Christmas Quotes at Mimi's House

While baking with Mimi this past week, several fun comments were overheard:

AJ: "Now can I have some cookie dough? Only one speck? No, two specks?"

AJ stirring frosting for Jesus' birthday cake. "This looks magnificent."

AJ looking at cut gingerbread cookies. "They're eye-less, nose-less and mouth-less. "

Dwight making cookie cut-outs, "I'm going to make a depressed looking donkey. "

Christmas

 Dwight, Cosette and AJ made "gingerbread houses" at school last week. AJ made a cannon for his house because nothing says Merry Christmas like a fancy cannon. Look closely and you'll see it on the left side (the candy cane with a green ball). One of the teachers told him he couldn't make weapons as decorations. He looked at her very sincerely and said, "But Mrs. Forke, it's not loaded." :)

 Cosette's house had more decorations earlier but she told me she ate quite a bit of her house. That's what it's for, right?

 See the green candy sitting on the roof on the left side. Dwight informed me that his house was equipped with security cameras for safety reasons. We wouldn't want any pesky elves to get into our house unnoticed, now would we?

 Grace

 Garrison

Baby Ayden's first Christmas-so sweet!

 Catherine's first Christmas too.

Cosette and Ayden

Getting Ready for the Mount Olive School Christmas Program

My pictures of the actual program aren't good at all. But at least I have a few pictures of the kids before the program. :)

You know you have a dramatic child when you hear:

I'm going to search on my hands and knees for that Barbie shoe until my hands and knees bleed.
---Cosette

Memory Game

As AJ set up some cards to play memory by himself , I heard him say, "I'm so going to win! Definitely!" :)

AJ's Preschool Christmas Program

 AJ picked the green sweater vest. I like it. He looks like Christmas.

AJ was so excited to wear his angel halo. It's the little things.

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

This recipe is from The Schlafly Tap Room in St. Louis, MO. Gregg ate there every night when he attended the 2004 (forgive me if the date is wrong) LCMS Synodical Convention. The restaurant was within walking distance of his hotel. Good German food, Great beer and Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake. What more do you need? Gregg's been a fan ever since so here's the recipe:

Our Schlafly Signature Dessert Pudding in the Scottish sense – a very moist, dense cake.
This recipe comes from the Udny Arms Hotel, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. We serve it with warm caramel sauce and freshly whipped cream.
This is pure decadence when enjoyed with a Schlafly Oatmeal Stout.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

Cake Ingredients
1 lb. Dates chopped in food processor (I buy them chopped and don't even use the food preocessor.)
2 c.Hot water
2 tsp.Baking soda
5 oz.Butter, unsalted
1 lb.Sugar
5 Eggs, large
1 lb.All-purpose flour
2 tsp.Baking powder
Pinch Salt
2 tsp.Vanilla extract
Sauce Ingredients
1 lb.Dark brown sugar
1 lb.Butter
1 tsp.Vanilla extract
1 c.Heavy cream
For the pudding:

1)Preheat conventional oven to 350 F.
2)Grease 1 9" x 13" pan with butter and coat lightly with flour, shake out excess flour.
3)Combine dates with hot water in a saucepan -- bring to boil. Remove from heat and add baking soda. Set aside to cool.
4)In a mixing bowl cream butter and sugar on high speed for 3 minutes.
5)With mixer on low speed, add eggs one at a time until fully incorporated. Add flour, baking powder, salt and vanilla extract.
6)When fully mixed add the dates and their liquid.
7)Place batter into greased pan and bake in preheated oven until a skewer inserted comes out clean (30-45 minutes).
8)Cool on a baking rack before removing from the pan.
For the sauce:
1)Stir together first three ingredients on low heat, until blended and brown sugar has melted.
2)Whisk heavy cream into brown sugar and butter mixture.
To serve:
1)Spoon warm caramel sauce over 1 serving portion of Sticky Toffee Pudding.
2)Top with a dollop of freshly whipped cream.
*You will also want to have some fresh whipped cream on hand for serving

Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

only means one thing in our house. It must have been Gregg's birthday.

I Am So Glad That I Live In The USA Because...

Africa is too hot and dangerous. I don't want to live in South America because there are huge unstoppable ants that if you were so unfortunate as to fall down during a swarm, I assure you, your fate is sealed. I don't want to live in Australia because it's too perilous. I am so glad I live in the USA.

Written by Dwight Hein

I Am Thankful For

Gravity
Smart People
Mom and Dad
Brothers, Sisters and Cousins
Food, Shelter, Drink and Warmth
Fun Toys, Nice Clothes, Clean Skin
Freedom, A Good Education, A Big House and Friends

by Dwight Hein

AJ-ism

"Please pass the potato sauce." (AJ said as he pointed to the gravy at our Thanksgiving dinner)

Thanksgiving Day

 The Thanksgiving table is set.

 Gabe was a huge help keeping the little ones entertained before dinner.

 AJ is ready to eat.

 Cheers to Gregg on his birthday!

 Grace looking lovely.

Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday to Gregg!

The Servant of Two Masters

Grace (playing Beatrice) on the left with her good friend Emily (playing Clarice) on the right.

Beatrice, disguised as her dead brother.

Beatrice revealing her true self.

Happy Birthday Gregg

Curried Cauliflower

Please don't knock cauliflower until you try this dish. It is so good. Try it and you'll agree!

Curried Cauliflower (presented whole, cut like a cake)



Wash and trim one head cauliflower; leave head and core intact.
Steam till tender-crisp.


