Happy New Year's Eve

Well, it's the last day of 2011.  Hubby is in bed sick, kids are in bed sleeping and watching tv.... That's ok, I'll bet they will be up late tonight.

I want and probably need to think about the grocery list (after last night's midnight search for one more roll of tp) AND unpacking the pile of loot we brought home from Grandma's house.  But I'm still bent on enjoying the last few days of the break.  Can I make clearing my desk and organizing the toys a symbol of the fresh new year?  Take down the tree and put away decorations to be treasured again next December? Of course, that's what I always do.  My goal for contentment this year has been to live in the moment and enjoy what we have and where we are now.

It's really a time-management issue.  How much do we pack into each day's schedule?  Can we stop and enjoy each moment?  ...knowing there is something on the stove or a bill that needs to be paid or a permission slip that needs to be signed.  But don't forget that load of towels that needs to be transferred to the dryer.  More important than these is to make sure to capture those memories and grant a smile and hug and love on those little ones as much as they'll let us.  Some are more skilled at this than others - not worrying about the little things that is.  I am a details person so it seems all of the to do's that are yet to be done are crammed into my head, sometimes in list form sometimes in a big nasty mind-boggling pile.  So I've struggled with shuffling things from one pile to the next, putting "home" things in my work back and taking work things to be done at home, thinking that I'm productive but only creating more brain-burning in the end.

Today I'm going to enjoy my kids being home (well 2/3 of them anyway) and take them to one more movie, grab a few snacks to ring in the new year and say "goodbye" to 2011.

Note to self:  we have milk don't forget the toilet paper this time.

Feel better Michael - you have a birthday to celebrate tomorrow.

Cookies...continued

So we had friends come for dinner last night.  Nothing formal or even planned.  We just shared a casserole and cookies and enjoyed a few minutes of fellowship.....before we went back to our last minute to-do lists.  Next on my list was decorating those sugar cookies.  Kristina stayed to helped.

I made icing and added food coloring but realized the colors were more spring-like than Christmas red and green.  We used sprinkles and the kids made combo-color designs and had fun regardless.

Before we knew it, it was 9:30 and we remembered the kids have school tomorrow.  Yikes. 

Brush teeth, read stories and off to dreamland we go.  

Sugar Cookie Cutouts

Mason has been very interested in holiday baking.  Tonight we made sugar cookie cutouts.   He chose his favorite cookie cutters, I had to steer him away from the bunny though.

Funny, he thought this was Superman.

These are some of the same style/shape cutters we used when we were kids.

  

 

  

 Maybe tomorrow we'll decorate them with icing and sprinkles.

5 Days Til....

5 days and counting......

What are you doing for the next five days??

finishing Christmas cards to friends and family far away (some of them may be mailed on Dec 26)
preparing Christmas eve dinner list and checking it twice (that reminds me I have to take the turkey out of the freezer)
wrapping up those last minute gift items  (one more trip to the mall?)
wondering if and wishing we'll have snow on the day
smiling at the thought of having all of the kids in the same house for more than 24 hours
answering a 5 year old's questions about Christmas and Santa and cookies for the jail and life in general
baking cookies and other goodies and nibbling without guilt

but most important, I want to continue Celebrating the birth of Jesus my Savior and I pray that like Mary, I can truly treasure these things in my heart.  The important things that last.  Christmas really is the best story ever told and it's more than a story, it's a gift for each person to accept and unwrap.

I love Matthew Henry's Concise commentary from Luke 2 quoted here:

2:8-20 Angels were heralds of the new-born Saviour, but they were only sent to some poor, humble, pious, industrious shepherds, who were in the business of their calling, keeping watch over their flock. We are not out of the way of Divine visits, when we are employed in an honest calling, and abide with God in it. Let God have the honour of this work; Glory to God in the highest. God's good-will to men, manifested in sending the Messiah, redounds to his praise. Other works of God are for his glory, but the redemption of the world is for his glory in the highest. God's goodwill in sending the Messiah, brought peace into this lower world. Peace is here put for all that good which flows to us from Christ's taking our nature upon him. This is a faithful saying, attested by an innumerable company of angels, and well worthy of all acceptation, That the good-will of God toward men, is glory to God in the highest, and peace on the earth. The shepherds lost no time, but came with haste to the place. They were satisfied, and made known abroad concerning this child, that he was the Saviour, even Christ the Lord. Mary carefully observed and thought upon all these things, which were so suited to enliven her holy affections. We should be more delivered from errors in judgment and practice, did we more fully ponder these things in our hearts. It is still proclaimed in our ears that to us is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord. These should be glad tidings to all.

