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One Big Mama Pizza

Posted on December 14, 2008 11:09 am by TheAngelForever

Have you ever seen a 30 inch pizza before?

No really, I am being serious. Such a beast really does exist, and not simply on Food Network for an eating challenge. We recently found a new pizza place that is really cute. The people there are very nice and the best part, they make wheat pizza.

My mother called last Friday to see if we wanted to have dinner with her and order a wheat pizza since my father was working late. We said sure and figured we would try an experiment. Since there were five of us eating the pizza, and left overs would be great, we opted to order the Big Mama.

After walking in to pick up the pizza, we wondered if it may have been a rather large mistake (pun intended).

The gentleman had to walk around the counter to hand us the mega box holding this 30 inch pizza. I stood there in horror wondering how we were going to get that into our car. I knew it could not go on JL’s lap in the front, nor on the floor in the middle with the boys. Clearly, the trunk had to work. Problem was it was too big to simply go there. Thank goodness we have a mini-van and were able to collapse the third row. We were able to put the pizza back on that and wedge it into place with the stroller and NHL’s car seat. Here is a visual:

The pizza finally arrived safely at my parent’s house. Then another drama unfolded thanks to the size of the box. JL had to figure out how to get the box into the kitchen through the door frames.

Once on the table (where it took up the entire space) we could finally look inside the book to view our Big Mama pizza.

Lesson learned from this experience is that in the future we will leave Big Mama slice eating to the restaurant. We will not be taking home another one of these puppies any time soon.

Categories:
food glorious food interesting jl laughs photos sarcasm yummy

Our Festival of Lights

Posted on December 13, 2008 11:33 am by TheAngelForever

This week it is time to dig out our menorah, dreidels and get ready for the Festival of Lights.

01 - Chanukah 2007

Yes, Chanukah begins next Sunday at sundown. Chanukah is a holiday about a miracle that happened long ago. JL and I have been working really hard to try to show our boys the meaning of this miracle. We read lots of Chanukah books, sing songs, bake/make traditional goodies, and try to make it less about gifts. It may be hard to believe, but traditionally Chanukah was not a time for gift giving. Over time, it has gotten that way because of the proximity of the holiday with Christmas.

Each night for Chanukah, we light our menorah as a family and sit watching the candles burn bright while eating our dinner. A new tradition that we have started with our boys is to play Chanukah music during this time. Of course we love Adam Sandler’s Chanukah song, but a new favorite is Hanukkah Blessings by Barenaked Ladies. The song sends chills down my spine. It is absolutely beautiful and includes the blessings that we say over the candles each night. The songs have helped NHL, now five, learn the blessings.

How lucky are we that we
Have lights so that we can see
All though the day is done
What a miracle that a spark
Lifts these candles out of the dark
Every evening one by one
Until the end of Hanukkah
Of Hanukkah
With the jingle bells and the toys
And the TV shows and the noise
It’s easy to forget
At the end of the day
Our whole family will say
These words for Hanukkah:
Barukh Atah
ADONAI Elohaynu Melekh h’olom
asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tzivanu
l’hadlik nehr shel hannukah
We light the candles for Hanukkah
For Hanukkah

We remember how Maccabees
Fought so all of us could be free
So we celebrate
On this festival of the lights
There’s a joyful time every night
Where we illuminate
The candles of Hanukkah
Of Hanukkah
Barukh atah ADONAI
Elohaynu Melekh ha’olom
She’asah neesim l’avotaynu
bayamim hahem ba’zman hazeh
Hanukkah
Hanukkah

JL and I also love to share our traditions with NHL’s peers. In the past, we have gone in to celebrate with his classes. JL went to NHL’s daycare to play the dreidel game with them. Last year, I went to NHL’s Chanukah party at school.

This year, NHL’s kindergarten teacher asked me to come in next Wednesday to do something with the kids. I believe they are buying the materials to make potato latkes. We already bought each of the children their own dreidel. I plan on playing the game with them and doing some sort of craft.

Last year, we were lucky enough to celebrate part of Chanukah with our extended family. My parents had a Chanukah party during one of the nights. We had a wonderful time. JSL and Cousin S were celebrating their first Festival of Lights. My how the two of them have grown over the last year!

As you can see, we feel that it is very important to show the boys where our Jewish heritage is from and how to carry it on. We have been doing this since December 2003 when NHL celebrated his first Chanukah.

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It is our hope that our two boys will carry on these traditions for generations to come.

Categories:
family food glorious food holidays jl jsl looking back my boys nhl photos school yummy

Cakes or cupcakes…that is the question

Posted on December 5, 2008 8:56 am by TheAngelForever

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the Mr. Linky there if you are participating. Th

Aloha #25

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My question for this week:

Do you prefer making cakes or cupcakes? Why do you like one over the other and what is your favorite cake/cupcake to make?

For the last year or so I have been VERY into baking and decorating cupcakes. Of course, it is not limited to traditional cupcakes. Since we bought silicone cupcake holders we have been using them to make muffins, mini cakes, and more! Here are some that I made for the Election Day bake sale at NHL’s school:

For Thanksgiving I experimented with a favorite recipe. I took the fruit swirl cake that I love and made mini ones again. Here they are below with hubby’s peanut butter cookies.

Just a reminder to think outside of the box for your holiday baking!

Categories:
Aloha Friday baking food glorious food photos yummy

Thanksgiving 2008 – Part Deux

Posted on December 2, 2008 10:26 am by TheAngelForever

Thanks to family time together, Thanksgiving was fabulous. The boys had a wonderful time playing. Did I mention that NHL loved JSL’s new music set?

Thank you Aunt A, the boys absolutely love everything! They actually have little squabbles over the drum sticks. We have had to go over that they are to only be used on the drum, not each other or the walls or various other objects within the house.

After resting for a little while, cleaning up and playing it was time to eat some yummy goodies. JL and I baked in the morning. I made mini fruit swirl cakes (thanks to my old neighbor Mrs. D for that amazing recipe) and JL made peanut butter cookies. JL also prepared two pomegranates as well. The pies were delicious and everyone felt the need to be healthy and have at least some fruit. The little guy enjoyed the fruit the most.

After eating JSL snuggled up with Mimi for some hugs and time on the steps. He did the same thing earlier in the evening with Aunt T.

Soon after this Cousin A brought down his new dog to meet the boys. JSL was curious and fine with her until she licked his face a little too much.

Once the dog was safely back upstairs the boys decided to do their own Thanksgiving Day Parade. For quite some time the two of them paraded around in circles after each other. They were so happy just chasing each other, singing and laughing.