Holiday hoop-la #1

Once upon a time...during a beautiful holiday break, there were happy-go-lucky kids baking cookies for Santa's big plate. (I am almost positive these cookies won't last until Christmas Eve!) With flour and sugar dough, cream cheese icing and sprinkles, they pressed and layered, decorated and spread until everything sparkled.YUM!
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SO liberating the feeling of no alarm clocks and the gracious time to play. With fourteen days ahead of us we have nothing stamped in gold that we MUST do, but plenty of things we wish to cross our paths. We look forward to some snow fall, ice skating, caroling, Christmas light viewing, and cups of champurrado. We envision fireside chats and warm blankets - cuddled up tight. These are the days to live for when you are blessed with family and friends such as ours.

These are Happy Holidays!!

It's getting closer...

...all of the Christmas activities are beginning to swirl around.
Aly's entire class performed at assembly today. It marks the end of events at school and the beginning of coming home to start the festivities of cookie baking, gift wrapping, and gingerbread house making. I think we are thankful for the early out with days ahead of us to truly prepare for the arrival of Christmas next Friday.

Aly also performed in her first violin concert today.

Needless to say...Christmas music is filling our ears and hearts!

23 more shopping days

And I barely have begun to reflect on Christmas past. Last year Christmas was such a hurried event. We didn't decorate and deck the halls. We packed our suitcases and headed for the airport the day after Christmas. We enjoyed 80+ degrees each and every day for an entire week along the Waikiki shores, but I think this year we are content to put up sparkling lights, wait for falling snow, and enjoy slow, relaxing times at home.
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So, with that said...here are a couple of memories from last year with expectations of the coming holiday.

Sure hoping Santa finds that 36 hours in a day clock I have been asking for...

whirlwind of a weekend

It never fails. We look forward to it each and every year. Before we can blink, our most celebrated four day weekend out of the year disappears before we can do anything about it.

Well, the short story is that we enjoyed it and sit here tonight wishing we could have just one more day to spend being lazy and kicking back together. The long story would involve me telling you that we carried out the traditions: turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce (homemade this year!) with all the trimmings. The kids battled over the wishbone...Place your bets...

..and after a few hard tugs...Aly took the lucky side.

And Brandan had no hurt feelings over it!

Too much food, even more desserts, and a healthy dose of good memories were had.
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We are not big shoppers, so the 4am Black Friday wake-up call was something we all slept straight through. The kids did poke us out of bed a bit earlier than usual because they knew we would be using the day to pull out the Christmas decorations. We are officially decked out from ceiling to floor in Christmas lights and shimmer. To encourage the Christmas spirit we hit the theater to see Disney's "Christmas Carol" in 3D that evening.
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We skated through the last two days, enjoying the laziness of it all. It wasn't until I suggested that I get a picture for a Christmas card that the goofies came out. (Yes, new Christmas pics are in the works, but I'm feeling a lack of motivation in homemade cards this year :( sorry friends and family!) So doesn't usually work in the way that you can get one kid and NOT the other to smile at the same time? Well.....

...it was around about here that I gave up. Someone always has an opinion and they were obviously picky about the way things needed to be "just so". I wonder where they get that from? So, Aly's last sentiment wraps this weekend up to a tee...

I'm not willing for this weekend to end, BUT GET THAT CAMERA OUT OF MY FACE!!!

retro scrap

We have been slowly catching up and enjoying the nice weather during this late fall adaptation of 50 degree temperatures. I took some cool time to push the kids outside to play (and Chato sometime to winterize the backyard) so that I could get some serious work done. I do believe I felt some daily stress melt away...

I'm alive...

...no worries. We have been drudging through each day; each night. Lots of odd days in November, big science projects, squeaky practice sessions with the violin, and awaiting the Thanksgiving holiday. We have our food lists just about ready - ingredients and decor for the holiday just need to be gathered.

But we are living in a no picture world - the camera is gathering dust. How dare the days steal such boring everyday events away from my lens!!?? So carry on beautiful world - we will catch up soon.

long locks?

...long gone. For nearly a year now we have lived without frequent trips to the barber shop. Our surfer dude with the ever growing length of hair was very fond of his long locks. So fond that he would giggle when ever anyone made reference to it. Ah, but the downfall of man is held in the things he holds SO dear.

There's not much one can do to upset this kid, but when it is time for consequential actions to be carried out for bad behavior the removal of Wii, friends, and all out good times just don't do it. So, Brandan found the path of trouble and his Dad laid down the law...

Let me tell you...this ONE UNHAPPY KID may think twice before making a bad decision again.
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On a happier note, we are all well and recovering for our Halloween shenanigans. Aly is practicing her violin each day, screeching through the alphabet song. Brandan is hard at work on his Fall Science project. (I'm not too fond of volcanoes and don't feel it is very investigative, but his partner and he are on task and focused with making it just right.) Warm weather is predicted for the weekend ahead and I'm wondering what kind of outdoor activiteis we can do smack in the middle of November. This life is always an adventure...

Once upon a Halloween...

...cold and chilly, everyone huddled indoors...for frightful fun with friends and family, plenty of punch and some good, old candy!!

Oh! What a blast this Halloween was!

When we first realized that the holiday would fall on a Saturday - wheels started rolling. I had friends and family members helping me dream up cute ideas and lots of spooky treats. We would gather the kids, fill our tummies and head off to trick or treat until our feet would carry us no further (or the cold would get us one!) So, 14 families, 25 adults versus 31 kids, joined together and dressed up to the nines and enjoyed a Halloween to be remembered!