Caramel Success

I woke at 3:15 this morning.  It happens.  Tried to go back to sleep but gave up at 4:06.  I was thinking of last night's 3rd attempt to make caramels and was curious to see if they had set up.  This time last Sunday morning I had come down to check batch #2.  They looked pretty good so I cut and wrapped a few in wax paper and went back up to shower.  When I came back down, they had all melted and run through the edges of the wax paper.  Boo.  I read a few blogs and realized I didn't cook them quite to the boiling temp that they needed to go.  Batch #1 was thick and hard but tasted like praline without the pecans.  I cooked that one too fast and didn't use a candy thermometer.

So we tried again...Batch #3.  My husband said he admired my persistence.  Hmmm.  Does he really think I'm stubborn?  Well, I know I am but I told him I was DETERMINED.  (I was thinking:  if this doesn't work I won't be trying again.)

4:10 a.m. report:  IT WORKED!!!  No I didn't wake my family to tell them the good news but they won't be waiting to read this blog to find out either.  We have caramel success.

Wow, it takes as long to cut and shape and wrap those little caramels as it does to stir and get them to the exact temperature.  Now what's next??  I am tempted to try a chocolate caramel recipe that I found.  Meagan is voting for red velvet whoopie pies with peppermint cream cheese icing.  I told her we could try those next year.  She said:  "Next year is only a few weeks away."  Smart girl.  They will make a nice Valentine treat.

In the meantime, these soft and chewy caramels will make great little gifts in a pretty bag or box.   It's all about the packaging for me.

Meat Day!!

What a joy it is to work with such a great group of people.  Yesterday was our annual staff Christmas lunch road trip to Fogo de Chao.  Pdan has treated our staff to this tribute to meat for the past few years.

Have you ever been??  It seems each year we have a newbie along and get to enjoy it through their "first-time" eyes again.  The seasoned ones in the group, we've got it down to a science.  We don't waste our time, space or chewing energies on just any 'ole piece of meat.  We make choices and turn away any offers of something that might not be a favorite or that's not wrapped in bacon.  Eat a little salad then one, two, three....go!  Flip that coaster card from red to green and the meat begins to descend upon and around the table carried on large skewers by friendly men dressed as gauchos.

Someone might ask - "why start with salad, why not go straight to the meat?"  Well, for one, we're not total barbarians and we have to prepare and begin slowly.  Besides a Brazilian salad bar has so many different things that you won't find on any other salad bar in town.  It's part of the experience as is the red/green coaster.  If you forget to turn it back over to red, they keep coming and making offers of meat.  Turn it to red, and they know you are taking a break.  It becomes somewhat of a game.

My favorite selection this year was the filet-mignon wrapped in bacon.  It's the only one I tried twice.

Other complimentary foods offered on the table are the cheese rolls (I've been gluten-free for the past 2 visits so I just remember them being light and airy and fairly good as dinner rolls go), mashed potatoes, flan and warm cinnamon-sprinkled plaintains.

We finished our meal with dessert and shared a slice of turtle cheesecake and a papaya cream.

Carol, we missed you even though you're not a meat fan.  You were in our thoughts.
Pdan thanks for the gift not only of a nice meal but fellowship and time spent.

2011

2009

2008

Crabby Cookies

When people come to visit Maryland we like to take them for steamed crabs or our favorite crab cakes (G&M in Linthicum).  That wouldn't work when the Messiah Falcons came to town, so I made crab cookies.

I was visiting the Inner Harbor in Baltimore last week with my Mom and Ms. Doris.  Found a crab cookie cutter in a souvenir shop.  I used the fabulous sugar cookie recipe and icing from a blog that I follow called Toad's Treasures .  She has wonderfully creative ideas for all things party, baking, crafting & sewing related.  COOKIE RECIPE & ICING RECIPE

So Meagan made the dough for me and then we refrigerated it.  When I cut out the cookies and baked them the claws and some legs got lost in the transfer from the pan.  I was a bit discouraged and left them out overnight to sit.  The next morning I made icing just to test them out and used black outline icing to trace some features.  My mom encouraged me to use them.  I made another batch of dough to make some more crabs that had both claws and set out to finish the project.

