Laughing Guys

Christmas photo outtakes:

Love those eyes that crinkle up in laughter!

Cappuccino

I'm talking to our friend, Joe, and I tell him

that our cat, Cappuccino, was thinking,

"Hey, if a dog can wear a Santa hat, I can, too! 

I can do anything a dog can do!"

Sammy, listening, adds,

"Mom, we dropped the hat on Cappuccino's head

just as we moved the card.  She's gonna look

at something that moves."

Realist.

I like my story better.

Day of Christmas Cheer

Each year, as part of our church's Day of Christmas Cheer, we gather ALL the youth of our community for a day with:

• Cookie Decorating
• Card Making 
• Ornament Making
• Paper Star Making
• Gingerbread House Building
• 12-Foot Tall Tree Decorating
• A Hot Chocolate and Coffee Bar with our Jr. High Baristas
• Caroling
• A Visit from St. Nicholas
• A Generous Potluck
• and...

Seven Tons of Snow!

Yep, being Phoenix, we have to order it.

See the big block of ice they are getting ready to push through the ice-chipper?

And the Rest of the Thanksgiving Weekend!

We were- thankfully!- guests at other's homes
 this Thanksgiving.

We loved it, of course, but it left us with minimal
leftovers for snacking. 

Basil received a turkey from work and decided to cook it

on Saturday with Sammy's and Lucas' help.

My mother came over, and so did Eva.

And we ate lots of good food.

And played Yahtzee.

Good times.

...and More.

So then, on Friday, we headed to Kathy's and Jeff's

for Thanksgiving leftovers.

Oh.  And Karaoke.

Children were there, too- all boys, in fact. 

Just how it worked out.  In addition to Lucas and Sammy,

there were four other sets of two brothers.

They hung out, tolerating the "old folks" singing.

If they weren't way out back by the trampoline,
or playing football,

they hid inside in the back bedrooms,

lesser the chance to listen to our Disco renditions,
or our attempts at classic rock.

An Abundance of Thanksgiving!

First, on Wednesday, the Thanksgiving Brunch
at Holy Trinity Academy.

Then, on Thursday, dinner at Lucas'

Nouna's and Nouno's home.

Mmmmmm.  Is it nap time yet?

My 20s Are a "Nostalgic" Decade

It was 1976 and I was in the 6th grade when
the TV show "Happy Days" first aired. 

Starting then, and for the next few years,
my classmates and I-

as were typical of the nation-

became totally enthralled with The 50s. 

Anything "50s"- the clothes, the music, the lingo....

Paramount's Cover of the 2nd Season DVD

At school, we had 50s Day as part of Spirit Week,

and it was the theme of school dances. 

I can picture Judy and Ann, two girls in my class,

who came to school with newly-sewn poodle skirts.

Image from anniespoodleskirts.com

The 50s to us was "soooooooooo long ago" and

totally foreign to our mid-70s way of thinking.

Which brings me to Sammy's Spirit Week Theme

at Shea Middle School...

The 80s.

Yep, MY seemingly not-so-long-ago young adulthood

is their "soooooooooo long ago" decade

that is foreign to THEIR way of thinking.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Honey?"

"What was it like in the 80s?

Did everyone really wear those clothes?

That'd be so embarrassing."

Okay, so maybe this WAS embarrassing.

This is a LITTLE better.

But...

Sigh.

I feel old.

 

(They're boys.  They only wanted to wear the sunglasses.

Oh, and the checkered Vans that each are wearing on their feet.

I guess what goes around really does come around.)

Godparent Sunday

Nouna (Noo-nah) is Greek for Godmother. 

Today was Godparent Sunday at church.

Sammy sat with his godmother in the pews

and Lucas joined his godmother up in the Choir loft

during Liturgy.

We all then enjoyed a free pasta luncheon

sponsored by the Sunday School.

Our sons are blessed with wonderful godmothers.

Nouna Eva

Nouna Dena

Preparing Food For 130!

