More fun with bentos!

I go back to work tomorrow after having a week off for the holidays and thought I'd treat myself to a nice bento lunch:

A crab/lettuce/sprout wrap, carrots, cucumber, a small wheel of Babybel cheese and some instant miso soup. I thought I'd leave a little surprise in the fridge for the boys, too:

Big boys get mock sushi rolls (turkey, swiss and lettuce!), carrot and cucumbers, crackers and cheese, and strawberry yogurt. The littles get mock sushi rolls (PB&J!), string cheese, raisins and carrots.
Doug is fending for himself...he just doesn't understand cute food in little boxes!

Holiday Rewind...

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I think I'm turning Japanese....I really think so....

We went on a recent trip to Houston's Chinatown and had a great time! Lots of shopping, lots of eating...you get the idea! The best part of all was shopping in an Asian supermarket. The kids couldn't believe that people actually eat dried squid, fish flakes and sea weed! John Paul was amazed at the dozens of tanks of live fish, he didn't see, however, that they would take a live fish out and filet it for sashimi right there in front of you! Definately a great day trip!
Here's some of our booty:

The next day we had fun filling our bento boxes. The boys were amazingly dexterous with chopsticks and now insist on eating EVERYTHING with them!

Blogging Blessing!

I got a Blog Blessing Award from Dana at: http://deer06.blogspot.com/ (please forgive me, I don't know how to make those clickable links!) It was a great surprise and such a nice thing for her to think of me...but that's just the way she is! Thanks Dana!

The idea… it’s a game of tag with a difference, rather than looking inwardly, we look outside ourselves and bless, praise and pray for 3 blog friend. By participating in this endeavor we not only make the recipient of the blessing feel valued and appreciated, but we are having some fun too. We’re going to see how far the bloggin’ blessings can travel around the world and how many people can be blessed! Recipients of a bloggin’ blessing may upload the above image to their sidebar if they choose to. If you receive a bloggin’ blessin’ please leave a comment on this thread so that we can rejoice in just how many blessings have been sent around the world!


I want to bless the following bloggers:

1. Dawn at the Three B's: http://dawn-threebees.blogspot.com/
2. Ann at Ineffable Twaddle: http://annmargaretlewis.blogspot.com/
3. Rachael at The Escandon Family Blog: http://www.theescandons.com/

All of these women have been such a blessing to me at the DCF board! They offer friendship, advice, a shoulder to cry on and lots of laughs! They are remarkable women, wives and mothers! Thank you ladies for blessing my life!

Lord I thank you for all you give to me. I especially thank you for the friendsip I receive from Dawn, Ann and Rachael. I pray your blessing on all of them everyday. Grant them strength, peace and JOY! For they let You bless me with these things through them every day. Amen.


So, Ladies, please pass on the blogger blessing to three other bloggers.

A foggy morning...

Priceless

Number of times we've been told, "I want..." for Christmas: 1,468

Shopping trips to Houston to get just the right presents: 12

Playing peek-a-boo in an old plastic bin: Priceless!

In the kitchen...

We woke up today to thunderstorms and a cold front so I thought it would be a perfect time to do a little holiday baking. The kids and I made a batch of peanut brittle (Doug's favorite!):

...and a batch of Chex Mix:

No sooner than we finished, the clouds blew away and the sun came out! So all the kids ran outside, leaving me and Doug with all these snacks.
I sure hope there's some left by the time they come in from playing! ;-)

There's a new photographer in the family!

Doug needed a bio pic for Bella Photography and so we went out in the field behind the house and I shot this:

Did a little vignette on PhotoShop, and I think it turned out pretty good! It kinda reminds me of Marlin Perkins from Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom. I can hear it now, "I'll stay in the jeep while Jim circumcises the angry rhino..."

A Haircut

Little treasures

I've been in serious withdrawl since garage/estate sales have ended for the holidays so I decided to take a trip to the local thrift store to get a "fix." Not much to look at, but I did find these little treasures:

A very old pastry roller, cheese cutter and vintage measuring spoons! I just love them and can't wait to use the pastry roller for holiday baking! The roller is very worn and I imagine someone's grandmother using it lovingly baking for her family....John Paul says he thinks "it will squish out PlayDoh really good!"

Recycling crayons

Last night we took all our old and broken crayons and gave them new life! Peel the paper off your crayons and place the broken pieces in mini muffin tins. Bake at 250 degrees until melted. When cooled thoroughly, tap them out of the pan.


The kids had a great time doing this and coloring with the finished product!
Who wouldn't love opening a box like this?

Cute picture of the day...

Who says you can't eat yogurt with a fork?

Homemade Christmas

On another blog I read, they've compiled a list of 50 Christmas things you can make yourself. I love things like that, they just make the holidays more special! Go check it out: http://www.simplythrifty.com/50-holiday-things-you-can-make-yourself/

(although I don't think we'll be making the soda can Christmas tree!)

Out in the garden...

Our fall garden is coming in nicely! We've been harvesting mustard greens like crazy! No sooner than I cut off some leaves, in a day or two the plant is full again. We harvested our first batch of broccoli on Thanksgiving day, it went straight from the stalk to my broccoli, rice and cheese casserole. I'm beginning to see little brussel sprouts emerging, and this morning I felt a solid head of cabbage in my plants. I really love fall gardening - No pests to deal with and no weeding!!
Here are my brussel sprouts and broccoli:


...and cabbage.