Heat oven to 400°.


While cauliflower cooks, mix ¼ cup mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon curry power till smooth. (Guessing. I don’t measure; better to make too much and use any leftover for something else.)


Drain cauliflower, and place in an oven-proof baking dish (8" round, 8x8 square, or similar) that has been sprayed. (Pam)


Cover the cauliflower with the curry-mayo mixture, like frosting a cake.


Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese all over the mayo till coated. Place in oven and watch carefully – 5 minutes or so, till bubbly and golden.


Cut 1" wedges almost through, but attached enough at the bottom to keep the head shape.


Serve immediately in the baking dish. Tongs will hold the wedge and pull it free to serve.

Cosette's Birthday

 Cosette informed me that she doesn't care for cake. So, we made white chocolate chip cookies to serve as the cupcake and put chocolate peanut butter cup ice cream on top with whipped cream and sprinkles.

 Birthday Menu: Homemade Olive Pizza. Garlic Bread, Corn and Strawberries

 Blowing out the candles... Happy Birthday Cosette!

Gingerbread Martinis

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake together:

1-1/2 oz. Vanilla-flavored Vodka
1-1/2 oz. hazelnut liqueur
1 Tablespoon butterscotch schnapps (I highly recommend putting this schnapps in hot chocolate too!)

Strain into an 8 ounce glass filled with ice; add 4 ounces ginger beer and a splash of dark rum.
Makes 1 drink.

Happy 7th Birthday Cosette

 The day you were born was a beautiful snowy morning. We thank God for you each and every day.

 Cosette Elizabeth Hein

 Dwight and Cosette on her birthday. They've been best friends ever since.

We love you so much Cosette!

Star Wars

Dwight and Cosette love Star Wars. I think it's hereditary. Lots of uncles and cousins on both sides of our families think Star Wars is pretty cool. So, tonight when Dwight and Cosette were watching an episode of Star Wars-The Clone Wars, Cosette became very upset. Apparently there was discussion on that particular episode about ending the war and coming to a peaceful solution. Then I heard...

Cosette: What? What's the point of peace? If there isn't a war anymore than what's the point of the show? It wouldn't be called Star Wars, just Star.

Dwight-isms...

While snuggling with me on my bed, I asked Dwight to go downstairs and check on Cosette and AJ for me. Dwight replied, "I'm a parasite. I can't leave my host."

Should I be offended? ;)

Let It Snow

 AJ could not wait to play in the snow today. It's all he talked about last night and this morning.

 Snow Angel or taking a nap. Either way, he's a happy camper.
 Shovelling the yard. We're training him early. Someday, he'll shovel our sidewalk.
Snow!

Cosette the Pilgrim

Cosette and her first grade class invited the Indians over for a Thanksgiving Feast.

 AJ wearing his fine Indian vest was so excited to eat with the Pilgrims I thought he would never sit still long enough for a picture.

 AJ's preschool teacher is the Indian in the middle. Her name is Miss Rosanne. (On a side note, she is one fabulous preschool teacher.We love her.) The lovely centerpieces-Teepees that the first graders made out of tortilla shells. Very Nice...

Our Pilgrim. Thank you Mimi for making yet another awesome costume.

Cosette's Thanksgiving Feast

The Scene: Cosette's Bedroom

Cosette (desperately trying to distract AJ and get him out of her bedroom so he doesn't ruin her carefully prepared Thanksgiving Feast she is making)

Cosette: Why don't you go and hunt for deer all around the house, upstairs and downstairs? And then bring the deer back to me,ok? Go ahead, go hunting. Here's your gun. (Insert very loud and obnoxious pop gun here!)

( AJ goes hunting for 10 seconds and comes right back.)
AJ: Here you go Cosette. Some deer for you.

Cosette: Oh, I need more deer than that. Just throw those in a pile and get out of here. Make sure you go hunting for at least 10 minutes this time.

AJ: Umm...Where's your pink teddy bear?

Cosette: You're not hunting my pink teddy bear, AJ. Just deer, ok?

AJ: I'm not going to hunt and kill the pink teddy bear, I just want to peel the skin off of it.

Cosette: No, AJ!

AJ: Ok, I'll just go hunting for other teddy bears and dinosaurs. (Pop gun going off all over the house.)

And... scene.

Cosette's New Do

AJ 's Art Work

DeAnn & Gregg

Hein Halloween 2010

 My 3 little pumpkins. :)

 AJ had a good time designing his Jack-O-Lantern face for his pumpkin.

 Cupcake decorating...

 Dwight's Jack-O-Lantern

 Jack-O-Lantern Pizza for supper (Thanks Papa Murphys!)

 Cosette and AJ decorated the cupcakes for me.

A Princess, a Police Officer and a Firefighter...

AJ said...

"Mom, Dwight just gave me another FingerButterCup (aka Butterfinger). My hands are messy now so I need your Handtizer." (aka Hand Sanitizer). I love 4 year old language.

Firefighters

I never get tired of visiting the Fire Station. Maybe it's because I'm in such awe of firefighters in general. This last field trip we took to Fire Station # 7 was really informative.We enjoyed it immensely.

 How cool is it to actually use the fire hose. AJ had to aim at a orange cone until he could knock it over.

 This was one of my kids favorite parts of the tour. Watching a firefighter go from his street clothes to his uniform.

 Cosette's turn with the fire hose.

This is a look of pure concentration. AJ listened intently to everything the firefighters told him.