Christmas Again

So I got my post in last night, and the time stamp was 20 minutes before actual time. I could have kept right on going... so I will... right here... right now...

Did I mention that we had a fire going for most of the day? I was glad that it was cold enough for it, and I am stoked that my husband is so into fireplaces now. He's like a new and improved model husband... the kind that likes lighting fires and no longer complains about "wasted" wall space where the fireplace is. I'm loving this.

He is a way cool daddy, too. Seth had been waiting for the last few days for "egg time". He won a "Cook with Daddy" reward with a token (frog program) grab, and Josh said that he planned to make loco mocos for dinner on Christmas Day. He told Seth he could help fry the eggs. So up until the minute, Seth kept asking "Is it egg time yet, Daddy?" When it was finally time, I was sitting at the kitchen table doing my own thing and listening to Josh teach Seth how to crack and open the egg into the pan. I smiled a little when I heard him tell Seth that he should get closer to the pan next time so that it doesn't splash all over and break the yolk. Seth cracked, flipped with a spatula, and cooked three eggs of which he ate two and I ate one. He was really proud.

The other two kids couldn't take it... they had to cook their own eggs, too. So even though they didn't win it, Josh taught each of them how to cook eggs. Sarah got the upgraded version where she flips the eggs in the pan without the spatula, and it was fun to hear Josh yelling his approval when she did it. Zack ended his cooking session with a little burn to his finger--it wasn't bad at all--and he made a smooth recovery complete with a built-in safety lesson about turning off the stove the minute something happens. He ran his finger under the tap and then a soak in ice water, and he was all good.

So even though dinner wasn't exactly like going out to kill it and drag it home for dinner, the kids were sure proud of having cooked their own eggs as if they did. It's nice that something so simple has the potential to turn into a top-ten Christmas memory. I hope this one stands out for them because it sure did for me.

I like doing crafty things on Christmas Day. So the kids got klutz books from us... a glider one for each of the boys and a pom pom animal one for Sarah. The boys did theirs, but Sarah played with theirs and not hers. The other thing we did was put together a fleece throw for each of them. We had been to JoAnn Fabrics the day before and got them for half price. I did the cutting of the fringe and Sarah and Zack did the tying. Seth refrained from helping because he said it was too hard. It's nice to see them using their blankets now and they all match Zoe... she got a fleece blanket from one of the ladies at the office. And now that they have their own, they don't mess with my fleece snowman one that I got from Kristen a few Christmases ago.

We went to bed a little late, but probably would not have done that even if I had not been scheduled for a doctor appointment today. Seth and Zack were just as cozy in their new sheets and comforters as Sarah (who got hers some time ago when she outgrew her favorite blanket and the boys have followed in her footsteps outgrowing theirs), so it was hard to wake them up this morning, but we got to the doc on time. I got put on the monitor (FAD) like last week and then went to see my doctor. No contractions this time, but it's probably because I'm taking medicine. I'm still not in labor and the doctor said I need to stay that way for at least ten more days. Gotta keep baking that bun in the oven. I have another appointment next week, and then it's c-section time the following week.

Time is beginning to speed up for me as I realize this. I'm not ready! The baby bed (co-sleeper) is ordered and on its way. We have diapers and wipes and a new diaper bag (thanks to a couple of ladies at the office who got me a Target gift card). We also have clothes, blankets and other things that the other ladies at the office sent (they did a baby shower in a box for me complete with color picture of all of them at the office which is nice because I only ever see them when we go on a company cruise). We also bought the car seat and stroller last Saturday because I couldn't wait until after Christmas. We had spent the day moving our room around to accommodate baby and it just seemed like the natural thing to do... I was in baby mode. There's still lots to do, but we're making progress.

I meant to blog about my baby shower that Brooke and Susie threw for me on the 15th. Or did I? Maybe I didn't. Man, I'm losing it. We didn't take any pictures, but I did get a picture of the big baby shower cake that Brooke made out of a case of diapers. I'll have to post that. It was dang huge.

Gotta go finish up with the Christmas packing for mailing. I'm so lame. I got gifts done sometime around Thanksgiving, but am only now sending them after the big day. So, when you get your gift from me, just be thankful that it's not March... when last year's Christmas card got to you. Christmas is the same time every year, and I still manage to be late. Sorry!

Hope your Christmas was a memorable one! Let's see those posts, now!

Merry Christmas!