Cupcakes abound, Brandan cooked up a batch for his guests. Aly and I helped with the icing.

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We built an alter for Day of the Dead, celebrating some of those who joined us only in spirit on this day. Little calaveras (sugar skulls) surrounded frames and food that our deceased enjoyed.

And who couldn't pass up the Jones Soda perfect for the occasion...

Well, decorations aside - we made sure to construct a small photo op corner where our guests could show off their tremendous costumes and gorgeous smiles. We held our own shoot just before our guests arrived.

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Our Grease theme took us back to high school 1950 style, with one fine Pink lady...

Aly was a great Sandy, but she originally wanted a blond pony tail wig. I'm glad we opted not to do it - I love her teeny bopper smile here.
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Danny Zucko was waiting in the wings to flash his fifties smile.

The retro leather, dark shades and long haired do made for one cool dude...

This was all Brandan's idea from the start...way back in the summer he dreamed it up - greaser style and we were so fortunate that his sister is such a FAN she fell right in line. Aren't they cute?

SO we joined in on the fun and had a blast dressing up too! The girls were all dolled up and the dudes all decked out...

Once our guests began to arrive we knew we were in for some spooky fun! Scroll trhough these cool and creepy faces and meet some of the famous visitors we enjoyed being with yesterday...

Mariana...Bride of the Unliving

Handy Manny (Cris) and Luke Skywalker (Chico)

The cutest Cowgirl (Jessica), Bumblebee (Caitlin), and Tinkerbell (Allison)

Brandan with his best friend from Kindergarten, Military Man (Osvaldo)

The Nightmare before Christmas Clan (Famila Perez)

The Star Wars Crew (Famila Rangel)

more of the dark side (Maria and Diego)

group op for the ladies (Mer, me, Laura, and Ana)

(me, Imelda, and Monica)

Lego lady (Teresa), bumble bee (Alexis) and the adorable monkey(David)

a mix of great faces (Familia Dominguez - Carmen, Kike, Cristian, and Karina)

Vampires and villanesses (Familia Gomez)

The sweet little mouse and his protector (Josh and Parker)

Pretty Pirates (Monica and Vanessa)

Young knights protecting their mother (Imelda, Diego, and Mateo)

The YO GABBA GABBA crew (Silas Family)

Tinkerbell (Mia), witch (Bianca) and kitty cat (Margie)

The family picture time was SO much fun! There were only a few faces I missed: A complete Guerrero family, Calderon family, and of all the families...WHERE IS OUR FAMILY PICTURE?? Oh well, we had a blast, no doubt.
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The most amazing part of the afternoon was watching Brandan gather the ghosts and ghouls to game it up. All of a sudden the noise grew in a corner of the front of the house...all the kids were focused and intent on building skeltons, participating in a spooky version of bingo, and pinning the nose on the jack-o-lantern! I was so thrilled that I didn't have to lift a finger to entertain - Brandan led the way and guided everybody! It is one hard to see picture, but Brandan is calling out bingo rules and Aly is passing the cards...

Not too long afterwards, the kids headed out the door to trick or treat. Nearly thirty some kids ran off chasing one another door to door...

After a while it became hard to catch them. ALl of the pictures turned into one great blur...

The costumed crossing guards (Chico and Nolan) made sure than everyone was safe and sound.

Whatta event! I hope they don't remember the hazy, cold skies. I hope these fancy faces remember how fortunate they are to have such cool friends and family that were able to come together for one terrific holiday!!

Once everyone headed off to a safe corner to count and tally their candy, the older creatures sat back to relax with a cold drink...

...posed for a few more pictures...

...and I'm sure our favorite little fairies found sweet, sweet dreams...

THANK YOU ALL FOR A FABULOUS HALLOWEEN!!!

Off to the orchestra

Well, it won't be long anyway...

Aly began violin lessons and joined her school orchestra. We are at the very beginning, squeaky stages of implementation, but have high hopes for broadway productions in the very near future. And to think...you can say you saw her here first.

Gross and gooey

not to mention slimy and yucky, but one of the best parts of Autumn is when you carve the pumpkins and roast the seeds. Our pumpkins had been patiently waiting to be turned into lanterns for Halloween, but the weather has been so nippy and damp that we were hoping a good day would come along so the that the MESS would be outside on the porch steps and not inside on the kitchen countertop. But alas, the kids could not wait. (Of course, today the sun is out and temperatures are rising.) So last night, we pulled out the carving knife and went to work.

A bit of hard work, some sharp utensils, and some extra muscle gave us two very traditional faces to keep us company in the coming week. Aly's pumpkin was promptly named Charlotte. To me she looks like she is slobbering a bit too much.Brandan wasn't looking for a traditional name either...his is Bob O'Lantern, but Bob's fangs actually seem to create a dangerous, happy-go-lucky grin.
Our countdown has begun and our eerie recipes await a proper day (one that is finally not in the middle of the week!) to celebrate next Saturday!

But in the meanwhile, we will snack upon our tasty pumpkin seeds that we roasted last night. Sound good? Here's the recipe we use:

• 4 cups pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
• 1/2 cup margarine, melted
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 cup white sugar, divided

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Combine the pumpkin seeds, margarine, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl; stir to coat the seeds. Spread the seeds in a single layer in a 10x15 inch jelly roll pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes; stir and return to oven for 15 minutes more; remove from oven and sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the seeds; stir to coat. Return to oven and bake another 15 minutes before removing again to sprinkle with remaining sugar and stirring. Bake another 15 minutes. Allow to cool before serving. Store leftover seeds in an airtight container.

ENJOY!!