Well, Santa was a big hit this year. He brought everything the boys could possibly want. Of course with my memory trouble we did have a lost present. But, I did find it before we left to visit the relatives. You will never guess where it was. Yep, right under the tree wrapped and tagged. We made our trips to the Grandparents. I think my boys had the best Christmas ever.
This is what I heard as the kids got up to see what Santa had brought; Wow, awesome, that is so cool,
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Random Christmas Hoopla!!
OK, sorry it took so long. Been crazy around here.
12 things ok here we go.
1. Christmas Eve Lovefeast at Church and the party afterwards at Marks' Moms house. Tradition
2. Santa always left our gifts unwrapped too. We unwrapped so much on Christmas Eve when I was little I don't think my Mom could have cleaned up another round of wrapping paper if Santa wrapped his. There was always some little cool something in our stockings. I am the youngest of three.
3. We still get together at Moms' on Christmas Day. Me and my family and my sister and brother and their families.
4. Mom is a wonderful cook so I always look forward to eating at Moms. She always has BBQ. I know you would think I would be tired of it living here. BBQ at Moms' is not like what we have here. It is more a tomato base.
5. Ok this one may be bad. When Jack was little it was so nice to be able to sleep til 9am on Christmas morning because he was in his crib. There was no possibility of him getting up early and catching Santa.
6. The Church I grew up in was Baptist and we had a live Nativity.My family supplied a horse. I was one of the angels.
7. I always love to see the Christmas decorations around town. Mark and I have always gone on little road trips to check out everybodys' decorations. If you are ever down in Lexington around Christmas one of the houses that is behind Hayes Jewelers has the most beautiful decorations. If you roll your windows down they also are playing Christmas music. The entire house is done up with dolls. There are spot lights and lights inside and some of the dolls move.
It really is cool.
8. We have our first Moravian Star this year. I am so excited I have always wanted one but never really had a place for it. They are so pretty.
9. We have a Christmas pickle too. If you don't know the pickle tradition here it is. It began in Germany. The pickle is a symbol of good luck. It was the last ornament placed on the tree. The first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning was rewarded with an extra gift from St. Nicholas. This tradition is supposed to make the children appreciate all the ornaments on the tree and not just rush to see what Santa brought them. We have the pickle but we have not started the gift thing yet. I don't think my kids are ready. I fear my tree would be in a pile in the middle of the floor.
10. I love watching my kids faces light up when they see what Santa has brought them. They are so funny sometimes.
11. We go every year to Tanglewood to see the lights. Sometimes we pick up food and eat along the way and other times we go somewhere nice to eat and then go while our food is settling.
12. My mother told me a story about one Christmas way before I was born. She had stashed Santa in my Sisters' closet. So they waited till she fell fast asleep and then they had to go in her room and in the closet to get Santa out. Well, while they were getting things out my sister started stirring. My Mom locked my Dad in the closet and left him there for several hours. He was all hunched over and crammed in this little space. My Mom said she wanted to make sure my sister was asleep before she went back for him. Every time I think of that I just laugh. I am sure it has happened to many Moms and Dads.
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I bake a lot around this time too. I love giving gifts. Especially those not expected.
12 things ok here we go.
1. Christmas Eve Lovefeast at Church and the party afterwards at Marks' Moms house. Tradition
2. Santa always left our gifts unwrapped too. We unwrapped so much on Christmas Eve when I was little I don't think my Mom could have cleaned up another round of wrapping paper if Santa wrapped his. There was always some little cool something in our stockings. I am the youngest of three.
3. We still get together at Moms' on Christmas Day. Me and my family and my sister and brother and their families.
4. Mom is a wonderful cook so I always look forward to eating at Moms. She always has BBQ. I know you would think I would be tired of it living here. BBQ at Moms' is not like what we have here. It is more a tomato base.
5. Ok this one may be bad. When Jack was little it was so nice to be able to sleep til 9am on Christmas morning because he was in his crib. There was no possibility of him getting up early and catching Santa.
