Jazzy

Savannah is currently playing in the Jr. Jazz Basketball program. It's her first foray into the sport and she likes it much better than soccer. I guess you just have to keep trying new things on and find out what fits. It's only an 8 week program, but the kids get a jersey, team picture, 2 complimentary tickets to a Jazz game, 3 skill clinics and play about 4 games. She and her friend are the only 2 girls on the team (It's co-ed in 2nd grade), and they think "that rocks".

Monday night was our free Jazz game. They played against the Warriors, which was fun for me because I grew up in the Golden State. The game was neck and neck the whole time, but the Jazz took it by 5 points in the end, much to the delight of the little ones, they wanted to see the confetti fall from the ceiling. Savi was screaming so loud I thought she'd lose her voice. And the girls were up on the chairs dancing during time-outs and such. It was a great time, and I think it was good for her to see the pros at work. It's really amazing, I'm a tall person, but those players are FREAKISHLY tall. I guess that's why they're pro-ballers!

New Year's Eve Ham and Potato Chowder

OK, I apologize to those who really don't care about my recipes, as this is turning into a bit of a recipe blog lately. However, my sister requested that I post another one of my traditional soups.

This one is called "New Year's Eve Chowder" because I use the excess of our Christmas Ham in it, and with them being only a week apart... It works really well to cube what I will need for ths soup Christmas night as I am cleaning up dinner, and put in in the freezer (longer shelf life that way), then the remaining goes into the fridge to be enjoyed with the other leftovers. I have been doing this recipe for about 5-6 years. So easy and so satisfying. If you're doing this on New Year's Eve like we do, don't forget the cheesecake and sparkling cider for dessert!

New Year's Eve Ham and Potato Chowder

2 Tbsp Oil

2-3 cups Cubed Ham

1 cup Chopped Onion

2 cups Water

2 medium Potatos, cut in ½-inch cubes

2 packages McCormick® Original Country Gravy Mix

4 cups Milk

1 can Whole Kernel Corn

2 Bay Leaves

Instructions: Heat oil in large pan on medium-high heat. Add onion; cook and stir 3 minutes. Add water and potato cubes; bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 5 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Mix Gravy Mix and milk. Add gravy mixture and remaining ingredients to saucepan. Bring to boil on medium heat. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove bay leaves before serving.

*If the consistancy is too thick for your liking, you can add milk until it is more your style! It doesn't mess with the flavor at all because the seasoning is pretty robust.

SOUPY-STA!

The title is how my, will-be-2-on-Friday, Sydney-Bear, says Super Star. It's the cutest thing ever. She says it for the camera, instead of "cheese"....

Which reminds me that I promised my SIL, Katie, my knock-off Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli recipe. I took this to a neighborhood Soup Potluck and it was GONE at the end of the night. It seriously tastes JUST like Olive Garden's.

So, here goes!

Pasta E Fagioli

1 1/2 lbs Ground beef (or turkey)

1 med Onion, chopped

4 lg Carrots, slivered

4 stalks Celery, diced

2-14 oz cans Diced Tomatoes

1-15 oz can Red Kidney beans

1-15 oz can White Kidney beans

6 cups beef stock

1 1/2 Tsp Oregano

1 tsp Pepper

3 tsp Parsley, fresh chopped

1 tsp Tabasco sauce

1 jar Spaghetti sauce - I HIGHLY recommend Emeril's Marinara

4-6 ounces dry pasta, Shell macaroni

Directions:

Preparation: Saute beef in oil in large (8 quart) pot until beef starts to brown. Add onions, carrots, celery and tomatoes and simmer for about 10 minutes. Drain and rinse beans and add to the pot. Also add beef stock, oregano, pepper, Tabasco, spaghetti sauce and pasta. Add chopped parsley. Simmer until celery and carrots are tender, about 45 minutes.

SPEED METHOD:

Boil pasta in water in a seperate pot. In another pot, steam carrots and celery together. Add all 3 to remainder of soup when ready to serve. (I tried this to make sure the pasta didn't get to soft/gummy, and that the carrots would not be undercooked - it worked out so well!)

Enjoy!

Aunt Kasey came to town

"kiss me" Kasey, circa 1979

Aunt KC in action!

Aunt Kasey breezed in on Tuesday night, and I have been having such a party, I haven't had time to post! We've played with the kids, devised and executed a plan for our family reunion this summer - including finding 2 large vacation rentals (there are 35 of us) and securing them, gone to a movie, done marathon shopping - scoring gongas along the way, made some yummy shared favorite foods, visited her college roommate who I hadn't seen since I was probably 15, and she even watched the kids Saturday night while Chris and I had a movie date!! Isn't she the sweetest?

She's the best friend a sister could ask for! We love you K. XO

This Day was brought to you by...

The Letter

and the Number
Today I had the pleasure of watching 4 kids that belong to dear friends of ours. In addition to my 3, this makes quite the bunch, but we sure did manage to have a fun time.

We had popcorn at snacktime, and pizza for dinner, hence the LETTER P and 7 kids total, hence the NUMBER 7. At dinner we were talking and laughing about our time together and the old Sesame Street line popped out.

Kids are funny people, especially when they have cool parents that pass on a sense of humor!

Egg Nog French Toast, A Christmas Breakfast Tradition

We received this loaf of bread (well, not THIS loaf, that would be gross and stale, but another one exactly like it) from our dear neighbor 4 years ago and it has been a tradition ever since. If you can find a Cinnamon Bread at a local bakery, you may want to give it a go while stores still have egg nog in stock. Yum yum!

Christmas Egg Nog French Toast

1 loaf sliced cinnamon bread
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups egg nog
2 Tbs vanilla

(We 1/2 the recipe for our little family)

Wishlists Granted

Santa brought movie cushions and a DVD for each child, and filled stockings with blow up punch balls, (2 of which popped promptly when punched into the tree), horns, bubble tape, arctic animal shaped chocolate, new undies (even Syd, Santa must know her Mom wants her to potty train this summer) and shapeable bath soap! The kids were beyond excited.

Savannah and her Cabbage Patch Kid. I was her age when I received my 1st one, and this year is the 25th Anniversary edition....she smells just like the ones I had as a child, it takes me back..and makes me feel OLD at the same time. She introduces her as "the newest member of the family, Dinah Carma, born on Nov 8th 2008." (who comes up with these names, anyway?) Another notable gift was the Hannah Montana Guitar...more on that in a later post. :)

Gunnar and his Speed Racer set. He and Dad set this up and he's spent many happy hours with it already. He also loves his "treasure box" from his sisters and his Operation game.

Sydney with her play makeup. This girl spends hours painting nails, putting on eyeshadow and blow-drying her (and her doll's) hair. The kit came with a battery operated dryer that makes noise and blows, ever so slightly. She also received her own baby along with a stroller, bassinett, diaper bag, and travel seat, and is busy being a little Mommy. I've never seen her play with any toys with such an attention span before now. WOW.

Mom received a new camera among other things, and is thrilled to have this new tool to document our many adventures. Dad received some new noise cancelling headphones, a ripstik, and some PC games (thanks to our EA hook up, love ya K!).

We are so blessed to have all that we do. We are especially grateful for each other and our family and friends near and far. We know that the greatest gift we have been given comes from Jesus Christ, and we are tremendously grateful for his birth and the time of year that we have to celebrate it so abundantly!

We hope you and yours are enjoying the season!