Happy Birthday Princess!

Our little princess turned one today! There was much "to do" and fanfare thanks to all her loving family. I'm happy to say that I believe our little princess had a wonderful day and is sleeping tight (and would be doing so even with a pea under her mattress - which there isn't - unless, of course, it was put there by her brother but thank goodness I don't think he knows the princess and pea story yet).

There was a castle cake (decorated by Mommy, but with special thanks to Granny for being the court's entertainer for the day), a beautiful hat fit for a princess thanks to Aunt Lisa, decorations courtesy of a very loving Granny, a singing candle courtesy of Gram (along with a dazzling tiara too!), and a birthday serenade by Aunt Liz (via the answering machine - sorry we weren't home to take your call)!

Katie is a very lucky little girl to have such a wonderful and loving family - and we are truly blessed as a family to have her beautiful smile and laughter as a part of our life.

Happy Birthday Princess!

Holiday E-Cookies!

All of you who know me are aware that I love to bake and that my sugar cookies are one of my favorites. (For those of you who don't know me, now you know something new about me!)

With the holidays fast approaching, I am having the baking "bug" hit me, but I haven't had time to start baking yet this year - just pumpkin sugar cookies for Ryan's fall party at school.

So, today I thought I'd feature a fun online way to create your own sugar cookies without dragging out all the dishes and making a mess in your kitchen. It's a sugar cookie e-card at:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes/static/sweeps/myholiday/ecard.html .

If you've never visited MyRecipes.com, do so today! They have great recipes most recipes that have been reviewed by lots of other MyRecipes fans.

While there, don't forget to sign up for their holiday Cookie Countdown and receive a cookie recipe each day. I've already picked out three cookie recipes that I can't wait to make from this newsletter.

Enjoy!

Soccer Fan Update

Hello to all fans of the Sharks Soccer Team! I thought I'd share a photo that represents what soccer is really all about at the age of 4/5. I call it Snacks and Friends (or Friends and Snacks - not for sure which order is really should be in)!

It's a lot of fun seeing the kids so excited about game day because they get to see their friends, and I don't think a single one of them has missed asking at the end of the game (if not sooner) "who brought the snacks?" If I had one wish for all these young players it would be that they never forget that "the fun" is really what the game is all about.

Well, as I've posted before, it's not easy getting shots of these little guys and gals running around the field. It don't matter though, because I've got the memories in my head. This year what I'll remember is that somehow our team spent most of their time at their own goal (guess you all know that means we didn't score alot) and that goalie was the most prized position!

Speaking of goalie, check out my #3 in the last photo! He loves to be goalie. When I asked him why he just says "because it's fun!" However, notice in the photo that he is wearing his number on the front of his jersey. That's because he's decided that turning he shirt around on the soccer field is a must. When I asked him why he said "because I want everyone to know I'm number 3!"

This is the stuff memories are made of!

Halloween Fun!

Finally a new post for all of you! It's been a busy few weeks and I have neglected my blog - but I'm back with some really cute Halloween photos.

I spent most of Halloween at school with Ryan hosting his Fall Party. I'm so excited to be "room mom" for his class. We decorated cookies, made a pumpkin pie slice craft and played drop the candy in the pumpkin.

Next, it was home for carving pumpkins with my little pumpkin man and my pumpkin eater. Yup! My little Katie is just like her mommy - she loved to eat the pumpkin! Daddy was a little worried when she actually got a big bite, but she seems none the worse for wear.

Finally, we were so happy that Papa was home from the hospital and feeling well enough that we were able to come over and do our annual trick or treating in Granny and Papa's neighborhood.

Ryan decided he wanted to be a Clone Trooper this year, and I do declare that he is even cuter than Han Solo in his Clone Trooper outfit. (Mommy is a huge Star Wars fan, and the very first Star Wars (episode III) is of course my favorite - along with Harrison Ford!)

My little Katie was the cutest ladybug ever! I'm sure this is my one and only year of picking out her costume, and since she's been our Ladybug Kate since she was itty bitty, it seemed only fitting.

