O Christmas Tree!

Finally...Christmas tree decorating pictures!

Bri placing the star on top of the tree. It was really Brian's turn since he is a Senior this year...but he disappeared to his room for a little while.

You might notice that there are no regular Christmas ornaments on this tree. We each get a new ornament every year to commemorate something that happened in our lives. I tried packing up Kelli's and Meagan's a few years ago when they moved out...but they prefer to place their ornaments on the family tree. We still have their 'Baby's First Christmas' ornaments!
Meagan and Davin...rockin' around the Christmas tree!

The family...minus Kelli, Matt and Brooke who were unable to make it.

Meagan, Derrick and Davin.

Will and Brian hamming it up. Those Christmas lights are on, by the way. Please note the stockings on Will's feet!

Bri, Brian and Will in the cheerleader pose.

"Got a little Captain in ya?"

Tomorrow we will have the gang over to celebrate Christmas as a family. The married children are spending Christmas Day with the in laws this year...so we get Christmas Eve. Thursday we will have friends over for dinner and games. Friday morning we will be heading to north Arkansas to visit Jim's family. We are looking forward to a leisurely visit. YEAH, RIGHT! We will only be there one full day before heading home on Sunday morning.

If I don't get to talk to you before we get back...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU AND YOURS

AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The Progression Of A Santa Photo

I persuaded Meagan & Kelli to take the grand babies to visit Santa last week. I am envisioning a mantle laden with annual Santa pictures...looking back ten years from now and seeing them grow up right before my very eyes! It is something I had always intended to do with our five children, but in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, it was never accomplished.

Needless to say, the task did not go without a few hitches. Evidently Brooke took one look at Santa and burst out screaming. So much for cute, smiling, Santa pictures! Davin didn't seem to mind Santa too much...though with Brooke screaming, he determined not to get too close to him. Thank goodness for Santa's quick wit. I will let you see in photo format the progression of a Santa photo--all just to please Nonna.






And here is my favorite!

I just love Brooke's little 'hammy' tails. She looks like a little reindeer sitting there. Davin finally decided to smile, but alas, the picture crew had already taken six photos and were too busy for more! Next year we will have three grand babies to sit in Santa's lap. Better warn Santa now!

This Soup Was A Big Hit

I know I promised pictures today...but I ran out of the house without my memory card. I will try to post tomorrow. Instead you get tomorrow's post a day early. Isn't that a thrill!

I have always loved Olive Garden's Soup, Salad and Breadsticks with Zuppa Tuscana for my soup. I found this recipe last winter and it has quickly become a family favorite. We had this on Sunday night before decorating the tree and I think each of the boys (Jim, Brian, Will and Derrick) had at least two bowls...maybe three.

Sausage and Kale Soup

1 pound of mild Italian sausage

1 large onion, finely chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large bunch kale, with center ribs removed

1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

2 pounds of unpeeled small potatoes, washed and thinly sliced

2 quarts chicken broth

salt, to taste

red pepper flakes, to taste

pinch of dried thyme flakes

1 cup cream

Crumble and brown sausage until no longer pink, then drain well. Set aside.

In large soup pot, fry onions in olive oil until translucent. Add garlic and cook briefly. Add broth, beans and sausage to pot and simmer for 30 minutes.

Cut kale into medium shred and add with potatoes. Add thyme, salt and red pepper flakes. Simmer for another 30 minutes.

Add cream just before serving. NOTE: Do not boil after adding cream or it will curdle!

Serve with salad and french bread...sit back and enjoy!

A few hints:

1. I use the potato masher while cooking the sausage to make sure it breaks into small crumbles. I saw Rachael Ray do this a few weeks ago and it works great for chili and such.

2. My sister's complaint with most recipes is that she cannot find the 'specialty' items in her small town grocery store that I often take for granted. So, if you can't find cannellini beans, use great northern beans instead. They taste just as good.

3. In case you have never used kale before, it is with the cabbage in your produce department. I swear, it doesn't taste like cabbage...but it is in the cabbage family. If you can't find kale, I have heard that spinach will work as well.

4. I know it says to use mild Italian sausage, but since I double the recipe, I mix mild and hot.

5. Don't break the "no boil" rule after you add the cream...you will end up with a huge mess that you can't eat! I actually add the cream AFTER I have turned off the burner under the soup.

6. My two boys HATE onions...but they never taste them in this recipe. The onions honestly cook to nothing by the time the soup is ready to serve.