'Twas the Night Before Christmas

For Christmas Eve we decided to stay at home this year. Madeline had really really wanted to go to Universal Studio to Whoville (she is really into the Grinch) but it was a cold and rainy day so decided not to go. I always like to be at home on Christmas Eve so that we can get ready for Santa. You know, leave carrots for the reindeer, cookies for Santa, and read "The Night Before Christmas."

Madeline of course wanted to dress up. We have now convinced her to wear pants or other warm clothes during the day for park outings and school as long as she can wear fancy clothes at night. We danced to too many Christmas songs, both Madeline and Jack love to dance, although they have very different styles. Madeline has a pseudo-ballet that she does for any song that is playing and Jack has a little shoulder-shake that he finds appropriate, regardless of the music playing!

We had Champagne and Madeline and Jack had sparkling apple cider and we all started toasting. Madeline got really into the toasting and went on and on. She thought it was great and thought we should continue saying "Christmasy," "Familyish," and "Godish," stuff during the dinner. She pulled every expression that she had ever heard out of her hat! It was really funny and sweet. Jack liked doing "Cheers" over and over and did it with such gusto that we had to be careful he didn't break the glasses.

Here is the table all set for dinner. I walked away to get the camera and Jack, of course climbed onto the table! Boys!! Miraculously, he didn't break anything. We had yummy fettuccine alfredo that everyone ate and loved. I always love when everyone likes and eats the same meal, it seems this doesn't happen very often in our house. Of course, what is not like to like about 1/2 pound of butter mixed with 1/2 pound of fresh Parmesan cheese tossed with yummy fresh pasta.

Then we all read "The Night Before Christmas" and put Jack to bed. Madeline did not want to set the cookies out for Santa until after he was in bed, she was afraid that he would eat Santa's cookies (rightly so)! It was a really special night at home and I think fettuccine alfredo is our new Christmas Eve tradition! After setting out the cookies and carrots Madeline also went to bed to wait for Santa.

Chili and Cornbread Spectacular

Just so you know, I would never name a party at my house "Spectacular," Kim, Ivy and Beth came up with the name when they were teasing me about my blog and so in their honor I had to use it. I also promised to post the chili recipe, so it is at the end. Mark made the cornbread this year and so no cornbread recipe to post. But this next year my test kitchen will be trying out recipes to see if they are "Chili and Cornbread Party" worthy and by next year's party, I will have one to report!

For the past several years we have hosted a small party with...what else chili and cornbread, followed by a walk through the famous Seaside Rancho Lights (about 1/2 mile from our house). The first year we had kind of a lot of people and since our house it small that can be tricky, but it was fun. The next year it rained, had to drive and not walk, not as much fun in cars.

This year we threw it all together at the very last minute and it was nice and low-key. We started early and the kids played with my cousin's little boy, David. The evening was highlighted by Madeline standing on a chair and singing Christmas carols for us, David joining her on another chair and pretending to sing, and Jack just being his usual funny little self. He really liked the Santa hat.

Here is Jack actually sitting down with Dana, my cousin. She said that she thought it was the first time he ever sat quietly with her (probably true, he is not a real sitter).

He is really into climbing into things (this isn't always good). If we leave the dishwasher or dryer open, he'll try to get in and then likes to try to close the door (the weird and dangerous part)!

Here is Ivy with Jack (Jack getting into a storage basket). Madeline just saw this picture and was a little upset. She is watching me post this and is very curious about what a "blog" is. She is not very happy that her Ivy is with Jack and she is not. She really considers Ivy all hers. Ivy is great with kids and just always seems to know what they are into at the perfect age (she works with kids). Madeline was the flower girl at Jeremiah and Ivy's wedding and she was over the moon about it. She took her responsibility very seriously. You won't believe that a bride could think to do this, but Ivy bought puppets for Madeline so she would have something to play with at the reception, who thinks of these things during their wedding? Ivy!! She also thought to buy Jack a present so he would have something to open at Madeline's birthday, his own mother (that would be me) forgot to do this. Anyway, I could go on and on about her, but we think she is wonderful (as we do Jeremiah) but Ivy is Madeline's, as far as she is concerned!

Here is David all bundled up for our walk. I did not take any pictures on the walk, sadly because the lights are amazing and the walk was great. Madeline and Jack rode in our little Radio Flyer Wagon and Jack fell asleep sitting up, Ivy has some pictures she is going to send me and I will post them.

Anyway, after the walk we all sat around and argued about what color the cat in the Smurfs is and since we happen to have about 20 episodes on our TiVo we confirmed that in fact he is brown.

Here is the recipe! Next year the theme is going to be cheesy holiday wear, the cheesier the better, so get ready!! Think Christmas sweaters, earrings that light up, a sweater that lights up, you get the idea!

Turkey Chili With White Beans

(one word of warning, I don't know if my chili was so hot because we buy our chili powder from an Indian spice market or if that is the way all chili powder is?? But now I only add about 1/8 cup of chili powder, but regular chili powder may not be that hot.)

