October 2011
December 2011
January 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
family photos
Still doing well on our monthly family photo. The last official post was September's photo. You have seen the October and December pictures in posts about other things, too, but I'll add them here in order anyway...
October 2011
November 2011 ... there are probably 2 dozen family shots for this month! Thanks to Disney Photo Pass photographers for helping us with that! I have finished editing the Disney photos and I'll be sharing some soon. It is so hard to limit myself. So many great shots of real memories. We're (the kids and me) already hoping to go back this November.
January 2012
October 2011
January 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Each year, on the first new moon of the lunar calendar, Chinese people start to celebrate New Year. Chinese New Year, or Lunar New Year, is the most improtant of the traditional Chinese holidays. It is known as the Spring Festival because it marks the end of the winter season. This is a time for wishing peace and happiness for everyone and for families and friends to spend time together.
Kung Hei Fat Choi means "Congratulations and wishing you prosperity!" but many people use it to say "Happy New Year"!
The kids had no school today due to a teacher workday, so we went to the Children's Museum for the morning to celebrate the Chinese New Year with them. Each child was given a red envelope upon entering. This is a symbol of the New Year and traditionally may contain money. It would be common to find $8 in the envelope because 8 is a lucky number. But, for us, these envelopes contained a small pencil and a paper with 4 questions on it. They told the kids to fill in all the answers and return the sheet to the desk for a small prize.
We started with the Zodiac question. In order to find out what animal year the kids were born, they sent us to the cooking room. Miss Mary Ellen was reading some books to the kids and then helped each one make a bowl of Chinese noodles. The kids mixed sesame seed oil, almond butter, ginger and soy sauce and then added green onions, cut up cucumbers, sprouts and noodles. Gretchen eagerly took her noodles in her bowl of season mix, but Carl asked for plain noodles. Miss Mary Ellen was happy to give him a plate of plain noodles. Noodles symbolize long life.
Each child took a set of chopsticks, too. The placemats had the information they needed to learn their Zodiac animal. I have 2 roosters. Question 1 was filled in.
We learned that red is considered the lucky color. Another question done.
The final question they needed to fill in was to go to the science room and learn to write some Chinese symbols. They needed to write their age on the little paper. There were 2 school aged girls helping with that station. They had fun paper that turned red when you painted on it with the first liquid. Then, if you painted over that with vinegar, it took the red away. Carl had fun just doing that. Gretchen did a beautiful painting of the number 6.
Kung Hei Fat Choi means "Congratulations and wishing you prosperity!" but many people use it to say "Happy New Year"!
The kids had no school today due to a teacher workday, so we went to the Children's Museum for the morning to celebrate the Chinese New Year with them. Each child was given a red envelope upon entering. This is a symbol of the New Year and traditionally may contain money. It would be common to find $8 in the envelope because 8 is a lucky number. But, for us, these envelopes contained a small pencil and a paper with 4 questions on it. They told the kids to fill in all the answers and return the sheet to the desk for a small prize.
We started with the Zodiac question. In order to find out what animal year the kids were born, they sent us to the cooking room. Miss Mary Ellen was reading some books to the kids and then helped each one make a bowl of Chinese noodles. The kids mixed sesame seed oil, almond butter, ginger and soy sauce and then added green onions, cut up cucumbers, sprouts and noodles. Gretchen eagerly took her noodles in her bowl of season mix, but Carl asked for plain noodles. Miss Mary Ellen was happy to give him a plate of plain noodles. Noodles symbolize long life.
Each child took a set of chopsticks, too. The placemats had the information they needed to learn their Zodiac animal. I have 2 roosters. Question 1 was filled in.
In the art room, we made Chinese lanterns out of construction paper. They colored and stamped their paper, cut it and taped it together in a cylinder. That was another sort of question on the list.
We learned that red is considered the lucky color. Another question done.
The final question they needed to fill in was to go to the science room and learn to write some Chinese symbols. They needed to write their age on the little paper. There were 2 school aged girls helping with that station. They had fun paper that turned red when you painted on it with the first liquid. Then, if you painted over that with vinegar, it took the red away. Carl had fun just doing that. Gretchen did a beautiful painting of the number 6.
