We wish you a Merry Christmas!!!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas, 

We wish you a Merry Christmas,

We wish you a Merry Christmas, 

and a 

Happy New Year!!!!!

Love,

John, Annie, Grace, Norah, Jack, and Millie & Rocky too.....

A Breakfast with Santa!!!

We took the kids to the cutest little "Breakfast with Santa" at the Downtown Aquarium.

  The walls of the restaurant are the actual aquarium and Santa was swimming with some of his elves.  When breakfast was over, he dried off to take pictures with everyone.  It was definitely a new experience for them to see Santa swimming - Jack had the biggest grin on his face when Santa swam by and the girls just giggled and giggled......

All Dressed Up

One of my favorite nights of the holiday season is the kids little holiday program at school.  Their school has a little tradition called the Festival of Lights.  It starts with a little music program that is followed by an all school candle lighting outside.  Then everyone is invited inside for food and crafts.   I don't know what it is, but hearing those little voices singing just really gets me in the Christmas spirit!!!  

Plus....  It is one of the first opportunities to get them dressed up (which I love...).

Pictures with Santa!!!

It is always so fun to go visit Santa!!!!

Happy St. Nick's!!!

As a kid growing up in Milwaukee we always celebrated the feast of St. Nick.  We would go to bed on the night of December 5th with the hopes that St. Nick would fill our stockings with little goodies.  I haven't heard of many people that participate, especially around here.

This is now a tradition in our little family - - the kids were super excited to see their filled stockings this morning!!! 

I love this time of the Year! ~ Happy St. Nick's Day!!!

My Cute Kiddos ;0)

Jack is getting to be quite the little ham for the camera...  

He says "CHEEEEESE".  

It is so adorable!

A Yummy Slow Cooker Recipe for cold days....

I LOVE using my slow-cooker especially on cold winter days....  

Here is a yummy recipe I thought you would all enjoy!!!

Enchilada Casserole

3 T. diced green chiles, divided

1/2 cup salsa

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1 15oz can balck beans, rinsed and drained

1 11oz can corn with red and green peppers (such as mexicorn)

1 10oz can enchilada sauce

1 8.5oz package corn muffin mix

1/2 cup egg substitute

2 T. Chopped bottled roasted red bell pepper

1.5 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese

sour cream

extra thinly sliced cilantro

1.  Place 2 Tablespoons green chiles and next 6 ingredients in a slow cooker; stir well.  Cover with lid; cook on low-heat setting for 4 hours.

2.  Combine remaining 1 Tablespoon green chiles, muffin mix, egg substitute, and roasted red bell pepper in a bowl; stir well.  Spoon batter evenly over bean mixture in slow cooker.  Cover and cook 1 hour or until corn bread is done.

3.  Sprinkle cheese over corn bread.  Cover and cook 5 minutes or until cheese melts.  Spoon casserole onto plates; top each serving with sour cream, and sprinkle with thinly sliced cilantro.  ( I also like to add some avocado to the servings )

Welcome Christmas!!!

Christmas is here!!!  

So much to be thankful for....

                                             

                                                                          

     

   

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday in Milwaukee with my side of the family!  The kids were really amazing on the car ride - I was a little anxious about doing the drive by myself but it proved to be quite smooth.  Grace was such a little helper ~ I think she knew I was really counting on her ;0)

We spent the week enjoying time with Nani & Poppi, GG, my brother Tim and his girlfriend Yee-Lan & my sister Maggie and her little family.  When our little families are together, I am reminded of how lucky we are that we are both raising families right now.  Even though we live thousands of miles away, the kids are such good buddies and have so much fun together.  It is so awesome to watch them all interact!!!

I also got to spend some time with some old high school friends.  It is always so nice to catch up with everyone!  I really enjoyed seeing all of the little ones and then enjoyed some adult conversation later in the evening!

We really have so much to be thankful for...........