1 TB vegetable oil

2 medium onions, chopped

1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 1/2 teaspoons dried cumin

1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey

1/4 cup chili powder

2 bay leaves

1 TB unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 - 28 oz can whole tomatoes

3 cups beef stock/broth

1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce

3 - 15 oz cans small white beans, rinsed, drained.

Serve on side: chopped red onions, fresh cilantro, and light sour cream.

Heat oil in heavy pan and brown the onions until light brown and tender over medium heat, about 10 minutes. Add oregano and cumin, stir for 1 minute. Increase heat to medium high and add turkey, stir until no longer pink, break up pieces with the back of a spoon. Stir in chili powder, bay leaves, cocoa powder, salt and cinnamon. Add tomatoes with their juices, breaking up with the back of a spoon. Mix in stock and tomato sauce. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add beans to chili and simmer until flavors blend, about 10 minutes. Discard the bay leaves. Serve with the onion, cilantro and sour cream!

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Oh Holy Night

Well, this was the first Christmas concert the kids have had and we were very excited. Madeline had been at a Jewish school for the previous 3 years and so we have been to three Hanukkah concerts, but no Christmas ones. I have to say that I did miss the jelly donuts after the Hanukkah concert (and just found out why they have jelly donuts for Hanukkah), but enjoyed knowing more about what was going on. Since we are not Jewish I was always a little unsure of when to do, say, and eat what and why exactly we were doing it. Of course, I could have learned or asked and I always meant to (even bought a book online, just never got around to reading it) so I was always a little in the dark about the holidays and customs.

Madeline was assigned the role of 1st sheep (the sheep in the manger with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus). She was a little upset because she had wanted to be Mary, but she said that her friend Tamara asked first, so got to be the sheep in the manger, next to Mary. Jack was an angel.

The above picture is the manger, Madeline is the little girl on the left in white. We didn't get any pictures of her close up because they dressed them in the classroom and then stripped the costumes off the kids as soon as they got off stage. I was sad because she was such a cute little sheep and I would have like more pictures :(.

Jack did fine as an angel. I had to go up on stage with him and Heath was videotaping it so we did not get any pictures of him on stage. Of course we could upload the video, if only we knew how! Anyway, the angels were supposed to all stay to the left of the manager on a little blanket. Well, not Jack! As soon as he saw Madeline in the manger her bolted for her, yelling "sissy, sissy, sissy," until I just finally let him stay. It wasn't worth the battle up on stage in front of the whole school.

After his part was done, Jack and I sat down in the first row next to Heath to finish watching the concert. But nooooo, he was not happy to watch Madeline, he wanted to be with her. So he got up and tried to climb the platform of the stage to be with her. He almost made it, then a teacher grabbed him and spoiled his fun. Actually, we are not sure who she was, she was sitting with the kids, so we assumed she was a teacher. However, after the concert they had cookies for the kids and we saw her pulling zippy bags out of her purse and filling them with cookies, so maybe she was just some random woman who likes cookies and Christmas concerts!

Madeline was so excited for the cookies, as was Jack! A perfect end to the play!

Madeline Turns 5

It is very hard for me to believe that our little girl is five, 5 seems so old and it seems like only yesterday that we were new parents. When I look around our house at all the newborn and baby pictures of Madeline (there are none of Jack--second child syndrome) and then I realize how big she is now... I don't want her to grow up. She is my baby. Whether or not I like it, she did turn 5 on December 7. For your birthday at our house, you can choose any breakfast that you want and Daddy has to make it. Hmmm, maybe I should dream up something really hard for my next birthday. If anyone has any ideas, I am open to suggestions. Madeline being the sweet girl she is only picked chocolate chip pancakes, eggs, and sausage. After breakfast she opened all of her presents from us, she wanted book and puzzles!

After breakfast Daddy and Jack stayed home for nap time and Madeline and I headed off to pick up balloons, etc. She loved this party hat at the store, really she loved all the hats in this aisle and insisted that I take her picture in every single one. Since it was her birthday, I agreed. I didn't post them all, but there were A LOT!!!

For her party she wanted an ice skating party and decided this in August. Since we live in California and none of the kids that she knows can ice skate I spent the next 8 weeks trying to talk her out of this plan. I was worried that kids would not want to try it, would fall all over the ice, would hate it, etc. you get the general idea. I spent so long trying to talk her out of it that by the time I called the Palos Verdes Ice Chalet they were booked up for private ice time and we had to skate during public skate and then have the party room (which smelled like a locker room) after that.

Here is Madeline getting ready for the ice. She wanted to dress like a snow princess and we had gone shopping the weekend before and she picked out the whole outfit and has not stopped carrying the purse or wearing the headband since--seriously. The purse is barely in one piece.

Aunty Tata (my sister) is above with Madeline's friend Kira, who could actually skate, and my friend Sarah with William. He is just over 2 but did great on the ice, I think it is easier when you are closer to the ice and have no fear.

Here is Madeline with Auntie Kim, they are both posing so nicely!!

Jack sat on the sidelines for as long as Grandma and he could bare it. He was screaming "I do, I do, I do," the entire time. So Heath got him skated up and took him for a spin. He didn't like the skating part (too much work), but he did like when Heath pushed him around the ice really fast (our little dare-devil)!

