Mazapan Christmas Show 2011

Last night, my school had their annual Christmas show. It was such a relief to be finished with it since my kids and I have been practicing since October! We put so much work into and it turned out great...even if it was a little long! :) They also performed Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer on their recorders (oh the days of recorders....I'm sure my parents remember it so well). The show finished with a school wide finale with us all singing a song in Spanish (yes including me). Here is the video of my kids main performance I promised. I'll get to the other ones soon. Thanks to Ken for being the cinematographer yesterday!

Christmas in Honduras

We are getting into the spirit of things this season by putting up our Christmas decorations and jamming out to Christmas tunes like Alvin and the Chipmunks. Thought I'd share with you our "Christmas Corner" that we have set up and what my door at school looks like. Enjoy and we can't wait to see everyone in 2 WEEKS!!

Ta-da!

Ken's really excited about the decorations...can't you tell!

My door at school for the door decorating contest!

Coach Haltenhof

For the past 2 months, Ken has been coaching high school girls basketball 3 days a week. Since the season is coming to a close before winter vacation starts, the surrounding schools decided to do a basketball tournament. I was lucky enough to be able to go to one last week and act as photographer while Ken was coaching his team. It was very neat to see him doing this because the girls were very receptive to him and you could tell he was enjoying it...even when he had to continuously tell his girls to keep their "hands up" while they were on defense.

Warming up before the game

The ref's want to start!

Let's huddle...go jaguars!

GO TEAM GO! 

"Get back here!"

STBS Girls Basketball Team 2010

Although they haven't been on a winning streak, it has still been a great experience for him and I know he's made a difference with his team as well.

Best surprise ever...

I went to San Pedro this weekend with some of my girlfriends to go see the new Breaking Dawn movie and to shop a bit. Ken of course thought this wasn't his style so he stayed back in La Ceiba to hang out. Look what I came home too....he must have missed me!

Before and After

I just thought everyone should know how amazing our green bean casserole with homemade fried onions was at our Thanksgiving pot luck. Here is the evidence...

Before

After

P.S. It was the only dish completely finished :) YIP YIP! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

GOBBLE GOBBLE!! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! 

Paper Cup Turkeys my 4th graders made :)

Although we are unable to be back in Chicago with our families today, we have been keeping up traditions. The Jessie's were unable to make it to our Thanksgiving feast tonight so we decided to have a Thanksgiving brunch with them. Thanks to the canned pumpkin Dani brought me from the states a few weeks ago, I was able to make Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins with a streusel top...YUM!...and my Grandma Therese's "Brunch Pizza". Everything turned out amazing and tasted delicious with our morning mimosas :)  We're heading to our friends Luke and Cary's house tonight for a pot-luck style feast including a giant bird! Ken and I are brining pumpkin muffins, fall M & M cookies, and a green bean casserole with homemade fried onions by Ken! I know...we're legit.

Morning Brunch Crew: Jesse, Jessie, Meghan, Ken and me

"Brunch Pizza"

pumpkin cream cheese muffins with a streusel topping

cookies!

Ken making the fried onions....they smelled soooo good!

We hope that you are all enjoying the holiday yourselves at home. It sounds like a perfect day to stay cuddled up close to the fire. See you all in 3 weeks!

Our new roommate

While doing the laundry one afternoon, Ken noticed that we had a new roommate living with us. Luckily it wasn't another possum like last time but instead a small kitten. Somehow it had climbed up into the top of an old palm tree and was hanging out there. We've seen it run by the door a few times, we're assuming to get food, before heading back up into the tree for protection. Isn't he a cutie?