Last recipe and book of 2007

I made my mom's famous cheese dip for
Christmas Eve and it was a HUGE hit!!!
Here is the recipe - it's really better if you make
it a day early and then reheat it!!!
DON'T substitute anything LOW FAT or LITE or it will
NOT be the same!!!

2 8 oz packages cream cheese - softened to room temp.
1/2 to 3/4 c. mayonnaise (to taste)
1 clove garlic, crushed/minced
1 can chopped or minced clams, partially drained*
1/2 - 1 cup parmesan or romano cheese (to taste, I used about 3/4 c. fresh
grated because it's all I had -
You can definitely use the stuff out of the container if you want!)

Whip cream cheese until light & fluffy (I used electric beaters).
Add mayo. FOLD in crushed garlic (so the flavor's not too strong).
Fold in clams and cheese.
Put in oven proof dish (you can divide it into two)
Cover with foil and bake at 250 degrees for 30 min.
Uncover and bakek another 15 minutes or until
golden crust forms.
Enjoy with veggies, tortilla or potato chips.

*This is my mom's famous CLAM dip. I took the liberty
to rename it because people won't always eat it if
there is CLAM in the title... Believe me, I'm NOT
a huge seafood person (to say the least!!!)
- let alone CLAMS!!! -
but this is FABULOUS!!!

Also, I finished reading Fire in the Blood
by Irene Nemirovsky and I HIGHLY recommend it.
I read Suite Francaise by the same author and
like this one better. Make sure you read about the
author - a very moving story in and of itself!!!

Here's to a fabulous 2008!!!
2007 has been great!!!

Christmas Morning in the Broad Day Light!!

So, we had a wonderful Christmas.
Too many pictures to share so I'm giving slide.com a whirl. You can click on the picture to view them all in a larger format if you so desire.
Hopefully it'll work for you!!!




So, we stay out too late on Christmas Eve almost every year... We have a great party at Cousin Geoff's house and ate delicious food and had a really great time visiting with everyone. Max really "took" to Auntie Pat - by the end of the night, he was all over her like a cheap suit.
(It's a fine line!!!!)

On Christmas morning, I awoke (just after FOUR A.M.!!!) to Abigail in my bed (in place of Brad) counting down the minutes until FIVE A.M.
(We had to draw the line somewhere I guess!!).
We were all up and I actually came downstairs (which is off limits for the kids) to turn on the lights and get our muffins ready from the Gingerbread Construction Company (we added some Clementines for a little healthy addition). I went back upstairs to check on things and Max was trying his hardest to just SLEEP! Poor kid! I do video camera/bottom of the stairs/"Christmas morning in the broad day light, who do you think was here last night?!?!?" duty and made Brad just take Max out of bed and he was NOT happy - he was crying and so sad. Once Brad got to the bottom of the stairs and set him down, Max ran right back up to bed!!! (I went up and got him a few minutes later and it was fine... hence the tears in the photo of myself with Max!)

We headed over to Brad's brother Christopher's house later that day with the rest of the fam and, again, a great time was had by all. It just goes by too fast but we sure enjoyed it!

Holy Hot Fudge Sauce Batman!

I made the mistake of asking Brad if he needed any "gifts" for his co-workers... expecting him to say, "Sure, probably 6 of them would be great!" Instead, he asked for SIXTEEN!!!
I gasped but thought maybe he'd get a raise (or at least some greater r-e-s-p-e-c-t) for this...

I was up to my ears in hot fudge sauce. Between his co-workers and the gifts I gave away, I had THIRTY containers go out.
(FYI that = ~10 successful batches...)
(Yes, I had to go with Ziploc because I couldn't initially find the Mason jars. It all tastes the same!)

For a while, I was killing myself trying to think of something wonderful/new to give away and then I just stopped and decided that Hot Fudge Sauce is going to be MY thing from now on. It's very simple and so tasty so why try to kill myself?

