Baking Day

I baked lots and lots for Christmas. It didn't go quite as planned.

11am:
To start, I made two batches of anise candy... what my Grandma Schick used to make every Christmas.

I had never used a candy thermometer before- such a nifty thing!

Waiting for it to harden in the pan.

Breaking it up into pieces. That stuff is sharp.. I cut myself a couple times!

I put it into little bags to give to the Schick families who loves it.

And the rest I put into crystal candy dishes from Grandma for the tables at Christmas!


2pm:
I made Schnitz Brot- a German bread my Grandma Pfaffmann used to always make.

Yes, it has 1 cup of this in it. :)

My Dad was a little surprised when I asked him to pick up some Whiskey for me. :)

Chopping up the dried fruit-- doesn't it look appetizing? ;P

I found out after making it, that the yeast wasn't working. I guess it was too old. So it totally didn't rise like I wanted it to. Here's my not so great finished product..

1pm:

I started made tea rings for the Schick Christmas. But guess what? It was that same yeast. So, we turned the cinnamon rolls into dinner rolls:

Dad bought me new yeast...


And I started a new batch at 7pm.

And it finally rose!!! Let's just say I was thrilled, because I was totally not up to making another batch!

But thankfully it didn't take me too long. And it rose like CRAZY.

It turned out huge!!! I've never seen one so big..and ugly. Oh well, it tastes really good, and I'd rather have it huge than not rose at all!

In Memory Of Grandma

Grandma's birthday is today. She would've been 86!

I LOVE AND MISS YOU GRANDMA!!!!!!

Love this video!

Check this darling video out!

I love it!

Orchestra Concert

My orchestra concert was the end of November, but I'm just now posting about it. :)

This was my first concert in the Youth Symphony. The music was hard, but it's just soo much fun. And our director is super good and hilarious. Rehearsals are never boring!

This picture cracks me up. I look like I'm crying. :) Obviously I concentrate verry hard.

This guy played a piano solo, and we accompanied him. He was amazing!

With a few of my guests..

And more guests...

I used to always go to Kendra's orchestra concerts, and now she comes to mine. :)

Heidi and Luke gave me flowers! :)

We were all really hungry afterwards. So instead of The Blend, we went to Monicals at 11 o'clock at night! :)

Such an exciting semester. Next Spring we have our concert, but we're also performing with the Peoria Ballet, which will be super cool I'm sure! Can't wait. :)

Amber

Happy 13th Birthday to Amber!! Wow, I can't believe she's a teenager!

Amber- I love being around you, and teaching you! :)

Hope you had a great day!

Johnny is 3!

Johnny turned 3 on Sunday!

He is just one adorable, fun little boy with a bundle of energy!!

Future Farmers :)

We thought he was cute then, which he was... but he just keeps getting cuter and cuter! :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOHNNY POO!

So sad I'm gone everytime he comes over... I miss him!! And LOVE HIM! :)

Restaurant Review- Victoria's

This weekend, we went to a little Italian restaurant in downtown Appleton, Wisconsin called Victoria's. So even though you guys will probably never go there, I still thought it'd be fun to do a review. :)

Victoria's

When we first stepped inside, my first thought was, this is kinda dark & dingy. They do have very dimmed lighting, but it was actually very nice. Our waiter was very helpful and friendly. She brought us really good garlic bread and rolls while we were looking over the huge menu. I could not decide what I wanted, because there were so many options. You could create your own pasta dish with your choice of sauce and meat - that's what Mom and Dad got, and it was really good!


All their meals come with soup or salad. I got a salad with the house dressing. The salad was great, but the house dressing was just ok. I ended up getting the Manicotti, that was in a crepe. I ate the warm garlic bread with it. It was great for Manicotti, but I wish I would've tried something a little more different. :)

When they set the plates down at the table, we looked at each other and thought we could've all shared one dish! They have huge portions for a pretty reasonable price!
I would highly recommend this place, if you happen to go to Appleton! ;)


QUICK GUIDE:

503 W College Ave
Appleton, Wisconsin
920-730-9595

Ratings **** is highest

Food-****
Atmosphere-***
Service-****

--they also have carryout

Thanksgiving Weekend

My weekend was wonderful. It's seriously one of my favorite weekends of the year.



Thursday we had all the Pfaffmann's here. Our tradition is a big lunch, stay all day, and have a light supper. We went on a walk, fought over Audrey, looked at pictures from my cousins trip, check out the Black Friday adds and played way too much Dictionary. It was a good day, but it's always more fun when it's not at your house and you don't have to do all the work. :) Poor Mom, she slept 12 hours that night!


Pictures:


Black Friday add time!

Dad holding my new little cousin, Audrey

I could never get sick of holding babies. :)

So sweet.

Piled into the living room for the "slideshow."

Luke's parents came because they didn't have plans.

Elise, Emily and our adopted cousin Theresa. :)

Proud Grandma!

After everyone left, Adam & I spent the night at Heidi & Luke's. We watched "My Sister's Keeper." Such a sad movie. And of course I bawled, because I'm emotional like that. :)

The next morning I went home, drank some coffee, and pulled out all the Christmas decorations. I hate putting them up, but once they're up, oh I just love it!

That night we had the big Schick Thanksgiving at the Fellowship hall. We didn't hang around there long, and just a few of us cousins that were there went to Jenna's. We watched "Four Christmases." We skyped Blake in Korea which was pretty cool, :) but then Adam & I left. I heard the party lasted until 2am though!

Saturday we finished decorating the whole day, because a lot of the Schick's came for supper after the Festival of Lights Parade. I was really dissapointed with the Parade. Not near as many floats, and no music! We had soup & sandwiches after, and I ended up giving a little "recital" for my mom's cousins from Virgina, that are hilarious! :)

Sunday we didn't do anything, I was actually quite bored because I didn't feel like getting anything accomplished, and the boys were gone.

THIS weekend is going to be great also! Mom, Dad & I are going to Appleton Wisconsin to get myself a new violin, go to a Lorie Line Christmas concert, and do some shopping! Cannot wait! And don't you worry, I'm sure I'll be posting about it next week. :)

I love the Holiday Season! :)