Holiday trip to the keys

Jonas and I just got back from a weekend in the keys. Sadly Brian had to work so he couldn’t come down with us but we made the best of it and Jonas had lots of fun visiting his Key West family

Here are some pics from the weekend.

Grandpa pushed him on the swings for quite awhile, he LOVED it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playing in the cemetery. I know that sounds weird but I grew up next door to the cemetery and we always ran around in it so it was only natural.

 

 

 

 

 

Aunt Kyla and Uncle Dennis (we were trying all weekend to get a good pic of the two and this one was my favorite)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonas and grandpa at the white street pier.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sporting his Charlie Brown Tee. Isn’t it great ?!

From the kitchen of…

Dennis Piscopink.

I went to the keys this past weekend for a little holiday visit (more pics to come) and my brother whipped up a delicious dinner Saturday night. He made lobster, black beans, rice and buffalo shrimp! The buffalo shrimp was so good that I felt compelled to share.

 

 

 

He takes shrimp and breads it with egg, flour and panko breadcrumbs. Then it gets tossed in hot oil for a quick browning. Then you toss them in the secret ingredient. This wing sauce:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have coated them in the sauce you throw them in a 350 degree oven for 5-7 min. Serve with some blue cheese dressing and enjoy!!!! Thanks for the recipe Den

Christmas day festivities…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A little early morning gift opening…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonas got a little einstein ride along he LOVED it!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mom and Jay came over for gifts and breakfast casserole.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bacon wrapped jalapenos, my contribution to Christmas dinner with Brian’s fam.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jonas’ cousin Grace loving her brand new play set.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mother and sister in-law dodging the paparazzi

Jonas hogging his cousin’s chair to watch some TV.

Funny Photo Friday

Will somebody please teach that boy some manners…

Christmas Wreaths

Here is a little yummy recipe courtesy of my aunt Karen who is basically a professional baker.

Don’t they look cute?! They are kinda sloppy in comparison to my Aunt’s version but for my first attempt I would say they aren’t too bad.

To make them  you just make peanut butter sandwiches with 2 ritz crackers and dip them into chocolate. You let those harden then you pipe green candy melts around the edges and sprinkle with festive sugar or sprinkles. This was my first time piping candy melts and it was a little tricky (it comes out fast). But regardless they taste delicious!!!

Merry Christmas EVERYBODY!!!!!

Christmas with the Voelker’s

My sister is going to be out of town for Christmas so we went over there Sunday night for some food and fun!

Opening some GIFTS!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

They have a big back yard that Jonas LOVES to run around in.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Newlyweds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 A rare snugly moment.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We ended the night with another trip to see the fake snow. Seriously look at him how can you deny the kid one more trip!

Holiday Meal Plan

 

I am not actually doing a meal plan this week cause it is going to be a crazy week but here are a few dishes I will be contributing to the many gatherings we have planned this week.

I made these candy cane cupcakes for our dinner with Dawn and Bob yesterday because they are going to be out of town on Christmas.

For Christmas eve we will be having a Honey Baked Ham that my Dad sent (thanks Dad) along with yummy Make-Ahead Mash Potatoes (my Aunt Marys recipe), Corn Casserole and a mixed green salad (Thank the Lord for some salad!!!)

Then for Christmas Morning we will be having my mom’s delicious cinnamon rolls and I will be making a breakfast casserole.

And as if that weren’t enough….

Christmas night we will be getting together with Brian’s family and I am bringing these lovely little appetizers!

Then I am going on a 30 day fast to lose the 15lbs I will most likely gain this week

Oh wait there is still New Years Day….dang it!

Funny Photo (Holiday edition)

Weekly Poll

I have decided to move them to the sidebar. Just in case you were wondering…

 

As promised..

Last night was my pinning ceremony which is basically a graduation ceremony held only for the nursing students. Each student chooses someone who inspired them to become a nurse to come on stage and pin them. It was a nice ceremony and afterwards we all went over to my sister’s for some yummy food! It doesn’t feel real yet I suppose that will happen when I actually start working which will hopefully be soon.

Anyway here are a couple photos from the ceremony:

There I am in the front row playing with my hair, not sure how I ended up in the front, I wasn’t too excited about that!

My mom putting on my pin! 

I know I look ridiculous in this photo but seriously it was the best photo out of the 7 attempts we made to get a decent photo of me. I am seriously the most un-photogenic person ever, which is partly why I am always behind the camera!