House Rules

They surprised me! They wanted to go to WALMART on the day after Christmas. ::snort:: They wanted to people watch AND buy any clearanced Chocolate Oranges.  

Before we left we put color and glitter in our hair. It is still my goal to make the "People of Walmart" cut while we live here. Arielle assures me I've probably already made the cut. ::snort::  We went to Walmart. Alas, no chocolate oranges for the greedy hoards of Gherkins.....but I DID get grocery shopping for the week done. I am acclimating to Walmart - slowly. 

Krista created Bridal Shower invitations. I added addresses. Zander stamped them and we mailed the bulk of the invites.

We settled in to visit and play while we waited for Dakota to arrive (and Izaak and BreAnne, but mostly Dakota).  They showed up in time for dinner and we had a fun evening together.

We sat around the tables well after the food was gone....adults were talking...youth and kids began a game of Thirty-one.

Dakota

Nolan has found it always helps to sing Opera to your cards

We have this "thing" known as "Gherkin House Rules." No game is ever played EXACTLY as written. This has perturbed some in the home - but it continues. It was no great surprise then when TWISTER became NINJA TWISTER.....

Nolan the human pretzel

Just before the crash of 2013

 

Somehow I missed snapping a photo of Bre.  I was cooking and everyone was visiting when she RAN IN THE DOOR and hugged Michael. It just all happened so unexpectedly and then we were "being" and I forgot.....I'll take care of that today.

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

"Original" Yumm Sauce

Cafe Yumm is an Oregon based restaurant which began in Eugene. I've eaten at Cafe Yumm a few times while visiting Eugene. After talking with Krista about what she likes to eat these days (vegetarian) I decided to google to find a recipe for Yumm sauce.  Krista puts rice and veggies in a bowl, tops it with Yumm sauce and takes it to work. This would be a good vegan topping for baked potatoes, pasta, veggies....

This was the perfect meal for us today.....I steamed rice, sauteed some veggies, set out cheese, olives, tomatoes, avocado, cucumbers, black beans, chicken, TVP crumbles. Everyone built their own bowl....vegan, vegetarian and omnivore. Most liked the sauce but salsa, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and ketchup were available as well.  Below is the recipe we used. 

Ingredients - 
For the Yumm Sauce 
1/2 C water
1/2 C fresh lemon juice
1/2 C oil
1/2 C almond meal or finely chopped almonds (I just blended them up)
1/3 C nutritional yeast
1/2 C cooked garbanzo beans (Chick Peas)
1/4 C cooked soybeans or 1/3 C tofu (I used tofu)
1-2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp curry powder
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried cilantro (I left out)
Chipotle powder (Several of us added this for a kick)

For the Original Yumm Bowl 
Brown rice, cooked
Black beans, cooked
Shredded cheddar cheese (opt)
Salsa
Diced fresh tomato
Sliced fresh avocado
Sliced black olives
Sour Cream
Fresh Cilantro sprigs

Directions

Mix water and lemon juice together and set aside. Measure oil and set aside. 

Process the rest of the ingredients until fully ground - about 15 seconds. 

With the machine running, pour lemon juice/water into the feed tube at a steady stream. Process for a minute. 

With the machine running pour oil into the feed tube at a steady pace. Process until smooth and creamy - about 15 seconds. 

Store in a covered jar overnight for flavors to mingle. I made ours in the a.m. and we used it at lunch. 

Directions to Assembly the Original Yumm bowl  I don't think any of us followed this - but it gives you and idea

Place a scoop of brown rice in a bowl, latyer a scoop of black beans over the rice. Drizze the rice and beans with a desired amount of Yumm sauce, sprinkle cheese over rice if desired. 

Spoon a dollop of salsa in the middle of the bowl, spoon tomato, avocado, olives around the permieter. Place a dollop of sour cream in the center of the bowl (we didn't), garnish with cilantro sprigs and serve. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Happy Birthday Jesus 2013

I woke up at 0400  - which guaranteed plenty of time for some Christmas Morning solitude and reflection......

 And plenty of time to get the traditional Cinnamon rolls going for breakfast. The big pan is the normal-though-healthier-cinnamon rolls. The bottom pan was made without dairy, eggs or sugar...... date honey and cinnamon...coconut cream....good - best when warm. LOL  They are vegan but not Daniel Fast friendly....