Let's see if I can get this in before midnight... when everything Christmas suddenly vanishes (XM radio holiday stations are already shut down which is really OK...once you hit the 20th version of Let It Snow, it's time to kill it).

This has been one of the best Christmases yet. I think it has something to do with not having the stress of visiting or traveling or needing to be anywhere for anything. This is the way to go, folks. Although it is always great to see family and friends and be festive together, Christmas at home is definitely my favorite way to spend Christmas. It may or may not have anything to do with my huge belly and being able to let it all hang out.

We started with Christmas dinner of steak, baked potatoes and green bean casserole on Christmas Eve (Josh rocked... slaving over the hot stove--which is welcomed in this cold Houston weather--while I cleaned up as we went along which I don't mind doing when we're in the kitchen together being a team). Afterwards, we read Luke 2 as a family -- 52 verses, so we each took turns reading 5 at a time and going around the table. Zack got to read the last two extra verses which he was so concerned about (he's Mister Gotta Be Fair Boy). Then the kids built a Gingerbread House while Josh read his Mom's Port A version of Night Before Christmas. Then we let the kids open gifts from their great-grandparents. I don't remember what happened next, but we were in the middle of something and Zack saw that it was almost midnight and ran to bed. He wanted to get to sleep so that Santa could come.

So while everyone slumbered, Santa got busy. I'll spare you the gory details because time is short. Suffice it to say that the next morning was a success. We prolonged the children's agony by making them eat breakfast first, and then we opened presents with the kids taking turns being an "elf" delivering a gift to someone. After everything was opened, which took an agonizingly long time because I was beginning to fall asleep, I noted that the thing the kids played with first was the little Nerf-like gun that Zack got Seth from the dollar store. After all Santa's efforts... it really only takes one dollar to make Christmas exciting. But the following seven hours were devoted to the new Wii games... so I guess we broke even.

One of my favorite things about this Christmas was watching Seth go to the little table next to the tree and play with the nativity set that Grandma Niki got them when we were living in Port A. She wanted the kids to be able to touch it and play with it, and that's what Seth did on Christmas Eve and the night before. So sweet.

Toffe Butter Crunch Recipe

This recipe (aka homemade Almond Roca) is for Nancy Fancy Pants... one of Susie's sisters. She was kind enough to request it.

1 c coarsely chopped toasted almonds
2 c butter (real stuff only!)
2 c sugar
2 T light corn syrup
6 T water
1 1/2 c milk chocolate pieces
1 c finely chopped toasted almonds

I use a non-stick jelly roll pan for this. You can also use a 13x9x2 inch baking pan lined with foil. Sprinkle coarsely chopped nuts in pan. Butter sides of heavy 2-quart saucepan. Melt butter in saucepan. Add sugar, corn syrup and water. Cook and stir over medium-high heat to boiling. Clip candy thermometer to pan. Cook and stir over medium heat to 290 degrees F, soft crack stage (about 15 minutes). Watch carefully after 280 degrees to prevent scorching. Remove saucepan from heat and remove thermometer. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Let stand for five minutes or until firm; sprinkle with chocolate pieces. Let stand 1-2 minutes and then spread chocolate over mixture. Sprinkle with finely chopped nuts. Chill till firm. Lift candy out of pan; break into pieces. Store tightly covered. Makes about 3 pounds.

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Seth!

Seth is six! He had a fun day... He ate McDonald's for lunch (yours truly had to actually get out of the car and go into Walmart to get it since they tore down the stand alone building and are building another one... we never go to McD's so he was stoked); had Ninja Turtles and Backyardigans cupcakes to share with his classmates, got to wear his pj's to school since it was Polar Express Day for the kindergarteners (they got a ticket and "rode" a train to the North Pole to see Santa who gave them a jingle bell necklace); got to open presents in the morning, afternoon and night; ate a special dinner of his choice (corn dogs and french fries); had a double chocolate cake with chocolate frosting (which he carved his name into before cutting and serving); spent lots of time taking pictures with his new digital camera that he got from Gma Niki and Gpa Randy; then put himself to bed around 10:30pm. What a day!

I'm exhausted... had a late night last night with the girls watching an old black and white movie - The Ghost and Mrs. Muir - and loved it! Except for the part where she kisses a creep (gross!) and never kisses the dashing Captain. Well, they did leave some for the imagination back in the old days, I'll give them that. I used to watch a TV series by the same name that was most likely made after this movie. I digress. The point is, I slept three hours last night.

