We Are The Littles

We’ve been busy in our neck of the woods as I’m sure all of you have. MBM & I spent most of the day yesterday gallivanting around our little section of Houston doing our last minute Xmas shopping… Which just happens to be the only Xmas shopping we’ve done. Traffic was a nightmare. People were rude. Lines were long. But, we got’er done. I even went to Wally World last night at 1am to get a little more. Lines were still long and people were still rude. Gotta love Christmas.

In other news, we’ve been playing tennis lately. MBM had a match a couple of days ago and I ended up being the person to keep the 5th player warmed up since they were playing doubles and had 5 people. It was about 34 degrees outside that morning and MBM was in shorts! I was only expecting to watch and take pictures so I had jeans on. Not very good for playing tennis but I made out OK. I could still feel my limbs after the 1.5hr ordeal which is more than MBM can say.

The same night, we did the Jingle run around the neighborhood with 12 other Wortham neighbors. It was still freakin’ cold. We had fun but I just about died because I’m so out of shape. We ran about 2.5mi total, looking at the Xmas lights, and yelling and waving at people like idiots. Like I said, it was fun. A picture of us before we got started is below. It came out blurry so clicking on it won’t do much good.

That’s about all I know. Gabby is crashed on the bed sleeping. Justin & Savannah are playing Lego StarWars on the Xbox 360, James is in Wichita Falls, MBM is out running around somewhere, and I’m holding down the fort.

Come back tomorrow sometime to see our Xmas tree and what Santa left behind. We’re headed to Texarkana but I’ll try to put it up before we leave.

Merry Christmas!!!

PS - There’s a new picture up on Gabby’s site. Go check it out if you haven’t done so all ready.

Our Running Group Before We Got Started

From ThanksgivingWeek08

What can I say? It was a day full of family, fun, and football. I love all of those things and cooking. Thanksgiving remains my favorite day of the year. The only thing I would have changed was my hubby not being here. I hated that he missed out on all the goodies!

Well, the Twofer pie turned out great, as did all the new recipes we tried. The new recipes were:

1. Cranberry Chutney (which I poured over Cream Cheese and served as an appetizer), recipe found on internet
2. Twofer and Pumpkin Pie Cheesecake, courtesy of Dorie Greenspan and Cooks.com, respectively
3. Pecan Praline Topping (used for snacking and topping), epicurious
4. Cranberry Sauce (Foodwishes.com)
5. Green Bean Casserole (Everyday with Rachael Ray, Nov 2008, page 114)
6. Golden Potato Mash (same as above)
7. Turkey Cake (YouTube Video)

As you can see we had a lot of fun trying out the new recipes and enjoying the day. Savannah had more dishes added to her list this year and did a great job. She was responsible for the Green Bean casserole and Mash Potato Dish. The Mash Potato Dish was a little bland (per recipe), so I tried to soup it up by adding turkey stock and some brown sugar. Still was missing something. Will have to tweak it up some more. The casserole was awesome, especially if you like fresh green beans and mushrooms. The taste really “pops” out and is not ruined by a fake mushroom gravy taste. Savannah’s cake was too cute and really moist. The kiddos love it. Justin could hardly wait to cut into the cake’s turkey, funny and somewhat disturbing.

My favorite new recipe was the Cranberry Sauce recipe. I will NEVER buy it out of a can again! It was so easy to make. The kids loved hearing the cranberries popping and the taste was really rich and tart. My second favorite was the Green Bean Casserole. My least favorite was the Golden Potato Mash. That recipe needs some work, too bland. I think the new additions to our traditional spread will be, both pumpkin pie recipes, green bean casserole recipe, the cranberry chutney and sauce, and the Turkey design (either on cake or other dessert). Oh yeah, the pralines, too. They were really easy to make and may be added to the Golden Potato Mash in some way.

Oh, yeah, the Cowboys won! What a day. Hope you all had a great day of feasting like we did!

