Ethan turns 14!

Our youngest son, Ethan, turned 14 on December 19th. He had a couple buddies stay overnight on the Friday before, then we celebrated later with a dinner of his choice. On the menu:

Greek style baby back ribs
Homemade french fries
Chili-garlic roasted broccoli
Salad w/many different toppings
Lots of lemons to squeeze over the ribs

My plate. Yum!

Opening gifts.
It's hard to believe he's already 14 and halfway through 8th grade. This is his last year at the middle school. Next year, he'll be in high school. What?


It seems like yesterday we attended his 5th grade graduation at Central School. He was 11.

He requested an ice cream cake from the Dairy Queen.

And, the next five photos will tell the story of why I have given up trying to get that "perfect family photo" to send out in Christmas cards. Nope. Not gonna happen, folks.




The ONE photo that the boys are actually smiling, Ashley has her eyes closed. I give up!

It's over. Can you tell they've had it with the photo shoot? No more patience. Ashley, though, would be happy to keep going. :o) Boys!

Happy birthday, dear Ethan! We are blessed to have you as our son.

Feel free to slow down on growing up.

Seriously, stop it. ;o)

Oh Christmas Tree

"The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other"

Burton Hills quotes

We finally bought a tree yesterday and decorated it today. I felt so behind, but all of a sudden I feel okay. We are full to the brim of Chinese food (our tradition) and our tree is looking not too shabby.

Lucky us, all four children were able to enjoy dinner and decorate the tree together.

The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family. ~Thomas Jefferson

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories. ~George Eliot

There is something about digging through boxes of ornaments and finding memories, keepsakes, things made in school as a child. Ahhh, Christmas time. I'm starting to feel it.

When we recall Christmas past, we usually find that the simplest things - not the great occasions - give off the greatest glow of happiness. ~Bob Hope

Dr. Seuss
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?

Hugh Downs
Something about an old-fashioned Christmas is hard to forget.

We tried to hang our treasured & more breakable ornaments up high on the tree, knowing that a few tiny daycare kids will be tempted to touch.

Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall. ~Larry Wilde, The Merry Book of Christmas

The perfect Christmas tree? All Christmas trees are perfect! ~Charles N. Barnard

No matter how carefully you stored the lights last year, they will be snarled again this Christmas. ~Robert Kirby


Decorate tree... check
Plan menu for Christmas Eve and Christmas day... check
Buy presents... semi check
Stocking stuffers... ?? I still have a lot to do!

At least we've begun. Hope you have, too.

Merry-busy-Christmas!

Make Mine a Double

A double chocolate cookie, that is! Last week I whipped up a batch of these gems. It had nothing to do with Christmas baking; it had everything to do with a hanker for chocolate. Our family loves this particular cookie. If you love chocolate, give them a try!

Double Chocolate Cookies

1 cup (2 sticks) real butter
2 eggs
2/3 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3/4 c. cocoa

1 c. semi sweet chocolate chips

In large bowl, mix butter & sugars together. Add eggs & vanilla; mix well. In separate bowl, mix dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt & cocoa. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Fold in chocolate chips. Spoon cookies onto cookie sheets. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Let cool on sheets 2 minutes before removing to racks to finish cooling.


Mmmmm.... chocolate. Side benefit... your house will smell GOOD.

For Today

Outside my window... early December darkness, no snow, and a few pieces of patio furniture yet to be put away. Shhh.

I am thinking... that December is jam packed with fun events, but a tad too busy.

I am thankful for... the mild weather so far this winter.

From the kitchen... turkey soup w/egg noodles & vegetables. I froze the turkey bones after Thanksgiving and made a stock yesterday. Soup tonight with soft whole wheat cloverleaf rolls for dipping. Comfort food! But, I made enough to feed a small army. :/

I am wearing...black yoga pants and a baby blue Eddie Bauer sweatshirt about 10 yrs. old that I can't give up because of the quality even though it has some white bleach stains on it.

I am creating... lists: meal ideas, Christmas gift ideas, birthday ideas for Ethan.

I am going... to blow out my candle any minute and go to bed.

I am reading... Bel Canto by Ann Patchett, but only 3 pages in. It's our next book club choice.

I am hoping... to get everything done by Christmas Eve, one week away. Aye yai yai.

I am hearing... Christmas songs on my little kitchen radio on 95.5 KZY. A nice assortment.

Around the house...the lingering smell of soup and everyone snug in their beds. Me next.

One of my favorite things... being the last one up... the quiet... knowing my family is sleeping soundly.

A few plans for the rest of the week... Christmas shopping w/my mom. Attending a wedding reception. Picking out a tree. Attending our neighbor's Sunday noon buffet. So, basically, hanging out and relaxing. Nope.

Here is a picture for thought I am sharing...

... our dog, Cinnamon, got a much needed hair cut, nail trim. She smells great. And, she is cold. She shivers. All the more reason to snuggle with her.

G'night!

Eldest Son turns 21!

A crazy thing happened yesterday. I blinked and my son turned 21.

Upon his request, we celebrated his birthday with "breakfast for supper". Apparently, he remembers with fondness the Saturdays we shared a big breakfast complete with exotic fruits and doughnuts as a special treat. Sniff.

On the table were plenty of blackberries, raspberries, mangos, star fruit and pomegranate seeds. Isn't the star fruit cute?

You have to work to get those little pomegranate gems, but it's worth it.

"It's not only children who grow. Parents do too. As much as we watch to see what our children do with their lives, they are watching us to see what we do with ours. I can't tell my children to reach for the sun. All I can do is reach for it, myself". ~Joyce Maynard


We tried our best to "tune into" him with our modest gifts.

There were a few surprises and it was fun to watch his reaction.

“The day the child realizes that all adults are imperfect, he becomes an adolescent; the day he forgives them, he becomes an adult; the day he forgives himself, he becomes wise”

Alden Nowlan quotes

Grandma Connie joined us as well as our friends...

... Michael & Barbara.

We were able to have a conversation with Grandpa & Grandma Houle in Saskatoon via skype. That was really neat!

Me, Ethan, & Alex watch Elliot open gifts. Ashley took most of the photos and Derrick started on the omelets, popping out every so often.

I suggested an egg bake or scrambled eggs, but Derrick insisted on individual omelets, made to order. So, I took orders. The choices were: diced ham, cheese, green pepper, onion, mushrooms, & tomatoes.

Derrick and I both had "everything omelets". I didn't have to write that down. :o) I kind of miss waitressing.


When you teach your son, you teach your son's son. ~The Talmud

First step to a perfect omelet: saute the filling. Or so I'm told.

Hashbrowns are crispy. Omelets & sausages are done. Let's eat!

Done eating and time for cake, er, the stack o' doughnuts posing as a cake.

I mean, doughnuts (as requested) and cake would have been sugar overload, no?

Being sung to and clapped for. He seemed pleased with the doughnut cake.

Next thing you know, this kid will turn 21. Aaack!

"In spite of the six thousand manuals on child raising in the bookstores, child raising is still a dark continent and no one really knows anything. You just need a lot of love and luck - and, of course, courage". ~Bill Cosby, Fatherhood,


It's been a good ride and we are proud of this 21 year old.

Happy birthday Elliot Lyndon Houle!