Madeline showing off!! She was quite the ice dancer!

My cousin Dana took the above picture with her iPhone and I love the picture. I gave the kids punching balloons in their goodie bags and this picture is Jack swinging the balloon so fast you can only see the blue streak!

Here is the CAKE!! Every year I obsess about WHERE or WHERE shall I get the cake? This year I tried Hansen's in LA. Terrible customer service and they messed up the snow princess design that I had asked for (my mom had to fix the cake) but the cake was yummy. Their cakes are so impressive, I would go back again.

In the end the party was fine, although most of the kids couldn't skate we were lucky enough to have Kira's parents (they are from Minnesota) pitch in and take the kids for whirls around the ice.

On the way out the door Madeline spotted this reindeer and asked to be lifted onto his lap. I love the pose, such a lady (sniff, sniff, tear, tear)!

When we got home the kids dove into presents, they were like wild animals and Jack didn't even know what or why they were driving in, but was happy to follow his big sissy. When he got tired of opening presents that he had no interest in, he was happy to haul the empty cooler around the house!

Santa!

There is a shopping plaza in LA called the Grove and they have a beautiful fountain, fun shops, a restaurant that Madeline adores, and a great Santa. So for our annual pictures with Santa we decided to invite our good friends, the Pucci's, and head to the Grove. Since Jack doesn't love strangers we didn't think that he would really like Santa, but we thought if Madeline was there, he might be okay. While we waited in line for Santa they had a little performance for us to watch. They invited kids to join along and the kids were given bells, Madeline, Michael, and Henry (the three kids, front and center) loved it. They played the bells and Madeline actually felt that she needed to do a little dance to finish off the song!

Then we saw Santa. We were wrong, Jack HATED him! Screamed and screamed. Our pictures are....memorable! Madeline sat the whole time smiling, just pretending that Jack wasn't screaming his head off! She was very happy when we removed Jack so that she could tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas.

After pictures we headed to The Farm for dinner. Madeline loves The Farm and talks about their macaroni and cheese all the time. We had a very nice dinner because they stuck us in the back. When the kids finished their meals they could get up and play in the chairs, they made a train, etc. They were happy and we were happy.

We had to stop and see the fountain. All three boys tried to climb in (from left, Michael, Jack, and Henry). Madeline did not try to climb in. That is the difference between boys and girls.

We were then lucky enough to have the trolley stop pretty close to where we were and these women (sort of like the Rockettes) danced in front of us. The kids loved it and Madeline and Michael decided to join in the dancing! All in all, it was a fun holiday night!

Stroll and Savor

Last Thursday the Riviera Village had a Christmas street event. They closed off the streets, all the stores were serving food and wine, and there were lots of fun street performers. I decided to leave work early and meet Heath and the kids for some holiday cheer!

We took the kids to a little crepe place, which was okay. We ended up starting with fondue, Jack ate the entire basket of bread (did I mention that he likes bread) so we were left with some nasty, mealy apples to dip in the cheese. He refused the pasta that we ordered for him, but decided that he would give the crepe a try. He was disgusted. The above picture is him spitting the crepe out into a napkin. We were laughing that he was "polite" enough to spit into a napkin.

Notice the empty bread basket!!

We had a great time just walking around and watching the men and women on stilts, dressed as butterflies and other interesting creatures. We decided to eat dinner outside so we could watch the street performers, they kept Madeline and Jack entertained the entire time! For friends in other, colder, parts, it was about 60 degrees, but the kids were freezing and wanted to wear hats! We ended up walking around after dinner to see more holiday festivities and stopped for ice cream--guess they weren't that cold!

Goble Goble

This year we decided NOT to host Thanksgiving. For several years now we have had 10-16 people over to our TOO SMALL house and loved it, but I decided that with working full-time this year, I needed a break. My cousin, Dana, and her husband Mark were gracious enough to host and this freed us to spend the whole day relaxing. It was weird because Heath kept saying that it didn't feel like Thanksgiving without all the rushing and cooking, but I was fine with it.

I did the Torrance Turkey Trot with a friend in the morning, it was a nice little 5k, perfect way to make up for all the yummy food later in the day. Then we sat and relaxed over coffee at Starbucks, no reason to rush home! It had rained the day before, but Thanksgiving was a beautiful and clear day, so we headed off for some beach fun! Here is Madeline doing her version of a "snow angel."



Jack loves the beach and the birds, really he loves to chase the birds. It is pretty cute!

Madeline collecting seashells!

Hmmm, where are those birds?

When we got home from the beach we discovered how Jack had been getting into the fish food all week. He goes into Madeline's room, shuts the door (amazing that he knows this is something Mommy and Daddy probably wouldn't want to see!) and climbs the chair next to the dresser and slides himself up to the fish. He loves the fishies and really likes trying to catch them. Poor fish!

I didn't take any pictures from our actual Thanksgiving meal, but it was yummy. There were 5 kids there so Madeline and Jack had fun playing and we had fun relaxing! All in all a very nice and stree-free Thanksgiving.