Thanksgiving Line-up

It's hard to believe that Turkey Day has come and gone. I feel like the Time Traveler's Wife. All the holidays seem to run together these days and all the days I'm playing catch up to the next one. So let's spend a little more time on this fabulous Holiday, shall we? It's all about the food here (which I love) and unbuttoning your pants (in no particular order). I unbuttoned mine right after the mac and cheese. But, you can do this at any time really.

Speaking of mac and cheese....here is our line-up of the all-stars that made the menu list this year. Don't drool on your keyboard people...I don't do replacements or refunds.

The appetizers (or pre-game, if you will)...consisted of a relish tray, mexican dip, and a Fam Bam craze....bacon wrapped brown sugar smokies, YUMM!


Once that was over, it started with the Pie...Pumpkin to be exact...Mrs Smith's if you have to be nosy. That sucker needed to bake and get out of my way.


Next up to bat, Saige helped me make the Candied Yams. She's got mad peeling skills, but apparently doesn't want anyone to take her picture while she's doing it.


In Okinawa, they don't grow orange sweet potatoes I guess...because I never saw a ONE. They are into the Benimo, purple sweet potato. Apparently, it saved thousands of starving people when Okinawa was hit with a famine period hundreds of years ago. They make candy and ice cream out of it even (amongst other things). But, you can imagine my thrill when I finally got to make my traditional yam recipe! Sweeet!


Playing shortstop...the Corn Souffle. I think about my seester when I make this dish...because it is sprinkled with thyme and oh so delish!


Keeping it all together, the Down Home Macaroni and Cheese! You all know it, and love it...


Somehow, I managed to leave the Green Bean Casserole out of the photo list, but it was SO there! You can see it below somewhere, I'm sure.

Add a little Zucchini and Tomatoes (my total fave and everyone else's kryptonite, but since I was cooking...too bad, it's on the list).


And the cranberries and turkey skin to round out the outfield.


This year's MVP, the Turkey!! I did not cook my turkey this year (so I guess it is technically disqualified as MVP), we ordered it deep fried through the Officer's Club on Ramstein. With the miniature size oven space the Germans rock and the 220 voltage in my house, I thought it best to just order it this time and save myself the agony with trying to fight the turkey. It was awesome!!!


JD couldn't wait to get busy on that bird...

Ok, so here's the real MVP...my homemade rolls! They were the best thing on the plate...hands down. I'm making more tomorrow...


And that's the line-up...gravy and all.

It was a pretty intimate dinner and I'm so glad we got to eat together for our first one here. We went around the room and said out loud what we were thankful for...


JD said, "I'm thankful for all of us to be together and the Indiana Jones game I want for my birthday"

Saige said, "I'm thankful for my Family and our home."

Teage said, "I don't wanna..."

George said, "I'm thankful that we're done saying thankfuls so we can eat...ok, and for all of us being loud, healthy, and happy together."

Amen to that!


After we did "cheers" about ten times (Teage insisted and YES that is sparkling apple cider in the kids' glasses...only), we ate our dinner and laughed and continued to be the loud people we are. Who said Thanksgiving as to be all prim?...I think I spent at least 10 minutes trying stop Teage from pouring apple cider on his brother due to a sibling rivalry moment at the table.

It was perfect and totally in the Fam Bam tradition.


After dinner, we watched movies, talked to Family on the phone, and there was some Lego building involved. Next morning, George and I headed out to the BX about 6:30 (not in a line, just as regular customers) and picked up some things we had eyeballed in the ad...I'm so glad my hubby likes to shop with me. It makes the receipt total not seem as evil. Then we had a nice lunch and headed back home to the kids. A couple hours later, Saige and I headed back out and bought our movie tickets to see New Moon finally. It was good (personally, it was a little peak and valley to me)....but the ending left you wanting more which is always the point, I guess. While Saige and I were waiting for the movie to start, we went into the credit union to make the electric payment and they were doing a hourly gift card giveaway, so I entered for the following hour (to Saige's huge dismay "Mom, you're not gonna win"). So we went back by at the top of the hour just to see and I WON!! $30 Visa card to me....what can I say, I have good karma! Needless to say, Saige was in shock and said "That is so cool, I think you won because I was saying you wouldn't" Kids are so funny! I just shook my head and was like "Yeah I guess that's it, but next time how about we be more positive....cause your mom's a WIENER!!!" HA HA! Saturday...will consist of downtown, the Christmas Market, and more Fam fun. Until then....

