Passport on a Plate

I found the neatest book at the library and it is now on my Wish List! It's called Passport on a Plate and it is by Diane Simone Vezza. It is a children's cookbook that has recipes from countries all over the world. Mandy got to choose first and she wanted to visit India. We learned that you greet people in India by saying "Namaste" (nah-mus-tay) which means "hello" and you eat with the fingers of your right hand because the left hand is considered unclean. Mandy and I made Tandoori Chicken which was delicious and also Rice Pudding with Cardamom which was also very good. (Cardamom is pricey- $10 for a little bottle) We also enjoyed toasted pita bread which is similar to flat Indian bread and fruit salad. Katie wore her Princess Jasmine costume and Mandy wore many bangle bracelets and sandals. The girls did this on their own as they were very excited about our dining adventure! We ate on the floor while sitting on pillows. Our next stop is Italy!

Mandy's 10th Birthday Party

Mandy's celebrated her 10th birthday at the bowling alley. My favorite place- not. Well, it was her birthday and she and her friends had a great time. (Lori, you can do what you want on YOUR birthday) It turns out that all of Mandy's friends, except one, had never been bowling before and Mandy was happy to show them the ropes. It was really fun to watch her teach them how to hold the ball and how not to cross the line, etc. She is a very patient teacher.:-) Despite the "helpful" staff, insane music and crude decor (I am such a snob) I have to say the party was a success. The cake was yummy and everyone had fun!

Mandy earns her yellow belt!

On November 30th (Mandy's birthday) she tested for and earned her yellow belt in Tang Su Do! She worked so hard learning her 3rd form and practicing her sparring. Jeff and I were so proud of her! She had to break another board, which gave her pause, but she did it! I don't know what she was worried about, it looks simple enough to me. Right.

Log Cabin Christmas

We went on a field trip to our local museum in Springdale. The theme was Log Cabin Christmas. We learned the ways that people in the "old days" celebrated Christmas. The children listened to stories and helped decorate a tree with pinecones, paper, and such. We learned that a Christmas tree was not decorated until Christmas Eve when the children were sleeping as this was part of the magic of the holidays. Life was simpler then with an orange or a piece of candy being an extra special treat. Katie and her friend, Ella, dressed up in fancy hats and looked so cute.

St. Lucia Day

St. Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden on December 13th. Since I am part Swedish, I have decided that we shall take part in this tradition this year. I am very excited! Mandy will play a special role in that she is the oldest daughter and she will have the honor of wearing the crown of lights and serving the family breakfast. Katie will also have a little crown and be able to carry a candle. The girls will dress in long white dresses with a red sash. I'm not sure how authentic we will be in the recipe department, but we will enjoy something delicious! I found the cutest St. Lucia doll craft on-line but the kits are sold out!:( I will have to get an earlier start next year. We will make crowns and learn about the history of St. Lucia this week. In researching the holiday I came across the art of Carl Larsson. HIs paintings (most done of his family) are absolutely precious and I immediately fell in love.

The Golden Compass

I feel that I should make a note about the new movie, "The Golden Compass." Mandy was recently invited to a birthday party where the girls were going to spend the afternoon watching this. The movie looks exciting and has some wonderful actors and actresses in it, but I am not fooled. Neither was Mandy. She told me that "she did not want to see a movie that had anything to do with hating God." I was really proud of her. She and I both love movies and I will use any reason to slip off for a few hours of entertainment and popcorn! We even had free passes given to us but we are not interested. Anyway, please research this movie if you do feel compelled to see it. The author of the books hates God and the final book in his trilogy is about children killing the Lord. Chilling, huh?

Thanksgiving in Tennessee

This year we spent Thanksgiving in Franklin, Tennessee with Grandma, Ba and Auntie Amy. We had a great time being silly together while we shopped, ate, geo-cached, swam, took pictures and celebrated Mandy and Katie's birthdays! Whenever we get together I end up laughing so hard that my sides ache!:-) We enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving dinner at Mere Bulles. Grandma and Ba drove through the night and finally got to sleep around 7:30 am. They are amazing! I'm surprised they could keep a conversation going. Aunt Amy told us about the gas station where they stopped with the hanging doll and animal heads. Road travel is definitely an adventure. I could almost hear the scary music playing in the background...

We got to meet Amy's new boyfriend on the trip because he was spending time with his parents in Nashville. His name is Michael and he seems like a very nice guy. He seems to really care about Amy and that really impressed me. Only the best for my sister!

We celebrated the girls' birthdays at Lillie Belle's Tea House- our favorite! If you ever are in Franklin you MUST stop there! It is the sweetest old house with lots of history and charm. They serve tea and wonderful food with genuine hospitality. We stayed for quite a long time and did not want to leave. Mandy had blueberry tea that smelled heavenly and we also enjoyed Earl Grey and Darjeeling. It was raining and cold but it only added to the charm.

Where will our next adventure be!:-)