Our First Christmas Photo Together

Top to bottom, left to right:
Conor (10)
Erik, Jason (20)
Ashley (13), Andrew (12), me
Britt (11)
Duncan, Lindsey (16)

We're minus 1.... Hershey (the bunny) was tired from round 1 of photos and the better "human" pic was this one -- so Hershey misses out. Perhaps I'll Photoshop her in when I have time. Duncan had antlers on for round 1, but the poor dog was miserable, so we let him lose them.

I love pics when everyone coordinates or matches. It just looks cleaner. For our wedding, we're having them in khakis with blue shirts. Probably more coordinating than matching. We'll see.

Ahhhh, our tree. It's breathtaking in person -- pictures don't do it justice! My son Jason (to the right of the ladder) is 6' 3" -- so you can see how large the tree really is. The ladder is a nice touch -- Erik and Jason wrapped red velvet ribbon around it to make it look like a candy cane.

Thought I'd share our family photo with you all.... Happy Holidays!

Ahhhhh, another merry Christmas over....

Who in their right mind shops for 4 months to avoid the insane Christmas rush in the stores and then spends two hours Christmas Eve shopping? Ummmm, that would be me. Kicking myself in my own ass year after year -- and I've already said at least three times since yesterday that I'm going to buy all of my stocking stuffers throughout the year so I don't do this again next year. We'll see.

So the tree was surrounded with gifts - and 9 stockings. Each child had a gift in their stocking wrapped with a certain paper. That way we didn't have to worry about tags, about them making a mess hunting for their presents, etc. And when they opened a gift, they threw the paper out before getting the next gift to open. Sounds like the military, doesn't it? You try running a home with two adults, six children, a nanny, a bunny, and a dog. Strict as possible while still having fun.

It was a bit difficult for Britt (11). She's so used to being the "only child" since Jason's at college -- and lets just say that she's been maybe just a little spoiled at Christmas. She has her own computer/printer in her room, cellphone, iPod, etc. But it's so much easier buying for 1 (Jason always wanted money/gift cards) than for 5 (and Jason still wants money). So after she opened about 10 presents, she had this look on her face and was wondering where the rest of the gifts were. She didn't say it in a selfish tone - she is used to a different Christmas. And after my explanation that we now have an enormous home, new built-in pool, going to Mexico in August, and 4 more kids to buy for, she understood. Then we broke out the family gifts.... Guitar Hero 3 for Wii and a Ping Pong Table. They were all unbelievably excited. And that Guitar Hero 3 is the best invention known to man. Seriously - they were angels. No fighting over it. Playful competition. Ping Pong was the same. So we both breathed a collective sigh of relief. Ahhh - everyone is content. Life is good.

Kamila, our nanny from Poland, also spent the day with us. That warmed my heart, since many of her fellow nannies didn't spend the day with their host families. We've now "Americanized her", as she put it -- because for one of her gifts, I bought her this adorable green suede Coach purse. We'll miss her when she returns to Poland in May! She and Jason are plotting to take over NYC on Christmas Eve. Ummmmm, how funny that Jason asked his friend (who is hooking them up thru the police dept. for Times Square) if his nanny can come. She thought he meant "grandma". hahahah.... no... his NANNY. She laughed about it too - and when I told her she's not allowed to hang out with him because he'll corrupt her, her response was "I will watch him for you." :)

Did I mention Erik got me tickets to see Little Mermaid on Broadway?? I'm soooooo excited!! You've got to pucker your lips, like this. You've got to bat your eyes, like this. January 9th will be an awesome day in NYC -- and maybe we'll head over to Serendipity 3 (now that the mouse infestation is taken care of....) or Rosie O"Grady's for mousse.

The day was spent at our new home with our families. I enjoy having them over for the holidays -- it's less stressful for me to do it at my house than to have to pack them up and bring them somewhere that isn't kid-friendly. Besides, who else can fit everyone comfortably all on one floor -- and actually, all in one room? Nobody else.

So now that Christmas has come and gone, it's back to work. Because at lunch today when I went shopping for holiday decorations for next year, I realized I dipped into my overdraft. Uh oh... no more shopping until payday tomorrow.

2008 will be such an incredible year for us!! 226 days until we are married on the beautiful white sandy beaches of Cancun.

Three French Hens, Two Turtle Doves and a Sampling of Goodies on a Tray....