The Orthodox Parents Association (OPA),

an organization that oversees family-based events

and groups, booked a nationally-known comedian

to perform in our Large Hall. 

Basile is known for his "growing up Greek" comedy bits.

Husband Basil (although he thinks he's pretty funny, too)

created and executed the menu along with

our friend, Maria, and an AMAZING group of women

(and two men- hey, James! hey, Steve!)

The menu included Barbeque'd Salmon, Crab Cakes,

Ceviche, an extensive Pasta Bar,

Grilled Vegetables with Dipping Sauces,

Dolmathes, Cheeses and Breads.

Boiling the Pasta

Vegetarian Dolmathes (Stuffed Grape Leaves) with Yogurt Sauce

(We didn't make these, they came from a local Mediterranean store.)

Three-Pepper Blend for the Pasta Bar

Mmmmmm....

Roasted Zucchini, Yellow Squash, Eggplant

and Sweet Potatoes

The Crab-cake mixture was first made into balls,

then formed into patties.

The Pasta Bar had Three Sauces:

Marinara, Alfredo and an Herb and Oil.

Add-Ins included Grilled Onions, Sauteed Mushrooms,

Roasted Peppers, Parmesan and Romano Cheeses.

 

The Ceviche was made with Grouper, Clams

and Shrimp.

The food was fun to prepare with that group of great people. 

Add a couple of bottles of wine....

Red or White?

Father Jim even stopped by to chat.

All-in-all, a great event.

The show was funny, the food was tasty,

the friends *are* good.

Everyday Morning

"Mom!  Why do you want to take a picture of us?"

"Cause it's the every day stuff I want to capture.  This is a typical morning.  You're on your way to school.  These are memories, too."

"Okay, one.  But you're starting to scare us."

We Have Pomegranates!

The tree is in the back corner of our lot, in a raised retaining wall.

See how it hangs over the walls to our neighbors?

Yesterday, neighbor Dr. Linda stopped by.  

She asked for some pomegranates. 

Lucas put about six in a bag and handed it to her. 

I offered, "Any ones you can reach from your side, please go ahead and pick them."

 See, pomegranates are like the fruit on any tree here in the Southwest- we get an overabundance and

then need to eat them or give them away before they rot.

Dr. Linda replied, "Oh, we HAVE picked all we can reach- that's why I'm asking you here at your door."

LOVE this woman.  It's a testament to neighbors that she can be so upfront and honest.

As you can see, we still have plenty.

Feeding Famished Freshman Footballers

Got a call from a woman on the Shadow Mountain Booster Club, asking for advice on how to get dinner for the entire freshman team, plus coaches and staff (that's 65 hungry people!), before their final game of the season. She was hoping we knew of a restaurant that could offer food for free or for a deep discount, since other local restaurants had provided meals throughout the season.

She knows us from the neighborhood, and although I'm sure she didn't expect us to make the dinner ourselves, she probably heard that we are the type who think, "Someone's hungry? We gotta feed them!"

So Basil and I talked it over, decided "WE can do this!" and launched in...

Well, I say "we" liberally. Okay, I shopped, and sorted, and wrapped, and loaded, and unloaded, and served, and put away the leftovers, and washed all the dishes. Yep, that's a lot.

But Basil cooked.

Spaghetti with a home-made marinara, moist and tasty Italian meatballs, hot-buttered garlic bread made from crusty baguettes and a salad with carrots, cucumbers and tomatoes and topped with a buttermilk ranch dressing made from a jug of real buttermilk.

He also had the tasks of pre-making, pre-boiling, pre-heating, and getting everything wrapped and ready to go to the school down the street. Basil is a stickler for health-laws (that's a good thing!) and he had to be extra careful with the food temperatures, since it all was to be transported in the back of a pick-up.

We served out of the south snack bar.

Three HUGE meatballs, delicious sauce, warm garlic bread... can it get better before a game???

(Only bad thing- now they know we're suckers for feeding our boys and their friends/schoolmates/teammates.)