Mountains! Beach! or Both!...

December 27, 2010 · 10:21 pm

Christmas Day 2010

It’s early Christmas morning and Andy and I woke to the sound of sleigh bells outside and the silent creaking of the back door closing..and we knew that Santa Claus had been to our house. Very quietly we snuck out into the livingroom and this is what we found… We both just glowed with excitement because we knew that the boys would be up shortly and they were going to be soooo surprised and happy.

Davy was the first one to come sprinting down the stairs…

Shortly followed by Matty who zeroed in on a really large Mac truck from the movie Cars.

Davy is very excited to find a stuffed Toothless from the movie “How to train your Dragon”. This was the theme of his 5th birthday party here at home.

Davy’s first set of big boy golf clubs…Santa was so smart to bring these because Davy is starting the Golf Club at school in January.

I think that Davy opened one of his big gifts…a Nintendo DS!

Wow!! We were so excited about the presents, we forgot to get into the stockings. They are so full, they are overflowing!

Christmas isn’t complete unless you have the movie “A Christmas Story” on loop. Davy watching the snow scene while checking out his new spy kit…

Here’s Matty’s big gift…a bounce house. Boy, Santa sure does know our little Matty bear. Matty jumps all the time and everywhere he can.

Team effort to put together the basketball hoop…Andy put together 98% of it and he did a great job.

A little outdoor fun to burn off some extra energy before bedtime.

This picture here is classic Matty because he always jumps onto the swings on this belly.

Leave a comment

Filed under Christmas Traditions, Holiday's

Tagged as Christmas

December 24, 2010 · 9:36 pm

Wk 32 – Hazelnut-Eggnog Punch

I found this recipe in the Southern Living, Ultimate Christmas Cookbook…and as you can see, I ended up taking a picture of the picture from the Cookbook because this punch was so incredibly delicious that I was completely moved to drink more of it and in the end I forgot to take the picture.

Although I have never really been a big fan of Eggnog, it just seemed like if you are having a Christmas Eve party it is something that should be served. My next door neighbor Debbie gave me this cookbook around Thanksgiving time as an early Christmas present hoping that I would find a few things in it and this is one of the many that we tried throughout the holiday season….

Hazelnut-Eggnog Punch

2 cups of Milk
1 Vanilla Bean, split lengthwise
1 3 inch cinnamon stick
6 cups refrigerated or canned eggnog
1 1/2 cups Frangelico or other hazelnut liqueur
1 cup whipping cream, whipped
1 quart vanilla ice cream, softened
Grated nutmeg, optional

Combine first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan, place over medium heat, and cook until hot (do not boil), stirring often. Remove from heat. Cover and let stand 30 minutes. Scrape vanilla bean seeds into milk mixture. Cover and chill. Discard vanilla bean and cinnamon stick.

Combine chilled milk mixture, eggnog, and Frangelico in a punch bowl, fold in whipped cream. Scoop ice cream into punch, stir gently. Sprinkle lightly with nutmeg, if desired.

Leave a comment

Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Holiday's, Recipes

December 24, 2010 · 4:23 pm

Christmas Eve Party 2010

It’s Christmas Eve!!! So let’s throw a party!!!

Brandie, Laurence, baby Ryla, and Andy’s parents are all in town so this year we thought that we would have an “Eat Drink and be Merry” party. There was a ton of food, crafts for the kids, and yummy drinks for the adults; with children we had about 40 people. I wish that I had taken more photos…but I was having too much fun instead. The last one is Andy reading to Davy T was the Night Before Christmas, it is tradition that he reads it every year.

Getting ready for the party…

Look who’s here!!!…Courtney!!!

Decorating Gingerbread cookies…

Baby Ryla…

Leave a comment

Filed under Christmas Traditions, Krulik Family

Tagged as Christmas, Cookies, Kruliks

December 21, 2010 · 7:00 pm

Wk 31 – Acorn Squash and Chorizo Tart

I recently picked up the Williams-Sonoma Cooking from the Farmers Market cookbook and just happened to have all of the ingredients on hand for this recipe…so of course I had to give it a try… :O) Jenni, Andy and myself were the testers and although we all agreed it was very good, the suggestions for improvement were: from Jenni, “when I think of acorn squash I think of butter…it needs butter”, Andy says, “it needs something to give it a little more kick…maybe bacon” and I thought that it just needed some salt. I would make this again, but maybe add a little more sausage and a little salt.

Acorn Squash and Chorizo Tart

Pastry dough, I used Pillsbury Crescent dough and shaped it rectangle instead of round
1/2 pound acorn squash, peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
2 Tbl olive oil
Salt
1/4 pound Spanish-style chorizo, diced
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese
1 large egg yolk

Position a rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees. Put the dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and refrigerate.

