New Year .... New Look

I thought the blog was in need of a facelift. 

I didn't much care for the all white, so I was playing with the templates and decided to try this one out for a bit.  I like the dark background BUT I think this means I'll need to post more pictures in order to brighten it up a bit.  All gray and white text is a bit blah.

Christmas Pictures 2010

I am under the illusion that if I pay someone to take pictures of my kids, they'll actually take better pictures than I.  Afterall, I am paying for the.  One wonders when I'll learn that is not the case, especially since I recently decided to upgrade from a basic point-and-shoot to a Canon EOS Rebel T2i.  The picture quality is awesome.  Love it so far.

Anyway, I dragged the kids out last Sunday in their Christmas finery to the local Picture People to have their picture taken.  There were at least 15 people in the tiny store along with three huge strollers.  Kids were screaming, you could tell there were several parents on the edge and it had to be 80 degrees in there.  When it was our turn we were crammed in a room that was too small for the kids and I and the photographer.  it was like they decided they needed to turn their storage closet (that was what the photographer told me it was used for the rest of the year) into a studio.

Thirty minutes, two tantrums and 15 minutes of endless pleading for someone to smile this is what we ended up with:

 Really, do you have to keep kissing me?

Sticking me in this train isn't going to make me smile:



 Note the finger starting to come up as he begins to say the word "No":

Do I have to sit close to her?

May LOOK like a cute picture however, he had a death grip on her hair and this was seconds before the tears started flowing:

So now on to Plan B.  Not sure what that is, but since Christmas is a mere two weeks away I better get busy snapping some pictures around the house.  I really don't think I'm asking too much ... both kids looking at the camera and smiling at the same time.  Maybe I'll just stick a Santa hat on Sophie and she can be our Christmas card this year.  At least she sits still for the camera.

Symphony Brownies

Last night was my department's Holiday Party.  The main course was provided but we needed to provide either a salad or a dessert.  I wasn't feeling very creative in the salad category so opted instead to go with a deseert.  Based off a Paula Deen recipe, these brownies always go over well when I take them places.  They are also pretty simple to put together. 

Symphony Brownies

2 brownie mixes that can be cooked in a 9x13 pan (I used Dunkin Hines)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I skipped since my candy bars had almonds)
3 4.5 ounce Hershey's Symphony Bars (I use the toffee and almond ones)

Preheat oven according to brownie mix.  Spray a 9x13 inch pan with nonstick cooking spray.  Mix up one box of brownie mix following the recipe on the back of the box - I use the 'cake-like' recipe when I make these bars.  Spread the batter in the pan.  Lay the 3 chocolate bars side by side on top of the batter.  Mix up the second brownie mix and pour on top of the chocolate bars.  Bake for 40 minutes. 

These will slice up a whole lot neater if you wait until they are completely cool.  If you live in Iowa and it is winter time, stick 'em out on your back porch for a hour or two.

Dominick The Italian Christmas Donkey song

OK, I'll admit it.  This one is one of my favorite Christmas songs.  I remember my grandfather playing a record (yes, I said 'record') of all Italian Christmas songs.  This was one of the only ones that was in English.  C'mon, you have to admit it is kind of a catchy tune.  :)