We hope everyone's Holiday was just as much fun and full of laughter & memorable moments like ours. We miss all our Family and Peeps all over the world and want you to know that you are always with us no matter what Holiday or where we are. Love to you all...

Next up...my boy's birthday!!!

Love Ya ♥

Spooky Days!

What a FUN week we had... (* click to enlarge photos *)

As Family Fun Activities Coordinator in the Fam Bam, I stacked the week with many expeditions, some haunted and some not. First things first, last weekend we went to the October Carnival downtown. I was completely ecstatic to go since it has been over 10 years since I visited my old stomping grounds....err, fairgrounds, the South Florida Fair. I didn't realize how much I missed the food, exhibits, overpriced object throwing games, and rides until we stepped foot onto the Messeplatz Fairgrounds here. I guess they must have German scouts that scour the US looking for great rides to use because all the oldies and goodies were there. I'm talking the Himalaya, the Round-Up, the crickety old roller coaster, the house of mirrors, and of course THIS....

It was known as the Pirate Ship in my day and it is evil!!! I would rather have my tonsils removed than plant my behind on this thing! This is also the case when it comes to any tower of terror, elevator drop, or bungee jump contraption. Saige & JD ran up to the pirate ride with no hesitation. I wasn't sure if they realized the life or death risk they were embarking on...but who am I to pass my judgments onto others? Everyone needs to experience life's little thrills, right? Oh, and I didn't realize there were naked, hookah women all over the backdrop until today when loading up my photos on the desktop.


I'm assuming nobody noticed...because the kids were shell-shocked!! I could hear Saige screaming from the sky. And JD had this "That was fun, but I don't want to EVER do that again" look on his face.

Mom's ARE a wealth of information you know...and have a pretty good idea on how to keep their kids alive.

Here's my cameo...getting off, I mean running off, the rickety roller coaster that I promise was made in the 1920's. And yes, that is George holding Teage (he insisted he was not too little to endure this...They would have NEVER let him on this ride in the states) but you know in Europe, they could care less. Your kid can smoke & drink at age 16 here...go figure!!


Teage wanted to get on every mini-car ride he could catch in his sights. He kept trying to find the big rigs saying, "Where's O-timus Prime?"...cutie!




There was also the pony/horse rides, and T was all about it. I always felt so bad for the horses and their life of circular hell at these venues. I just hope they get to graze on big, green pastures during their off-time and enjoy whatever it is that big, green pastures have to offer :o) Either way, you gotta love a horseback ride....


While the similarities were evident at the good old fair, there were some differences.

Like how about you play a little ball throwing game to win your very own German beer stein?!


Sooo much better than winning a big stuffed animal that ends up in the basement because you have too much crap!! We didn't win one by the way...

Or Jim Bob Becker, the talking moosehead, chillin' atop a drink stand...


Perhaps you would expect to see pumpkins run amok, since it is Fall. BUT, is this what comes to mind?

...ok, maybe it is ;o) That gourd is smoking, for real! And what about those eyes?? Hmmmm...

Good Times at the Kaiserslautern Fall Carnival!!

Next up, we spent a weeknight taking the kids to the Ramstein Community Center for the "Family Friendly" Haunted House.


That's my kind of Haunted House! I don't "do" Haunted scare-me places ever since I peed my pants heavily at the awkward age of 11...Location: Haunted Woods in Tennessee. There's more to that story...some of you know it and if you don't, well ask me sometime.

So it was super small, and very not spooky, well....except for that guy that grabbed my ankles while I was trying to get JD to go through this tube.


I thought they weren't supossed to touch you in haunted houses....FREAK!

T & J had fun and even Saige got in on the action afterward...more like caught in the action.


There was a craft table set up across from the haunted room...and the kids each chose one to do. Teage decided to cut out a pumpkin. I had to show this. He's completely unaware of his little concentration quirk...but WOW, I'm totally impressed by his scissor skills!


JD just spent the whole time admiring his spider ring and drawing the Haunted Mansion.