The recipe is here if you're interested. My kids eat it plain - it's THAT yummy. (Granted, my kids' taste for sugar/chocolate is NOT that discriminating!!!)

To say that the kids are excited for the next two days is SUCH
an understatement. It doesn't help that they've basically got an IV drip of 100% sugar.
(Max was surprisingly good about keeping away from the wrapped gifts until his grandma delivered some with DORA wrapping paper - now it's pure torture for him!)

Here they are snuggling together one morning in front of the kitchen heater. Max is so well taken care of!!













P.S. If you haven't heard this CD yet, you are truly missing out. I know you can download it on iTunes. It features Sissel - who has the most angelic voice I have EVER heard. #11 - "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room" - is phenomenal!!! ENJOY!!!

On This Day (ok, yesterday, anyway)

10 years ago.
Married in the Salt Lake Temple.
Best decision I've ever made.

Don't we look so young in this picture?
This was part of our engagement portfolio :)

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

This was the scene out our front window on Sunday --
Yes, we were blessed with a Nor'easter.
Ugh.
Unfortunately, this happened BEFORE the delivery
of the blessed machine.

18" in the space of 3 days.

And, it's snowing outside right now.
Because heaven forbid that we go more than 4 days without measurable snowfall!
(We are in the 3-6" range - but VERY close, TOO close, to the 6-10" range!!!)

I think the more time that passes, the more we won't absolutely dread the forecast of snow. Again, because of our snowblower.

I can officially say that the snowblower is up and running!
I. LOVE. IT!!!!!!!!!
That whole buyer's remorse thing = G-O-N-E!!!

Christmas Recital

I've got so many posts to do but I a bunch of other
stuff to do while Max is down for a nap.
Here's one to make me feel less guilty...
(Since WHEN was blogging a NEED?!?! Ugh.)

The girls had their Christmas recital last weekend and they did such a great job.
This was Samantha's debut and she was extremely nervous.
Above, they are practicing for the group number that they did ("We 3 Kings")

Don't they look so cute?

Here's Samantha doing "E String Concerto".
Look at her focus!!!

Marissa (teacher) accompanied Abby on "Two Grenadiers".
I absolutely LOVE hearing them play together - plus I'm starting
to be out of my element with the piano accompaniments (sp?).
I hope I can still do it - this time of year doesn't lend
itself to a lot of practice time for moi.

Say it ain't so!

I just found out that Dan Fogelberg died.
NOOoooooooooooo!!!
He was one of my favorites in high school and even
nursed a few break-ups...
(Truth be told, I didn't realize he was still alive and SO YOUNG!
I think he's turned into quite the babe in his "later years"!!)
A true classic!

Here are some links to what I think are some worthy
causes for donations. I try to do something every
Christmas and, truth be told, I don't LOVE "just"
donating money - but, given the present date, it's
better than nothing at all.

The first is "Operation Happy Note" which sends all sorts
of musical instruments to the soldiers overseas.
There was a great article in Reader's Digest about this
and I strongly believe in the power of music.

The other is called "Modest Needs" which helps people with
relatively small needs that will make a big difference
in their lives. You can even choose the recipient or
divide your money between a few.

THE TRUE POWER OF CHRISTMAS IS NOT ABOUT WHAT WE GET
BUT WHAT WE GIVE THAT CAN TRULY CHANGE THE WORLD.

I'll get off my soapbox now.
Make this season a great one!

Good stuff

My cousin Erin sent this cartoon to me the other day.
I think it's hilarious and wanted to share it.

This is the latest book that I read.
PHENOMENAL.
Back in the 70s, Mr. Yunus (who was a professor at Chittagong University in Bangladesh) figured out that he could help the poor in the entire town by lending them micro-loans coming to a total of $27!!!! He eventually started Grameen Bank.
Inspiring to say the least.
(Even if I really don't understand ALL of the economic
theories behind it.)
I'd really like to find a compilation of stories that tells how micro-loans have
changed people's lives because the few included in the book
were truly amazing.
Words don't even do justice.

