Family Christmas

Wednesday, December 29th all of the kids were home to celebrate Christmas with us. They also helped us do some cooking and cleaning as all the Kuklenz Klan arrived on Thursday.

Doug is shown here making some spritz cookies
(made especially for his Caramel Macchiatos)

We did have some fun too!
Jill & I played Bananagrams and all of us watched the movie "IronMan2".
During the movie, we heard a loud pop and found out the batteries in the remote had exploded.


Karl busted out his chemical skills and cleaned out the remote.
Then on to finish watching the movie.
NOTE TO SELF: Don't buy Ray-O-Vac batteries.
We've had several explode lately!

Jill and Josh were making Oreo Balls.

Jackie & Jonathan waiting to open up gifts.

Audrey & Karl waiting to open up gifts.

The whole gang enjoying some good conversation, following our steak dinner.

The evening finished with gift opening and lots more stories!!

Divinity

Today we finished up some of our cleaning tasks in time to do some actual food prep. Sausage Gravy has been made and put in the freezer. Then we were on to making some of Grandma Hersom's divinity (minus the nuts ~ we are nutty enough)

The first batch (green) was trashed. It never ever did set up correctly.

The second batch (Red-Red ~ actually turned pink..but that was our desired color).... so that was all good!

The third batch was green. It still took it's own sweet time to set up right. But after a bunch more stirring by Doug..we achieved success.

Doug is shown here spooning the green divinity.

Our completed divinity.

Grandma Hersom's Divinity

3 cup sugar
1/2 cup white syrup
3/4 cup water
3 egg whites
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp vanilla
Optional: food coloring / nuts

1) Put sugar, syrup and water into a large saucepan.
2) Cover and cook over low heat, stir until sugar is dissolved.

3) Increase heat - bring to boiling point.

4) Boil 3 minutes (without stirring).
5) Uncover. Cook until syrup reaches firm ball stage.
It will make a soft ball in cold water.
6) Add salt & vanilla to egg whites. Beat egg mixture until stiff.
7) Continue beating the egg whites and add half the syrup.
8) Cook the other half of the sugar mixture til (crack ball stage).
The mixture will make a hard ball and crack in cold water.
9) Beat the remaining sugar mixture into the egg mixture.
10) Once the mixture has been combined complete, continue stirring the mixture with a spoon until the candy holds it's shape when dropped from a spoon onto wax paper.

YUMMY! One of our family favorites!

Special Delivery - Warm Temps ahead

This is what our desktop computer shows today!

For the 10 day weather forecast for The Colony - click here.

Happy 1st Anniversary

Congratulations Josh & Jill!

Christmas Break

Friday night, Jackie & I attended a play by Lakeside Community Theatre here in The Colony. The play "Christmas Break" was a two act play about students who have to remain, or choose to remain on their university campus during the Christmas break between Fall and Spring semesters. The comedy is a light hearted look at the individual students dealing with each one's unique situations. Cultural differences, life changing decisions, homesickness, loneliness, boredom, and the holiday of Christmas itself present challenges that each student must deal with. It takes an unflappable and optimistic dorm mother, Mrs. Fulton, to put the best possible face on things, including trying to create a traditional Christmas for the exchange students' first experience with the holiday.

It was wonderful!! Great, cheap entertainment.

The next production "The Glass Menagerie" by Tennessee Williams will be Feb 18 - March 5th.

For more information about the Lakeside Community Theatre - click here

Coffee Crisis

Yesterday, Doug went to make cappuccinos and the coffee maker would not turn on. It appears a thermal fuse has gone bad. He was able to "jumper" it to make it work. A part is on order and we "hope" that it will make it here in time for the Kuklenz Christmas, as Doug has planned to make caramel macchiatos. Hot Wired Coffee Maker

It's Another Surprise

I received another "surprise" delivery today.
I have been feeling a little blue and this made me cry.