Finally, the big day came. I swear, Teage was asking me up to 20 times a day if it was Trick or Treat time yet. He was super-excited to really use his Batman costume properly. He has been putting it on everyday to mentally prepare for his role. However, on Thursday I realized I couldn't locate the dang thing. With our painting and organizing of the house still going on, I was worried we'd never find where he stashed it. Luckily, it was stuffed under his tykes table in a ball. Anyway, JD was none other than...the Joker! Of course they both wanted to be each others nemesis. In this case the enemy towers over the hero, but what a great duo...


Don't ask me about the make-up...I figured the Joker is really not a make-up artist either so I just smeared it, I was channeling the Heath Ledger version. Plus, I was in the back of our truck and it was dark (don't worry, we weren't crackheads on the side of the road...we were downtown that afternoon and so we just packed our Halloween essentials with us to go on base). Saige didn't "dress-up". Unless you call wearing Stitch ear barrettes in your hair and Stitch T-Shirt dressing up (and yes, she wore that last year, too...even though I bought her cutie masks for this year, grown kids are so weird sometimes). She still looked cute of course!

What a great night...even if it was 40 degrees!! Check out the rest of the pics from T or T night! (JD really takes his character seriously...just sayin')




Once I told them I was happy with the amount of candy they retrieved for me, we piled in the truck to defrost and go to dinner. Teage was passed out before we even made it to the parking lot. Back to the food. I have been craving Thai food like a psychotic woman since being here (talk about irony). I brought my frozen camera inside to snap a picture (like I have been meaning to) of my usual green curry chicken dish and once again, I couldn't contain myself and gobbled up the whole bowl before shooting it. Blasts!! I did manage to catch the kids' fortunes from their cookies...do they secretly know my kids at the fortune cookie factory or WHAT?!

Saige's:



JD's:


This is what I saw when we pulled into the driveway and looked back...Saige was awake and didn't hesitate to inform me how mean it was for me to take a picture of JD like that. She knows anything snapped by momma has potential to go up on the World Wide Web I guess. LOL! How cute that she stands up for him though.

Terrific week!!!!

Last note...I went to the Red Ribbon Run this past weekend for a newsletter article I am writing and there were an astounding amount of people out there. I just want to give a shout-out to DARE, MADD, SADD, and Nancy Reagan for helping us Just Say No!! I pass on the message to stay safe...and call a cab if you ever have one too many glasses of Spooky Sangria!!


Now it's late and this blog has officially consumed practically all of my Sunday. So, as my kids put it...

Pumpkin Carving 101

I bought two pumpkins last week so that the kids could get their "carve" on. I love when the Fall Holidays come around. I had bought this drill attachment/pumpkin-gut-scraper-thingy last year AFTER Halloween and never had a chance to use it, so I was excited to see how it worked. Of course it was cold outside so we had to throw on all necessary glove and hat attire...which is not ideal when scooping out slimy punkin' guts.

Anyway, you should always get yourself a nice size pumpkin with at least one side looking fabulous. Then you need to choose a pattern....Teage was in charge of choosing this first design. He knew right away he wanted a spooky bat ("but not a 'cary bat Mom", he reminded me). And I have no idea why JD is on the ground...just always tryin' to be "laid out" somewhere.



You know, I was a little disappointed because the big kids had too be hit over the head practically to come outside and join the festivities. What is with that?? Finally, at one point I said "why are we doing this?"...and once again Teage chimed in..."I'm gonna make the punkin!" Yes you are lil man!


After the top came off, I had each of them take part and cleaning out the seeds.


Once JD plunged his arm down in there, he had a major meltdown.


"This is GROOOOOSS!!! ...and my hand is freezing!!" He never was one for handling really different textures. I told him to smile and this is what I got LOL...the look on his face is priceless.


The funny thing is, we do this every year...you'd think it wouldn't be gross anymore. Saige handled it like she was a pro, or maybe it was just that she had better things to do and wanted to get it over with....she scooped guts like nobody's business!!



This was George's job...cutting and drilling. Way to go Daddy!


I love roasted pumpkin seeds!


The finished product came out excellent...



but it kinda took forever. So we opted to carve the second one later this week...JD chose the Pirates of the Carribean skull and swords. SPOOOOOKY!!

I can't wait for Halloween now...