It's all good . . .

Boys and Their Football

For our family, or rather, for Kevin and his dad and brothers, the holidays mean football - and not just any football, BOWL GAMES.  There seems to be two or three different games on a day, culminating with the National Championship game soon after New Years. 

This not only means that Kevin is watching these games any chance he gets, but that he is constantly trash talking with his brothers, his dad, and his dad's friends.  You may wonder how this is possible, since they live so far apart, but email is an amazing tool, which gets the job done remarkably well.

In the past, they used to experience all the fun together, and even though they now have to hold their solitary "pig-outs," they all seem to enjoy it as one.  Besides, the Brown brothers will soon raise up a new football watching generation - and as you can see in the picture, Kevin is already doing his part :).

Twas the day after Christmas . . .

. . . and the decorations are gone!  We had a wonderful Christmas holiday - which I will tell you about in a minute - but as soon as we had finished with all the Christmas activities yesterday, Kevin and I began taking everything down.  For some reason, this year I was VERY ready to get everything put away.  So by dinner time, the lights were down, the tree packed away, and all the decorations put in the shed :).  The funny thing is, because of the time difference, we probably had our Christmas put away before you all finished with presents - craziness!  Now I need to clean the house, though.

But back to Christmas . . .

Christmas Eve was a wonderful day.  The night before, we put Lily in her sponge rollers, and she looked so beautiful for church.  It was also her debut of singing in Sacrament meeting.  Granted, she sang with the Primary, but she knew every word, sang loud and clear, and definitely stole the show as she belted out "Picture a Christmas."  In Primary, we had a low key day, watching Mr. Krueger's Christmas, giving stockings to the missionaries, and singing songs.  We ended things with little gifts - I gave them all bracelets with next year's theme, "I'll Follow Him in Faith," written on it.

After church we got ready for our Christmas Eve dinner.  We had our friends Cindy and Isaac over, as well as the missionaries.  We had so much fun with them, and it really helped fill the void for me, since we live so far from any family. 

One of the Elders, and Elder Johnson, entertained us all by ballancing some forks and toothpicks on our salt and pepper shakers :).

That night I read Lily some special Christmas books about the birth of the Savior (We have been reading Christmas books every night since Thanksgiving, but I wanted to make sure she understood why we celebrate Christmas.).  After the kids were asleep, Kevin got to work putting together Lily's big present, while I kept him company and we watched the First Presidency Christmas Devotional - we had taped it earlier in the month.

Christmas morning, Lily had us up and out of bed by 6am, and so we opened stockings and Derek and Lily discovered their big presents - the ones we put together the night before.  (Lily got some sunglasses and fuzzy slippers in her stocking, and she wore them around all morning.)  Then we took a break to eat breakfast - our traditional sticky rolls - yum!!  Derek got to enjoy them for the first time, and just loved them.

Then we opened presents, which was very fun.  Lily was especially excited about her Home Depot Tool Box, but had to ask us, "Where is the wrench?" - since it had every other tool that Handy Manny has, except that one.  She also got a fairy costume for her doll, and so she had to dress up in her own fairy costume to match.  It sure was funny to watch our little girl, dressed as a fairy, playing with her toolbox.  Her big present was her kitchen, which Derek kept terrorizing by stealing the sink and using the hole as a basketball hoop :). 

Kevin and I were very happy with our gifts and felt quite spoiled, but our favorite part was watching the kids play with their new toys.  One of my other favorite parts was talking to each one of my brothers and sisters, all of whom I miss a ton!  All in all, it was a wonderful Christmas and it was made so much more special because we were together.  I hope all of you had a great day as well.

PS.  If you are wondering why there isn't a single picture of me from Christmas morning, it is because I woke up yesterday with my eyes swollen shut.  I had contracted conguctivitus - yuck!  Definitely not something I wanted to remember forever in pictures :).

Christmas Breakfast

Call them what you want - jelly rolls, sticky rolls, or monkey bread, they are delicious!!

Hot Roll Pull-aparts

 

Layer the following ingredients in a greased bundt pan:

 

½ cup pecan pieces (optional)

18-20 frozen bake and serve rolls (like Rhodes Rolls)

1 3oz pkg. Butterscotch pudding – NOT INSTANT!

(Sprinkle the pudding over the top of the rolls)

 

In a dish, combine 6 T. melted butter/marg. with ½ c. brown sugar, and ¾ t. cinnamon.  Drizzle this mixture over the rolls.  Cover  with greased waxed paper and a dish towel, and let rise overnight on the counter (6-8 hours at room temperature).  Bake 25-30 minutes at 375 degrees.  Turn upside down on a platter right away, and serve warm. 

 

These are the best!  I got the recipe from my dad’s cousin Patt, who gave me the recipe for my rolls too. Download hot_roll_pullaparts.doc

PS.  The plate was given to me by a friend, Rochelle, who just moved to Arizona.  It was the perfect size, and so for the first time, I didn't spill the carmelly syrup all over when I turned it upside down.  Yea!