So I've been running on fumes all day. Didn't exactly hit all my deadlines today with work, but I got the most urgent things done. The rest of the day was dedicated to Seth's birthday, primary preparations (baptism tomorrow and teaching the senior primary ST), getting together a gift basket for the missionaries, and baking like crazy.

I have to put this down even though I'm about to fall over... it was a Christmas miracle, I tell ya. I began the evening by making Seth's cake, followed by brownies to put in the gift basket, then got a wild idea to make rolls for the gift basket (and Josh--or I wouldn't live to see another day), then decided to also do Ginger Snaps since the oven was already on, and then decided to make Toffee Butter Crunch (gotta send to Tony since he liked it the last time I made it for Christmas). I also got Sarah to get down the deep fryer to fry the french fries, stuck the corn dogs in the oven, and slapped the ketchup on the table for one of the easiest meals ever made. I forgot that I had bought broccoli to go with it so that Seth could get some kind of vitamin in him today. Oops!

Now I'm working on baptism stuff. I'm thinking I should just go to bed and then get up early tomorrow, but I don't want the laughter to build up inside me and short circuit the one cable I'm running on right now. I want to at least make it to the bed before I tip over.

Buffalo Chip Cookies

I have an email that I sent to Josh's parents during the first month of living here (which was 2 years ago) and have decided to share it with y'all. I read it to the kids last year in December and they were rolling with laughter. So it inspired me to read it to them every year. Now you're included...

12/30/05

Hi Mom and Dad,

I've been holding on to the recipe you developed for Buffalo Chips and waiting for the chance to bake a batch. Today was that day. I decided that the kids were going to help and we were going to make some memories and some good grinds for tomorrow night. I thought you might like a record of our first attempt. This might be a long one, so print it out and read it the next time you're on the pot -- you'll see that it's a fitting story for that.

Zack and Sarah are both anxious to help me in the kitchen. I'm struck by the joy they feel in doing it even if it's just a little bit. Just the other day, Sarah turned to me and said, "I love helping you cook pancakes, Mom! Or anything, really!" I almost resolve to involve the kids more in everyday cooking. Read on.

Sarah is the first to jump when I announce that we're going to make cookies. Zack reminds her that she needs to wash her hands. He's not done with dessert yet, so he's trying to stall for time in order to get an equal share of the helping. He scarfs down the rest of his ice cream, runs to wash his hands, and then reappears and announces in a loud voice, "I washed my hands!" I begin with melting the buttery Crisco and let them take turns putting the seconds on the microwave, opening and closing the door, and then pouring the melted yummy smelling stuff into the bowl.

Next comes the sugars. Before I can answer Zack's question to scoop, Sarah tells him that he's not going to touch the scoop, but count them as I measure them out. I can't find my one cup measure, so I'm using the 1/4 cup measure and it's more fun that way anyway. They count and watch the Kitchenaide mixer blend everything together, laughing at the way it all comes together. At this point, I realize that Seth is no where to be found. They tell me that he's in the bedroom, so I figure he's found Sarah's Game Boy and he's secretly playing it without permission.

The eggs are next, and Zack asks how to open them. A little lesson ensues where cracking the eggs on a flat surface creates the perfect line crack down the center. I say, "then you just pull the egg shell apart with your fingers. You don't push your fingers into it." Sarah says, "Yeah, like I do sometimes." Then she explains to Zack that the outside of an egg is really yucky, "because, well, it did come out of a chicken's butt."

After her mini-lesson, Sarah soon realizes what I've suspected and runs to the bedroom to retrieve the Game Boy and hide it from her little sticky-fingers brother. Seth retires to the living room to watch. I see his face and it looks like he wants to help, but he's content to watch this time around.

We begin to mix up the dry stuff: flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Sarah holds the bowl while Zack stirs it up with a whisk. I put a cup of cornflakes in a bag and hand it to Sarah to crush. When I see her squeezing it with her fingers, I show her how to put it on the table and crush with a flat palm in order to keep the bag from getting holes. She starts to do it and I turn to gradually integrating the flour mixture and wet mixture. Sarah tells Zack that he can have a turn at crushing the cornflakes since he gave her a turn stirring the flour mixture. I scold her for sitting on the bag and tell her not to do that. She laughs out a, "Yes, Mommy."

