Food and friendship

Doesn't food always taste sweeter, shared with those we love and care?

Just before Christmas, when another family, our newer friends, came over for lunch (the children together):


Then, when our old friends came a long way to see us:

The food was good (I think so ;p), and the fellowship, what joy!

Now, as the year and decade come to a close, there are new and old friendships, including yours, I really treasure. Because they are not easy to come by.

Have a happy and blessed new year, my dear friends!

Food wise...
The honey spiral ham (couldn't really go wrong with that) I had slowcooked rather than used the oven to roast it, went well with an easy made-from-scratch pineapple-ketchup dip. Dinner was more Asian, a combination of our fave everyday meals I make, and I did spice things up a little with a curry chicken. The Christmas wreath inspired broccoli ring, and tree bread (back up one post for the recipe) were part of the simple merry touches.

And yes, thinking simple and familiar helps break it down to more manageable for me, especially with kids to watch, not just the stove!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours...

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
- Philippians 4:4

Photos wise...
Saved these "merry" shots I took of the children one fine fall day two months ago, for our annual photo-themed greetings. Photos because our families back home love to see how the children are growing. There's another little gift with lots more shots, small enough to fit into their pokets, I hope they'll enjoy.

Used to come up with my own simple design, that's erm not so simple to do. After three children, I'm glad there are time-saving shortcuts like this template from a photo service provider, that still allows for some personalization. And I'm not up all night, ho ho ho!

Christmas takes shape

Bit by bit, Christmas is taking shape in our home...


Above: Jon holds a plate of easy-to-make edible "Christmas trees"*, shaped from refrigerated dough he did a nice job rolling out.

Such are the homemade touches I love to labour this time of year. And better yet, to catch the children in a jolly mood to join in the fun, and...

I'd better also catch Kait before she runs off with the cookie cutter again!

Hot off the oven: a Christmas tree, Frosty the Snowman, and St Louis' iconic Arch... and another tree...

These are our best sugar cookies -- so far this Christmas, out of a lot more dough that became playdough!

As for the M&M's, more ended up in our mouths even before the cookies got into the oven!

There are the less savory moments though, when I let the season's busyness on top of the day-to-day stuff get in the way of all the joy :(. I got flustered, frustrated, and furious... Why are the kids always acting up? Is the husband hearing a word I'm saying? How come I haven't got round to our messes that just keep piling up? And why, after this year's big move, does it seem I'm more disorganized in more ways than the last two Christmases expecting Kait and after she was born?

Meanwhile, with the holiday break and no school for her brothers, the lil girl is even more intent on fighting her single nap. Or she'd not take one at all, but it's too soon to be giving it up!

She's up and about playing, even when the boys pretend to go down for a nap...

... and that's when they finally listen to this mom to stop using the bed as a trampoline! (Kait: Let me outta here)!

Earlier, when I simply could not find where I had boxed away our glitter glue and construction paper (*sigh*), the boys used their imagination for these cool cards...

Jon's cards used different geometric shapes for different teachers. Ben, who knows Santa is makebelieve, drew his friends and teacher as the ones riding the sleigh. I especially like his reindeers!

It's true that little touches like these can be big on joy!


However, while I am a "little details" person, I have to be realistic about how much time and energy one has to sweat the small stuff, without missing out on the big picture.

And only so much overtime after the kids slept, I could manage to put in for the rest of our well-wishes for our loved ones and friends. But the spirit of giving and sharing is something to keep at always, not just this season.

At the heart of Christmas is God's gift of Jesus Christ, the Joy to the World...

Ben's nativity scene, and Jon's "adore-naments" from previous years' Sunday School adorning our faux fir, are like personal reminders to me that it's Jesus we celebrate.

'Tis the season to be jolly, and rejoice!

Fa la la la la...


I simplified my to-do list.

The kind husband helped stow away our messes (temporarily).

And the Christmas tree bread made for a cute appetizer in the lunch we had the pleasure of having another family over.

Then, more happy cooking just now for three friends who've come from out of town to visit with us, YAY!

I'm no Martha Stewart, but putting in touches like these and cooking for those we hold dear, bring joy to my world :).

* To make Christmas Tree bread...
Either use refrigerated breadsticks as on the Pillsbury website, or the round biscuit version works for us:
Just halve each round piece and roll out, then snake it to form tree and pinch off a portion to attach as the trunk. Brush on egg, sprinkle some sesame seeds, and bake!

Pictures taken over several weeks since Thanksgiving.

Whoa, snow!

The children were thrilled to wake up to more snow this morning, than the slight accumulation weeks ago now (pictured here, finally)!

That earlier round, when the thin sheet wasn't really enough to make snow angels in. Nonetheless, this mom had obliged her snow-crazy children...

... and dragged young Kait around in the sled -- in the backyard! Of course the little girl kept asking for "more, more"!

That was also when Jon and Ben obliged their snow-crazy mom...

... and took five from their snowball fight -- best thing to do with any amount of snow, if you ask them -- for this...


But WHOOOAAA!!! Three kids and a sled is hard work; good thing I didn't pull anything else!
Still, all that snow-craziness can't compare to this: Picture me the "coat lady", hands full with our coats, hats, and gloves, going after all three kids running amok in the stores... Oh yes, it happens and it's sheer madness, with or without the winter gear!

But you understand why I really appreciate the husband making time for Christmas shopping together. Dashing through the snow, there are well-wishes for our loved ones and friends I'm behind in getting across the miles. Need to simplify, and there's always e-greetings, too. I like the reminder among bloggers to spread cheer to the needy, what with more opportunities for that this time of year.


Earlier, another fun family project from Ben's teacher -- our indoor version of Frosty the Snowman...

And what'd you know? The kids got their wish for MORE SNOW!

Meanwhile, it's school and work as usual. This is Spokane, not St Louis where for a few inches the kids do get snow days (no school), and Jon and Ben would go, "Whoa!" AND "Oh yeah, oh yeah!" :). 


At least with temperatures back at closer to 0C, it is a little reprieve from the arctic cold last week. At the lowest of around 0F (-18C) so far, it is still not the coldest this place sees. 


Before that, at -12C on the night when the neighbourhood plunged into darkness because of a power failure, and with the winds howling outside, it was hard not to think that the "harsh days" -- as the forecast called them -- were here already.


Thankfully, the electricity was restored in hours, not days (as we experienced before in St Louis). And it's warm and toasty indoors again!

Turkey 102... gobble, gobble!

This was my turkey experiment with the children on Thanksgiving Day. Believe me, an activity like this in the kitchen gets the boys a lot more enthusiastic than when I ask for a little help to wipe or set the dinner table on a regular day.

I kept it simple, this first time roasting the whole turkey, no stuffing or dressing -- just the way we like it.

Jon and Ben were eager, alright, to help with the seasoning. Think along the lines of "how come he got to rub in more salt than I got to grind the pepper?"...

I just had to let them rub in some paprika and herbs, too!

Our simple turkey turned out quite well. We gobbled it up, all by the next day's lunch.

The other tricky part was having to steer a curious and just as helpful Kait away from the oven, every time I had to open and close it for the basting.

And because I reversed the original plan to "foil first, baste later", our 10lb bird took longer to cook. Closer to 4h, rather than three, and that's not counting more minutes to let it rest.

The boys were really excited the turkey was finally done. They jumped at being the first to plate and eat the first cut... while their daddy was still carving it! Ben was in a jolly mood for pictures, but erm less so Jon at first.

I made a basic mashed potato (with milk, butter, and a little salt -- always works for us) to go along, and swopped out green beans with broccoli.

So went our Thanksgiving meal. Though simpler than the traditional feast I liken to an elaborate Chinese New Year reunion dinner, it was especially meaningful as the children had a hand in preparing it. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. It was like a celebration, too, with Vern and our brood on that eve of my birthday.

Now ask the kiddos what they enjoyed most about the meal, and hopefully they don't vote instead for the pumpkin pie... thank you, Sara Lee :)... or the fruit popsicle!


My basket overflows, and I do mean it in the thanksgiving sense. OK, besides that there is a new laundry load waiting for me as I write this. No, not moping and I have the floor to go mop, among other everyday stuff, and also our Christmas prep, yes. So, till the next post, we're trying to stay warm here 'coz the very cold is getting even colder... brrrrrrr!!!

Turkey 101

A pair of turkeys fun for children to draw...

Ben worked on these in school with the teacher's help to trace the outline of his hands.

At home, he drew another one, and Jon, too. And I asked them to each name a few things they are thankful for -- and write on the fingers that made up the bird's tail-fan (below).

And it was really nice, when separately, they both included...

not just
COMPUTER GAMES

but also
ONE ANOTHER and KAIT... awww! With all the sibling rivalry day in day out, I was afraid they stopped recognizing how important they are in each other's lives.

In the morning, not quite done with breakfast, the little girl is raring to go and joins her brothers to shoot hoops -- indoors...

And the boys are fighting with me over the low basket height, that's Kait-friendly, and more importantly, a safer distance from the windows, picture frames, and a mirror on the wall. Why do I even allow it? They have so much energy; the crazy things my kids drive me to do or let them do. But I tell you, this is so much milder compared to one boy jumping on the couch with a hula-hoop and daring the other boy to slam-dunk his way through the floor!

Another turkey Ben brought home from school earlier, as homework for the family:

OK, so I remembered the wattle, but got a bit carried away with the leaves Jon picked up to help in the project. (It's a turkey, mom, not a ...)!

But it is Thanksgiving, specially to give thanks for the bounty in our lives, and also for everyday things such as these:

The slam-dunks and the boo-boos...

the saner moments and crazier ones...

and the semblance of order we try and achieve with daily routines, though more likely -- and it is the case in our home -- there's more chaos. Because many things and our lives themselves are works in progress. And the (growing) physical messes I've not found time and energy for.

All part of the family life, crazy as it is, and my family whom I love very much -- I thank God for. Also, our loved ones back home, and dear friends old and new. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Fun fact: Incidentally, Mayflower was the company we used, moving from St Louis to Spokane.