California Christmas

We spent a wonderful week in California with Gary's family. It started with a weekend at my aunt's house and attending my cousin's wedding, which was set in beautiful California Canyon Country. I got to catch up with my cousins for California and Alaska.

Then we met up with my Gary's brother in Santa Monica, Gary's parents, and toured Los Angeles, La Brea Tar pits, Disneyland.... etc. We headed down to San Diego for a beatiful stay along the Port and visited Gary's two aunts and his grandmother who is confined to her bed.




Some high lights:
1) For Miss L, definately the princesses at Disneyland
2) Embassy Suites breakfast buffet
3) Getting to see my family and Gary's family who we love dearly and who my children had never met
4) Meeting Emily...Berk's friend/?girlfriend
5) A wonderful day at Gary's grandmother's, and Marie Calendar's Apple Pie
6) Singing Christmas Carols at Troy and Maureen's
7) Chit-Chatting with my MOL
8) My grandma held lil' G at the wedding reception for 2 hours, and although I know she loved it, it gave me a chance to really talk to my family...definate blessing
9) The candy buffet at the wedding. They had little bags to fill and take home as well.
10) Los Angelos temple at night with the Christmas lights on the Palm trees. It was freezing and wonderful. Immediately you feel a special spirit in the vicinity of that building. The last time I was there, my sister was getting married.


Some low lights:
1) Stomach flu
2) 1 tsp. of Pedialyte every minute for 3 hours Christmas Day (it was either that or a trip to the ER for dehydration, but she finally kept it down)
3) Airports (we missed our flight on the way there and got delayed for 5 hours on the return flight.)


Overall, I am so glad that we were with Gary's family. When all was said and done, I'm glad we went. We came home and opened presents. Miss L's favorite was the umbrella. Lil' G really liked to eat wrapping paper.

Swimsuit Season?

Yeah, I know not typically. As I was packing today for our trip, of course I had to try on my swimsuit to see which one looked best, considering we will be in a warm weather climate and have a pool. It doesn't help that I have had my share of Christmas baked goods via myself and my visiting teachers. Oh well, that's what coverups are for?

Miss L had to try on her knew one, which looks darling and fits great too.

Our trip to Galveston - check out the Hurricane Ike damage

Gingerbread Houses and Christmas Songs

We have a christmas tradition of making gingerbread houses, which I used to do with my sisters in Utah, sob, sob, but this year was no exception, and was very fun might I add.

I had my primary class (12-year-old girls) over to make to houses last night. I baked all afternoon and the house smelled divine!! Miss L's house is the one with peppermint...she insisted on using the pink frosting left over from her B-day party because she is girly girl.

We had a lot of fun, ate a lot of M&Ms, and told urban legends ( I think they will all be scared for their future babysitting jobs) and they all got a little voice lesson. The girls practiced hard too because they are going to sing this song on Sunday.

Blackberry Jalapeno Jelly

Here you go Meghan.

Blackberry Jalapeno Jelly

• 1 cup fresh or frozen blackberries
• 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped jalapeno pepper (next time I'll be more liberal with this maybe 1/2 c. my jalapenos weren't hot enough)
  
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1 package pectin
• 1/2 package strawberry jello (or raspberry or blackberry)

Follow pectin directions. Boil 5 minutes, and Process. Serve over cream cheese with crackers.

It beginning to look a lot like Christmas....

It snowed in Houston yesterday. I was hoping it wouldn't. We have 2 hibiscus and all of my squash and tomatoes probably are dead this morning. I didn't look. Miss L wanted nothing to do with the snow...too cold she said. It other than dead foliage, it was kinda fun see frosty flakes falling as I taught piano lessons last night.


This is OUR first year for a big tree. I got this one off Freecycle last January. Isn't it pretty?



Gary got home at a relatively decent time yesterday too.


This is what we had for dinner, nothing like Chicken-pot-pie on a cold day.


Okay, Mandy now that I have picked all my green tomatoes, how do I save them?

This Kiddo loves the tub!

This kiddo loves the tub. This is one place where my kiddos love to play together.

Neighborhood Playgroup

I hosted the neighborhood playgroup today, it's been definately pre lil' G since I have hosted. I have been kinda occupied and without energy, what can I say.

It was a very nice day, so the kids could play outside and the moms could talk. The meal was simple and yummy, and now I don't have to cook dinner. I made "ice cream cupcakes" for Miss L's birthday. I think her B-day is officially over now...on to Christmas.

Here was the menu:

Asian Chicken and Craisin Salad-I had this at my baby shower for Miss L
Blackberry jalapeno jelly over cream cheese on crackers
Mac and Cheese
PB&J
Apple Juice

I was MOST proud of the Jalapeno Jelly. Anything in my garden I feel like is a blessing and therefore I should EAT IT, so that is why I made blackberry jalapeno jelly, besides HEB always has of rasberry jalapeno jelly over cream cheese on crackers in their gourmet cooking samples section, which is to die for...I think it tastes exactly the same. Gary would disagree, but I got several compliments. ... Although next time I will add more jalapenos.

Fancy Nancy Birthday Party

I had a Fancy Nancy Tea Party for Miss L's Birthday. Everyone dressed up fancy and we read stories and had a tiny table and of course petit fours. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to mom for Miss L's dress and the party favors!