GABE IS ALMOST HOME, YAY!

Nah. I’ve just been internet-less or exhausted the last few days.

Like I said earlier, I didn’t have internet access on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Then Monday rolls around and it comes back. Problem was, I couldn’t sleep. I didn’t sleep one single minute Monday night. Don’t ask me why, because I have no idea. It just wasn’t happening. But, If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because I haven’t been exercising for the last few days due to the rain. So, maybe I just wasn’t tired enough. Who knows?

Tuesday was a whole different story. After being up for 40hrs or so I was more than ready to sleep. No problems that night. That brings us to Wednesday night. I just finished running (3mi), took my shower, and I’m settled in for the night.

I can’t say I have much news. I guess no news is good news. MBM is keeping busy with all of her cooking creations. The kids are still busy with school, karate, theatre, and playing outside. I’m still busy at work (no internet there for the last 2 days!) and the boss is heading out of town for a month on Friday. Bad news for me.

So, that’s about all I know. I did update Gabby’s site yet again tonight. Go see it and check out more funny pics of her Royal Hairness Heiness.

Ok, back to the fun stuff. Although, this is kind of election related. Do any of you remember the Princess Leia Hologram from the first Star Wars moive waaaaaay back in 1977? You know, the “Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.” Yea, you probably do. Then there were the holographic chess pieces when Chewbacca & C-3PO were playing chess on the Millennium Falcon. Then there were all of the holographic conversations between Darth Vader and the Emperor. Yea, I’m sure you all remember those. That was 31 years ago (same age as yours truly). Well, it looks like life-size holograms are now being used in the mainstream media.

If any of you watched CNN last night you probably saw this. I didn’t watch so I didn’t see it until now. A short video is below for your perusal. You know how cool this is? Think about it. Who needs Skype when you have holograms. I could have a life-size holographic family show up in my living room in Nigeria one day! I could have a holographic baby momma cooking dinner, a holographic James & Justin playing soccer, a holographic Savannah acting like the Little Mermaid’s sister, and a holographic Gabby being entertained by her own hands and feet. Life size. Moving & talking in the same room. Would be cool huh?

One day… Hopefully I won’t be working in Nigeria anymore when that special holographic day comes.

I’m off to bed. Check out the video. It’s cool.

Okay, so last night the kids and I used our imagination and had “Fancy Restaurant” Night. Even though, it was not that fancy, it was still fun to do with the kids. I will not say it did not have its moments. Unlike a real fancy restaurant, I had interruptions from the kids in and out of the kitchen and a demanding infant, so my Rachael Ray inspired 30-minute meal took more like one hour and a half. True to the cooperation of a baby, Gabby fell asleep before mealtime, so she did take not take part in this first event.

The menu was as follows:

App (somthing I threw together with the kids in mind)
Tortilla strips crisped with olive oil topped with diced grilled chix and bacon with cilantro lime salsa and lightly melted fresh mozarella tossed with olive oil and grilled tomatoes

Main Course
Turkey Thyme Meatloaf Patties with Mashed Sweet Potatoes (Everyday with Rachael Ray, November edition, pg. 106)

Dessert
Fresh Strawberries with cream lightly sprinkled with cocoa and drizzled chocolate, accompanied with glazed lemon biscotti.

Drinks
Sparkling Apple Cider

Of course, I have short cuts I will take next time to make the same meal, with a similar taste, without so many steps and ingredients. This meal would only take 30 minutes with no interruptions, prepped ingredients, and experience. However, the meal itself was very delicious and the whole house smelled of Thanksgiving. Another tip, next time, I will probably add dried cranberries to the sauce.
Of course, the critics had their say. The boys appreciated the attempt, but would prefer no onions next time. Other than that, they liked it.

