Bloggable Ham

I just LOVE it when something so unique happens and my first thought is...oooh that is bloggable. Well, when I was given this spiral ham by a dear patient of mine with a recipe to cook it in the dishwasher....I just knew it was bloggable!

The giver of the ham's family owns Petit Jean Meats (seriously the best bacon EVER). When attending a meat conference years ago, apparently they always struggled with purchasing spiral hams that would get too dry with cooking. UNTIL, an old man approached them with the secret...cook it in the dishwasher!

When we visited McKinney, I offered to bring a ham as long as Lauren would allow me to follow the recipe and cook it in the dishwasher. We cooked it on the pots & pan cycle and it was yummy and obviously bloggable!

Schindall Christmas 2010

Our next stop in Frisco was my brother Adam's home to celebrate Christmas with our parents and all the grandkids. Our tradition is to get a picture of all the kids holding their first package and then the ripping of the wrapping begins. We have done this ever since I was a little kid and funny thing is before we had children, I clearly recall us even in our twenties posing together on my parents couch--ready to rip the wrap. Couldn't quite get Camille in the pic this year--too busy!

There is a cute pic of her wallowing in all of the gift on the floor. The kids had a great time playing together--we went to the park, made pottery, played lots of Wii, basketball. Fun times--wish we didn't live so far!

Brad received an autographed tshirt from his favorite tv show--American Pickers. They film very close to my parents' hometown in Iowa and my mom stopped by there on her last visit and surprised Brad.

We finished up at this yummy restaurant that served homestyle, homecookin. Wish I could remember the name of it--yummo! Don't ya love the sign in the waiting area?

Bedtime Prayers

The setting is the boys' bedroom. Cooper in LSU jammies on top bunk with me. Brady in skeleton jammies in lower bunk holding his blue "my" blankie.

Cooper: Dear Lord
Brady echoes: Dear Lord.....oh wait, gotta peepee...pause the prayer

(prayer paused momentarily)

Cooper: Dear Lord
Brady echoes: Dear Lord
Cooper: Please let school be closed again tomorrow
Me: Now say something nice and not selfish for a real prayer

Cooper: Please let schools in China be closed tomorrow also
Brady: Please don't let anybody go to heaven.....unless it is a mean earthworm or bug.

Me: In Jesus' name, AMEN
Cooper and Brady echoes: In Jesus' name, AMEN

Ice, Ice, Baby!

The weekend before Christmas, we traveled to Dallas to hang with some besties. Mike, Lauren and Graydon hosted the Cooks (4) and us (5)! They certainly were hostesses with the mostesses b/c we had such a great time. Our itinerary included a trip to see "The Ice" at the Gaylord Texan, which we were all very intrigued by; Lauren even made certain we had tickets purchased in advance so we wouldn't have to deal with as many crowds. This is reminding me I owe her some $ for that! Everything in the "show" was handcarved ice and the theme was Peanuts.

Mike handling Carter and Graydon while we waited in a room with about 300 other ticket holders for the 4:30 showing. Kids were doing quite well at this point.

Chris and Leslie trying to remain composed, afterall, we only had six kids ages five and under--diaper bags, camera bags, scarves, gloves--oh yeah and no strollers allowed. Kids still doing well; adults getting a bit ancy. Finally, the blue parkas and in another line. We can feel the coolness from the ice getting closer. It's about 6 pm and kids still doing great--adults not so much.

The above display was very appropriate for Brad and Chris I'm pretty certain. Doesn't Brad look so happy. He just loves crowds.

Then we got to celebrate the real reason of the season....children so happy to see the ice displays and slide down slides made of ice; the nativity scene carved from ice; three great friends for life.

Santa Party

Each year, we have hosted a Santa party for a few families and it just is more fun every year. In a few pics there might just be a child conveniently "missing", preferring to just watch their sibling sit on Santa's lap. I thought it was cute that the sibling still made certain to tell Santa what the "missing" child would like on Christmas morning.

Ruby minus Ella


The Potts minus Brooks


Riley and Parker

The Smith girlies

It was just magical to watch 12 children sit so attentively and listen to Santa's stories.

Our crew posing with Mr. Claus himself.