6. The Church I grew up in was Baptist and we had a live Nativity.My family supplied a horse. I was one of the angels.
7. I always love to see the Christmas decorations around town. Mark and I have always gone on little road trips to check out everybodys' decorations. If you are ever down in Lexington around Christmas one of the houses that is behind Hayes Jewelers has the most beautiful decorations. If you roll your windows down they also are playing Christmas music. The entire house is done up with dolls. There are spot lights and lights inside and some of the dolls move.
It really is cool.
8. We have our first Moravian Star this year. I am so excited I have always wanted one but never really had a place for it. They are so pretty.
9. We have a Christmas pickle too. If you don't know the pickle tradition here it is. It began in Germany. The pickle is a symbol of good luck. It was the last ornament placed on the tree. The first child to find the pickle on Christmas morning was rewarded with an extra gift from St. Nicholas. This tradition is supposed to make the children appreciate all the ornaments on the tree and not just rush to see what Santa brought them. We have the pickle but we have not started the gift thing yet. I don't think my kids are ready. I fear my tree would be in a pile in the middle of the floor.
10. I love watching my kids faces light up when they see what Santa has brought them. They are so funny sometimes.
11. We go every year to Tanglewood to see the lights. Sometimes we pick up food and eat along the way and other times we go somewhere nice to eat and then go while our food is settling.
12. My mother told me a story about one Christmas way before I was born. She had stashed Santa in my Sisters' closet. So they waited till she fell fast asleep and then they had to go in her room and in the closet to get Santa out. Well, while they were getting things out my sister started stirring. My Mom locked my Dad in the closet and left him there for several hours. He was all hunched over and crammed in this little space. My Mom said she wanted to make sure my sister was asleep before she went back for him. Every time I think of that I just laugh. I am sure it has happened to many Moms and Dads.
Christmas is my favorite time of year. I bake a lot around this time too. I love giving gifts. Especially those not expected.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Memory problems. . .
OK, I cannot be the only one that loses things around the house. I know you're out there. Well last night Mark and I were trying to figure out what we had the kids for Christmas. We took everything out and started sorting. This is for Jack no, this is for Thomas, no maybe this is for the neighbor kid. I don't know I cannot remember! Well, Mark and I have been buying things for the kids all year and putting it aside. Mark came home with a deal on a leapster cartridge for Jack. I had already bought that very one and had it put up but forgot that I had bought it. Last night I found it. So I will be returning the one I purchased at a greater price than my thrifty husband. I had also bought a watch earlier in the year for Jack and now I cannot find it.
I am my mothers' daughter. I will never forget (HA HA) my mother finding a Barbie Doll some 15 years after she was supposed to have given it to me. It was hidden in her closet. I guess in 15 years that Hot Wheels watch will turn up. Hey, maybe it will be a collectors item? I know it is still in the box.
I am my mothers' daughter. I will never forget (HA HA) my mother finding a Barbie Doll some 15 years after she was supposed to have given it to me. It was hidden in her closet. I guess in 15 years that Hot Wheels watch will turn up. Hey, maybe it will be a collectors item? I know it is still in the box.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Holiday Baking. . .
Beth, I know you talked a little about this in your blog about "the Stollen" but I could not help but to talk a little about it too. I love Christmas. It is my most favorite Holiday. I love to cook especially if it involves sweets. I try to bake homemade things and give those to my neighbors. I always enjoy homemade goodies from folks. My cousin always makes us something for Christmas and I love it. I make a lot of the same things my Mom makes for the Holidays. Growing up, she always made; Hello Dollies (7 layer cookies), pecan sandies, fudge, pecan tassies, and chex mix. The dollies are my favorite, they have chocolate chips, nuts, butterscotch chips, and sweetened condensed milk. I guess the dollies are the one thing I would come home for. You know it is getting close to Christmas when Mom is making her Hello Dollies.
To give my goodies to my neighbors and friends I usually buy a festive tray or platter to put them on so that once they are gone they have something to hold on to. I feel it gives it a little something extra. Everyone gets a little sample of what I have baked. If they have kids I usually through in something kid friendly, like chocolate chip cookies. Some kids don't know the joy of the "Dolly". I have tried to make fudge before with no luck. I think it sat on my table for a week and never got hard. I don't do fudge anymore.