I took a few broken ones to a neighbor and she thought they were great with coffee.  : )  The sour cream in the cookie dough really makes a nice texture and taste.

I finished decorating and let them sit out overnight again to harden so that the plastic bags I had planned for them wouldn't stick to the icing.

I bagged them with a few red hots for added fun and added some printed labels with a "crabby" welcome and a scripture verse to share and took them to the game.

Kelsie texted me from the bus saying "Thanks and they loved the cookies."  I figured it was dark and they were college students appreciating any kind of home-baked gesture.  It was a fun project and I will attempt them again for holiday goodies.

The Game in the Big House

Recently we enjoyed attending a local game for Kelsie's basketball team.  Normal travel time for us is nearly 2 hours.  Twenty minutes in the car was a great gift.  We've known for nearly a year that her Division III team would get to play an exhibition game against the Maryland Terrapins.  They got a taste of what big school athletics are about in the Comcast Center.  Some students choose a small private school because it's just that, small and private.  Several at Messiah have transferred in from Division I schools.  Our girls are competitive and athletic and at the top of their conference.  They held their own and played well in this big "turtle" arena.  Afterwards, we were treated to a reception at Ledo's for families and friends to visit with the team before they returned to school.

Squash the turtle!!!

Silly Turtle -
Mason was heckling him so him came over to say "hi".

Though nervous, he did give a fist bump
after seeing the turtle cry a little.

Final score

At this moment, the final score doesn't matter.
Messiah team captains invite every opponent to pray with the team
at center-court at the end of the game.  Most accept.

Link to an online article about Kelsie's return to play against Maryland.

Link to  Patriot News article after the game.

Link to the cookies I made for the team.  : )

Happy Halloween!!

What a fun day for kids.  Mason has anticipated this day for a few weeks.

This little witchy lady surprised us on our doorstep one night last week.

We got "booed" by a neighbor and she was in the basket we found after the doorbell rang.

I expect today will be filled with fun, dress-up, treats and hopefully NO tricks.

  

Meagan has volleyball practice and Mason stated "On Halloween night??  That is just wrong!"

H - A - P - P - Y     H - A - L - L - O - W - E - E - N!!!!!!

Pumpkin Jack for Mason

After singing "Pumpkin Jack" at school this month, Mason was excited to carve a pumpkin for Halloween.  He recruited Dad to help him.

No, he doesn't have a black eye. 
Not sure what's going on there.

Michael said Mason almost got sick
when he pulled the seeds and pulp out of the
pumpkin and you can see he was wearing gloves.

Much happier that the dirty work is done.

Mason drew his face on with a marker.

Finished jack-o-latern.

Oh to Blog again

Hi little blog - I've missed you and have thought of things to write recently but no time to sit.
Today was flu shot day.  Yipee!  It was a crazy, fried-brain kinda day where nothing seemed to go just right.  I was at the gas station late this afternoon and saw a dump truck lose his brakes and go sailing through a red light with traffic crossing.  I had just come through that intersection and was thankful for the good timing and thankful that everyone was able to safely dodge the out-of-control dump truck.  It reminded me of how quickly life can change - it just takes a second.  It reminded me to stop and be thankful and look for a moment to slow down.  So here I am, pausing, and now I will go to sleep.  Good night.....sweet dreams.

Favorite Foto Friday!

Found this guy on our front porch this week.  He looks like a plastic toy up close.  

Birthday Weekend

Happy 5th Birthday Mason!!!

We had such a fun time planning Mason's pirate party.  

If you know me at all, you know I can beat a theme to death.  

Some plans changed as we saw the temps climb into the 100's this week.  

All activities got moved inside the house.  

This made for some close quarters on our pirate adventure.  

  

We decorated treasure chests.

Then we went on a hunt for buried treasure.

Consulting the map for location of the "X".

Everyone had to walk the plank.
Watch out for the crocodiles in the water below.

 

Story time.

Thanks Ken for bringing Felix to teach our
jr mateys all about parrots.

Finally, it's cake time.

This friendly pirate was a hit and check out my tattoo.