Family Party

I miss my Picasa photo program. I can't do a collage on Zoombrowser so I'll have to post a ton of individual pictures. I'll start with the family party and do grandkids and Christmas Eve later.

Lovely Hosts of partyOne more Host and guest

Mother/daughter

These ladies will be the mother of 5 kids come June. Shannon due for twins any day, Larissa due for one baby Feb. 1st and Michelle due for twins in June.

"Annie Nance" says Danny

Two aunties

Men waiting to open gifts

Kids watching adult gift opening

Jean, Molly and Martha

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Twins Birthday Celebration

Being as we celebrated Danny's and Brad's birthdays' on Tuesday, we waited on the girls. Gretchen had to work on her birthday anyway. We did Kaitlin's on Monday and Gretchen's last night. Kaitlin was working.

Snow Day

We have a snow day today. I'd take a picture but it's still dark out and I'm still having a hard time loading pictures on this new computer. I'm trying to learn how to do it on Zoom Browser. It's not quite as simple as Picasa.

A snow day works okay for me. I'm making a list for the kids. I'll let them sleep until 10:00. In fact, I know one of the first things they all will do is go on the computer so I'll give them my list right here. Then I know they will see it!

1. Scrub the sauna-I'll do that one
2. Clean the basement so grandkids can play down there-Gretchen
3. Clean hall closet-Jeanie
4. Clean under kitchen sink-Molly
5. Clean refrigerator-I'll do that also
6. Clean upstairs bathroom-don't forget tub-Kaitlin
7. Clean boys bedroom-Mom and Danny
8. Clean bedrooms-Kaitlin, Gretchen, Molly, Jeanie
9. Shovel-Everyone

Doesn't that list look great. On paper it always does. Hopefully as Santa is watching, it will all get done! (Unfortunately, "Santa watching" only works for Danny anymore in this house!)

Guess Who's 17 Today?!

Happy Birthday Twinners! Hope you have a wonderful day! Poor things to be born during such a busy time of year! Hopefully we can "celebrate" your birthdays on Monday. Jon and Sara's kids will like that! Happy Birthday!

How to Build a Computer

Our old computer had a few years on it. Fred added about everything he could but it was slowing down and often freezing up. He decided to "build" one. He ordered the parts= i.e. memory, hard drive, etc. (I don't know computers) and put one together. I was pretty confident he knew what he was doing but I have to admit I was a little relieved when it was up and running!

The old one is temporarily set up close by. He transferred most stuff to the new one but there is a lot of "junk" left on the old and until I know all MY "good" stuff is transferred I don't want it too far. We will probably set it up in the "office" so kids can use it for homework.

Danny's Cake

We celebrated Brad's belated birthday also. He had the Ice Cream Cake.

Poor Dan and his brothers!

That was bad enough but when he went to the sink to wash it off.....

He thought it was funny. He went in the bathroom to try clean up. That frosting must have been all shortening. He was having a tough time getting it off. I went to check on him. I walked in the bathroom and started laughing as he looked like a green racoon. He VERY seriously said, "It's not funny anymore. Don't invite Brad and Larissa to my birthday next year." I said Larissa didn't do anything so he said, "Only invite Larissa."

Happy Birthday Teenager

Thirteen years ago today we were given our special gift. We didn't know he had Down Syndrome until he was born. Our first suspician that something was different was the nurses and doctor surrounding the warming crib where he was put after delivery. My OB doctor came up to me and said we sent for Dr. Kim (my pediatrician)"to make sure your son doesn't have Down Syndrome". Dr. Kim arrived shortly after and examined Danny. I saw Dr. Park look at him and he gave a small nod. Dr. Kim then came to my bedside to talk to Fred and I and said words to this effect: "Your son has Down Syndrome. We're able to tell by the "fat pad" behind his neck and by the the lines in his hands. We will run a chromosome test to verify."He was silent for a minute and then said, "These kids go a long way these days. Many of them learn to read and to do most things all kids do. The most important thing is to just treat him like your other kids." To this day I am eternal thankful for my wonderful doctor. Not once did he say, "I'm sorry" your son has Down Syndrome but he right away encouraged us and even told us about one of his patient's that was doing so well, even reading."