Then, since the museum was so crowded (our schools are all on the same calendar - so the entire county had a teacher workday today) we headed out without playing in any other rooms. We'll be back tomorrow or Wednesday anyway. We're there a couple days a week after school. They have the coolest little classes at 3:30 every day.
We stopped at the front desk to give them back the tiny pencils and to show them our completed questions. Each child was given a fortune cookie as their prize. We decided to hang onto them for dessert after lunch.
We headed out to meet Daddy and Lindy for lunch. We had a few extra minutes, so we walked the long way back to our car. They are holding their lanterns in the next pictures.
We met Lew and Lindy for lunch at Costco. That's when they opened their fortune cookies. Gretchen's read:
Carl's read:
OK, that one made us all laugh. and wonder.
From Costco, we headed to the post office. Then to the grocery store. Then home where we walked to the neighbor's court to play with their cat for a few minutes before heading in to watch a video and make rice krispy treat before supper time rolled around. They managed to talk me into "No nap today!" No problem.... but, it means early bedtime tonight!
Many new friends will soon be attracted to your friendly and charming ways.
Carl's read:
You will move to a wonderful new home within the year.
OK, that one made us all laugh. and wonder.
From Costco, we headed to the post office. Then to the grocery store. Then home where we walked to the neighbor's court to play with their cat for a few minutes before heading in to watch a video and make rice krispy treat before supper time rolled around. They managed to talk me into "No nap today!" No problem.... but, it means early bedtime tonight!
Saturday, January 21, 2012
I told you I was making this up
I was wrong on the Hallmark Santa and Mrs Claus ornaments. Those were Mom and Dad's. The Little Drummer Boy was Kenny's and the Betsy Clark Charmer Girl was mine.
They were all from 1975, so that makes sense why there are 4 of them. One for each family member, not doubles on the kids.
They were all from 1975, so that makes sense why there are 4 of them. One for each family member, not doubles on the kids.
flashback... swimming
I was looking for old Valentine's heart pics in my folders and found these shots taken on January 19, 2007. The twins were only 14 months old. Lew had NO grey in his beard at all. (a few months ago, I put together some photos of his beard over the course of having twins, but never posted it. You can see, it sure changed!)
Thursday, January 19, 2012
these are not my mama's waffles
Who doesn't love waffles? Especially homemade ones that your mom places in front of you? Or even frozen ones. They will do in a pinch.
I have always made my waffle batter from Bisquick. My mom always does, too. I even have a square waffle iron because my mom has a square one. But, last year, Lew bought me a small one that makes 5 heart shaped waffles in one circle. Now, we use that one because it is much easier to store in the kitchen. Plus, it's fun to have heart shaped waffles.
Anyway, there is a southern chain of throwback diners called The Waffle House. The kids love going there. Waffles and cheeseburgers. Carl's idea of heaven. The waffles are so yummy!!!!! So, I decided to look online to see if anyone had a copy of their waffle recipe. Well, a knock-off.
And I found one.
And I made them last night.
Carl got the first one. Gretchen & Lew were in the other room. Carl was ready to eat when the first waffle was done. I was going to store them all in a warm oven, but since he was so ready, I decided to do the 'fling waffles one at a time at people as they finish cooking' method. He inhaled the first one and was ready for more before I even had the second one done cooking.
These were delicious. Without having a Waffle House one right here to compare it to, I'd say they were very very very close, if not exactly what they serve.
Give 'em a try .....
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
Lightly beat the egg in another medium bowl and combine with sugar, butter, and shortening, mixing well until smooth.
Add the half & half, milk, buttermilk and vanilla and mix well.
Add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture while beating and mix until smooth.
If you can, cover and chill overnight, though the batter can be used right away.
Rub a light coating of vegetable oil on a waffle iron, and preheat it.
Leave the batter out of the refrigerator to warm up a bit as your waffle iron is preheating.
Spoon 1/3 to 1/2 cup of batter into the waffle iron and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the waffles are light brown.
___________________________________________________________________________
I do not have any waffle pictures. I do, however, have muffin pictures.
Yes, Carl is wearing his Halloween costume.
Pouring went well.
Egg cracking was exciting.
Stirring was fun!
Muffin papers are serious business.