Then I catch a glimpse of Seth standing in the living room watching. His eyes are watering and he's very still. I say, "What are you doing? Are you making poo-poo?" He nods and says, "Pee-pee, too." I let out a roar of frustration then leave the mixer mixing, the two helpers crushing and grab Seth and tell him to get to the bathroom. I inspect the living room and it seems OK. Nothing got on the carpet except for a little spot of urine. I get an old rag and clean it up. Meanwhile, Seth is in the bathroom yelling incoherently. Sarah reports that he has dropped his underwear in the toilet and is waiting in the bathtub. Zack runs out of the bathroom yelling "Terrible smell! Terrible smell!" More puffs of frustration escape me as I tell Zack to bring the Febreeze. Once I've soaked up the mess and sprayed it, I go to the bathroom to clean up the culprit.

Hands washed really well, I return to the baking session. The oven is preheating and we need to get a move on. I dump more of the flour into the mixer and leave the bowl and whisk sitting on the counter. I finally tell the kids that the cornflakes are thoroughly crushed and they can stop now. They practically made corn flour out of it. I begin to empty the pantry of the other ingredients that put the buffalo in chips. A loud crash sounds behind me. When I turn, I see the bowl of flour emptied onto the floor and Zack's guilty face and a quiet, "Sorry." Everyone has frozen with baited breath for my reaction. I calmly say, "Well, how much flour do you think that is? We have to measure some more out and we won't know how much of the other stuff actually got into the mix." Realizing that they're not going to get a beating, Sarah drops to the floor and begins brushing the flour together with her hands, "Let's put it all together and then we can see how much flour it is." Zack says, "Let's get the dusting pan and then put it into the bowl." I say we can't do that and he asks the one hundred thousand dollar question, "Why?" I tell him that it's dirty. He jumps to join Sarah and they fight about who should get the dusting pan and broom to clean it up. I decide to mix in the baking soda, powder and salt all over again just in case. When I look at the two on the floor, they are covered in flour. I tell them to clean it up which they do, but the floor is still powdery with it and I can feel it getting all over the bottom of my feet as I walk around.

Flour mixture integrated, I begin measuring the chips, coconut and pecans. My helpers have disappeared, but I'm more intent on finishing the task with or without them. By the time Sarah returns, I've loaded up the first sheet with cookie dough. I put it into the oven and let Sarah do the scooping for the next cookie sheet. Zack appears and asks if he can help. I tell him that he can scoop next. I begin clearing up the counters and putting stuff away. Sarah has finished and is running around with her brothers and pretending to be Shadow Mario from one of their Game Cube games (Super Mario Sunshine, to be exact).

By the time I've switched out cookie sheets, I realize that it's past bedtime and instruct everyone to brush their teeth and get their pajamas on. Once they are all in bed, it is very quiet. I am looking at the remaining dough thinking that it sure is greasy looking. I'm sure that Grandma and Grandpa didn't mean for it to be like that, but maybe it can't be helped--they are cookies afterall. I decide to give the cookies out to neighbors and VT sisters for New Year's and begin loading them up on mini plates and putting them in ziploc bags. I'm thinking that they look a little different from when we had them at Grandma and Grandpa's house, and decide to try one just to make sure they're sharable. They taste great and they are a little crispy on the edges... I might have left them in one minute too long, but they're still chewy in the middle. When I'm brainstorming about how to label them, I look back at the recipe name and it says "Buffalo Chips (or Grandpa Randy's Oatmeal Cookies)."

Only then do I realize that we forgot the oatmeal.




You don't know whether to laugh or cry or be grossed out, do you?? These cookies are priceless and can never be duplicated as we'll never know how much flour and baking powder, baking soda and salt went into the mix. Only from writing this out have I identified the reason why we forgot the oatmeal--we were rudely interrupted by the four-year-old.

For the record, Seth is potty trained. He just has accidents every now and then. He was on the pot more than once today and he's so cute the way he yells from the toilet, "Mom! C'mere! Can you wipe my butt?" He just had a little diarhea and probably didn't know it was coming when he stood in my new living room and didn't lie about pooping and peeing in it.

Thanks for reading. I realize that I don't have to make this stuff up. I just have to record it.

Love you miss you,
Trish

Seth's Schoolwork

Seth is learning a lot in kindergarten. He is reading and writing more and more everyday. He loves to draw pictures and spend time at the homework table on his own when inspiration hits. He always wants a new spiral notebook when we go to the store. And he always likes getting new drawing tools (pencils, pens, markers, crayons, paints). So for his upcoming 6th birthday, we got him a marker and watercolor pad of paper, a spiral sketchbook, new watercolors, and a set of Crayola markers called "over writers" which allows the color to show when you write over another color (I can't wait to see how well these work).

