Monday, December 14, 2009

taking a break

sorry for lack of updates...

I'm going to be taking a break from the blog. This time of year is just too busy to add one more thing!

Here's hoping you enjoy a happy holiday (whatever you celebrate!) and a happy New Year.

Monday, December 7, 2009

meal plan monday

December 7 – December 13

MONDAY
Breakfast: chocolate chip pancakes, fruit
Lunch: vegetable soup, cheese toasts
Dinner: baked macaroni and cheese, roasted cauliflower, spinach salad

TUESDAY
Breakfast: cinnamon roll oatmeal
Lunch: out
Dinner: beans and cornbread, raw cut up veggies

WEDNESDAY:
Breakfast: cream of wheat, applesauce
Lunch: chicken strips, fruit, cut up veggies
Dinner: Italian sausage and tortellini soup

THURSDAY:
Breakfast: eggs on toast, smoothies
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: spaghetti with artichokes and tomato cream sauce, spinach salad, garlic bread

FRIDAY:
Breakfast: oatmeal with yogurt and applesauce
Lunch: minestrone, breadsticks
Dinner: apricot chicken, latkes, apple-pineapple sauce

SATURDAY:
Breakfast: pumpkin spice oatmeal
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: taco bar

SUNDAY:
Breakfast: gingerbread pancakes, eggs, bacon
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: Hanukkah dinner at Nana’s

Extras:
Gingerbread muffins, stained glass cookies, whole wheat bread, chocolate pudding cake

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

recital

Last night, Ava's ballet class put on their first recital of the year. They did a mini Nutcracker Suite and it was adorable! I'm pretty sure than nothing holds a candle in the cuteness department to 4, 5, and 6 year olds trying to be graceful.

Ava's class was the Chinese tea, complete with little paper fans. She had so much fun (and not an ounce of nerves, thank you very much!).

Our favorite book lately has been The Little Ballerina, which is about a little girl who is preparing for her first recital. Afterward, she goes out to dinner with her family for a cheeseburger and a chocolate milkshake, so naturally, Ava wanted to do that.

Thanks to everyone who attended for making the evening so special for Ava!

backstage:


Ava, on the right with the orange fan:


curtain call:


receiving flowers from her best friend, Nick:


Enjoying her post-recital milkshake:

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

the december list

This is the third year for our December list and I'm so excited about it! I think I got the idea from Family Fun, but I honestly can't remember exactly (and ain't that the story of my life!). The idea is that you write each idea on a small piece of paper, stuff them all into a jar or advent calendar, and then pull one out each day. These are supposed to be activities to do as a family - simple, free or inexpensive, and fun. The best part of this year's list was sitting down as a family and coming up with it together.

So here, in no particular order, is our activity list for the month:

- go see the Zoo Lights
- make salted caramels
- make a gingerbread house
- bake cookies for the firefighters
- have a family Candy Land night
- take the MAX downtown to see the Macy's Santa
- bake Hanukkah cupcakes to take to Nana's
- make kissing balls
- make real hot chocolate and real marshmallows
- watch Charlie Brown Christmas
- make snowman soup
- pick a stuffed animal to take to the Dornbecher Children's Hospital
- make an ornament
- bake cookies for us
- drive around the neighborhood to check out the lights
- family pizza making night
- watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the good/animated version)
- Go to Mt Hood to play in the snow
- family Memory night
- read The Polar Express
- family driedel night
- watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
- make a Hanukkah decoration
- go to Peacock Lane
- look at pictures from past Decembers

Then several plans for specific days:

- cut down our tree
- decorate our tree
- have a latke dinner for the first night of Hanukkah
- read the Night Before Christmas on Christmas Eve
- make monkey bread for Christmas morning
- drink sparkling cider on New Year's Eve

What special activities are you planning to do with your family this month?