Yes, I'm a glutton for punishment and decided that for tonight's violin recital (with the girls' private violin teacher) - which is Samantha's DEBUT! -
we'd make cornflake wreaths for the kids.
I have memories of making these somewhere when I
was a wee lassy and thought it'd be fun.
They didn't exactly come out like I planned - they wouldn't stick
together very well so I just filled 1/3 and 1/4 measuring cups
(spray with cooking spray first), packed them in
(again, spray spoon with cooking spray)
and then dropped them onto wax paper.
Maybe I needed more marshmallow.
We made SIX TIMES the recipe to get the amount
of wreaths we did - allowing Samantha to eat some -
as you can see by the green mouth :)

On Thursday night, we got 10" of snow dumped on us in about 8 hours time.
Brad couldn't get out of his parking lot
(jammed freeway = jammed onramp =
jammed backroads = jammed parking lot)
and ended up being picked up by his father
(who spent about 6 hours getting to Andover
from Duxbury... usually takes 1 1/2 hours) and taken
to the comfort of his mother's home....
If you want to read more horror stories,
click here.

...which led us to the purchase of this bad boy yesterday.

If that's not a power tool, I don't know what is!!!
Yes, there's a part of me that feels like a "sellout"... but there's
another part of me that doesn't care at all (esp. considering
the forecast for TOMORROW!!!)

Surviving the Diorama

You may or may not know that Abigail is a total and complete
Nancy Drew addict. I get calls about 2-3 times a week
from our library saying, "The book you requested is in
and we can hold it for a week." She has figured out how to log
onto my library account and request her Nancy Drew books
- which is fine with me.

Here she is during one of her "I can't sleep" moments with spongies
in her hair (in prep for her orchestra concert).

So, when the assignment came from her teacher for a book report diorama,
OF COURSE it was going to be on a Nancy Drew book.

Let me just say here that I still get the shakes when I hear the word
D-I-O-R-A-M-A
because my experience is CARVING a polar bear out of a bar of SOAP
(which I'm pretty sure would be considered too dangerous these days!)
and making an igloo out of sugar cubes - all in the same
D-I-O-R-A-M-A.

(If my dining table didn't need to be refinished/replaced before, it sure does now!!!)

After a "family diorama council", I hit Michael's the other day and
found some great stuff to use.
Abby WAS the boss.
We all helped (yes, even Max!)
And I think it looks fabulous.

If I, I mean SHE doesn't get an A, then what more can we do?
We're keeping our fingers crossed that we can get all of the paint & glue off of our skin and clothing.

I almost forgot

You can see a video of Abigail performing at her orchestra concert yesterday.

Just click on THIS link.

She did a really good job. We're very proud of her!

It's beginning to look (and taste) a lot like Christmas

So we've actually had our tree up for about a week now.

Brad was beside himself because some of the lights weren't working
(he called it the "Zebra Tree") so he went and
bought a new one.
(Trust me - it's cheaper than marriage counseling!)

This is a photo of him separating/prettying up the branches.
He takes this VERY seriously.

I thought Max would be all over the ornaments but he found
this little musical thing that our neighbor gave us and was soooo happy!
To be able to push a button = joy for 2 year olds!

I love love love to bake during Christmastime.
There are almost too many choices.
And this is why there is no chance of NOT
gaining weight over the holidays!
The kids have so much fun doing it.
We had Samantha's friend Caroline over last
week to decorate sugar cookies - soo yummy!

I love putting crushed peppermints/candy canes in stuff.
For our church party, they asked us to bring a favorite
Christmas dessert. I decided to take my favorite
"Rocky Road" (minus the nuts - does that make it
just a "Bumpy Road" instead of Rocky?) brownies
and add some peppermint to the chocolate glaze
AND sprinkle some on top. To die for!
(Trust me, they're good anyway but this kicked it up a notch!)

