We Fondue. Do You?

My parents got me a fondue pot for Christmas. I was surprised. Although I love nearly all things cooking and baking I'd never tried to make fondue or even eaten it. But I do like dip and dipping every and any food. Since fondue is basically dip we tried it out tonight. I found a recipe for pizza fondue online and in true Jenny fashion used it as a guide to create my own original fondue.

My Pizza Fondue

1/2 jar any spaghetti sauce

about 4 oz. cream cheese (fat free worked here)

about 1 cup shredded pizza cheese

about 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

about 1 tsp garlic seasoning

about 1 TBSP Italian seasoning

We dipped in small sausage meatballs I made out of pork sausage and chunks of day old everything rolls from the Walmart bakery.

The kids all enjoyed the experience and think we should try chocolate fondue with strawberries next. (That is the picture on the box.) It was much easier than I thought so I'm thinking fondue will make in on the menu again soon.

1. "Thank you for taking my picture while I eat, Dear."-Nate

2. "I can play with my food and not get in trouble?? Great!"-Evan

3. A look in the pot.

Lydia turns Three

On December 28 Lydia turned three. Since she's been telling people she's five for at least six months she's now starting saying she's six. I told her she doesn't need to grow up any faster than she already is.

Lydia has had her own distinct personality from day one. Considering that the stubbornness hasn't worn off in the last three years (and it's apparently hereditary) I don't expect that to change anytime soon. She is becoming more and more articulate, creative, helpful, and sweet. It's fun to watch her as she balances her tomboy side when she's with her brothers with her girly side when she's playing with babies-hers and real ones. Happy Birthday, Lydi-Girl. We love you.

After much debate, looking at pictures of cakes, and changing her mind daily, Lydia picked a penguin cake. It's made out of two nine inch circle cakes, frosted with chocolate frosting for the majority, butter cream frosting for the beak and feet, and marshmallow cream for the belly and eyes. She enjoyed it served with a peppermint ice cream tree.

Davis Family Christmas

On the afternoon of the 25 we headed to my parents house for a few days. We did what most families probably do when they're all together; eat, talk, eat, goof off, eat, cook, laugh, enjoy each other, eat, play, read, eat, eat, nap, open gifts, ride snowmobiles, eat, sled, and finally eat. It was a great four days of family time. The kids enjoy being with the greandparents, aunts, and uncles but LOVE to get to spend the time with their cousins. Nate and I just enjoyed being the "kids" and relaxing at home.

From left to right: Nate, Jenny, James, Ethan, Holly, Brian, Katy, Evan, Joey, Dad (Jeff), Hans, Jesse, Cora, Bill, Mom (Carol), Lydia, Grandma H.

Christmas Breakfast

Since most of our Christmas morning's have meant traveling we've never had a traditional Christmas meal. (Most often it's left over cheese and crackers from the night before along with apples in the van.) Earlier this month I was reading through an illustrated cookbook called The Gooseberry Patch Christmas Cookbook trying to find something fun. There are plenty of great ideas and I hadn't chosen one when Hans asked to look. He found S'mores Pancakes and suggested them. Voila! A tradition may have just been born. One of my favorite parts of this potential tradition is that Nathan cooked! Pancakes, KevMar Hog bacon, and juice were perfect for him to whip up.

Here the happy crew is ready to dig in.

(For the curious S'mores Pancakes are pretty much regular pancakes layered with marshmallow cream, crushed graham crackers, and chocolate chips. When layered right off the griddle the marshmallow melts all over and the chocolate chips do too. Oooey-gooey, messy, and delicious.)

Christmas Morning

Evan woke up sometime around 4am on Christmas morning and he came in asking if it was morning yet. When told no he decide to sleep in the recliner and wait for morning. About 7am Hans and Lydia came to tell us that the Christmas tree lights were on (via a timer) so therefore it was morning and we needed to get up and open presents. Since I'm the worst of all when it comes to giving presents and had convinced Nathan to open his gift on Christmas Eve, I understand.

A. Hans showing off one of his foam disc guns.

B. Evan got two, too.

C. Lydia got a giggling baby.

Christmas Eve Tradition

This is one of our family traditions that started pre-kids but has been very special to share with our kids. After attending church on Christmas Eve we come home, change into jammies, light all the Advent candles, have our final Advent devotion, and enjoy some cheese, somer sausage, crackers, and wine. It's one of my favorite parts of Christmas.

(Nathan took this picture on the "night snapshot" setting. It caught the mood very well.)

From Us to You

We wish you all a blessed Christmas.