Photo Session with Grandpa

Here are some highlites:

Thanksgiving Highlites

Have I took a blog hiatus or what. Well Thanksgiving happened, two ear infections, a sinus infection happened, a birthday for my girl happened, and a star-studded Fancy Nancy party happened.

We'll start first with Thankgiving...I through in the Nashville and got to see my sister Katie who was flying to Boston on her way to Boston for the day. We toured the Opry Hotel, Opry Mills Mall, and have lunch at the coolest place called the Aquarium. The food was alright, but the fish were AWESOME. Especially when they started to feed them.

We then drove home to Indiana and had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Grammy spoiled us terribly with new clothes and I got to ride to my hearts content. Here are some Highlites:

Circus time (and cotton candy)Grammy and Lil' G
Uncle and Baby




Unfortunately, the day were were left Texas Lil' G had a fever, which turned into a cold, and got everyone sick in Indiana. The kids ended up getting ear infections and I got a sinus infection. So unfortunately, I couldn't taste my dinner, but it looked beautiful.



Luckily the kids cleared up by the plane flight home and were angels... I even had once lady follow me into the bathroom to tell me my kids "would turn into perfectly respectful people" based on my mothering. BOY, that made me feel good.

Unfortunately, the plane flight for me was a little rocky, I thought my eye would pop out of my brain on the way down. Gary met us for a surprise at the airport with Lilies for the B-day Girl. What a Guy...

Laundry and Rock Stars

Miss L is a Rock Star. She has a singing fetish. Must be related to her grandmother who is professional singer. She is obsessed with using a microphone too. But we don't have a microphone, so she has taken to using household items (flashlights, etc.). This is what I found this morning. My Laundry was pretty cute too.

Timeline

Tonight: I baked 300 cookies.


Tomorrow: I will be hosting a Piano Recital for 17 kiddos.



Next Friday: I will be in Indiana enjoying the colors and foliage (the coolest place on earth).



Yeah for vacation!!!! The last 6 months has flown by.

Rainy Day

We lazed around today. I have barley beef soup in the crock pot and it smells delicious. We also did a little of this...
This girl is beautiful. Aren't her eyes just so pretty. Never mind the pink frosting in her hair. It come with the gig. She had a little accident with a treadmill too....

Recharging

Today ended bad. Perhaps it was a combination of Gary working nights, a tired baby during a piano lesson, the batteries in our mouse going out, stress about the upcoming piano recital, a awkward parenting situation, but basically I was overwhelmed. And everything in life was wrong from the chopped up tree in our front yard to my hand that has been hurting the past three days every time I play the piano (Can I have carpal tunnel already?). The kids went to bed early, and I took 3 hours to myself. I listened to Superwoman by Alicia Keys. I wrote in my journal. I called my mom (but she wasn't home). I read blogs. I reminded myself that I am a mother, not a martyr, a thought from Leslie. I watched mindless TV, and I drank Grape Juice+7up. The last time I had soda was Hurricane Ike. Too pricey, too full of calories... but that went out the window tonight. I wrote a love email to my husband. These made me happy too. Sometimes I just need to refuel.

Renaissance Festival

Gary had the 1st weekend off in a long time (and the last weekend off in a long time). We had so much fun.

Especially today, we pushed kids in the bike trailer (converted to stroller) while we roller bladed through the neighborhood this afternoon. Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera. I even duck taped my feet so they wouldn't get blisters....why do I have such thin skin? And What on earth is my husband home during the day?... He is working nights for the next two weeks. It will be interesting, but I sure did enjoy him home today.

Back to the weekend. We went up to Renaissance Festival in North Houston. This is to make up for the fact that I am leaving him for Thanksgiving and going home. I know that SO doesn't make up for it, but...I love you honey?

Anyway, It was very interesting. Definitely more of an adult theme park. We enjoyed belly dancing, shows, eating turkey legs, watching jousting, and the medieval attire.

I am convinced those people dressed up fell into 3 categories...

1)kinda like Halloween,
2) Teenagers/Adults of the gothic persuasion which dressed like that year round,
3) Girls AND Guys wanting an excuse to wear as little as possible.

Miss L was quite upset we didn't bring her SnowWhite dress.


It was fun to hear people say "thou", and "thy" and "it cost three pounds" in a thick English accent.

My favorite part:the kettle corn
Gary's favorite part: The glassblower
Miss L's favorite part: the elephant that took people for rides
Lil G's favorite part: the fireworks

Halloween Rewind...Pumpkins, Pumpkins

My sis. Diana (who is working a night shift tonight and needs a blog to read) this is for you...

Lil' G costume turned out great. Note the cute socks my mom sent.

Miss L got to be Snow White (and a friend let us borrow the movie that day, so we had lots of fun watching it too). She also loved the socks from grandma, she got really into pumpkins. We carved a "scary pumpkin", which she repetitively sneaked out of the house to admire. It scared me to death a couple time to find her alone on the front porch, hanging out with "the scary pumpkin".

It was fun to see her enjoy this holiday so much. We have been practicing for week knocking on the back door and saying trick or treat. We had Gary for the weekend too, which was a bonus. I love that boy.

I made the traditional sugar cookies. This year tried "spider bread". My spider is clearly pregnant (the white balls are spider eggs).