Christmas AM - Santa Came!!!

Raven & Luke were thrilled to see that Santa indeed made it to them and even more thrilled to see their new DS's! Santa also brought them Magic tricks (bite out coin, color changing disk, illusions bowl and a magic hanky)

and some cool books (Top 10 of Everything 2009 and The New Book of Lists)

Christmas Eve - Passing Time

After the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service, we drove around and looked at the Christmas lights of Frederick. Then at the house, to pass time until bed, the kids made domino designs and JB & Lynda played on the MegaTouch (it is a small video game that we got for Lynda to play and "keep her mind sharp" while she has to be in the wheelchair)

Santa got the message that we were at Meme & Papa's and made his delivery there. He also enjoyed the cookies and milk that Raven & Luke left for him.

Santa Cookies by Raven & Luke

Since we spent Christmas eve in Frederick with Meme & Papa, we had to make more cookies for Santa, of course. Raven and Luke had mailed a few letters detailing their wishes prior to knowing that we would not be home for Christmas. Raven took care of the duty of notifying Santa that we would not be home, but if it would not be too much trouble, he could bring their presents to their "Meme & Papa's house in Frederick, OK, Tillman County". He obliged. :)

Meet Earl

For the new year - we aspire to attain new adventures and achievements.
I think that JB's transformation was his first step!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Ya'll!


No further comment necessary . . . .

Freezable "Chicken Nuggets"

Like most kids, mine like "chicken nuggets". I really do not like to fry food, but even less like buying fast food for my kids. So, I have come up compromise: spend a few hours cutting battering and frying lean chicken breast in pure vegetable oil, then cooling, freezing and packing in a resealable plastic bag. This makes for super quick and easy lunches or dinners for the kids during busy times. They call it "Chinese Chicken", but it is really just a simple seasoned batter with 2 tablespoons of corn starch to give it the special crisp. They reheat beautifully too!

I usually do 6 to 8lbs at a time and like to fry it in my dutch oven.

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

• 8 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
• 2 1/4 cups self-rising flour (I use All Purpose and add about 1 tsp baking powder & 1 tsp baking soda)
  
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper (use about 5 turns of fresh ground black pepper)
• garlic salt or garlic powder - about 1 tsp
• ground cumin - about 1 tsp OR ground ginger is going Asian with them
• paprika - Spanish or smoked - whatever works - about 1 tps
  
• 1 egg
• 2 cups water
• Mix all of the batter ingredients together,
  
• i usually do 1 to 2 chicken breasts at a time, cubed & coated w/ batter.
• fry in veg oil until golden brown.
  
• drain & cool on a wire rack on a covered cookie sheet,
  
• then freeze on the rack on the sheet before moving to a zip top freezer bag for storage
• reheat in 400 degree over for about 10 minutes

Quartz Mtn Saturday

While JB & Ben rock climbed with ropes, Raven, Luke & I hiked up Quartz Mtn. It was a great hike and a good combo of hiking trails, bolder hopping and navigating around while off the trail. The kids were great! Luke found this little alcove that the kids took a brief rest in - and it was a nice view from there, it took a bit of coaxing to get Raven to make the rest of the trek up the mtn. We had a snack at the top then headed back down.
Another day of wonderful fall weather.
The Quartz mountain area was teaming with people, as was the Wichita Mtns, for Fall Break. We (me & the kids) were fortunate enough to not run into too many on our hike, the dad's not so lucky :)

Me, the kids & a buffalo on Mt Baldy

Raven, Luke & I hustled up Mt Baldy on Friday while JB & Ben looked for caves on top of Elk Mtn. The dad's didn't have much luck finding the caves they were looking for, but we found a lone buffalo on the way down Mt Baldy. The fall weather was wonderful! It was a great day for a hike.