Before We Forget

Hello,

We're actually having blue skies and sunshine for a few days, it's been so nice! That's unheard of here in Seattle in January. I was even able to get out and do a little yard work the other day. 

Before Christmas becomes a distant memory, I wanted to share this different take on the song Mary Did You Know? If you haven't heard it, I'll try to include the link Here.

This made me think of all the kids and adults with special needs who struggle with these very issues. The Lord knows them, He sees them, and He loves them.

Beth and I were coming home from the grocery store the other day and had this conversation. Out of the blue she says:

B: Next time I make my sliders.

(We sometimes have sliders and chips for dinner. She comes upstairs and uses our bread, mayo, meat, etc. we make them together and then she takes her dinner back down to her place. I'm guessing that's what she's talking about.)

Me: The next time we have them you can make them yourself downstairs?

B: Mmm-hmm

Me: Oh, you have all the stuff to make them? The meat, and mayo and everything? That's great!

B: Yeah.

Me: That's excellent Beth. Sure, you can definitely make them downstairs then.

B: I forgot!

Me: You forgot what?

B: To buy the stuff.

Me: Oh, so you DON'T have the stuff to make them?

B: Yeah.

Me: Oh okay, we'll have to remember to put them on your list for next time.

B: Okay.

That's how most of our conversations go. She knows what she wants to say but doesn't always know the right words. Sometimes it takes us a while to figure it out. I'm grateful the Lord knows her heart though, and her every thought.

What else? Oh, Beth came upstairs recently very frustrated. I saw her go into the kitchen, she got a cup and headed back downstairs. I asked her if anything was wrong and she said something about a drip. Come to find out our bathtub drain was leaking and it was coming out in her room, right above where she sits to watch TV and write!

The plumber came out on Tuesday and was able to fix it in less than two hours. She was at All Aboard so I sent her a photo of the work he was doing. You can see the hole in the ceiling.

We've covered it temporarily and now we've got to get someone out to put up some new drywall. In the meantime we've moved her desk back into place and she's back to writing and watching TV from her regular spot.

After church today we went to Applebee's for lunch, then she and I went to Walmart. She was looking on-line for some gel pens and I guess she found them at Walmart. She searched through the many pens for the exact ones she saw on-line and then I heard her say, "There they are!" There were 6 in a package, so she bought two.

A few months ago Diana suggested we get the Family Album app since they're on the East coast, and now they're easily able to share pictures of Adelaide and Oliver with us. Three year old Adelaide just started taking ballet lessons, and six month old Oliver took one of his first rides in a swing:

We were just there a couple weeks ago but I miss them so much already!

Well, as we swing into next week, I hope each day is on point for you. :) Have a great week!

Ravioli Night

 Hi,

We've been home for a week now, our colds are gone and we're back into our routines. I don't know about you but when I get sick that's about all I can think about. It sort of consumes me and it's hard to function. I'm so glad to feel better again.

Our youngest daughter Diana married into a large Italian family and one of their Christmas traditions is Ravioli Night. A few days before Christmas they all get together - there were about 50 this year - and they make ravioli from scratch.

Someone makes all the dough ahead of time, then they pull out the ravioli machines and get to work. Everyone has a job, from the oldest to the youngest. Everyone is talking, there's laughter, and some even broke out into song more than once.

This little guy kept watch over the festivities

Diana and Adelaide

Peter and his Nana. Over Nana's shoulder is the 'roller' station. They use a rolling pin to sort of flatten, and cut the ravioli into individual pieces.

Once the dough is at the right thickness, it goes to the table with the molds. The molds are filled with cheese (also made ahead of time), then covered with more dough before being sent to the roller.

Nana and Grandpop - Peter's grandparents

The Patriarch and Matriarch of the family 

Sharaya and Ally filled all of the ravioli molds. For three hours people brought them the dough, they added the cheese and another layer of dough, then it went to the roller. From there they were sent to the racks in the garage.

Every job had enough helpers so I took pictures and hung out with Adelaide when she got done helping. But I was able to sit down and fill about 5 molds.

Beth helped take the leftover dough from the molds back to the table with the ravioli machines but I didn't get any pictures of her. 

I asked one of Peter's aunts how long this tradition has been going on and she said she remembers being a preschooler and helping at her grandparents house (Nana and Grandpops parents) and she is 70 now! They keep track of how many they make and this year it was over 1000! That's happened only a few times over the years. 

This is just one of three trays, or boxes actually. They cover them with baking powder (baking soda? we can't remember and it's too late to ask Diana or Peter - they're three hours ahead of us) and let them sit for a day or two. 

When the cheese is gone, they take all the leftover dough and shape it into noodles. Nothing is wasted!

When it's ready they distribute them to the families. On Christmas day our family all went to Peter's parents and we had fresh ravioli for dinner. Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of it but trust me it was delicious!

I've never been a part of something like this. It was quite a process, and to have that much family all working together toward one goal was amazing to see. (Thank you Sharaya for some of your pictures!)

Does your family have any long-standing traditions? Have you ever made pasta from scratch? (You may have more information on the process than I do!) If so, please tell us your story!

A Whirlwind Trip

Hi everyone,

How was your Christmas? Your New Year celebration? Chuck and I have been so congested we didn't celebrate New Years this year. The first time that I can remember. 

But we're feeling better now and I feel like I can finally take a deep breath. What a whirlwind few weeks we've had.

We flew out on the 17th, took a red-eye into Newark, NJ and went right to the hotel to sleep. A few hours later Chuck went back to the airport to pick up Sharaya and Ally (Sharaya didn't find out her days off until the last minute and we had already bought our tickets) and that started ten days of celebrating three birthdays and an Italian Christmas!

Adelaide turned three this year and she helped make and decorate her own cake. That was the first big thing we did after arriving.

They got about 5 inches of snow just a few days before we arrived, then got an inch or so after we got there. It was cold and sometimes icy but we were willing to brave the elements to spend time together. 

We spent one day at an outdoor market. Got some coffee and hot chocolate to carry around with us then enjoyed all the shops. 

The sign outside this art gallery read, "More than just Thomas Kincade" and they were right. She was so excited to see all the Disney art! Rooms and rooms of art, scenes from Paris, London, art from Monet and van Gogh. We could have spent a lot more time in here. 

A lot of our time was spent playing games, hanging out, we went out to eat a couple of times, and we got to snuggle with Adelaide and Oliver. We couldn't get enough of those two.

Diana and Peter's birthdays are just a few days apart and are close to Christmas so just before we left we celebrated them together. I want to say, Peter is such a good man and treats our daughter well. We're so grateful for him.

There's so much more but I'll share that next time. We caught colds a few days before we flew home and we're not not 100% yet. 

I hope you're all doing well. I head back to work on Monday and I plan to read your posts soon. Happy New Year!