Happy Christmas Eve

This Christmas Eve was new for us as there was no children's service and neither Nathan or I had any church responsibility. Nathan worked until noon today and then spent the afternoon at home with the kids and I. This evening we had a "fancy" dinner. (I'd splurged on some sale steaks and made them with mashed potatoes and seasoned veggies.) What really makes it "fancy" is that it was by candlelight via the advent wreath and a few wall sconces. We followed dinner with our candlelight service at church. The kids loved the fact that we sat in the front row ("Mom, no one is in our way of seeing Pastor!") and that they got to hold candles while we sang Silent Night. When we got home we finished the evening with some cheese, crackers, summer sausage, pumpkin pie, "kid wine" for three, and wine for two. After a few phone calls to wish Merry Christmas to others close to our hearts we let the kids open one gift each and tucked them into bed.

1. Almost angelic.

2. Typical.

3. Can you tell which kid is a ham?

Slumbering

Picture #1: Recently the kids have changed the word "slumber" from a verb to a noun. It's now a location/destination, ie: "Do you want to come to the slumber and watch a movie with us, Dad?" Apparently he said yes and all four of them are at the slumber watching Frosty.

Picture #2: Considering what his work week looks like I don't begrudge Nathan the occasional weekend afternoon nap. He fell asleep on the couch last weekend, and Lydia thought he needed someone to cuddle.

Making Reindeer

Those who know me know I love to bake and to cook. I even like the putsy kind of tedious baking and candy making. Call me crazy but I find it oddly relaxing. There's a cute blog I read called www.bakerella.blogspot.com and she must have more free time than I do cause she comes up with amazing creations. The kids and I tried out her recipe for reindeer cake pops. They have been a hit everywhere we've shared them so far.

1. Hans and Lydia crumbling the cake.

2. The finished product.

First Christmas Celebration

This morning our boys were part of the PreK-K Christmas service at church. It was a very simple program done pageant style with all the essential character in costume and an angel choir. The kids all did an excellent job with the program. They're quick to point out that this in the "real meaning of Christmas." As you can see from the pictures Evan was Joseph and Hans was an angel. The third picture is of the boys posing in front of the Christmas tree before church. There are still ten days to enjoy advent but this is our first, "Merry Christmas!"

Cuddle Bugs

Cuddle #1: This past week the kids have all either had colds or been sick. Evan was up several nights in a row sleeping in the recliner with either Mom or Dad since he was coughing so hard. After I tucked them in the other night the Evan apparently decided that he didn't want to sleep alone so he climbed in with Hans. Since then we've found them this way every night. Hmmm.

Cuddle #2: We rented Lady and the Tramp the other night and there were parts that Lydia was a little uncertain of but instead of admitting it she told me, "Baby was scared of the movie." As long as it makes Baby feel better.

Cuddle #3: Go cuddle someone! It'll keep you warmer and it's almost Christmas!

*s*n*o*w*

These pictures are from last weekend already and since then we had a winter storm that dropped another 7 inches of snow! Wow, is winter ever different here compared to SD. With temperatures close to 30 and Dad in the garage tinkering with the snow blower there was no place the kids would rather be than outside. They made footprints and angels all over and love climbing the mountain of snow that has been pushed off the driveway onto the lawn. In the picture you can see that the begging paid off and Dad pulled then around and around and around the back yard until the kids were out of breath from laughing and Dad was just plain out of breath. Happy Winter to you! :)

Thanksgiving Trip

Over the four days of Thanksgiving we headed home to the Smith and Davis family homes. We spent Thursday at Nathan's Grandma and Grandpa Zemke's with most of his extended family. Friday we had the day to just hang out and relax with the Smith's. The kids played outside, checked pigs with Grandpa, watched Dad and the uncles "shoot stuff", and just ate up the constant attention. That evening we headed to dinner at my brother Brain and his wife Katy's new house. After a boisterous evening there we headed to my parents' house. Saturday we cut Christmas trees (see previous post) and had the whole family plus some extended family for dinner. Sunday we headed back home after church and a quick four wheeler ride. A whirlwind of a weekend and the kids are counting days till we head back.

1. Lydia was so thrilled to help decorate Grandma and Grandpa's tree. She is actually wearing two stockings on each foot and was running around yelling, "I AM MERRY CHRISTMAS!!"

2. The boys with Grandpa on the four wheeler. Can you tell which was the confident ride and which the uncertain??

3. Evan still lobbies for a really fuzzy pet and between Freckles, Sadie, and the cats at my parents' his lobbying is at an all time high.

20 Years

The fall of 1988 my family moved to WI and began the family tradition of cutting our Christmas tree at St. Croix Valley Trees near Somerset, WI. It's a neat old dairy farm where the hay barn now bales the fresh cut trees, a player piano pounds out Christmas carols, cider warms the hands after the hunt, and there's a sign that reads, "Unattended children will be sold to the elves." The farm has grown and changed over the past twenty years but then again so has our family. My Mom has pictures of the four "originals" those first years and this year she didn't bother taking any of us but instead took pictures of the six grandchildren (pics. 1 &2). This being our twentieth year the owners asked to take a picture of the entire family with the four Christmas trees we cut to use in next year's advertising (pic. 3). Merry Christmas Tradition!!