So, you just make a 13x9 pan of boxed brownies like you usually would, and then you put an entire bag (or a little less if you want) of mini-marshmallows on them RIGHT AFTER THEY COME OUT OF THE OVEN (so they can melt a little bit). Then, you pour the chocolate glaze over it and spread it to cover the marshmallows.
(If you want the brownies to look all "prim and proper" - i.e. the sides not so crumbly - you may want to put it in the fridge or freezer for a bit before cutting. As you can see, I did NOT do this!)

Melt 2 1oz. squares of UNSWEETENED chocolate with
1/2 c. butter and 1/3 c. milk over low heat until it's all melted together.
Remove from heat and transfer to a medium mixing bowl. Add powdered sugar (I do about a cup at a time until desired consistency - if it's too thick - add milk 1 tbsp. at a time) and 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract. Beat at low speed until smooth. (Taste it - you'll definitely be able to tell if it needs to be sweeter!)

So, for the peppermint version, add some crushed peppermint (I found the softer balls that come in a bucket are easier to manage than unwrapping all of those stinking candy canes) that I unwrapped and actually put into the blender (use ice crush if available - it's LOUD!!). I added almost 1 cup to the glaze and then sprinkled on liberally on the top. Enjoy!

Also, with crushed pepper mint (I just crushed up a whole bucket full and stored the leftovers...), you can add some (maybe 1 cup - to taste!) to a tub of whipped cream, mix it up and then add it to hot chocolate. SOOOO delicious!!!

"Amazing" movie and a little bone to pick

I got this movie through the library yesterday and even had (made) time to watch it. Highly highly recommended. I read the book recently and am glad I did. Just more insight about this amazing story. It's PG... so nice and clean - you may want to turn on the English subtitles so you don't miss any of the dialogue!

Ok, I'm not singling out any one person here (that reads my blog, anyway) but I just have to say
how sick and tired I am of NOT GETTING THANK YOU NOTES from people to whom I have given gifts.
I KNOW that they have been received (i.e. the check got cashed) but nary a note in the mail. I'm trying really really hard to forgive and think "Well, maybe it got lost in the mail" but when it's happened more than a handful of times, I get frustrated. And it's not that I need someone to tell me how wonderful I am (although that never hurts ;) but
I was raised to say THANK YOU and especially to WRITE notes!
It is truly a lost art in this computer age.
I'd even take a stinkin' e-mail thank you at this point.
Suffice it to say that I will think twice before sending gifts for weddings of missionaries that used to serve in our ward.
I know I'm not perfect, but I was raised to do this and am
desperately trying to teach my children to do the same.
It's the only way to go.
Ok, have a nice day and THANK YOU for "listening" to me ;)

Proud parent moment

I know that it's obnoxious when people brag about their kids too much but I also think that it's a parents' right to some extent - especially after enduring the pain of childbirth. That said, last weekend Abby and Samantha slept over at their cousin Maddie and Shelby's house. Among other things, they went to the tree-lighting ceremony in their town. I guess some lollipops were given out (in some form) and the girls each hoarded a few... Well, as they were leaving, Abigail noticed that a little boy didn't get any lollipops and so she asked Cousin Steph (Maddie/Shelby's mom) if she could give one to him. Samantha followed suit after she saw what Abby was doing.

Everyone say, "AWWWWWWWwwwwww!"

Yep - those're my gals!
Wish I could say I had something to do with that but I think
it just comes naturally to them.

So here are some random photos to keep the masses happy...
Max got all decked out for our grandkids' annual photo.
He takes his fashion cues from Uncle Jason.















The girls usually take turns reading scriptures - here Abby is helping Samantha out.
(I tell you reading scriptures is a GREAT way
to improve reading skills!!!)













And here are Max and Sam melded together for a night of bliss.







I just finished this book and highly recommend it. Definitely enlightening.