We honestly didn't shed many tears. I do think the tears we did shed were for the child we "lost". We were expecting someone different than we received. Fred took some video of Danny and went home to "tell" the kids. He explained the oxygen tube (Danny needed oxygen for four days and came home on the fifth without it.) and then explained to them that God gave us a very special baby this time. That Danny will need lots of love and lots of help from his brothers and sisters. Kids are so accepting. They all fell in love with him watching that video with tears streaming down their faces. And believe me, they still love and protect him fiercely (!) today!

Dr. Kim gave me information on the Michigan Early On program. Danny started going to "school" at 2 months old. The staff there were absolutely awesome! We went every week for two hours. There were several moms with special needs babies. There was a speech and occupational therapist. They gave us tips on ways to play that would strengthen muscles, tips on feeding, tips on anything we needed. Then the second hour the moms would go in another room for coffee and just talk while the therapists worked with the babies.

At age 3 Danny started riding the bus to school. I was a bit nervous that first day putting him on the bus but he was SO excited. He sat in a carseat by the window grinning and waving away. He had an awesome bus driver, Sandy, who I knew was taking good care of him. We have been very fortunate with Danny's school experience. He started out with the great staff in the Early On program and had great teachers. He had the BEST kindergarten, first and second grade teacher, Mrs. Forbes. We loved her and she loved Danny. I never worried about him at school because I knew he wasn't only being taken care of but he was also being loved! She gave him such a great start in his school experience and he continued to have awesome teachers right through elementary school. He had a bit of a "transition" period last year in middle school. It was a tough start but things are going okay now.

Today Danny is Danny. What more can I say. He can be annoying (!), stubborn (!) and lazy. But mostly he is happy, excited and fun! He is obsessed with Harry Potter. He listens and re-listens and re-listens......to the books on tape. Loudly! It doesn't matter if it's Harry Potter or his music, he has the volume loud! We are forever going up and turning it down. His most favorite place to go is the local library. He finds his way around the library like a "pro". He even looks things up on the computers there if he can't find a book or tape. He comes out with tons of music cd's, mostly Radio Disney, exercise books and "fact" books. Anything in nonfiction wether it's on a certain type of animal, the weather, human body......He loves to then share the"facts" with us. He loves the computer. He can surf the net better than I can. He is forever at the computer with books typing in a website from the back cover or from a cereal box or whatever. His saved "favorites" gets out of hand!

Our family gatherings sure would be boring without Dan. He is the life of the party without even trying. He has us in stitches, often by saying what the rest of us only dare think!

Happy Birthday you big teenager! You bring sunshine to all of our days!

Sunday School Program

The Sunday School Christmas Program was last night. Jeanie and Danny had a "piece". Jeanie knew her's and Danny knew his but read it instead of recited it. At the morning practice Danny didn't sing so the girls told him to make sure he sings at the program. I wasn't sure that was such a good idea but he brought his song book up and he did sing! We heard him way back where we were sitting. Very loud, flat and totally out of key! Poor little Caroline S. who was standing right in front of him. She was fighting the giggles but I give her credit as she kept singing. Not sure that was too easy!

Danny saw Santa Clause yesterday. Jeanie refused. We were standing in a not too long line when I realized the line was not moving. Santa wasn't schedule to start seeing the public for another 15 minutes when one of the workers came up to offer me an order form for pictures. I told him I didn't want a picture that Danny just wanted to see Santa. He hesitated a moment and then said, "Santa is seeing special needs kids right now." So he told me to go around to the other side. When we got there Santa had already got off his chair and was going for a break before the line started. He spotted Danny and came over and gave him a big hug! I told Danny to quickly tell Santa what he wanted as Santa was going on a break. He told Santa he wanted "Harry Potter Stuff". Santa said, "I'll see what I can do. I like Harry Potter, too." Then he asked if we were coming back later to see him. I told him that we weren't. So he asked Danny if he wanted some stickers and when back to get him some. Later as we were walking through the mall I heard Danny marvel several times, "Geez, I can't believe Santa likes Harry Potter too!!"