Put the squash on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 Tbsp of the olive oil, and toss to coat. Spread in an even layer, season with salt, and roast until almost tender, about 10 minutes. Let cool.

In a frying pan over medium-high heat, warm the remaining 1 Tbsp of oil. Add the chorizo and saute until lightly browned, about 2 minutes Transfer to paper towels. Pour off all but 1 1/2 Tbsp of the fat and return the pan to medium-high heat. Add the onion and saute until tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt, add the garlic, and cook for 1 minute. Let cool.

Remove the dough from the refrigerator. Spread evenly with the onion mixture, leaving a 1 1/2 inch border. Evenly distribute the squash and chorizo and sprinkle with the cheese. Fold the edge up and over the filling, forming loose pleats. Lightly beat the egg yolk with 1 tsp water and brush the border.

Bake until the crust is browned, about 30 minutes. If it begins to brown to quickly, loosely cover the top with foil. Cut and serve.

Leave a comment

Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Recipes

December 15, 2010 · 2:03 am

Davy Turns “5”!!!

I asked Davy what he wanted his birthday theme to be on his actual birthday and he said, “How to train your Dragon”, a movie that recently came out. Lucky for me the party store had a few items left…so Dragons it is. In continuing with traditions, Davy woke up this morning to find a present in his bed…a new bug catcher kit and breakfast of his choice.

In his class, the way the celebrate birthday’s is by having the child bring in his favorite book so Davy picked, The Elf on the Shelf and It’s Christmas David. He got lucky and Ms. Fruit read both of them. Now we all know that I have to bake a cake on their birthday’s and this time I decided to get creative and make his in the shape of a “5” and I didn’t do so bad if I do say so myself.

He was so excited when he walked in the door. I had decorated with balloons and streamers and picked up happy meals for him, Matty, and his friends next door. Of course we couldn’t wait to give him his present, so we got right to it!

This card was a singing card…he loved it. And I wish that I had captured the true look on his face when he opened his present…but don’t worry, Andy got it on video…priceless, mouth dropped open, shocked, thrilled beyond belief…he was so happy…

1 Comment

Filed under Birthday's

Tagged as Birthday's, Davy, Traditions

December 14, 2010 · 2:42 am

Wk 30 – Tortellini Florentine Soup

This is Hunter Gaylord, isn’t he beautiful. He was born the first weekend in November to our friends Blake and Haven. Right around the time he was about 3 weeks old, poor Haven had to have an emergency appendectomy…so along with many of our other friends…we all scheduled with Blake to bring over dinner.

On my night I brought over this Tortellini Florentine Soup, a large Salad with pan grilled chicken and homemade Caesar dressing, a loaf of Cuban bread with whipped honey butter, and a chocolate cake. They both loved the soup, so here’s the recipe…maybe you will too.

Tortellini Florentine Soup

1 9-ounce package refrigerated 3-cheese tortellini
2 14-ounce cans reduced sodium chicken broth
1 10-ounce container refrigerated light Alfredo pasta sauce
2 cups shredded deli-roasted chicken
1/2 cup oil-packed dried tomato strips, drained
1/2 of a 5 ounce package fresh baby spinach
shaved or shredded Parmesan cheese (optional)

In a 4-quart dutch oven cook tortellini according to package directions, drain and set aside.

In the same dutch oven, combine broth and pasta sauce. Stir in chicken and dried tomatoes. Bring just to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Stir in cooked tortellini and spinach. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or just until tortellini is heated through and spinach is wilted. If desired top each serving with Parmesan cheese.

Leave a comment

Filed under 52 Week Challenge, Recipes

December 13, 2010 · 2:03 am

December Daily Sneak Peek

Several people have asked me how the December Daily project is going…so I thought that I’d give you a sneak peek to a couple of days.

Day 1 Advent Action – Buy a new ornament for our family tree.

Every year the day after Thanksgiving we go and pick out our Christmas tree. We spend all weekend decorating the house. This year while putting the lights on we found a bird’s nest (I’d like to think that’s a good omen). Our new ornaments are a D and an M.

Day 2 Advent Action – Play in the snow

This year for our Christmas card, I had the great idea to dress the kids in their Christmas Eve jammies, take them outside, and take their picture while throwing snow at them and watching them laugh. Davy loved trying to catch the snow, Matty was more interested in throwing the snow or running around the Golf Course. :O)

Day 3 Advent Action – Finish making ornaments with mom

Each year mom and I make Christmas ornaments. We’ve made Angels, Bears, Elves, Snowmen, Penguins, and this year decorative balls. It took us three days to complete them. Each one is different and unique.

Day 5 Advent Action – Make some special cookies for your teachers to say Thank you.

Davy made Oatmeal Scotchies.

