorry guys!

ps... that is my baby in the red sweater!

My Baby is Growing Up

 

My sweet #2 son has had a loose tooth for the past week and a half.  Yesterday he pulled it out.  We don't have a tooth fairy however.  We have the "Tooth Stealer"  the sneaky sneak that comes to get your teeth from your your glass on the dresser in the middle of the night and uses them to put teeth in the skeleton models at the doctors office!

I am sad any time my baby crosses a milestone in his life: first hair cut, first step, first word, riding without training wheels, loosing teeth and so much more.  When I am rejoicing in answered prayer of my baby, I remember this verse: 

"For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him"  I Samuel 1:27

To take the red eye out ,the camera blinks and it takes a few seconds, he closed his mouth during the pose.  Now you can really see the big whopping cold sore he has.

 

Still can't really see the empty hole in this one either, Oh Well!

 

Tuesday

Saturday

 

Outside my window:  After a record temperatures yesterday (65 degrees), it is back down to 36 degrees and has already sleeted this morning.

 

I am thinking:  I am excited that #1 son Aaron will be coming home from his quick visit to Kansas City tomorrow.  I miss his company.  His Dad thought I just missed him because he did a lot of 'work' around here.  I just miss my Aaron.  His absence this week makes me pray for him more for what he is deciding about his future plans.

From the home school room: Starting on the letter "G" this week and reviewing the number 4, shapes of diamond and heart.

I am thankful for: Having a husband who gets up every morning and drives in rush hour traffic twice a day to provide for our family. 

From the kitchen:  COMFORT FOOD!  Biscuits and gravy for dinner last night.  Tonight I may make teriyaki rice bowls. 

I am wearing: Blue Kodiak slipper socks, my long cozy green robe.

I am reading:  A mystery about a Bridezilla who was murdered on her wedding day.  The pair of sisters who catered the wedding are solving the mystery.  Recipes at the back of the book!

I am hoping: All of my unspoken prayer requests will be answered. 

I am hearing: Sesame Street on the television.

Around the house: I am enjoying the scent of seasonal greens and spicy candles and the twinkle of little multi colored lights.  

One of my favorite things: Mashed potatoes with sauerkraut and turkey gravy.

A few plans for the week: A LATE night tomorrow as we head to the airport to get Aaron.  One more watch to craft for our Pastor's wife's Christmas present.  Saturday afternoon practice for our Cantata at church on Sunday.

A thought I am sharing:  A joke ~

 

Three Hymns

One Sunday a pastor told his congregation that the church needed some extra money

and asked the people to prayerfully consider giving a little extra in the offering plate.

He said that whoever gave the most would be able to pick out three hymns.

After the offering plates were passed, the pastor glanced down and noticed that someone had placed a $1,000 bill in offering. He was so excited that he immediately shared his joy with his congregation and said he'd like to personally thank the person who placed the money in the plate.

And there sat our Rosie all the way in the back shyly raised her hand. The pastor asked her to come to the front. Slowly she made her way to the pastor. He told her how wonderful it was that she gave so much and in thanksgiving asked her to pick out three hymns.

Her eyes brightened as she looked over the congregation, pointed to the three most handsome men in the building and said, "I'll take him and him and him!"

Playing Dress Up

 

We went to visit our friends yesterday.  My #2 son enjoys playtime with 'friends' very much.  Sienna's mamma Allison and I were enjoying tea in the kitchen when our little blessings came upstairs 'dressed' to play kitchen with thier kitchen toys.

 

Making Candy

My boys and I spent a little time in the kitchen this afternoon crafting up some Christmas candy.  The recipe was super easy, you should try it.  It was pretty messy but fun to lick off fingers says #2 son!

 

Simply Sensational Truffles

 

Prep Time:
15 min

Total Time:
1 hr 15 min

Makes:
18 servings, 2 truffles each

 

What You Need~

 

2-1/2 pkg. (20 squares) BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate, divided

1 pkg.  (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, softened

decorations: chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, peanuts), multi-colored sprinkles, unsweetend cocoa powder, powdered sugar, coconut.

 

Make It

MELT 8 chocolate squares. Beat cream cheese with mixer until creamy. Blend in melted chocolate. Refrigerate until firm.

SHAPE into 36 balls. Place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet.

MELT remaining chocolate. Use fork to dip truffles; return to baking sheet. Decorate, then refrigerate 1 hour.

 

What's New This Week

 

Grandma (my Mom) is now home safely after a three and half day trip back to Oregon by train.  #1 son Aaron leaves early Wednesday morning to visit his cousins, Aunt Cari, Uncle Doug and Grandma (Stacey's Mom) in Kansas City, Missouri.  It will be a short trip, just 7 days.  Aunt Cari already has plans for Aaron's time while there!

We bought some souvenir tee shirts for all 6 children.  I also made some of my jewelery for Aaron to take to the girls.  I made some pictures of my crafting mess and the final results!

 

We are all very tired.  We had something going on at church this week but are staying home tonight in favor of an early bedtime.  I am going to go curl up in my heated bed, next to my flannel sheets and my manly man and get some good SLEEP!

 

 

Christmas Decorating

We squeezed some time in on Wednesday and Grandma got to watch us decorate for Christmas.  It was a thrill for her as it has been a while since we did something Christmassy together.  This is the first time I've had a staircase that I could hang swags of fresh greenery on.  I love Christmas, not commercial Christmas, just what it is and what it means to me.  My Saviors birthday.  I am so thankful for what Christ did for me, born to die for my sins so I can have for forgiveness and eternal life.

Some of these greens came form our yard where squirrels, deer, rabbits, birds and neighbor cats roam.  There must be delicious kitty smells in these greens.  It was fun to watch Shadow climb the rail to get a great big sniff.

I'll try to post more pictures later.  I can't get the lights on the tree to photograph right.  I'll try again at night.

More Big City

This past Monday we spent about 8 hours in the city.  We took Grandma to see some amazing sights.  Included in the days events were:  Christmas windows displays, Rockefeller Center, Grand Central Station, Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and Central Park.  We did a lot of walking seeing our sights.  As our reward for all the walking (excersize) at the end of the evening we had burgers at Cheeseburger in Paradise.

In front of the Macy store window, on 34th street, New York.

Hot kettle roasted nuts.  My favorite was the coconut...it was amazing!

Times Square

 

At TOYS FOR US,  I just had to take a picture of this giant Barbie doll house!! 

Not into pubs myself, but the architecture we saw this day was amazing.  I think the front of this building looks cozy.

Grand Central Station was awesome also.

Rockefeller Center