Well, I've been in a frenzy pretty much all week. My new idol -- MrsPresley and her amazing blog about yummies.... If you like to cook, bake or even eat, you have to visit her Good Eats 'n Sweet Treats blog. I made the oreo truffles & cookie dough truffles this year, and peanut butter balls (my specialty each year). Then this magical thing happened..... MrsPresley herself suggested to me that I try making Frito Candy - a recipe she'd seen on another blog. What's that you say? Frito Candy? Seriously -- HOLY CRAP!! It's sweet and salty at the same time -- a little bit of heaven in a "bark". So I made that late last night. Really late. 2am late. I thought I'd bring it to Erik at the precinct when it was finished, but I was too tired. And now its all gone.

So this past week, I've made the following:
Stuffed Strawberries (with a toffee fruit dip that blew everyone away at the party last week)
Extra fruit dip for bananas, apple slices and fresh pineapple
Mint Chocolate Chip Mousse
Candy Cane Frozen Mousse
Pistachio Mousse
Chocolate Mousse
S'more Chippers
Oreo Truffles
Peanut Butter Balls
Cookie Dough Truffles
Frito Candy (if you make these, don't pulverize the pretzels/fritos -- just break them up - and use an 8x8 pan because if you use larger, there really isn't enough butter to keep all the crumbs together)
Beer Bread with 4 different dips
And........

Wait - did you really think there was going to be more stuff? Seriously, don't you think I made ENOUGH?? Jeez.... cut me some slack!

Actually, tomorrow I'm getting together with a handful of friends and their kids for our annual Holiday Cookie Bake. And its one mom's birthday, so I'll have to make her something special! We'll be making a dozen different cookies -- I'll have to take pics and post recipes.

I'm going to experiment and try a "Loaded Chips" recipe. We got this amazing concoction from a client last week and it blew me away. So here's what we're trying to replicate:
A stacked chip (like Pringles or Lays Stackers) -- I'm using Lays - I don't like Pringles
Topped with melted caramel, pecan pieces and broken up potato sticks. (follow me here.... I promise it's delicious)
Then topped with a dollop of melted white chocolate and chocolate sprinkles on top.
YUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM..... Hopefully mine will taste as good as the store-bought ones!

Back to work, then back to the kitchen!!

Finally a Blogger...

For months, I've browsed the blogs of the amazing DW Knotties and Nesties, saying to myself that one day I'm going to make the time to set up my own blog. Why today? Because the weather is dismal, the house is clean, and I'm home alone. Sure, I could be wrapping Christmas gifts or paying some bills, but just like my need to learn something new everyday -- I have a need to experiment.

Some of the blogs I've read keep me captivated and I visit daily. I could only wish in my wildest dreams that I could write as well as some of the blogs I've read. Some blogs make me cry -- and bring me back to reality the instant I start reading them. There's a little boy named Jack who is a triplet - and is very, very ill. I don't know him or his wonderful family - but as a mother, my heart breaks for that family. I check that blog daily - as I so yearn to see a positive update. But more often than not, the news is sad - and I wish there was something I could do for them. When you have a spare moment, visit this blog -- and then pray that this family will someday have all of their babies home and healthy....

Oh - I guess I should explain the title... 8 is Definitely Enough...
On August 8, 2008, I will marry the man of my dreams -- and his four children. Add to that my two children - and there you have it -- EIGHT of us. (Well, actually, there are nine -- we have a nanny, but we'll stick with the eight...) And no, we will not venture into the land of having another baby -- because our truck fits everyone nicely. And in 7 years, everyone will be out of the house and the youngest will be in college.

If Erik's last name was Brady, we'd have to discuss a legal name change. You see, we have 6 children. Three boys. Three girls. We have an "Alice" but Kamila is much younger and much cuter than Alice. And I'm sure my son (who is in college) appreciates that more than he lets on to. No butcher yet - but feeding 9 of us will at some point require a butcher -- even if it's at our local Stop & Shop. And one of my top rules.... "Mom always says 'don't play ball in the house'." Yes - if Erik's last name was "Brady", there's no way I could be called "Mrs. Brady" with 6 children. That would be just over my limit.

That's all for now. I have a wedding in Mexico to plan, Christmas gifts to wrap, and some Sunday night football to go watch.