Mental Health Day Part 2

Steven and George's mental health day was just three days after we girls took our trip to Disney. They flew in a sea plane! Steven, like many boys his age, is obsessed with the military. His dream is to be in the Coast Guard and fly to rescue missions. (That is of course if he doesn't make it in the NFL as a Tampa Bay Buc :)) The two of them flew right over the restaurant, and we all came out to wave at them. It was so neat. Steven said the coolest part was that the pilot let him take the yoke and actually fly himself.

He spent the afternoon of his relaxing day in the backyard with his dog, Roxy. The two of them did what they do best.....DIG TRENCHES! 

Steven's self portrait

Mental Health Day

We allow the kids to have one "mental health day" per school year. Between keeping their grades up and extra curricular activities, they work hard! Our second semester just wrapped up, so we are at the half way point for school. I figured about now would be a good time for a break.

Monday was Amanda Lily's day. We had plans for a girls only trip to Disney with our friends Trish and Grace, but Grace came down with strep, so it became a Mommy/Daughter day. The weather was beautiful, and my girl was all smiles as we headed past her school and towards Orlando. We sang "It's a small world" right when drove through the Disney gates. It's a cheesy thing that we have done since the kids were itty bitty. The place was empty. We went to fast pass Space Mountain, and the greeter told us to just get in line, because there was no line! We walked right onto the ride. We did every ride she wanted, and had a yummy lunch at Cinderella's castle. It was the best meal I've ever had a Disney. The short ribs and almond cheesecake were wonderful. Amanda Lily had the best time taking pictures with the Princesses, and riding all the girly rides. Not that we don't love our boys, but it was nice for it to be just us. Being that she'll be 8 at her next birthday, I know my days of her living in a fairy tale are numbered. So I am doing my best to relish this time with my little princess.
                               
                        Amanda Lily's face after Space Mountain

                                                        Us being silly

                                                  Her and Cinderella.....

                                                  Sleeping Beauty

                                                    Snow White

                                                           Ariel

                                           and her all time fav Belle.

DIY Ballet Barre

I thought about going online and purchasing a ballet barre. Hubs had the genius idea to use a nice piece of hand rail like the one on our staircase. He also used hand rail brackets to secure it in place, and we saved ourselves some big bucks! We are thinking of using the spare $ to have a custom piece of mirror cut out to cover the entire wall where the barre is mounted. Amanda Lily loves that she can now work on her ballet at home.

Banana Nut Bread

My favorite banana nut bread recipe. This is a staple in our home. I buy bananas at every trip I take to the Co-Op and grocery store. We peel and freeze them for school morning smoothies, but everyone's favorite is when the banana peels get good and black, and there is nothing left to do but make banana bread. This recipe fills the house with the most wonderful aroma.

INGREDIENTS
1 stick softened butter
1 1/2 cup sugar (i use organic cane sugar)
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
4 tbsp milk
1 cup mashed bananas (3)
1 1/2 cup white wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup pecans (optional)

Blend softened butter and sugar until well incorporated. Add eggs, vanilla, milk, and bananas. Add dry ingredients to mixture along with pecans. Stir until just moistened. Bake in sprayed loaf pan in 350 oven about 1 hour.

I couldn't even get a good picture before the cooling banana bread was attacked and half eaten!

Segway Tour

This past weekend, we sent the kids over to Nana and Papa, and went on a fun date to Clearwater. We went on a Segway tour. You know, those ridiculous ride on things that you always laugh under your breath about when you see people riding them. We went an entire 2 hours away in the hopes that no one we know would see us. It was HILARIOUS....and much to our surprise, super fun! It was a two hour guided tour of the old historic district, and "millionaire's mile" We also crossed a huge bridge (not my favorite part). It was chilly outside, so we were all bundled up in our winter coats, scarves, and gloves.
Afterwards, we drove over to Ybor's Columbia restaurant for 1905 salad and mojitos. Delicious!

New Years Eve!

New Years Eve this year was spent at Yia Patra and Papou' Vassilis house. We had the traditional Greek cake. The tradition goes that you bake a cake with a coin hidden inside. Once you cut and serve it, whomever get the piece with the coin is said to have good luck in the coming new year. If no one gets it, then the luck goes to the home the cake is cut in. This year, Papou' Vassili was the lucky winner. Cronia Pola Vassili!

The kids had a blast watching Dick Clark's special, then dancing to LMFAO. We were happy to be surrounded by closest of friends and family.

Greek Family Christmas

Christmas dinner at Yia Yia and Papou's farmhouse. The biggest surprise for the grand kids was a new farm animal.....a donkey!!! Since he's a Christmas gift, they decided to name him "Dominick"

These next photos are for family in Greece to see everyone. Enjoy!

                     Almost ready for our newest family member.

                             Horsing around with Uncle Jimmy.

                               Greek Dancing....Cronia Pola!!!

Christmas Morning 2011

Part of our Christmas morning tradition is that I make cinnamon rolls and a breakfast casserole. These are a rich treat my family looks forward to every year. Sausage breakfast casserole is easy because I just pop it into the oven, as it is prepared the night before. The cinnamon rolls are a tradition that our family in Greece (thank you Heidi) passed to us. I remember being only 19 years old and Heidi telling me about how she makes cinnamon rolls for her kids each Christmas, and I thought it was a nice tradition that could connect us across the miles. I've made them for our children every year. I believe these types of connections make the food prepared taste even better, because it is made with loving thoughts.

I always think of loved ones and friends whenever I cook. I often find myself listening to music from the 40's while baking, because it makes me remember days in the kitchen with my Nannie as a young girl. She used to LOVE listening to old Standards. I wonder if when Amanda Lily and Steven are parents, they will bake to Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett, and be taken back to our kitchen. I hope so. The thought warms me.

Sausage Casserole
1 16oz package sausage (I have used turkey and pork)
8 slices of sourdough bread cut into cubes
2/3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 cups 2% low fat milk, divided
1 cup egg substitute
1 tbsp dijon mustard
1 (10.75oz) can of cream of mushroom soup (I use reduced sodium)
*This needs to be prepared the night before.*

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Spray lightly with cooking spray. Add sausage to pan and cook until browned and crumbled. Arrange bread in a 13 x 9 inch baking dish, coated with cooking spray. Top evenly with cooked sausage and cheddar cheese. Combine 2 1/2 cups of milk, egg substitute, and dijon mustard, stirring with a whisk. Pour over bread mixture in dish. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Preheat oven to 350. Whisk remaining 1/2 cup of milk and soup. Pour over bread mixture and bake for 1 hour or until browned. I bake for 1 1/2 hours because my family enjoys a crispy crust. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving. Yields 8 servings.

Steven is growing to enjoy Science. Santa brought  him a telescope.

Amanda Lily is still a girly girl who loves her dolls. Santa brought her an American Girl.

My most memorable gift this year was from Amanda Lily. She wrote a book for George and me. It is absolutely precious. Here is the "forward" and picture on page one. The book is 15 pages long, so this is just a sampling. 

New Years....New Furry Friends

Uncle Dan stopped by with a surprise to share with the kids on New Years Day. He and Aunt Jess are the proud parents of a new puppy, and she is ADORABLE! The kids went crazy for her. Amanda Lily begged for a new "little" dog for hours after she went home. She's a little Corgi, and joins another Corgi named "Biscuit." Danny wanted to name her "Gravy", but Jess wouldn't have it so they settled on the next best thing...."Gracie"