My first attempt at making Moms' pecan sandies was terrible. Of course you could imagine since I have issues with getting the recipe written down right. I had written Moms' recipe down wrong. Her recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of flour and I wrote 1 1/2 tbsp of flour. Well, you can imagine what happened when I added the stick of butter. I thought something was weird when they were very sticky. I made them up and put them in the oven and in case you cannot guess what happened. With in minutes my oven was smoking and my cookies were running all over the place. Mark laughed of course. He now calls my pecan sandies the incredible melting cookies. But he loves em. I think my neighbors enjoyed their goodies too. I have since added homemade bread and Moravian sugar cake to my Holiday baking. The homemade bread will be for another post. The sugar cake, however, is to die for. I can whip it up in no time. Most folks like it. My kids love it.
PS: Jack wants to make fudge. He has found a recipe he wants to use. It seems pretty easy, but you know how good I am about reading a recipe. I will save this one for the future.
Stay tuned. . .
To give my goodies to my neighbors and friends I usually buy a festive tray or platter to put them on so that once they are gone they have something to hold on to. I feel it gives it a little something extra. Everyone gets a little sample of what I have baked. If they have kids I usually through in something kid friendly, like chocolate chip cookies. Some kids don't know the joy of the "Dolly". I have tried to make fudge before with no luck. I think it sat on my table for a week and never got hard. I don't do fudge anymore.
My first attempt at making Moms' pecan sandies was terrible. Of course you could imagine since I have issues with getting the recipe written down right. I had written Moms' recipe down wrong. Her recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of flour and I wrote 1 1/2 tbsp of flour. Well, you can imagine what happened when I added the stick of butter. I thought something was weird when they were very sticky. I made them up and put them in the oven and in case you cannot guess what happened. With in minutes my oven was smoking and my cookies were running all over the place. Mark laughed of course. He now calls my pecan sandies the incredible melting cookies. But he loves em. I think my neighbors enjoyed their goodies too. I have since added homemade bread and Moravian sugar cake to my Holiday baking. The homemade bread will be for another post. The sugar cake, however, is to die for. I can whip it up in no time. Most folks like it. My kids love it.
PS: Jack wants to make fudge. He has found a recipe he wants to use. It seems pretty easy, but you know how good I am about reading a recipe. I will save this one for the future.
Stay tuned. . .
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thomas and Santa. . .
Thomas is 4 1/2 going on 40. He has his own ideas about the way things are and he is so funny sometimes I have to walk out of the room to keep from laughing. Thomas has this deep voice that you do not expect to come out of a 4 yr. old. So the voice along with the things he says is sometimes to much.
Thomas was telling me the other day what Santa was going to bring him. He said, Santa is going to bring me a race track. Well we have about a dozen race tracks already. So I said, Santa may not bring you that race track since he knows you have so many. You know that Santa does not bring you things we don't have room for or things you don't need. Thomas replied with a confident yes he is going to bring it. I asked why he was so sure. He again replied with great confidence, I told him what I wanted and he always brings what I ask for. (Note to parents Santa does not always bring what he asked for) I could only reply with, Oh, ok.
The kids are getting ready for their Christmas program at Church. They have been practicing a lot. One day one of the leaders noticed that the kids were not really giving it their all. So, she told them that if they did not sing and practice the way they were supposed to that Santa would not come see them. Thomas, of course, asked how she knew that. She told him she knew Santa and would call him. She told me all of this when I picked them up. She said that Thomas sang every note and every song with great gusto. I laughed. I always tell my kids to behave and be good to each other because Santa is watching. I also remind them of the story of my brother.
When I was about 7 or 8 and my brother was 18 he started telling me I had not been good and Santa was not going to come and see me. I was scared to death. He said Santa was going to put switches in my stocking. He started this in November, I remember it well. My mother kept telling me Santa was going to come see me and that I had been good. On Christmas morning I was the first one up. It was 5am. I was so excited to see what Santa had brought for me. I ran downstairs and burst into the den. He had come to see me and I had wonderful toys and dolls to play with. Of course I don't remember exactly what I got but, I remember distinctly what my brother got. He got SWITCHES, yes, switches in his stocking. I got the biggest smile on my face and I ran through the house announcing to everyone that Greg got switches in his stocking. I was so happy. Santa did bring him presents but not the good stuff that you get in your stocking. The candy and little items that he did not wrap. I have yet to let my brother forget that one. To this day it is Thanksgiving conversation.