As you can tell by the pics, Savannah really liked the meal. This means a lot, because she normally does not like Meatloaf. My secret, I left out the ketchup the recipe called for to take away some of the “meatloaf” taste. I also added in soy sauce with the Worcestershire sauce to add some sweetness to the dish. Since Savannah helped me with the prepping of some of the food, she found out the hard way, that sweet potatoes can be difficult to peel and cut. The secret, nuke four good sized ones for about ten minutes on high in your microwave. Then, you are in business. Another shortcut, buy canned and go from there. I think this is what the magazine must have done or used a different variety, such as a real YAM, because I did not achieve the same brick color as is expected by using the fresh sweet pots.

Okay, there are a few more shortcuts I could add, but it would make this blog too long. The kids did a great job playing along with mom and getting themselves all dudded up for the occasion. Next to Gabe, they are my favorite culinary guinea pigs! My friends come in a close second.

Don’t forget to scroll down and look at Gabe’s Culinary Creation and our Halloween Pics!

Okay, here are the pics from last night’s Halloween happening. Not much went on. The boys were grounded from trick o treatin’ and had to stay indoors to help pass out candy. They did a great cheerful job. Savannah helped me decorate outdoors and the cupcakes. Both were a lot of fun.  Even though we did not go trick o treatin’ we did manage to get dressed up. Gabby had a total of four costume changes, being the lil’ diva that she is.  We did watch some light scary movies, The Corpse Bride and Jaws.  It was a pretty tame night. Hardly any trick o treaters. Did anyone else get an unbelievable amount of high schoolers at their door? I mean I am a believer in being youthful and all, but 6-foot high school boys with “OMG”-girlfriends should really stick to their own crowd!  Although, I guess trick o treatin’ could be a creative, cheap date and it is better than drinking and driving! Okay, I have second thoughts. Maybe it is not so bad after all.

Speaking of teenage boys, Savannah’s sweetie surprised her again this week with flowers AND and an Easy Bake Oven.  He delivered the oven in a cute way by leaving it at the door and brought trick o treatin’ to her, or maybe he was just too scared to face me! Either way, I am so jealous. I have always wanted an Easy Bake oven. I think we will use it tonight or tomorrow.

Okay, well after an already busy day with still a lot more to go, I think I am going to go take a nap with hairball.  Tonight, the kids and I are having “Fancy Restaurant” night at home. Something new and CHEESY I thought we could try.  We are all going to get kinda dressed up (even Gabby) and eat at the rarely used formal dining room table.

Ahhhh, memories. Yesterday, the kids and I made a stop at the pumpkin patch on our way home from picking up the Princess from school.  You know it was spur of the moment, cause I have no make up on and we are not dressed in cute fall outfits. You will not believe the kids we saw all decked out with their parents posing them and taking pictures with professional camera gear. We were just there, us, casual, with my little trusty ole camera.  Next year, we will be prepared, expensive camera and costumes and all!

In true “lets-ruin-mom’s- let’s- make-a- happy-memory-moment” form, the boys managed not to pick out a pumpkin. They were dragged from photo op to photo op, followed grudgingly by their older sis, who felt she was not dressed right for the occasion. Gabby might have followed suit, but she is just a baby and oblivious to everything except when she is going to get fed! Thank goodness she was full.  So while I was inquiring about the price of the pumpkin the boys picked out, a less frugal family grabbed the pumpkin the boys wanted, pouting ensued, and no alternate pumpkin was chosen! So, I managed to get fall pictures for free and did not get stuck with a pumpkin bill. All in all not a bad moment, but not much of a Kodak one, either!

Here are the pictures the kids obligingly took. Hope you enjoy. Please forgive my exhausted,homely look. I hope you will all understand, especially since I have made huge strides by letting these pics be posted. Hope my loving hubby appreciates it.

After note: Justin did find a fake ear of fall corn on the ground and brought it home, actually snuck it home. He told me it must have been free since it was on the ground. I hope we are safe, since the pumpkin patch was at a church! Susan K, if you are reading this, please do not tell your congregation!