FYI

Just a little note: If anyone has webkinz on their shopping lists.....Limited Too has a buy one get one free sale store wide. It includes webkinz's and everything else in the store except CD's, DVD's and DS games.

Now off to fry those "dogs". (anise lappa's (?) or I should say cardamon lappa's as I use cardamon, not anise. )We're not going to count how many I eat today. The ones you eat on the day you make them are fat free and calorie free! (I think that goes for cookies too.)

Six random useless things about me

I decided to play along with the tag.

1. I love Mondays and mornings.

2. I hate doing my hair so it's one of the first things I always do to "get it over with". You will find me every morning dressed and hair done by 6:45 am.

3. I do not lounge in pajama's in the morning. Note above. BUT I do lounge in robe and pj's sometimes as early as 8:00 in the evening. (I even occasionally go to bed by 8:30 but mostly between 9:30 and 10:00. I do start my day at 5:45 am.)

4. I take a sauna every night. Once in awhile I skip and just shower in the hot summer but not often.

5. There is a very neat freak and organized person inside me trying to get out. But the tired and procrastinating person often (mostly?) wins.

6. I am not an envious person. I enjoy and can be happy for other peoples blessings but I am happy and thankful for my "lot".

Making a List

• 9 days until Danny's birthday
• 10 days until Sara and Jon come
• 15 days until Christmas

Danny is keeping track on the wipe-off board. I am trying to stay calm. Lets see....my to do list:

• finish the second half of my shopping
• do all the christmas cookie baking
• make "dogs"
• make oodles of batches of Butter Toffee
• clean, clean, clean, clean
• mail Christmas packages
• address Christmas cards (when they arrive)
• plan easy, tasty meals for when gang is home
• get a haircut

Actually that doesn't feel so bad. I realized I've done at least, or maybe more than, half of my shopping online. Infact, I have things in my cart at amazon.com right now. I am NOT a shopper. I love to be able to sit in the comfort of my home and order online. Plus it's always exciting when the UPS man arrives!

School Pictures

Uncle Jeff took the kids school pictures again. I haven't had them printed yet. I will do them when I do the Christmas card picture. I will send them then.

eta: re: Amanda's comment: When we got the proofs Danny looked at his picture and this is the conversation:

Danny: Oooooohhhh I look different.

Me: You do? Do you think you older?

Danny: Yeah! I look like a teenager!

Apron

After seeing Becca T's Emmaline Apron on her blog (myownpemberley.blogspot.com)-I don't know how to "link" it. I thought I'd post mine. I do wish I could photo mine as good as she does! This is a fun and reversable apron. This one was for Larissa's birthday. I'm hopeing to get another one done before Christmas for "someone's" late birthday but we shall see....

Last Day of Gun Season

We were waiting for Jeff and Heidi to stop by and Dad decided he'd walk out in the woods for a bit as it was the last day of gun hunting. Well, he was out there for more than "a bit". In case you can't tell, it's a 9-pointer. It's hanging but I'm not sure what were going to do with it now.... (This picture below is in the backyard just before he put it hanging.)

It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas.......

We picked up our tree the night before Thanksgiving. Gretchen put it together and we got it decorated Thursday afternoon. We decided to go with a "living-like" tree this year. Since we always put it up so early it will be nice to not worry about needles all over the carpet.

