BOYS WILL BE BOYS

As promised, here is a poor quality video of our annual blowing up of the gingerbread house!

CZECH IT OUT: THE RESULTS

THE RESULTS: Well, here is my attempt at homemade kolaches. Let's just say a Czech I'm not! Oh, I guess they were OK for a beginner... but definitely need to keep looking for the perfect recipe. Tom and the kids really seemed to enjoy them. They voted the cream cheese filled kolaches as most favorite; however, I don't think they are worthy enough for the folks!

CZECH IT OUT!

What is it about the holidays that makes one think they should try a recipe that they have never tried before? At a time when there is very little time to spare makes this a very DUMB idea! Well, here goes an attempt to make my hubby some homemade kolaches. He has placed his order for cherry and cream cheese filled. I will use my "call a friend" cheat and summon the ole bread machine to help me out. Now don't worry my Italian friends and family. I'm not a traitor... To get in touch with our roots during the holidays last time, I made Italian Fig Cookies... THE HARDEST DANG THING I'VE EVER DONE IN MY LIFE which was a bit challenging! Stay tuned for the results.

FEAST YOUR EYES ON THIS

Today my mom surprised me with one of my favorite dishes. Let me just say, you haven't lived until you've had my mom's eggplant! Not your traditional baked eggplant parmigiana, but more like fried eggplant medallions with a dollop of fresh marinara, just the right amount of fresh basil, garlic and cheese. Growing up, this was a must have for all our holiday meals. A platter much larger than this would be picked over before ever making it to the dinner table. The thrill of stealing one of those medallions from under Mamina's nose made it all the more decadent. No forks here! Folding it up like a little pizza wedge and eating it with your hands only made it taste better. We had to be careful to not eat all of it... because as with most Italian food it tastes even better the next day (for breakfast no less)... COLD! Quietly opening the fridge, being taken in by that wonderful garlic smell... we would slip our hands under the foil trying not to make too much noise to keep from getting caught... because it wasn't right eating straight from the fridge... Mmm Mmmmm!

My mother turns 82 in a week and she isn't in the best of health. She doesn't cook like she use to... as matter of fact... she doesn't cook at all. Some might say she has lost her touch, but there is no doubt that when it comes to her eggplant... SHE STILL HAS IT!

GINGERBREAD HOUSES

Every year we spend an afternoon decorating gingerbread houses. It takes us several hours, but we sure do have a lot of fun doing it! The kids love to have icicles on their houses so that they can break some off every day and eat them. Did I mention how long it takes us to do this?

Then during the holidays, all the sugar finally gets to them and then my sweet little boys transform into crazies!

On Christmas Day, they demolish one of the houses and eat bits and pieces of it. They save the other one for New Year's Eve. This is when they go all crazy on me and blow up their gingerbread house with M150's and blackcats. I know... all that hard work... but they have a blast doing it! You gotta let boys be boys! COMING SOON, Gingerbread House D-Day!

CHRISTMAS TOUR OF HOMES

This is our "photo" tree downstairs. All we put on it is photos that we receive in our Christmas greetings from friends and family. If you don't send me a picture every year then your photo stays up until I get a new one! We just love it! P.S. Please send pictures for our tree! Thanks Goldi for inviting me to do this... never new such a tour existed in blogland! I love seeing all the ideas without ever leaving the house!

CLICK HERE and select "slideshow" to see our decorations!

These are very special to me. Every year when I hang them on the tree they bring me back to a very special time. The elf is about 45 years old and was an ornament that we hung on our family tree. The snowflake was crocheted by my sister-in-law. She made several different patterns the first year we were married. I made the styrofoam ball for my brother when I was in 5th grade. The star belonged to my father and is probably over 80 years old. I painted the bell in 1970 and the diaper pin and baby spoon were the first ornaments for our kids. Oh the memories!!!

CHECK OUT THAT TROMBONE PLAYER!

Did you know that Brad plays the trombone in the Symphonic Band at his school? He's actually pretty good! Last month he attended region band and made district band where kids were judged individually. He was recognized this evening (along with many others) for his accomplishment. Apparently a big deal for a 7th grader considering the majority of the band is made up of 8th graders. An afternoon of heavy snow flurries and this evenings band concert was definitely a way to put us in the Christmas spirit! Oh, and I must add, Brad sure was handsome in his bow tie and cumberbun!

Check out the video below to hear some of the concert. Sorry... not a great video...but the sound is good. The most we could see of Brad the entire night was the top of his head.

AKELA SAYS, "WORTHY!"

Daniel bridged over to boys scouts last night! Way to go Daniel!

MASTER BATH COMPLETED

We've been remodelling our house for the past year and 1/2 and I am thrilled to say the "big" projects are finally finished. We did a complete overhaul on the kitchen, then the boys bathroom and now our masterbath (Thanks Mike). Here are before and afters of the master. We just finished so it is not decorated. I REALLY could use some decorating ideas!

Here is our masterbath BEFORE ... Our masterbath AFTER ...

The last photo is of Tom's built in dresser. This past weekend Daniel was sick so I let him sleep in our bed. Anyway, he woke up in the middle of the night, walked into the bathroom, opened Tom's t-shirt drawer... as if he were lifting the toilet lid... and proceeded to pee in it! Of course I screamed like a mad woman gently told him to stop which only resulted in him turning towards me and peeing all over the place! Our bathroom has officially been christened. KEEPIN' IT REAL!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

For 8 years in a row we load up the travel trailer and head out of town for our Thanksgiving camping trip and somewhere in between Houston and our destination we transform into a bunch of HILLBILLIES and have the time of our lives! Every year we venture out to a new location and pray for good weather and good health! This year we were blessed with both with the exception of my allergies not liking the cedar trees that surrounded us! At first, we weren't very exciting about our trip as there were no trailers available due to hurricane Ike; however, we got lucky when a new inventory arrived just in time. With Cassie in tow, we travelled to Cleburne State Park. We spent our time kayaking, hiking, hanging out in the hammock, reading, playing games, staying warm by the campfire, making s'mores and we even did some painting. I was very nervous letting the boys go out on the lake by themselves. Tom assured me that there was no way they could turn the kayaks over. Well, I'll give you 3 guesses who turned over the kayak in the freezing cold water? HINT: It was the confident guy that said there was no way those kayaks would turn over. Boy we sure had a good laugh! New this year, we carved a pumpkin for a centerpiece for our Thanksgiving table. We feasted on pork tenderloin, mashed potatoes and gravy, broccoli rice casserole and cranberry salad. Tom and Daniel even made a homemade cake with a dutch oven and coals... impressive! I guess they really are paying attention in those scout workshops! Hmmm, think the Italians ever cooked their lasagna and eggplant in the woods... I need to figure out how to do that!

Video of boys swinging from rope swing. Brad has figured out uses for
all sorts of knots he has learned to tie in scouts!


CLICK HERE and select "slideshow" to see our photo album from this trip!

IF GOD WANTS ME TO LOVE EVERYONE THEN WHY DID HE CREATE PEOPLE I DON'T LIKE?

I know we all feel bad saying it, but we've all got people in our lives we just don't like, someone that makes the "love your neighbor" commandment the hardest one of all. When put in this situation I always try to remember...That person, no matter how much I don't care for him/her, is God's creation and, therefore, treasured and special in His eyes and worthy of respect in mine! Obviously, I was put to the test today!