The note says:

"We may not be able to see or listen to each other often,
but thoughts of you fill my heart every day.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas.
We Love You!"
Love,
Jennifer, Dwight and Makaya

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I'm missing you all too!!!!

Holiday Spectacular

Saturday, Doug and I drove down to Huntsville to attend Jackie's choir concert at the new Gaertner Performing Art Center on campus. It was FABULOUS!!!!

We all (Doug, Dee, Jackie, Jonathan, Karl, Jill & Josh) met at Chili's for dinner before proceeding to the "Holiday Spectacular".

This was a combined concert of all the choirs (SHSU Chorale, Women's Choir & Concert Choir) at Sam Houston State University as well as all the orchestra and jazz band.

There were pieces with the symphonic choir and symphony orchestra; flute choir, saxophone quartet, trombone ensemble, jazz ensemble & trumpet ensemble.

It was a wonderful night of music and a great way to get into the holiday spirit!!

After the concert we drove down to Karls and spent the night at his apartment. Sunday morning he made us breakfast and we hit the road home about 1pm....just in time to see the Cowboys lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Overnight Visitor

Jill had an overnight business trip in the Dallas area. She drove up on Thursday morning with her boss. Jill attended a training class and then went out for dinner with some of her McKesson colleagues. She spent the night at our house. She left around 9am this morning for some more work in the Carrollton office before heading home this afternoon.

New Washer & Dryer

The washer & dryer we had was 11 1/2 years old. The washer was beginning to flake rust off into the wash water and the dryer had pealed most of its porcelein finish off over the past year. So we've been checking out washer & dryer sales periodically. We know most people upgrade to a front loading washer but we are old fashioned and want to stick with the ease of the top loading washers. Then no need for pedestals! This washer has the same High Efficiency (HE) technology that the front loaders have in a top loader. The dryer is also High Efficiency with steam technology. It is quite a change to get used to all the new "options" available to choose from when I do a load of laundry now.

WASHER: Kenmore Elite 5.2 cu. ft. Top Load Washer with Smart Motion Technology.

Smart Motion™ Technology custom blends its unique wash motions to create specialty cycles that give just the right amount of care to your special fabrics, like kids wear, workout wear and bulky bedding. With the agitator out of the way, the ultra large 5.2 cu. ft. stainless steel basket has more room for more clothes so you spend less time doing laundry. You can also wash bulky items like king-sized comforters. The Save Energy+ option provides additional energy savings on select cycles with the touch of a button.

This washer is supposed to save 54% water and save 46% energy compared to a top-load washer manufactured before 2004, using the Normal Cycle. ENERGY STAR® qualified appliance

DRYER: Kenmore Elite 7.3 cu. ft. Gas Dryer with Steam Generator.

Ultra-large 7.3 cu. ft. dryer helps keep wash and dry times in synch and lets you dry large, bulky items like rugs and comforters

Sensor Dry Technology automatically detects the moisture content in clothes, then determines the right drying temperature and time. The result is a gentle way to dry everyload, every time
Steam Refresh™ works to reduce odors and relax wrinkles for less ironing. Clothes come out fresh, dry and ready to wear.

Sanitize items right in your dryer. Our NSF®-certified* Sanitize cycle eliminates 99.9% of certain bacteria. You can even sanitize items like pillows and teddy bears without washing them

Both washer & dryer have the Kenmore Connect technology. At a push of a button the Kenmore Connect™ System sends data from the appliance directly to our tech team using the phone. This may be all they need to handle questions on the spot, no service call, no time wasted. Answers on call tech support 24/7.

Surprise Delivery

This afternoon I received a surprise delivery.

This poinsettia is beautiful.
It is HUMUNGOUS!!!

Thanks Audrey & Karl!!

Elf Yourself - It's fun!

Here is a link to view a short video of holiday spirit:
http://elfyourself.jibjab.com/view/tYN6TCunzWYS1VXaNbhA

ENJOY!!!