Here is a sample of some of his latest work in school. He got nice star stickers for his effort. I like that the sentences he came up with both have to do with his Daddy and he has drawn himself in the picture with him. Notice the squinty eyes he has given himself in the "hat" picture to show that he's laughing at the silly hat on his Dad's head. He still draws boy hair like mountains in up and down zig zag (with girls he makes circular spirals like spaghetti piled up on the head). I like his unique spelling of the word treasure in the "map" one. Notice the treasure map in his Dad's hand and the train... he says that these are "details." And to hear that word come out of his mouth is dang cute and I know that he has been paying attention to what his teacher says.

Seeing how much he loves to draw reminds me of when I was little and announced that I was going to be a "drawer" when I grew up. Not a drawer like in a chest of drawers, but as in a person who draws... an artist.

Black Preggie Dress Today

Here's what I looked like today in the black dress. Notice the significant enlarging of the abdomen. I'm with Zack on my right and Seth on my left with characteristic Badtz-Maru face (Sarah's favorite Hello Kitty character).

The Black Preggie Dress

OK, here's a picture of me in the dress back in August... belly isn't as huge as it is now, but it's showing. This is at the University of Hawaii just after the graduation ceremony where Josh received his BA Degree in Music.

Will post more preggie pictures after I schedule a photo shoot... or maybe Josh puts something up from last night when we video taped for Sarah's birthday. You'll see.

Yay! It's December!

Just felt like blogging today... been a while. Thanksgiving was great. Got to go to Plano, Texas (Dallas) and get an early taste of winter, hang out with some friends, eat junk all day long, get hooked on GNC's 100% Whey Protein Powder Drink MIx (20g protein in each scoop), let Josh live his dream of watching the Cowboys live at Texas Stadium (for free in the freezing cold), watch McDreamy in the movie Enchanted along with kids and husbands (and they liked it!), bought a 50# bag of short grain rice from the Asia World Market for $24 (believe me, that is a highlight worth mentioning in Texas), played a card game called Blitz (really fun, ask me to teach you if you don't know it), and then Josh drove us all home in the still of the night (just before a massive rain storm hit) and we made it home safely in record time without traffic. Now that we're all caught up... let's talk about what's happening in my world now.

I am proud to say that it's December and we have our tree up (this is a major feat... our tree usually doesn't go up until a week before Christmas). Something about being 6 weeks out from delivering a baby that gets the motor running. I'm nesting, big time. Or maybe it was the all too tempting promise of a $20 Noble Fir from Ikea that started the ball rolling.

It was last Thursday when I put on the most flattering dress I own (at this stage) and went out into the world. This dress gets major attention that focuses straight to the belly. My belly becomes the highlight of my existence, but instead of looks of sympathy, I get compliments and surprised exclamations of "Wow, you look great!" or "You look ready to pop!" (said in a good way, I think). This dress showcased my belly so well that it got an Ikea worker to break the rules and put a Christmas tree on top of my van and then tie it down for me (they're not 'sposed to for liability issues). And then when I got home, I just waited for my overprotective husband, who has banned me from the attic where all the holiday stuff is stored, to come home, take it down, and bring it in. All I had to do was put on that dress.

Now $20 for a noble fir at Lowe's will get you a wreath or a swag or a garland, but not a tree... unless it's like 2 feet tall. The tree we got was over 8 feet tall and Josh had to cut off the sides of the trunk just to get it to fit in the tree stand. My bargain was probably not worth the trouble, but it sure made some nice memories for the family. Sarah helped do some of the cutting, Sarah and Zack helped move the tree into position, Sarah and Zack helped vacuum up the needles, and they both seemed happy to be spending time with Daddy doing something meaningful. They later went up into the attic (which I never let them do when I'm not pregnant) to get the Christmas decorations and loved being able to do it. Seth was mysteriously absent during all the hard work... and then I found him comfortably nestled in the crook of one of the recliners asleep. He's the smart, cunning one of the family.

I took some pictures today now that we've got it all decorated. You have to see this massive thing to belive it. Josh wants to do artificial next year... guess he's had enough of memory making with real trees. But maybe it's just too soon for him to talk about it now... kind of like having a baby... you forget the delivery part and focus on the yummy little darling and WHAMMO, you're pregnant again. We'll broach the subject later... much later next year to see how he really feels because it sure does smell good.