Day 8 Advent Action – Did you find where the Elf is hiding?

This is our Elf. He first appeared the morning after Thanksgiving bringing the boys a new pair of pj’s and the Polar Express. The boys have been so good that each morning he returns to a new spot to be found and sometimes he even brings books and candy. Today he flew in on his very own sleigh. Can’t wait to see where he will be next. On the next page is the Elf on the Shelf story.

Day 12 Advent Action – Go visit Santa tonight

After waiting in line for an hour and a half at Citrus Park Mall, we finally go to see Santa. Davy was a little overwhelmed and forgot to ask for his big gift; however he did ask for a bucket, a calendar, and a new hat.

Leave a comment

Filed under December Daily 2010

December 12, 2010 · 2:49 am

Santa Here We Come

It is Sunday morning, Matty is feeling better from his bout of Strep and we decide that today would be a great day to go and see Santa. This worked out perfectly for us because we needed an Advent Action card for the day and currently nothing had been planned.

This year we went over to Citrus Park Mall. Little did we know that Santa wasn’t seeing the kids until noon, so when we showed up at 12:10, the line was all the way back to the entrance of Macy’s. We ended up waiting an hour and a half. Davy was an angel, Matty on the other hand was in true character: running, climbing, jumping, pushing ahead, squealing, trying to climb into the exhibit, and desperately trying to play with the fake snow…. but in the end they were so happy when they climbed onto Santa’s lap that it was all worth it.

Davy said he wasn’t nervous…but I’m not to sure about that. All morning we talked about what he was going to ask Santa for, for Christmas and he had all kinds of ideas… but when he sat down on Santa’s lap he asked for a new hat, a bucket, and a calendar. :O)

Leave a comment

Filed under Christmas Traditions

Tagged as Santa

December 10, 2010 · 8:37 pm

Winter Concert 2010

Today is Davy’s big Winter Concert. I thought that I would out smart all of the other parents and get to the auditorium nice and early for a good seat, but little did I know that almost half would be filled 45 minutes in advance. The Winter Concert consists of PreK, Kindergarden, and 1st grade. Andy and I also didn’t realize that this concert was his really big production of the year, so as I was sitting in the center of the seventh row I found myself in one of those surreal moments that you see in the movies where the parents are watching their child in the school play or recital and they are so proud…I realized that I am now that parent… :O)

Before the concert began, they showed a slide show of the children rehearsing…I was able to get these of Davy.

Here is Davy coming down the aisle.

Davy’s Friend Sophia

Davy’s Friend Annabelle

Davy’s Friend Emily

Leave a comment

Filed under Berkeley Prep

December 9, 2010 · 1:53 am

2010 Advent Action Cards

The other night my friend Johanna was over with her family and we got into an interesting conversation about holidays. Earlier in the week Davy asked me, “why don’t we celebrate Hanukkah?” and Jamison had asked her, “well if Davy doesn’t celebrate Hanukkah, then what does he celebrate?” Which led to me asking her, “why are there 8 days in Hanukkah?” and she asked, “what is the purpose of Advent?”…like I said, an interesting conversation…. :O)

Nearly 2,200 years ago, the Greek-Syrian ruler Antiochus IV tried to force Greek culture upon peoples in his territory. Jews in Judea – now Israel- were forbidden their most important religious practices as well as study of the Torah. Although vastly outnumbered, religious Jews in the region took up arms to protect their community and their religion. Led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and later his son Judah the Maccabee, the rebel armies became known as the Maccabees. After three years of fighting, in the year 3597, or about 165 B.C.E., the Maccabees victoriously reclaimed the temple on Jerusalem’s Mount Moriah. Next they prepared the temple for rededication — in Hebrew, Hanukkah means “dedication.” In the temple they found only enough purified oil to kindle the temple light for a single day. But miraculously, the light continued to burn for eight days. The menorah symbolizes the burning light in the temple, as well as marking the eight days of the Hanukkah festival. Some say it also celebrates the light of freedom won by the Maccabees for the Jewish people.

Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning “coming”) is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi. The Eastern churches’ equivalent of Advent is called the Nativity Fast, but it differs both in length and observances and does not begin the church year, which starts instead on September 1. The progression of the season may be marked with an Advent calendar, a practice introduced by German Lutherans. At least in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Methodist calendars, Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before December 25, the Sunday from November 27 to December 3 inclusive. An Advent calendar is a special calendar which is used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming of Christ. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ’s return.

As we all know, the Advent calendar has been over commercialized; so in our house this year we decided to make Advent action cards to count down the 25 days to Christmas. Some of them are for friends or neighbors, some are for family, some are for the holidays, and some are for fun… But together as a family we are picking out an action each day and making memories along the way.

Here are a few of the cards: