Ethan Runs His First 5K!!

 Thanksgiving was a fun day for the Hoots' family! We kicked off the day with a 5K! John and Ethan ran in the Gobbler's Run in Downtown Wake Forest. John is training for a half marathon and Ethan wanted to train with him, so they both signed up for the 5K.

It was a cold morning, but all the Hoots and Hardestys came out to watch!

Before the race.

Getting excited! You should have seen all the crazy people that dressed up like turkeys, pilgrims, Indians, etc for the race. And, yes John is wearing tights under his shorts!

At the starting line!

See him coming???

About to finish.

John is right behind him. Ethan had a burst of energy right at the end!

Exhausted, but so happy to have run the race!

How to Throw an Uppity Shower (When you are really not!)

So... I have been busy for the last month.

I was so excited for summer to start and my busy schedule to end (ha!).

Think again!

This month has been just as busy -

but without the benefit of two mornings of pre-school a week to get stuff done!

The first really exciting thing I did last month was help to throw a shower for my sweet friend Ashley. Emily, Kari and I decided to throw an Uppity shower- no games, dress up a little, in the evening, momtinis. None of us are uppity - but it was fun to pretend for one night!

Here are all our secrets...

1. Invite your uppity friends! From left to right: Ida, Emily, Ashley, Tiffany.

2. Laugh and talk about uppity things. Like how you hate Walmart and can't wait for Lacrosse camp to start.

3. Open monogrammed gifts.

4. Serve tiramisu in fine china with silver spoons.

5. Serve sushi, but don't dare try to roll it yourself, buy it from a professional sushi maker.

6. Why eat plain fruit, when you can eat fruit that is shaped like a flower?

7. Drink several momtini's in real glasses with garnish and rimming sugar.

8. Caprese salad on a stick.

9. Waste three entire peppers - just to have a cute place to put the vegetable dip.

10. Order cakes from a trendy (all be it over- priced) local bakery. But, hey I heard they were Delicious.

I threw 2 other showers in June. More on those later.

A Baby Shower

Is it weird to post about a friend's baby shower?? What about if you helped throw it? What is you are so excited about the coming baby that you praise God for the child all the time?? I have debated about this post- because I am not sure if it is a little creepy... you will have to decide. But, I am so thrilled for my friend Amy I am going to take the chance. I hope she will forgive me any creepiness...

Welcome Baby Ellie... short for Eliana... due in Just 6 weeks. Eliana means "God has answered". See Amy (good friend) thought she could not have kids. She thought this for 9 years - medicine and evidence told her so... prayer and an acting God changed this. Can't wait to meet you baby girl. You are a longing fulfilled.

All good showers have good punch... this was Kim's creation a good friend of mine and the main hostess. I have a similar recipe that makes a ton and is always a big hit - you can make it with any kind of jello to change the flavor...

Red Party Punch

Ingredients:

3 (3 ounce) packages strawberry flavored gelatin mix
9 cups boiling water
4 cups sugar
9 cups water
2 (46 fluid ounce) cans pineapple juice
2 cups lemon juice
4 (2 liter) bottles ginger ale

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the strawberry gelatin mix and 9 cups of boiling water. Set aside. In a large pot, bring the remaining 9 cups of water to a boil. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Pour the sugar water into the gelatin water, then stir in the pineapple juice and lemon juice, mixing well. Pour into four 1-gallon size resealable freezer bags, or pretty Bundt pans to freeze.
2. To make punch, place one of the frozen portions into a punch bowl, and pour 1 bottle of ginger ale over.

Time: 20 minutes Prep, plus freezing time. Yield: Four batches


There are not many things in the world of cooking I do really well - but this recipe always pulls a lot of compliments. It is actually pampered chef - but since I do all the chopping when I make it - I will claim it. Seriously it is ridiculously good! Try it this summer...

Apple Berry Salsa

Ingredients:
2 Granny Smith Apples- peeled & diced
1 pint strawberries, diced
2 kiwi, peeled & diced

1 small orange
2 Tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 Tablespoons apple jelly

Directions:
1.Place peeled, cored and chopped apples, peeled and diced kiwi, and hulled and diced strawberries in a medium bowl.
2. Zest orange and add about 1-teaspoon zest.
3. Squeeze half of the orange juice into the mixture.
4. Add brown sugar and apple jelly.
5. Mix gently and refrigerate until use.
6. Serve with baked cinnamon chips.

Time: 15-30 Minutes Yield: 3 cups



Baked Cinnamon Chips

Ingredients:
10 (7 inch) flour tortillas
Water
2 Tablespoons Sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400
2. Lightly spray tortillas with water
3. Sprinkle tortillas with cinnamon and sugar mixture
4. Using a pizza cutter, slice the tortillas into 8 wedges each
5. Arrange wedges on a greased baking sheet in a single layer
6. Bake for 8-10 minutes until edges are golden brown and crisp
7. Cool completely before eating

Time: 20 minutes Yield: 80 chips


Good friends to play games and provide presents.

Cute diaper wreath made by my friend Anna.

Okay - and here is something I am really proud of - I made this hairbow holder and painted it "all by myself". I made one for Livy too- anywho - have a baby girl and I will make you one.

Livy's gift to Ellie, her favorite baby doll.
If you are wondering who the adorable youngster in the photo with Amy is - it's my friend Kim's daughter. She is very close to Amy and the most energetic and encouraging little thing ever.

Okay, so you might be wondering why I gave her a gift wrapped in Christmas paper... Did I run out of baby wrap? Does not really seem like me...

And, I didn't...

My favorite gift we gave Amy was a Jesse Tree Set.

Never heard of it - check it out here...

http://christianity.about.com/od/christmas/qt/jessetreeadvent.htm

and here is the book we use to go with our set of ornaments...

http://www.amazon.com/Advent-Jesse-Tree-Devotions-Christmas/dp/0687009081

You hang an ornament each night on a separate little tree and read your kids a story about the coming of the Christ child. It's awesome- but you can't buy it (the set, not the book, obviously you can buy that). I made this set for Amy with a group of about 20 other women. Anyway...

This is one of the best ideas we ever started doing with our kids. Every Christmas celebration should include one. Amy made several sets for friends over the years- but soon she will have her own daughter to bless and teach.

I threw in a tacky Christmas (blinking) bib for Ellie and a sleeper.

There's the set in the cute box - sorry I did not get a close up.

The Shindiggers. Love these ladies like sisters.

Shannon, Ida, Anna, Amy. Monica, Karen, Kim and Meredith.

Throwing the (Almost) Perfect Shower

Sunday I threw a baby shower with my friend Ashley. I really love to throw a shower. I have hosted many a shower and I used to think I would like to be a caterer. However, now I realize that I would NOT be very good at this- I just like to do it for my friends. I think my favorite showers ever would have to be the one my best friend Robyn and I threw a few summers ago- can any readers guess what it was? And, the second shower would have to be Robyn's shower for her first child. I will put some photos below. Here are some shots of the shower yesterday, a couple things I have learned about throwing showers, and some recipes. Enjoy.

Baby food game. Taste and guess what the baby food is.

Rule #1 on throwing a baby shower... people DO like to play games. However silly they seem. Usually there will be a few outspoken ladies that groan about playing games... but, it just a cover. Games are a big hit. Everyone likes to win and to get fun prizes they would not usually splurge on. So, RULE #1- PLAY A GAME (or two)

Here is the spread of food from yesterday... we had a brunch theme and had scones with clotted cream and jam, fruit salad, sausage balls, quiche, cucumber sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, cinnamon bread with sweet spread, muffins, and dessert (pictured below).

So here is RULE #2 about showers - GO BIG WITH THE FOOD! Even though people say it is not needed it is always really enjoyed and people like to eat the foods and drink the punch they never get to.

A brunch favorite - English Scones with clotted cream, jam and lemon curd. Here is the recipe for the Scones- the best and easiest one i have found. These are just plain scones - slightly sweetened, but you can add currants or blueberries or an extract for flavor. I like to get my flavor from the jam, cream and curd (curd is good y'all - try it sometime- ugly name - good spread!)


Basic British Scones

2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon cream of tarter
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 pinch of salt
1/4 cup of butter or margarine
(margarine actually works better although I don't usually have it on hand)
1/8 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons milk


1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet or line with parchment
2. Sift the flour, cream of tarter, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
3. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Stir in the sugar and enough milk to make the dough soft (it may take more than the recommended 1/2 a cup - just keep stirring in a LITTLE at a time)
4. Turn onto a floured surface, knead lightly and roll out a 3/4 inch thickness. Cut into preferred shape- I usually cut triangles - but many people cut circles with a biscuit maker - it really does no matter - they all taste the same.
5. Place on baking sheet and brush with the milk- it will form a nice glaze when baking.
5. Bake at 425 for 10 -12 minutes or until golden brown.
6. Cool completely enjoy with clotted cream, lemon curd, jam, etc.



Easy Clotted Cream


Okay - if you have never heard of this it is basically an unsweetened whipped cream with just a hint of flavor. real clotted cream is just mad from unpasteurized milk - but is too hard to make in my opinion - and it can be hard to find unpasteurized milk. But this recipe is fast and easy and tastes great - but should be eaten with the jam or lemon curd or apple butter - or whatever sweet spread you have.



1 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar

1. With a mixer, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form.
2. Remove from mixer, and hand whisk in sour cream and powdered sugar - just until combined.
3. Serve chilled and store leftovers in fridge.





Sunday Best Fruit Salad

Easy and pretty fruit salad- people always seem to love it.

1 20 oz. can pineapple fruit chunks, juice reserved

2 apples, peeled, cored and chopped

1 21oz can peach pie filling

2 bananas peeled and diced

3 kiwis

1 pint strawberries

(if on sale I usually add some blueberries too)

1. In a small bowl toss the chopped apples in the reserved pineapple juice. Allow to sit for 5- 10 minutes.

2. In a large bowl, combine the peach pie filling and pineapple chunks.

3. Remove the apples from the pineapple juice and add to pie filling mixture.

4. Add chopped bananas to reserved pineapple juice -let sit for 5- 10 minutes.

5. Peel and slice kiwi and chop the strawberries.

6. Add them to the mix.

7. Remove bananas from pineapple juice and add to the mixture.

8. Stir well and then store in fridge until you serve.

One of my favorite showers ever...

if you recognize whose shower this was leave a comment!

RULE #3 OFFER SOMETHING GOOD TO DRINK This shower was on a really warm summer day so we made a trio of flavored teas. They were a big hit (yes i still remember what people like after 3.5 years!). Punch is always a great choice - people love it and they will never make a batch for themselves. Fresh lemonade is also a good choice in summer or hot cider and homemade hot - chocolate in winter.

RULE # 4. MAKE IT PRETTY. My best buddy Robyn carved this watermelon and arranged the fruit. She is really good at stuff like this and pretty herself. Pretty goes a long way.

RULE #5 HAVE A CORSAGE FOR THE HONORED GUEST. This was a bridal shower and we (I think really Robyn made it) a simple and elegant corsage with real flowers. But, this weekend at the baby shower Ashley made corsages out of fru fru storks and they were adorable. You can turn about any small thing into a corsage I have seen teethers, baby socks, and baby pins. Just make sure you honor the mother or bride with one- it is the little touches that go a long way.

RULE #6 HOST WITH FRIENDS AND FOR FRIENDS. Hosting with people (I love to host with my best friends Sarah and Robyn - they just think like I do and are experts at entertaining) helps relieve the burden of time, energy and let's face it finances. Hosting for people will really bless them and you in the process.

So who can you host a shower for... I already have the next one in mind... for a miracle baby and a great friend. All my other shower throwing has been a warm up to celebrate her little bundle of joy arriving July 2009.

A Birthday Weekend

John turned 30 this week! Yes, it's true.

If owning a mini- van doesn't make you feel old - turned the big 3-0 sure will!

I surprised him with a kid - free weekend. He thought we were going to my parents for the weekend- but when he got home he realized only the kids went out of town. He was very surprised - stunned almost. My parents took the kids to their house for the weekend and we had a QUIET (boy we were surprised how quiet) weekend at home. Thanks, Mom and Dad for such an awesome gift! Of course Ethan would never let John celebrate without him - so the first pics are of Ethan singing and blowing out the candles (well helping). The next shots are of John's "surprise" party on Saturday night. Happy Birthday, OLD MAN!




Anna, Aaron, Dave and Amy

Some of John's closest friends. He doesn't get to see these guys very often - so he was really glad they were able to come.

Corn Hole Tournament in the Back Yard. (Yes - it is really fun).

Friends pretending to have a good time.

More friends pretending.

John's choice of meat.

I (sneakily) asked John what his favorite thing to grill was- and much to my chagrin he said kabobs. I love how they taste - but they are too much work to make for 30 people!! Next time we will stick to something you just throw on the grill!

(They were a big hit though)

John's favorite "cake". Boston Creme Pie. Looks awful... tastes great!!


Happy Birthday, John! We love you!

This is your birthday song... it doesn't last too long... hey!

Char-Grill

After a couple of days inside with the kids eating turkey we decided to head out to our favorite local place- Char-Grill (the original above). This was one of my favorites in high school and now I have John hooked too! If you are ever in the Triangle you should stop by. The burgers and shakes are incredible. (PS - I think the kids liked the ketchup more than anything.)