I still believe in Santa. Not the silly man in the red suit but the spirit of the Holiday. The giving to others and helping someone in need. I hope my children always believe too.
Thomas was telling me the other day what Santa was going to bring him. He said, Santa is going to bring me a race track. Well we have about a dozen race tracks already. So I said, Santa may not bring you that race track since he knows you have so many. You know that Santa does not bring you things we don't have room for or things you don't need. Thomas replied with a confident yes he is going to bring it. I asked why he was so sure. He again replied with great confidence, I told him what I wanted and he always brings what I ask for. (Note to parents Santa does not always bring what he asked for) I could only reply with, Oh, ok.
The kids are getting ready for their Christmas program at Church. They have been practicing a lot. One day one of the leaders noticed that the kids were not really giving it their all. So, she told them that if they did not sing and practice the way they were supposed to that Santa would not come see them. Thomas, of course, asked how she knew that. She told him she knew Santa and would call him. She told me all of this when I picked them up. She said that Thomas sang every note and every song with great gusto. I laughed. I always tell my kids to behave and be good to each other because Santa is watching. I also remind them of the story of my brother.
When I was about 7 or 8 and my brother was 18 he started telling me I had not been good and Santa was not going to come and see me. I was scared to death. He said Santa was going to put switches in my stocking. He started this in November, I remember it well. My mother kept telling me Santa was going to come see me and that I had been good. On Christmas morning I was the first one up. It was 5am. I was so excited to see what Santa had brought for me. I ran downstairs and burst into the den. He had come to see me and I had wonderful toys and dolls to play with. Of course I don't remember exactly what I got but, I remember distinctly what my brother got. He got SWITCHES, yes, switches in his stocking. I got the biggest smile on my face and I ran through the house announcing to everyone that Greg got switches in his stocking. I was so happy. Santa did bring him presents but not the good stuff that you get in your stocking. The candy and little items that he did not wrap. I have yet to let my brother forget that one. To this day it is Thanksgiving conversation.
I still believe in Santa. Not the silly man in the red suit but the spirit of the Holiday. The giving to others and helping someone in need. I hope my children always believe too.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Cooking with Wine. . .
I think of myself as a pretty good cook. I enjoy cooking and sell Pampered Chef. The cooking store that comes to your door. I am always trying new recipes and such. I like doing different things to spice up the everyday meals. Marks' sister fixed a roast with merlot the other week and I thought it was really good. It had a good flavor. I like fixing things that are simple. Robbie told me how she fixed it and I said I can do that. Well she gave me just a rough description of what she did and of course I did not write it down. It was simple and I could remember that.
Well, I bought my roast and I even bought a little better grade of meat than she had used. She said she covered the roast in wine and cooked it in the crock pot all day. So, I poured a bottle and a 1/2 over the roast along with a pack of Lipton onion soup mix as she said. I had fixed this so Mark would have something to feed the kids while I was at a Cooking Show. When I got home that evening I asked Mark how the roast was. I figured he would just rave about it. He said, "It burned my throat on the way down." I gasped and could not figure out what he was talking about. I tried it and sure enough it burned like liquor all the way down. Mark said he felt guilty about feeding it to the kids so, he fixed them something else. (He really is a good guy)
Over the next few days I ate the roast for lunch or a snack and there were still pieces that would burn when I ate it. You would think that cooking it, the alcohol would cook off.
At Thanksgiving I told Robbie about my roast. She laughed and said she only used a 1/2 cup of wine in her roast. Well, that explains everything. I will never live this one down.
For Thanksgiving I fixed a White Wine Cake and Beer bread to take to my Moms' house. (No I am not an alcoholic I just seem to be in this mode of cooking lately.) The White Wine Cake is Robbies' recipe. This time she wrote it down for me. This is the best cake. Well I worked on Wednesday to fix the cake so we could take it to Moms' on Thursday. It did not come out of my stone very well which is unusual. I decided since it was only going to Moms' it would be ok if it did not look the best. On Thursday morning Jack got up and came groggily down the stairs and looked into my cake keeper and said, "Made a pound cake?" I said yes. He replied, "Didn't turn out to good did it?" Well, Mark and I just busted out laughing. Out of the mouths of babes or 8 year olds. It did not look very good but it was the best cake I have ever made. And I followed the recipe this time.
