Hair Frosting

Christmas Eve

 We decided to start a new Christmas tradition this year.  On Christmas Eve we had a "fancy" meal.  We used our nice china and made nice dishes.  Here is a view of what we ate and how it went.   

Alan set the table.  He is very particular about where things go.  It turned out very nice.  

 Bruce promptly messed his all up.  

 We wore our Sunday best and the kids were taught how to act and what was and was not appropriate for a nice meal.  Karina really enjoyed the whole evening. 

 Even Alan dresses up.  What a cheese!

 I was exhausted but I was also very excited to taste everything. 

 Here is the salad course.  Almond strawberry salad with candied almonds and dressing made from scratch. 

 Bruce loved the almonds and strawberries but not so much on the spinach. 

 The main course was an apple, cranberry and cornbread stuffed pork tenderloin.  It was amazing if I do say so myself. 

 The lighting was bad, but you can see the inside in this picture.  Alan also made garlic mashed potatoes. 

 Karina chose our desserts.  This is a frozen raspberry mousse with a raspberry puree.

 Karina chose one fruity dessert and one chocolate dessert.  They both happened to be mousses.  We used a french cookbook, so maybe that was why.  this is a chocolate mouse cake. 

 The presentation was beautiful. 

I felt that the meal was a success.   We topped it all of with Martineli's Apple Cider.  The kids loved it and I was satified with a job well done.  

We now have a fridge full of wonderful leftovers and happy memories to go with them!

Trouble

 So I know that when I can't hear Bruce he is up to no good.  I remember people saying that about kids before I had kids and I always thought they were being a little harsh.  I have know come to see the error of my ways and i am a believer.  The other day Bruce was being very quiet, and it always takes me a little while to figure out that it shouldn't be quiet.  I went into the kitchen and he had emptied the chocolate chips on the lazy susan and was having a great time. 

He looked at me kind of like, "Hey mom, want some?"  Like he hadn't done anything wrong.  Sometimes it is really had to be the parent.  I wanted to sit down next to him and enjoy the chocolate treat.

 But I had to be the grown up and clean up and move the chips to the tall cupboard.  

Sometimes when Bruce is quiet he is being good.  About a month ago my mom was here painting my house.  Bruce and Dan really enjoyed each other.  Bruce decided that Dan needed some books. 

 Dan didn't seem too interested.

Sushi!

I like to surround myself with wonderful people. I would like to think that I am pretty good at picking friends. Not only do I like awesome people but they need to be useful as well. Let's take Sarina for example. Sarina has helped me make curtains for my living room, she is GREAT with my kids (the kids don't really get that Sarina isn't a part of the family), she is handy, she made me an AWESOME snowman to hang on the wall, she can chat with me while she is at work, and she makes homemade sushi!

I am definitely going to keep her around!

We ate this whole plate and made 4 more rolls after that. Yum!