Enjoy the photos! And don't forget to set your clocks back an hour tonight!! Yes, it's that dreaded time change. I'm just hoping that my little ladybug doesn't wake up at 6am - which is really going to be 5am. Whoever thought of this time change thing obviously didn't have a little one as their alarm clock.

Oh, and check back tomorrow...I'm going to try and get some new soccer photos posted.

Planning a Princess Birthday Party

The countdown has begun!

"Kater-bug" (her lastest nickname) is officially 11 months old today! That leaves only one month to plan a birthday party fit for a princess.

Mommy had been thinking of a ladybug party theme and cake, as Katie has been Ladybug Kate from very early on. However, it only took a minute to remember that red and black frosting are a big "no no" for first birthday frosting. A pink ladybug just didn't sound right, so brother argued his point for a princess birthday for his sister.

The princess birthday party idea came up at dinner the other night, and Katie clapped her hands in delight when brother brought up the idea. Guess she liked it - so princess theme it is.

Now the great cake search is on, as Mommy can't wait to make and decorate Katie's very first birthday cake!

Stay Tuned...

Yummy and Easy Recipe!

Who doesn't love a great recipe! I thought I'd share a favorite tonight. It's Ramen Noodle Coleslaw. I was first introduced to this recipe by Sylvia, the admin at my former office. It's one of those recipes that you think "um, perhaps I'll pass." Don't! It's so yummy and addictive - or as my little Katie says "num, num!"

My recipe from Sylvia was saved in my email, but somehow it's disappeared, so I've found that there are several variations of this recipe on the Internet. Sylvia's original recipe called for chicken mixed in, and I still recommend it for adding a little "umph" to the recipe especially if you are taking it to a potluck. However, tonight we had the family over for baby back ribs on the grill and served this as a side dish, without the chicken.

















Ramen Noodle Coleslaw

Mix together:

1/3 c. vinegar
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
2 packages of seasoning from ramen noodles

*NOTE: I used plain, white distilled vinegar. Several recipes I saw called for cider vinegar. I also add about 2 tablespoons more of sugar. Just plain canola oil.

Stir in:

1 - 1 pound bag of coleslaw (or make your own)
2 packages of ramen noodles (chicken flavor)
4 ounces of slivered almonds*
4 ounce package of sunflower seeds (shelled)

*Here's my addition to the recipe, as it wasn't clear the first time I made it. Break up the ramen noodles with your hands. Do not cook the noodles. For the slivered almonds, toast before adding to the salad. To toast almonds, preheat oven to 325 degrees. Spread almonds in thin layer on cookie sheet or in cake pan. Toast for about 5 minutes, shaking the pan gently every 60-90 seconds to toss the almonds and keep them from getting to brown.

Why toast almonds? Well, thanks to my Southern Living cookbooks, I learned that when you toast almonds it releases the flavor and makes for a very tasty recipe! :) If you haven't checked out Southern Living, do! The recipes are fantastic. Here's the link: http://www.southernliving.com/southern/

I think this is an excellent make-a-head recipe. I always toss together all my ingredients and then chill the salad for a few hours. This gives the noodles time to absorb the dressing so they won't be extra crunchy if you do it this way. Other recipes suggest keeping the dressing and salad ingredients separate and tossing right before you are ready to serve. Note that the noodles will be very crunchy when prepared this way.

Also, I hate regular coleslaw leftover...just too soggy and runny. However, this recipe is great the next day.

Okay, now onto my recipe for brotherly and sisterly love! Just bring out one large cardboard box and put brother and sister inside. Wait for the fun to begin and snap photos!
































Ryan had drug out the box we had his Shake 'n Go Racetrack stored in and was using it as a garage for his firetruck. It ended up with both kids in the box smiling and laughing the whole time.

If you are wondering why they both have wide open mouths in the first photo, well, Ryan was pretending to be a dog and panting. Katie joined in and so did I behind the camera! That's they only way I got them both to look my way at the same time.

