Skate Castle

Today we went to Skate Castle.  They have a special time on Wednesday mornings for preschoolers where they have a bounce house and other play things for an hour and a half and then skating for 30 minutes.  We thought it was a good idea to run some energy off.  Here they are in the ball pit.

In the ball pit room there were murals.  Nothing like a hobo clown to really get you in touch with your childhood glee.  Here's one roasting weenies.

This one I especially found amusing.  He's got a one way ticket somewhere.

Poor Gwen, she was  so tired out that by 11am she was begging to go home.  She fell asleep in the car.  All these new things she's taking in and getting up at the crack of dawn really wears on a little girl.

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Gwen has thoroughly enjoyed having little tea parties in her new princess dress up dress and pouring everyone tea.

Get a load of the accessories.

These are chocolate covered oreos in the shape of a snowman wearing earmuffs.  I think it's such a good idea.

My mom has a "foxtail" fern.  I love that thing and have decided I need one.  Just thought I'd share what it looks like.  I think it's pretty.

And So Christmas Begins...

This was Friday night, the night before we left for Alabama.  Look at all the gifts!  Good Grief!  Do we live in America or what?

Gwen and Uncle Jake sharing a smile.

Zeke was tired and did not enjoy himself.  Oh well...

But Gwen did.

So, after seeing the sunrise and then seeing a sunset all in our car we made it to Alabama.  Today we went to church and Gwen made this peanut baby Jesus.  Do you know how much I LOVE THIS THING?

One of mom's neighbors has this in their front yard.  Can anyone say random?  I mean, leave it to Alabamians to display Christmas pigs that light up.

My Kids

I've put so many pictures of Gwen lately on the blog that I thought you might want to see Zeke.  You know... when Gwen was his age I'd ask her to smile for the camera and it was just an automatic smile.  I ask Zeke and he looks at my like "um, no thank you."  Here they are together... and you can see their personalities.  She in a dance outfit with the "smile" and he with his flannel pants and a look like "what?"

GORGEOUS

Give me that camera

Meal Plan and Continuation of Trash Pile Treasures

taco salad
chicken pizza, salad
lentil soup
meatloaf sandwiches, steamed broccoli, cottage cheese
pueblo green chili stew
deviled eggs with bacon, green bean casserole, gingered chicken
crockpot lasagna (off of Jessica Seinfeld-Oprah episode), salad
split pea soup, garlic bread

*I bought two whole chickens this week in an attempt to make my own chicken stock.  You think I can do it?  I'll let you know what happens... cause I know you'll be DYING to know.

This was in the trash pile as well that I took.  I'm not sure what the animal is...but I think it's a dog pulling a cart and it mysteriously says "ladies" on it.  I got it because I might go to a white elephant party and you always have to be prepared for that.  So, what's your guess at why it says ladies?  Is the dog going to pull all of us ladies to a day spa perhaps?  That's my vote... if you get in the wagon... you get to go to a day spa.

First Snow and Dancing Queen

and finally a quote from a book I've been reading called "Same Kind of Different As Me."  

- I'm a nobody that's tryin' to tell everybody bout Somebody that can save anybody.

Trash Pile Treasures

Ok, so my neighbor called me yesterday morning to tell me one of our other neighbors had a trash pile out near the curb.  I'm becoming more and more eccentric as I get older, so I don't have any hesitation to go dig in your junk if you put it by the curb.  After all, that's how I got the lego table and a wagon which I didn't show you all last time... digging in the trash.  It's amazing what people will throw away!  Well... I took a bookshelf, but I don't have a picture of that, and I also took this.  It strangely appealed to me because I mean, who sees an inch worm with buck teeth these days that also has a belly button.  I mean... who knew that inch worms have belly buttons?  I'll bet you didn't.  I thought out little buddy would look good in Gwen's green room.

"Owl" See Ya There

I've been making Zeke's birthday party invitations.  We are having a small thing really, but I think it is fun making these.  Gwen helped me... um.. stack the shapes. :)  We are going with the owl theme for his party.  I know it's ridiculous to some degree to do all this for a one year old, but it's fun and it's a nice memory for us.  Here's the poem I made up that's on the invite:

who's turning one?
Zeke, that's who!
Who are his friends?
That would be you!
Come and share a meal
and some cake ta boot
"owl" see ya there
it will be a hoot.

What do you think?  :)

Meal Plan

Grilled chicken, green bean casserole, deviled eggs with turkey bacon
elegant chicken (still haven't tried it)
tai style roast, brown rice
chili
chicken pizza with homemade crust
quiche, salad
taco salad

*gingered carrot cake cookies- making for Jake's Birthday today... the big 3-0. :)
*making cinnamon hot chocolate mix for gifts

*By the way, the other night we had edamame.. and let me tell you it is a fun veggie for little kids.  Gwen loves them and has mastered the popping out of the seeds.  For those who have never tried edamame... buy it frozen and when they are cooked salt them with sea salt.  THE BEST!

Christmas In The Air

Recently we had our first Christmas concert with the Chorale.  This is a video of me doing my little solo of "What Child Is This."  This is my more formal sounding voice, just so ya know.  Charles likes to call it your "big girl voice."



Gwen had her Christmas program at church yesterday.  Zeke was running a fever, so I didn't get to see the actual performance, but I did get to see her in rehearsal.  She was a sheep and super cute.  She did fine except she got tired and sat down once and then started to cry for unexplained reasons.  I think she just had had enough or something. :)

Here's a video of one of the songs.