The Party Animal

Yea!  I am finally getting around to posting about Derek's birthday.  I must say, that a child's first birthday is really about the parents.   The baby is so little, they won't remember anything, and really they have NO clue what is going on, but, oh, the parents . . . we enjoy teaching our kids how to tear open presents, eat cake - and Kevin and I particularly like watching our child on their first sugar high :).  There is nothing like a one year old hopped up on sugar - he he!  It's so cute!  But back to Derek's birthday . . .

It started around 6 am, when Lily came in and woke us up.  Derek got to watch the Wiggles with Lily, while I made him a special breakfast of German pancakes (Picture #1).

Then we went to the park with some friends, so the kids could play and I could take some pictures of the boy.  He loved roaming around, trying to eat wood chips, and playing on the swings (picture #2).

For dinner, we gave Derek his very favorite - french fries!! (picture #3)

 Then we took a break from food, to open presents.  My friend Cindy - aka: Derek's girlfriend (picture #6)- came over for the party, and gave him his favorite present, a baseball game with a little bat.  Derek also got the cutest sock monkey quilt from his Grandma Valerie, and it fits perfectly on our toddler bed :).

Last, but not least, we had cake - and not just any cake, a cake that took me over 2 1/2 hours to decorate . . . don't ask.  Okay, it was because I let Lily choose Derek's cake, and she picked the cute train one, except that it was SUPER complicated.  (Oh well, it turned out fine, and all it really meant was that we got dinner from Sonic, instead of me making the french fries from scratch - he he!)  Derek loved it, and even got to eat one of the Oreo wheels, which was especially messy.

One of the fun highlights of the night, was when my parents called from Scotland to wish him a Happy Birthday.  My dad sang to him over the phone, and he smiled and laughed the whole time (picture #9).  It was a perfect end to a great first birthday.

PS. I finally got the pictures of Lily at the Ward party posted, if you wanted to see them.  In the angel one, her back is turned, but she is in the front in both of them.

My Santa Baby

One year ago today, this sweet little boy, Derek Michael Brown, was born.  What an amazing blessing and gift.  As I look back over the last year, it blows me away how much he has grown and changed  - and how different he is from the tiny little guy in the picture.  Now, he is bursting with energy - everywhere at once, and into everything.  But he was, is, and always will be my sweetheart little boy.

PS.  Yes, it is the same hat - a gift last year from my sister Heather :).

Finished With Holiday Parties

For this year at least.  (Kevin is celebrating, as I am usually dragging him along to the parties, since it is me who really wants to be there.)  It all started with our ward party, the first weekend in December.  I, being the crazy person I am, volunteered the Primary to both sing and perform the Nativity - and so we were the only entertainment for the party. 

It actually went very well.  They sang great, and since Lily had learned the song at home with us, I let her join the kids for the singing.  She was so adorable up there!!  She stood up straight and tall, and just sang her heart out :).  But it gets better . . .

 The whole time I was planning the Nativity, in the back of my mind I kept hearing a little voice saying, "Lily will want to be in it.  There's no way you can keep her out of it.  You might as well get an angel costume together for her."  I completely pushed the voice aside, and when it came time for the program, there was Lily, standing with the little group of angels, draped in a scrap of white fabric someone had given her, ready to perform :).  She did a great job, but everyone's favorite parts were when she announced to everyone, "That's baby Jesus!" as all the other angels were silently filing on stage, and when she went  over to the manger and straightened baby Jesus's swaddling clothes.  That's my girl.

Party number two, was my Primary Board Party, and I already posted about it, but it sure was fun!  Oh, later on, I found one of the white elephant gifts I gave away - a silly bunny hot pad that I was so happy to get rid of - hanging from my shower head, with a note saying, "You can't get rid of me that easily."  (Sounds like war . . .)

  Party number three, was Kevin's Battalion Christmas Party.  It was a nice dinner, and we got to watch a slide show of the members of his unit who are in Iraq.  The highlight for Lily, was when Santa came.  He gave her a candy cane, and completely made her day. Derek even got to meet Santa.  After the party was over, Lily, being ever the entertainer, hopped up on the stage and sang "Jingle Bells," all while shaking her cute little hips.  It was made even better by the fact she was wearing her green polar bear pj's and her pink cowgirl boots.  I was so entranced by the performance, that I could even take a picture.  That silly and adorable girl!

The most fun part of the night, however, was getting to see Santa's mode of transportation - but you'll have to see it to believe it . . .

Countdown to Christmas

Lily has been counting down to Christmas on three different Advent calendars. The first one she does, is one of those paper ones with the piece of chocolate inside each little window.  The funniest thing is how every single day she is happily surprised that it is another piece of chocolate :).