Well, I bought my roast and I even bought a little better grade of meat than she had used. She said she covered the roast in wine and cooked it in the crock pot all day. So, I poured a bottle and a 1/2 over the roast along with a pack of Lipton onion soup mix as she said. I had fixed this so Mark would have something to feed the kids while I was at a Cooking Show. When I got home that evening I asked Mark how the roast was. I figured he would just rave about it. He said, "It burned my throat on the way down." I gasped and could not figure out what he was talking about. I tried it and sure enough it burned like liquor all the way down. Mark said he felt guilty about feeding it to the kids so, he fixed them something else. (He really is a good guy)
Over the next few days I ate the roast for lunch or a snack and there were still pieces that would burn when I ate it. You would think that cooking it, the alcohol would cook off.
At Thanksgiving I told Robbie about my roast. She laughed and said she only used a 1/2 cup of wine in her roast. Well, that explains everything. I will never live this one down.
For Thanksgiving I fixed a White Wine Cake and Beer bread to take to my Moms' house. (No I am not an alcoholic I just seem to be in this mode of cooking lately.) The White Wine Cake is Robbies' recipe. This time she wrote it down for me. This is the best cake. Well I worked on Wednesday to fix the cake so we could take it to Moms' on Thursday. It did not come out of my stone very well which is unusual. I decided since it was only going to Moms' it would be ok if it did not look the best. On Thursday morning Jack got up and came groggily down the stairs and looked into my cake keeper and said, "Made a pound cake?" I said yes. He replied, "Didn't turn out to good did it?" Well, Mark and I just busted out laughing. Out of the mouths of babes or 8 year olds. It did not look very good but it was the best cake I have ever made. And I followed the recipe this time.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Traditions cont. . .
OK, I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. I love our traditions with our Church. I love the Christmas Eve Lovefeast. In fact, Mark and I used to be dieners (those are the folks that serve the lovefeast). That is a tremendous honor to be chosen for that role in the Church. I was very honored that we were asked. We served for three years and then stepped down. The last year we served Jack was a baby. It was very difficult to do that 10:00 pm Lovefeast with an infant. Our Church is one of the only ones to offer three services on Christmas Eve.
A little history here: I am Moravian and if you do not know the Moravians they love to eat and sing. Any chance to have food and we are there and ready. The Lovefeast is a service where we serve coffee and a Moravian bun and we eat while listening to classic Moravian music. We have several through out the year. They are celebrations of milestones within our Church and the Moravian history. My favorite is the Christmas Eve Lovefeast. We not only serve the traditional coffee and buns but we also have a candle service. The dieners, at the end of the service, pass out hand poured bees wax candles to each person in the congregation. It is one of the most moving services. If you ever have the opportunity to attend I would highly recommend it. Our Church still pours its' own candles. At the end of the service you may take the candle with you to help remind you of what a special event you were a part.
I guess we do have our own traditions and I am getting to caught up in the pesky details. Christmas is my most favorite Holiday and I should just enjoy my children and the Season.
Sorry to blather on this time.
A little history here: I am Moravian and if you do not know the Moravians they love to eat and sing. Any chance to have food and we are there and ready. The Lovefeast is a service where we serve coffee and a Moravian bun and we eat while listening to classic Moravian music. We have several through out the year. They are celebrations of milestones within our Church and the Moravian history. My favorite is the Christmas Eve Lovefeast. We not only serve the traditional coffee and buns but we also have a candle service. The dieners, at the end of the service, pass out hand poured bees wax candles to each person in the congregation. It is one of the most moving services. If you ever have the opportunity to attend I would highly recommend it. Our Church still pours its' own candles. At the end of the service you may take the candle with you to help remind you of what a special event you were a part.
I guess we do have our own traditions and I am getting to caught up in the pesky details. Christmas is my most favorite Holiday and I should just enjoy my children and the Season.
Sorry to blather on this time.
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