Gotta take your medicine before you have your snack.
A full blown Tea Party in the afternoon!! Wonderful menu: warm pumpkin muffins, hot cocoa (G) and milk (C), gold fish crackers, Christmas gummies and marshmallows.
I have always made my waffle batter from Bisquick. My mom always does, too. I even have a square waffle iron because my mom has a square one. But, last year, Lew bought me a small one that makes 5 heart shaped waffles in one circle. Now, we use that one because it is much easier to store in the kitchen. Plus, it's fun to have heart shaped waffles.
Anyway, there is a southern chain of throwback diners called The Waffle House. The kids love going there. Waffles and cheeseburgers. Carl's idea of heaven. The waffles are so yummy!!!!! So, I decided to look online to see if anyone had a copy of their waffle recipe. Well, a knock-off.
And I found one.
And I made them last night.
Carl got the first one. Gretchen & Lew were in the other room. Carl was ready to eat when the first waffle was done. I was going to store them all in a warm oven, but since he was so ready, I decided to do the 'fling waffles one at a time at people as they finish cooking' method. He inhaled the first one and was ready for more before I even had the second one done cooking.
These were delicious. Without having a Waffle House one right here to compare it to, I'd say they were very very very close, if not exactly what they serve.
Give 'em a try .....
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Directions
Combine flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl and stir to combine.
Lightly beat the egg in another medium bowl and combine with sugar, butter, and shortening, mixing well until smooth.
Add the half & half, milk, buttermilk and vanilla and mix well.
Add the dry flour mixture to the wet mixture while beating and mix until smooth.
If you can, cover and chill overnight, though the batter can be used right away.
Rub a light coating of vegetable oil on a waffle iron, and preheat it.
Leave the batter out of the refrigerator to warm up a bit as your waffle iron is preheating.
Spoon 1/3 to 1/2 cup of batter into the waffle iron and cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until the waffles are light brown.
___________________________________________________________________________
I do not have any waffle pictures. I do, however, have muffin pictures.
Yes, Carl is wearing his Halloween costume.
Monday, January 16, 2012
random Christmas
These are the last of the stories and photos.
One the day after Christmas, we went to my best friend Kris' mother's house for a family party. I've been invited to more family parties there since Kris and I met through Girl Scouts back in junior high school than I can remember. It's a fun place to go. Good friends, good food. Always lots of food, too. Let me just say this. If they ever come to you and say, "The mac and cheese is out of the oven and going fast. Want a bowl?" For crying out loud...... say "Yes, please!"
Kris has 2 sons, Caleb (7) and Mikey (3). I have 2 kids, too. Carl (6) and Gretchen (also 6).
Cousins!
A couple cool looking winter wildlife finds. I wanted to try my hand at photographing snowflakes, but Mother Nature didn't cooperate. 
This rooster cannot tell time. At all.
This is the new bird. He has some dinosaur sounding name.
The peacocks live with a pheasant.
OK, I took this because I have a photo competition coming up with one category of "Red".
And, then I apparently overstayed my welcome.
One the day after Christmas, we went to my best friend Kris' mother's house for a family party. I've been invited to more family parties there since Kris and I met through Girl Scouts back in junior high school than I can remember. It's a fun place to go. Good friends, good food. Always lots of food, too. Let me just say this. If they ever come to you and say, "The mac and cheese is out of the oven and going fast. Want a bowl?" For crying out loud...... say "Yes, please!"
Cousins!
Carl just turned 6. Katy will be 9 in about 2 months.
Fun things to do at Grammie's, no matter what the weather is....
Grammie still has tricycles available for a spin.
Aunt Annie has animals to help feed and watch. This time, we did not let Carl hold an egg like he wanted to. This is Mia. She is little and cute.
Carl wearing Grampie's hat to church on Christmas Eve.
Come, sit a spell....
Christmas Day
Carl headed in to the table a little early and chose his own plate of food.
Another upcoming topic is "Rust".
Claire let Carl play Angry Birds on her phone. It was the first time he ever played. (and the last, too) He did enjoy it, though. He'd be hooked just like everyone else if he had a chance to play it again.
Greeting people on the porch.
And this concludes our holiday 2011 broadcast day. (pppppppssssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh)
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