The kids and Michael taught me Gin Rummy and I played with the remote "clicker" for my camera while we waited for the rolls to rise and then bake. 

A shot without produce in the foreground ::wink:: 

We are happy to be home and to have Krista with us today too. We opened Christmas Stockings and gifts from my parents. 

The girls cracked me up - the same pose with a perfectly good chair in between them

We began our celebration reading and sharing from Luke 2

 The kids went out yesterday and filled my stocking. These crack me up. Arielle said there were perfect as they are toe socks like Japan, warm and fuzzy and they are mis-matched. She and I have an on-going joke.....I buy her socks...she mis-matches them.

Stacia won the most excited award...a container full of dimes

I found THIS in my Christmas stocking....

Pearls - wow. 

I had asked Krista what she usually had for lunch/dinner these days. She mentioned Cafe Yumm. I googled....and we made some Yumm sauce and had rice bowls for lunch. 

We spent the afternoon putting puzzles together, visiting, playing games, going to Frozen...

Mom and Dad gave Michael the world's smallest puzzle - 234...look at how tiny the pieces are

Working on the tiny puzzle

Happy Birthday Jesus

We were happy to communicate with Josiah, Bre, both Grandmas, Siblings via Facebook and text messages. Michael enjoyed touching base via the phone with Mom G and John and Mary. We loved our family Skype with the two of the Texas Gherkins this afternoon. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Christmas Eve Mail Call....

Mail call is always exciting.  It is ESPECIALLY exciting on Christmas Eve Day.  We LOVED receiving many more Christmas cards this year than typical. I'm actually motivated me to consider sending out a New Year's letter. 

But....one certain letter interested Arielle more than any other....She's been waiting...not so patiently....

It finally arrived....."The PINK SLIP" from the Driver's Ed in the Box folks. She needs this pink slip, proving she has had classroom time, before she can take the DMV test for a driving  PERMIT.  I do believe CA is the hardest state to acquire a driver's license.  I'm sure we'll be going down for the DMV test soon.

I meant to get a photo of all the kids in front of the Foothill Chapel's tree. It didn't happen, but I did snatch this one before the service. 

Fine representatives of the Protestant and Catholic communities

We roped Krista into help ushering

We drove around and looked at some lights after the service. I was surprised how few nativities we saw. 

We are still waiting for two gifts which were supposed to arrive "before Christmas." ::sigh:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Krista is Here!

We've heard the best time to go to Walmart is early morning. I determined this morning would be a good day for a Walmart Adventure. I got up, threw some clothes on and asked who was game to go with me. Zander was! I completed the ensemble with fur-lined Crocs. 

As we walked out the door I asked, "Do we look like people of Walmart?" 

Zander answered, "We look like alcoholics." ::snort:: 

We had a fun morning...we had a few things to pick up and we were very relaxed....others weren't quite so relaxed.  Back at home we showered and grabbed some breakfast. 

This is what happens when one leaves a glass under the water filter in the door of the fridge and walks off.

We waited. Krista left OR at 0530. According to Google we could expect her at 1400. We thought maybe 1330. She called at 1000 to tell us she was in Redding, CA. Michael thought she must have left earlier than 0530. Isn't he darling watching for the car? I love that he has such a big heart for our children.

 He somehow KNEW it was time to go outside. I thought she'd sent him a text, but she hadn't. 

THIS is a classic Daddy photo. He's smiling and slyly asking how long it took her...she's smiling and checking the watch. Seven hours. A record. 

Two Sisters and a Dog

I can see this gal on the mission field - but for today - I'm thrilled she's here in CA. 

After a late lunch, Krista challenged Michael to a game or two of Bananagrams. Michael is the champ at word games. Krista wins 95% of the Scrabble games she plays. Michael won today. 

These two like "Throw the Pig" better....

Backyard game of catch 

Next up was the park, snacks, movies and the hot tub. 

God's been teaching me (anew) this season to choose joy in the moment, rather than wishing "everyone" was here or looking ahead to years when we'll be far apart. Today was full of many joy-filled moments. It is enough. It is more than enough. 

Choosing Joy!
©2013 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...