Saturday we made these Christmas card holders from corkboards and clothespins.  They were supposed to be Christmas colors, but Gwen kept mixing the red and white... thus the pink color.  We put them on the wall with wall poster putty.  I looped the ribbon through them to see if I could make them a little more um... appealing.

*If you are looking at this on Facebook, you have to go to www.benmere.blogspot.com to see the videos.  I can't figure out why it won't show my videos...but oh well... a goal for 2011.

Thomas Rap

Check this out... lovin' this new Thomas the Tank Engine song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAy8DQdDPnA&feature=related

Great Frugal Gifts

There are so many ways you can give to others during the holidays.  Gifts of time, a handwritten note, and simple little things that tell the other person you care.  I love simple gifts... giving and receiving.  I always have a running list of things I'd like to try.  It keeps me sane in these winter months when you are indoors so much of the time.  If you are struggling for ideas... well... here are mine I want to do coming up.

Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn

http://www.cookingwithmykid.com/giveaway/home-baked-holidays-easiest-gift-ever/

Stained-Glass Sugar Cookies

http://cooking.thenerdswife.com/2010/12/stained-glass-sugar-cookies.html

Peppermint Fudge Cupcake Jars

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2010/12/peppermint-fudge-cupcake-jars-striped.html

Cinnamon Hot Chocolate Mix

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Cinnamon-Hot-Chocolate-Mix?_mid=455702&_rid=455702.1288846906.38357

Chili Seasoning Mix

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chili-Seasoning-Mix?_mid=455801&_rid=455801.1288846898.38920

If you have any ideas out there I'd love to hear them.

Also... I've got this idea to fill the baby swimming pool up (inside) with Christmas wrapping paper after Christmas and let the kids go wild ripping it up.  :)

Also... do you think we should keep the tradition of the Christmas pinata?  I mean, last year was a bust because I was so big and pregnant and Scrooge like so we ended up doing it in June.  

Finishing My Vanilla Extract

I brought it up from the basement today to bottle.

I put some paper towels in a colander with a pan underneath to catch the vanilla seeds.

See all the black vanilla seeds?

Gwen was a great helper.

She didn't like the "dirt" on her hands though.

I should've gotten bigger jars and I shouldn't have labeled them until after I filled them.  Stuff goes everywhere.  Ah well... next time.

Her job was handing me the lids when I asked for some.

The finished products. :)

We're drying the beans to put in some sugar to make vanilla sugar.

Can you tell it's been cold out?  We've done lots of crafts to adorn our walls.

Thanksgiving and Early Training

Seasoned Oyster Crackers and ranch dressing mix

I love this ranch dressing mix.  I put it on meats to season them and just about anything you can dream up.  I make up a big batch... double or triple this recipe so I can have some on hand.

Ranch Dressing Mix


1/2 C dry buttermilk (you can find it in most grocery stores)
1 T dried parsley, crushed
1 tsp dried dill weed
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried onion flakes
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp ground pepper (I of course, put more)

Blend.  For dressing- 1 T mix with 1 C mayo and 1 C milk (never done this before)

Today I made seasoned oyster crackers.  This is your warning.  These things are highly addictive and if you are on a diet... um... low carb diet... you had better watch yourself.  You try two to "make sure they did ok" and eat about 40.  THEY ARE DIVINE!  Oh, and Stephanie... why you'd want to season oyster crackers?  Cause they are DA BOMB!  They are great on salads like a crouton, in soups, or plain like a snack cracker.

2 12 oz packages oyster crackers
1 C vegetable oil (yes, I know... I put the whole amount in, but next time I'm going to half it- they should be fine)
1 1/2 T ranch dressing mix (I added more cause I wanted them to be ranched up good)
1 tsp lemon pepper
1 tsp dill weed (I didn't add any of this because my ranch dressing mix is rather dilly I think)
1/2 tsp garlic salt

mix all up until they are all coated and then put in 200 degree oven for an hour and stir them every once in a while.  Makes a great frugal gift for Christmas.  By the way, my vanilla extract is about to be bottled.  I'll fill you guys in on that when the time comes.  My next project will be making my own hot chocolate mix.

Little Things

Dear God, please give to me
a thankful heart for little things--
for sunshine on my kitchen floor,
for news the postman brings...

grant me appreciation
of small joys that are mine--
the children's birthday parties,
my honeysuckle vine;
the clean, fresh smell
of clothes just washed;
the ivy on my wall
the children's thrilled delight
to wake and find the first snowfall.
for robins in the springtime,
and autumn's crispy weather--
for leaves that crunch;
friends in for lunch
and laughter shared together.

...I do not ask contentment
that would ambition stay--
but let me love the little things
I find along the way.

-Helen Lowrie Marshall

More Thanksgiving- Day after

Beki and Zeke.  What can I say other than GORGEOUS?  Just today he got up on all fours and rocked back and forth for the very first time by himself!  The video below is my response to that.

Gwen loves to dress up.

Coloring with Lily.

Thanksgiving

Ben and the kids this morning.  What a great dad.

Here they are in the church nursery.  We had our Thanksgiving celebration in Kingsville Baptist Church.

My handsome young man.

My adorable daughter.  Notice Ben in the background with his turkey hat on?  Gwen is looking like "can you pass the grey poupon?"

The fits started when she saw this little girl wearing this.  She couldn't get it that it was that little girl's dress and not hers.

Well.. the little girl (Lilly) shared.  :)  Gwen LOVED the dress.

There are videos... to follow.