Harvest Party Ornaments

My mom has created these cute keep sake ornaments commemorating our annual Harvest Parties.  She designs an ornament of each grandchild, every year in their Halloween Costumes.  Everyone enjoys looking at the ornaments and reminiscing about the past.  Mom is really good about creating special traditions and memories in our family. 

Here's some pictures:

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Merry Christmas 2009!

Red Shoes & Happy Feet before the unwrapping begins on Christmas morning

Look at the excitement on those faces...especially dad's!

Backpack backpack

Taking the new Glow Worm for a cruise

Wow!

Christmas Cold...

What was Santa thinking?!

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Sun-Dried Tomato & Feta Pasta

Red Shoes had a doctor's appointment late this afternoon. It was one of those days where I had NO idea what to make for supper. I looked in my cupboards and spaghetti and oil packed sun-dried tomatoes stuck out. I remembered that I had some shrimp in the deep freeze and the meal was on! Talk about fast food. This is FAST! We will surely have this again soon. We thought we were eating at a fine Italian restaurant. Hope you enjoy it!


1 (16 oz.) package spaghetti noodles
1/4 cup oil from sun dried tomatoes
4 cloves garlic, crushed
8.5 oz. chopped, sun-dried tomatoes
1 (8 oz.) package feta cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1 lb. peeled, deveined, shrimp (cooked)

Directions:
1. Boil water, and cook spaghetti for recommended time. Drain. Return spaghetti to pot.

2. Mix in oil, garlic, tomatoes Feta, and Parmesan Cheese. Stir in cooked shrimp. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm. Pin It

Christmas Placemats

I'm hosting Christmas this year on my husbands side of the family.  I was brainstorming one day and came up with this placemat idea.  I enjoy old pictures and finding ways to use them.  I decided to try making placemats using pictures from Christmas's past.  There will be a picture of every family member at the dinner.  I think it will make for some fun conversation. 

I just hit my mother in law up for some old pictures.  I scanned them into my computer

Using Googles free Picasa program I selected full page for the print layout. 

I turned all of the photos into black and whites to make it more timeless. 

I took some black construction paper and used it for the backing, then centered the picture on top. 
Then I ran it through the laminator.

Here's the finished product! 

They were a hit!  It gave the family things to talk about, and I liked how it involved the young and the old.  It was neat to see my guests just float around the tables looking at all of the placemats as they rekindled old memories. This could even be a nice gift idea for your friends or family.

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Corn & Potato Chowder

1 teaspoon oil
2 teaspoon sherry (okay to omit if you don't have it on hand)
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup sliced carrots
2 stalks of celery, chopped
2 cups red potatoes
1 bay leaf
1 cup vegetable broth
1 cup skim milk
1 cup corn
cayenne pepper to taste

In large, heavy saucepan, heat oil and sherry until bubbling.  Add onion and saute 5 minutes (if mixture appears dry add 1-2 teaspoons of water).  Add carrots, celery, bay leaf, potatoes and stock.  Cover, bring to boil and cook over medium heat for 10-15 minutes or utnil potatoes are tender.  Discard bay leaf.  Puree one cup of  soup in blender, then return to pot.  Season with cayenne pepper.

**If time doesn't allow you don't have to blend the soup in the blender.  Most of the time I don't.
This is a great soup for those cold winter days.  Pin It

Barnyard Babyshower

My youngest sister is about to have her second baby any day.  As I've been thinking about the arrival of my new neice or nephew, I've been thinking about baby showers.   After my sister had her first baby we threw her a Barnyard babyshower.  She is a farmer, so we decided that was perfect theme!  We had so much fun planning this day and making it really special for her.  Here's some pictures from the day:

The Invitation:

For decorations we went with balloons from Oriental Trading that were in a cow print, we were also able to order the red checked table clothes from there too.  If you're interested you can find the balloons at: http://www.orientaltrading.com/ui/browse/processRequest.do?demandPrefix=12&sku=70/3496&mode=Searching&erec=0&D=cow+balloons&Ntt=cow+balloons&Ntk=all&Dx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%2bmatchallpartial&N=0&requestURI=processProductsCatalog&sd=Cow+Print+Latex+Balloons

My mom made the barn that you see pictured below.  She's amazing!  It really added a nice touch.  When it was time for my sister to open her presents she sat on the hay bale. 

We placed these suckers (also from Oriental Trading) in grass for a few of the centerpieces. 

The kids loved these!

For the rest of the centerpieces we used arrangements that my mom

made up from her many beautiful gardens.

We strung some fishing line and used clothes pins to hang paper onesies.  All of the guests were asked to write something on the onesies (words of encouragement, parenting tips, etc.) 

We had a nice assortment of food for the brunch.  This is my mom getting the yogurt bar ready.  We used the three-tier basket to include granola, berries, you know all of the good toppings.  This was a hit!

Pictured at left are some barnyard sugar cookies my mom made.  To the right...yogurt parfaits

Guests going through the buffet. 

On the menu was:

Egg Casserole

Link Sausage

Cinnamon Rolls

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Yogurt Parfaits

Sugar Cookies

Bean Dip

Veggie Tray

Fizzy Lemonade (a mixture of lemonade and Sprite)

Tea

Coffee

This was one of the games we played.  It's called the "Sweet Baby Game".  Guests try to match which candy/candybar goes with each statement.  For instance, "Tummy after Pregnancy"  the answer would be Jelly Belly. 

Guests played Baby Shower Bingo while my sister opened her gifts.  It gave them something

to do and the winner received a nice gazpacho basket.

My sister watching as her family loves on her new baby.

My other sister holding Happy Feet.  She helped coordinate this shower. 

We love planning parties!

My mom with her two granddaughters.  Maybe this new baby will make three? 

The Guest of Honor...

The little kids cluster...doesn't my sister look like a great mom? 

She is!

Here's my sister, and her father in law is pictured in the background.  I love this picture.  It's like you can see how excited he is to be a grandpa!

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