No, I did not go to the outlet mall at midnight. I started thinking..........midnight.........crowds.......tired........shopping for grandkids pajamas.......No, I don't think so. It's hard enough when I'm rested during the day to figure out 11 different sizes and what sizes for girls and what sizes for boys and what families like the blanket sleepers and what families are "sweat hogs" and do not want blanket sleepers.....And after talking to a lady that went, am I EVER glad I didn't. Her words were something like this: "I have never seen so many people in one spot in my life! It was CRAZY!! You would not believe it!!! The parking lot was full so they were parking way down the road outside the outlet mall!!" No, I don't think I made the wrong choice! I did go shopping this morning after Dad and I went for breakfast and only need two more pair of pajama's for the grandkids. I did hit some good sales and at least got a start on my shopping!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving. We only had 11 but it was fun and relaxing. Well, sort of....there's still a lot of preparing. The girls helped clean up so that went fast. Molly wants me to take her to the outlet mall at midnight. That is WAY past my bedtime but we'll see how well I can stay up. Brett and the girls just left to go "kyds".

Jeanie the Baker

She seems to be interested in baking. I really need to encourage her. We baked cookies the other day. She took out all the ingredients and measured the ingredients in bowls before she dumped them in the mixer. (Less chance of making a mistake.) She started out baking the cookies but grew bored with that so I finished them.

Parker House Rolls

Amanda, do these look any better than yours? They aren't so perfect either but the more you make them the easier they are. I'm posting the recipe. I got them from my sister Karen and I think she got them from someone who made them at a daughter's wedding.....maybe Chrys S.? Not sure.
Parker House Rolls

1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 packages yeast
6 1/2 cups flour - divided
2 cups water
1 cup butter- divided
1 egg

1. Combine sugar, salt and yeast with 2 1/2 cups of the flour.
2. Heat water 1/2 cup butter until very warm (120°-130°).
3. On low mix liquid into dry ingredients until blended.
4. Add egg. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed.
5. Beat in 1 cup flour. Beat 2 minutes.
6. Mix in 2 3/4 cup flour & knead 10 minutes working in another 1/2 cup flour.
7. Put in greased bowl - turn over - cover; let rise 1 hour.
8. Punch down. Put dough on floured board. Cover w/bowl. Rest 15 minutes.
9. In small pan melt remaining butter.
10. Roll dough 1/2 inch thick. Cut w/3 inch round cutter. (I use the bottom of a drinking glass) Crease w/knife. Brush w/butter. Fold in half along crease. Arrange in pan each nearly touching. Brush w/butter. Raise covered 40 minutes.
11. Bake at 425° 18-20 minutes.

Larissa's Shower

Larissa's Aunt Sue had her shower last night. It was very nice and she received lots of nice things. I'm sure seeing all those tiny baby things makes it more real. We are all so excited for the little bundle to arrive! (I totally stink at photography. I took more pictures but most are bleary!)

Pasties

I am making pasties Thursday. Call or email if you would like to order. ($3.50 each)

Black Bean Salsa Dip

It's getting to be time to think about those holiday gatherings and those "good" recipes. My niece Leanne posted an Artichoke Dip recipe I plan to try. Hopefully more of you bloggers will post some of your favorites for this time of year.

This Dip is from my Pampered Chef days and I still have it typed as I used it for my demo's using PC products. I don't actually use the fat-free "fats" but the full fat. I'm not sure why as it is very good with the fat-free. You may have to find a PC consultant (Jolynn) to get the Southwestern Seasoning Mix. I have not been able to find a substitution for it. I do believe it is what gives it the awesome flavoring.

Our family LOVES this dip. I have brought it to potlucks and people have "cautiously" tried it and they almost always go back for more and ask for the recipe.

BLACK BEAN SALSA DIP

Dip

2 packages (8 ounces each) fat-free cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup fat-free mayonnaise
3 tablespoons Pampered Chef Southwestern Seasoning Mix
2 green onions with tops, thinly sliced, divided
1 cup diced red bell pepper
1 can (3.25 ounces) pitted ripe olives, drained and chopped
3/4 cup salsa
1 garlic clove, pressed
1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (8.75 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained

For dip, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise and seasoning mix in Small Batter Bowl; whisk until smooth using Stainless Steel Whisk. Attach closed star tip to Easy Accent Decorator. Fill decorator with 1 cup of the cream cheese mixture; set aside. Spread remaining cream cheese mixture over bottom and halfway up sides of Oval Baker using Skinny Scraper. Slice green onions using Chef’s Knife; set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish. Finely dice bell pepper. Using Food Chopper, chop olives. In Classic Batter Bowl, combine remaining green onions, bell pepper, olives, salsa, garlic pressed with Garlic Press, black beans and corn; mix well using Mix ’N Scraper. Spoon half of the salsa mixture over cream cheese layer. Pipe half of the reserved cream cheese mixture in a zigzag pattern over salsa layer. Top with remaining salsa mixture. Pipe a decorative border around edge of bowl using decorator. Sprinkle with reserved green onions. To serve, arrange tortilla chips around edge of dip. Serve using Bamboo Spooners.

A Lazy Day

A lazy Sunday afternoon. Dad is out hunting, Gretchen and Kaitlin are napping, Molly has a couple friends over. Jeanie has a friend also. I'm sitting surfing the net. Going from blog to blog to blog. There are some pretty interesting blogs out there and many, many crafty ones.

I had Danny's conference last week. It is always interesting going to his school. As we were waiting for his conference to start, a lady walked by. Not sure if she was a teacher or aide. She stopped and told Danny what an awesome "doorman" he was. He loves to hold the door for the kids leaving the school. I had to inform her that he has almost missed the bus because of his "kindness". I told him he can still hold the door at recess but no more at the end of the day.

The gym teacher was heading into the gym when she saw him and came over and put her arm around him asking, "When do I get to have you? I wish I could have you all year!" Dan says, "I wish!!" I think he will have gym in the spring.

During one of his conferences, he has two teachers, we were looking at his papers and she realized he hadn't finished a paper he was suppose to. She put on her "lecture" voice and Danny turns his head and under his breath says, "Hoo boy........" (as in, here we go again...) I had the hardest time keeping a straight face. Then after a few seconds he goes, "I got it, I got it, I got it."

Bean's Birthday

Jeanie had trick candles and she had a hard time getting them out. Brad was at school and Brett was there also doing assessment tests. Matt stopped by after the picture.

My Baby is 10!!

Since Jeanie said Amanda is waiting to see her cake. Here it is. She decided she wanted a Funfetti Cake and SHE wanted to decorate it. I had no problem with that! We are having Calzones for supper.

Grandkids

Sara sent a CD with pictures of her kids. Thought you girls might enjoy seeing how they've grown since March.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Tri*sha Ye*ar*wood has a cookbook out. I checked it out from the library and this Chicken Tortilla Soup was in it. It was excellent. It calls for half and half but the store I was at was all out of half and half so I just used my 1/2% milk and it was still awesome and a little less fattening.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons flour
3 14-ounce chicken broth
4 cups half and half
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup prepared salsa
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, boiled, drained and shredded
1 15-ounce can kidney beans, drained
1 15-ounce can black beans, drained
1 15-ounce can whole kernel corn, drained
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1.27-ounce packet fajita seasoning
tortilla or corn (Fritos) chips
Montery Jack cheese, shredded
Sour cream

Melt butter in large pot over medium heat; add the garlic and onion and sauté for 5 minutes or until softened. Add the flour and stir, cooking for 1 minute more. Add the broth and half and half. Bring to a boil over medium heat, about 10 minutes, reduce heat to low. Stir in cream of chicken soup, salsa, chicken, beans, corn, cumin and fajita seasoning. Continue to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Serve with chips, cheese and sour cream.

Done for Another Year

Except for the candy. It is not my favorite holiday although it's not quite so bad with no little kids anymore. This year we went with Lisa and Karen behind Lisa's. They got more candy in a shorter period of time. I told Danny he could share his with Kaitlin as he doesn't even like candy. He'll still have some a month from now. (Unless the girls, or me, get it.) Molly went with the confo kids to Lisa and Bob's. (Dan is a "hunter guy" and Jeanie is a "gangster". Just in case you can't tell. I'm not sure what Molly is........)