The second one she does, is a magnet advent calendar of the Nativity.  She loves dumping out the little bag of magnets and finding out the right number. The third, and final advent calendar, is a felt one that my sister Heather made us.

Lily never fails to remember, and usually the first thing out of her mouth when she wakes up is, "Is it the 17th day?" - or which ever day it happens to be.  Maybe next year Derek can help her :).

I actually have another advent calendar - one that I made, and was a special project I made with Kevin's mom. (It's how I learned how to sew.)  I don't use it as an advent though, because I love having all the pieces hung up :).

The Headless Wiseman . . .

. . . and shepherd.  Ah, that boy!  He attacked our Nativity, and we had some casualties.  The wiseman was first, and while I was finding all of his pieces, Derek went after the shepherd.  I am pretty sure the pieces were accessible because Lily had been playing with them, and the boy took advantage of the situation right away.   

As I was pulling shepherd pieces out of his mouth, I made a mental note to move all the figures back, just in case.  (What gets me most is the silly grin he gives me every time he causes trouble of some sort.  How do you stay strong??)

Finished . . .

 with Holiday baking!!!!  I love it, I really do, but it is nice to be finished with all the things I needed to bake for - one more thing off the list.  Wednesday, Lily and I baked all day long. 

 First, we made spritz cookies (the little sugar cookie trees).  I think we made over a hundred of them by the time we were done, but they are so yummy and so simple!!  I would post the recipe, but you have to have a cookie press to make them, and the Wilton's press I have, comes with a great recipe.

Then we made Chocolate Peppermint cookies, using the Oreo cookie recipe, but putting in some Andes Peppermint chips - so good!!

Lastly, we made banana bread to give away to our postman and a few friends.  This is a recipe I will post, as it is so good and so simple!!  It even won an award once :).  Happy Baking!!

Mom’s Banana Bread

 

½ cup butter/margarine

1 cup sugar

3 ripe bananas (pealed and mashed)

2 well beaten eggs

1 ¼ cup flour (sifted)

½ t. salt

1 t. baking soda

 

Cream margarine and sugar; add bananas and eggs.  Sift flour, salt and baking soda, and add to banana mixture.  Blend well.  Pour into well-greased loaf pans.  (Oh, I always add in some chocolate chips right before I put them in the oven.)  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 min. to 1 hr, depending on the size of the pan.

 

 

I usually make 3 mini loaves, and they take about 40-45 minutes.  Or you can make one large loaf that bakes for about 1 hour- 1 hour 10 minutes.  Use a toothpick to test if it is done.

Download banana_bread.doc - printer friendly version

Craft #2 and Many other Christmas Adventures

Well, I finally built up the energy to do the second half our nativity.  It was so cute, but a lot of work.  Halfway through, I realized that the glue dots and my tacky glue weren't sufficient, and so I pulled out my glue gun.  It was very worth it though - Lily had a blast, and it turned out so cute!!

On Saturday was another adventure.  I had a Christmas party for all the primary workers and their spouses.  Kevin was wonderful!!  He not only helped me by cleaning the carpets and rearranging the whole house, but he was awesome at the party - even coming up with a couple extra white elephant gifts on the fly - which people who know him, realize that this is not too difficult of a feat for Kevin :).

Here's our friends Mike and Kristi - and the present Mike received.  I love white elephant gifts!  I received The Art of War, and Kevin immediately started quoting from it . . . yea, pretty fun. 

The kids were at my friend Valorie's house, and here is Derek when they got picked up.  He was very happy to see his Momma :).

Sunday, I had sharing time for Primary, and it was on Book of Mormon prophets prophesying of Christ's birth.  It was a great lesson, and I got to read the kids a wonderful Christmas book that my sister Cheryl gave me, called The Night With out Darkness.  But the best part of Sunday was having Kevin there!!  he actually had the day off.  Yippee!!

Our adventures continued today, as we decided to take advantage of another day off, 70 degree weather, and the crowds being small.  We started at River Street, where we bought a special Savannah Christmas ornament.  (We have one from Monterey, and are making it a tradition to get one every place we are stationed.)

Then we hopped on the Ferry to cross the Savannah River, over to the Westin Resort.  They had a gingerbread village that was pretty cool, and some beautiful Christmas trees.  

But as cool as all that was, I think the kids liked the ferry ride the best :).  And it sure was fun to see River Street from a distance.  It really helped you see how old those buildings really are.

After that, we had to make stops at both the Savannah Candy Kitchen, and the Pirate store, "True Grits."  It was a ton of fun, but our adventures were not over yet . . .

Because Christmas just isn't Christmas without a ride on the Candy Cane Train!

Okay, so it was our first year doing it, but I had promised Lily that we would get to go on the train sometime before Christmas, and since we had lunch at the Savannah Mall, we couldn't leave without taking a ride.  Derek got to go too, and they both loved it.  It was definitely the best way to wrap up our day of adventures :).