Well enjoy and keep checking back for more recipes! In recognition of the recession we are in, I'm going to dig out my Grandmother's recipe for Wacky Cake. If you've never heard of Wacky Cake before, it's a cake made without eggs. It's my understanding that this recipe dates back to the Great Depression when money was tight and eggs were hard to come by.

A Lesson in Patience

Patience. It's something we all strive to teach our children, but as adults we know we will continue to work on our ability to be patient every day. With game two of our son's new found soccer career over, I'd say that it was a day of patience for both children and parents alike.

I say this because this morning was photo day. Arrive 50 minutes before the game, only to ask the kids to wait patiently for their turn (parents too!). Then wait while each child has their individual photo taken. Next walk to the team photo area. Line up players in a row from shortest to tallest. Ask them to wait in the line formation. Finally, take the team photo. Then walk back across the fields to field 4 to start our game approximately 15 minutes late.

All this said, I never heard one complaint. No whines. No cries. (Not even from the parents!) There were a few "why's" and "when's." "Why do we have to stand in this line?" "When do we get to play soccer?"

Now, let's move on to the game. Of course, the kids have to practice patience. Not all of them get to play at one time. However, I have determined that my son's soccer games are just as much a lesson in patience for me, as for him.

As anyone at the game may have noticed, my #3 was not that much interested in playing the game today. He was tired. Wanted to have a snack and rest (or rather play with his sister) on the sidelines. He had to be encouraged to get in the game.

I'll admit, it's not easy as a parent to have your child not want to play, or not give the game 100 percent. The important thing is to remember that the game is not about winning or losing. It's about building character, making friends, and learning responsibilty. It's so easy to forget that team sports are so much more than just a sport. For example, just think of the lesson in patience each child learned today.

The YMCA philosophy puts the sport, the game, the activity, winning or losing, and personal success into proper perspective. The emphasis is upon being “a winner for life.”

The goals of the program are to:

• Build self-esteem
• Teach social skills - values, communication, human relations
• Teach physical skills - fitness and health
• Build relationships among peers, between parent and child
• Develop responsibility, decision making and leadership skills
• Create a fun experience for youth and parents.

The YMCA believes that learning and growing is more important than finishing first. That parent and children should have opportunities to learn and grow together.

I'm glad that today I had a chance to teach my son patience and "grow" my patience too!

On a lighter note, I also had a lesson in patience trying to capture the perfect photo. As a former photography student, who shot high school sports for the yearbook and school newspaper, you would think that I'd know better.

With 12 Pre K and Kindergarten kids running the field, and all chasing the ball in a group, it's just almost impossible to capture that great steal or kick. I think I got more shots of the other team's players than our own, and over half of my photos had backs only (often of the coaches and ref!).

My photos are by no means perfect - blurry, grainy, too dark, too light. However, I must remember that the photo is all about the memory. And what memories we will have of our first soccer team!

To all the parents and kids on Ryan's team, thanks for sharing this experience with us and making great memories along the way!

Just a few more thoughts from a first time soccer mom!

Thoughts of a first time soccer mom

With the occassion of our son's very first soccer game, I have decided to start a blog! I'm a little behind, as his first game was this last Saturday and it is now late Tuesday night, but what can I say, as I had to figure out this blogging thing.












I'll have you know that I wasn't jumping for joy at the thought of practices and games every week, but I'm so glad we took the plunge this year. It's so much fun to see Ryan so excited over the little things like new soccer shoes, meeting his friends for practice, and going to bed Friday night knowing that he has a soccer game in the morning. Isn't it great to be four and happy about all the little things in life! :)














To top things off, we have the most fantastic set of kids and parents on our team! The kids had so much fun at practice that they didn't even want to stop when their first practice was over. The kids ran their little hearts out on Saturday too, as our field was too big for their age range and they ran and ran. As you can see from Ryan's photo, he was worn out by the end of the game!

Dad was worn out too, because yes, that's him coaching Ryan's team. That's thanks to me volunteering his services as coach (but I don't think he minded at all! He's having so much fun!).














Well, that's it for my first post. Enjoy Ryan's first soccer game photos and we'll post again soon with more snapshots of family life.