Friday night, Savannah and I started decorating three cakes needed for the neighborhood’s Fall Festival and a birthday party. Now, let me start off by saying that she is naturally gifted at such things. I,however, am not. It takes  me classes. It takes her just one demo, then she takes off and running with it! I admire her natural talent.
Here are the pictures of the cakes. Savannah did the Casper Cake from beginning to end. She baked, carved, crumb coated, and decorated it. Next time, I will have her make the buttercream frosting and colors. I did the Smiling Jack o’Latern one in a cake mold pan. We both tackled the Spiderman Cake. This was a challenging cake. It was for my good friends’ little boy’s second birthday party. I had several ideas for this cake. I even bought the small Wilton Spiderman cake pan.  I ended up not using it and tried a varied version of a demo I saw on Youtube. I was in a bind though. I could not find a cake box and board big enough to present the cake. The board is used for extra space to add borders to a decorated cake, as well as, carry the cake on. I was unable to add bottom borders to my cake without risking smashing the cake from lifting. Once again, I was upset with Hobby Lobby for not carrying boxes and boards big enough for the cake pans they sell.   I also do not have a strong free-hand style, so I struggled with decorating Spiderman. Next time, I will try using fondant for him. I have never used it, but for a small scale project, buying it from the store would be okay. Luckily, my daughter had a great free-hand, so she finished the details for me and even did the writing! I also placed the cake on an over-sized clear cutting board. Not only did it help carry the cake, but it was so easy to cut the cake on. The cake was a big hit. Not one crumb was left. I will have to get with my neighbor to see how our Fall Festival cakes fared at the cake walk.
Let me also give Duncan Hines a shout out! They really do have the superior cake mix above all the other commercial mixes.
Okay, I am over and out.

Yea, I know. I’m late on this one too. It’s not entirely my fault though. I’ve been trying to get the videos converted for the last 3 or 4 days and only managed to get them done and get them done right last night. None of my converting programs wanted to work and my Mac is at home so I was S.O.L.

Anyway, Savannah’s acting debut is below. She played the Little Mermaid’s sister in the play and did a great job. Don’t tell her I said that though or her head will probably explode.

The video is a little under 5min in length. Grab some popcorn and a drink, sit back, and enjoy the show!

There’s not enough of it. Everyday I say I’m going to upload more pictures and update this site and then Gabby needs attention or the boys need homework help or want to play catch or Savannah has to be picked up from school or something manly needs to be done around the house (in which case we hire someone )

Anyway, we do have new pictures and video of Gabby to put up on her site when I get around to it. It might not be until I’m back in Nigeria but I have plenty of time there. Speaking of Gabby, she’s been a little terror the last two days. Crying crying crying and not wanting to be left alone for even a few seconds. Right now she’s sleeping so the house is peaceful. When she wakes up it will probably be another story.

The boys are still doing Karate a couple nights a week. They’re usually outside playing from the time they get home from school until it gets dark. Of course they want to run in and out in and out so I have to pull an “Arnie Little” and tell them to stay in or out because they’re letting all the cold air out by opening / closing the door so many times. However, I have finally managed to get them to close the door as opposed to slamming it. It took 5 months or so but they’re tired of hearing me yell “DON’T SLAM THE DOOR!” on their way outside so they finally broke down and complied. A small victory for me. Now I just have to get MBM and Savannah on board! Those two are not likely so I’ll probably just buy a revolving door.

In other news, Savannah’s play is this weekend. She’s in The Little Mermaid and she plays the Little Mermaid’s sister. Expect video of that too… Even though Sav has threatened me about putting it on the internet. I ain’t skeered of her.

So, that’s it. I’m headed back to Nigeria on Monday for a whopping 6 weeks this time. I probably won’t even recognize Gabby when I get back. Her goofy hair will be down to her waist. Not that that’s a long way given her squatty stature.

See ya!