Our First Christmas!

Our stockings!!

Dan lifting the tree into the room!

Our tree! (We actually agreed that we only wanted white lights...and our tree topper is a married couple with our names/wedding date on it!!) AND yes, I have presents already wrapped under the tree...I couldnt hide them, Dan would find them!

Thanksgiving Festivities

Thanksgiving week started on Tuesday when Dan and I drove to Atlanta to leave with Rebecca and Todd the next morning. We left early and surprised my mom at Baby Zaks and then began our week in Melbourne. Raschelle also surprised us, (looking good, I might add) and that was great to see her! We ate a ton of food, played cards, played football, swam in the warm pool and watched movies. It was so wonderful to be together. Black Friday at Baby Zaks was slow but steady and we made a lot of money for mom! Here are some photos that are mostly of Zach but the camera is attracted to him!


The boys fishing out-back; they cheated a little by Mitch throwing bread and then Dan and Todd throwing the lines into the water. They had good times...and somewhere out there, a fish is floating with Dan's bobber.

Dan and I showing our 'meat' at the annual beach football game!
Oh yeah, David Haller came on Thanksgiving day! He works/lives in Tampa now so we were blessed to have him.

Grammy's so happy to have him on his lap. SO cute!

Zach: "I wanna play daddy."

Proud grandparents...and Happy.

Dan with his "nice bass" (that thing is huge and no, we do not eat them because they are filled with fertilizer!)

Zach, having all our attention by just being who he is. He learned probably 50 more words that weekend including 'touchdown'. Good boy.

Giving out free kisses...

Looking priceless with a sand-covered mouth and chubby cheeks. Gosh this kid is cute!

Barb, you'd be proud of David and Dan, they looked this good! (remember to click on the picture to view larger and check-out those faces).

The Hallers Were Here!!

Apt 306 was graced with a trio of Hallers this past weekend and we certainly had a good time. It was a fast trip as they arrived on Friday evening and left after church on Sunday. We visited Dan's school and saw his classroom. We went to Maddi's Southern Bistro and had some comforting food. We went shopping and watched the Ohio State game. We played scrabble and had a good meal together. It was nice to show off our place and allow people to enjoy what we enjoy together. Good times!

Jenny goes to school!

I'm proud to announce that I was accepted into UNCC and will be beginning my Master of Arts in Teaching (Social Studies and Political Science focus) and am very blessed and excited!

YEAH!
www.uncc.edu

Yummy Fun Recipe

I have a new recipe I tried for Dan, it is called: Chicken Caesar Lettuce Wraps

• 2 hearts of romaine lettuce
• 1 fully-cooked rotisserie chicken (or bake two chicken breasts in chicken broth, 45 min)
  
• 1 tomato, diced
• 1 medium cucumber, diced
• 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
• 1 tablespoon brown mustard
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 olives, diced (optional but good with the salty-ness)
  
• 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese (or regular parm cheese-a few handfuls)
• 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (eyeball it)
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper (eyeball it)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (EVOO)

Cut bottoms off the romaine and cut the heads in half lengthwise. Separate and wash the leaves. Let them dry while you prepare the rest of the dish.

Cut the breast meat off the chicken, then cut the legs and thighs off using kitchen scissors. Slice the chicken up on an angle and mix it with the diced tomatoes, cucumber and parsley and arrange on a plate. (or cup up the two chicken breasts)

Make the dressing: put mustard, garlic, lemon zest and juice, olive (if using), cheese, Worcestershire sauce and pepper into a blender. While blending, drizzle EVOO through center of the lid in an even stream. When EVOO is combined, remove dressing with a spatula into a bowl.

To assemble, mix the chicken salad with the dressing and fill each lettuce leaf with some of the chicken salad. Fold lettuce up around meat – like a lettuce taco – or use the lettuce as a utensil to scoop up the chicken salad.

Our new bed!

I got this bed from my parents for my birthday!!! It made it all the way on top of our car from the Atlanta Ikea! We are very happy with it...

Pretty NC

Eating my carrot cake!! Thanks Barb!

Dan + his back-pack+ the sunrise = a beautiful site

Pretty Sunrise on the mountain (though a little chilly)

Dan has some serious skill in taking photos of the scenery (Girls like guys with skillz).

Before Dinner at our campsite...with the sunset behind us!

Thanks to all for your birthday texts, messages and calls. I appreciate the love and support. I had a wonderful birthday and miss each of you. Love to all.

Birthday Campng Trip!

Pretty Drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains

Setting up camp at site #9
(special thanks to David Haller for our wonderful tent!)

Hiking the tallest peak in North Carolina, Mount Mitchell!

Starting our charcoal grill for dinner. Because of the drought, we could not have a real fire...so no s'mores...I was a little sad!

Peeping out of our tent!

Weekend in the ATL

This is a wonderful picture of my family. Rebecca, Shelley, Raschelle and Zach.

Dan and Zach, adorable!

Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

From Jenny and Spaceship.
:)

Butternut Squash with Granny Smith Apple Soup

Well, I work at Maddi's Southern Bistro and we have a famous Butternut Squash soup that people rant and rave about and since I enjoy my addicting hobby of cooking, I decided to dry to make it. Without knowing the chef's recipe, I decided to pool my internet resources and come up with my own recipe!

Since I'm trying to use fruit/veggies that are in season, I tried this BSQ soup--> It worked...and it was good, though I'll adjust things next time I make it...

1 tbl butter
2 tbl good EVOO
2.5 cups yellow onions (two large), chopped
1 tbl mild curry powder (this is for Marcia)
1 butternut squash (2-3 pounds)
1 tbl cinnamon
1 tbl brown sugar
2 Granny Smith apples
1 cup water
1 cup apple cider
1/2 cup applesauce (optional)

Warm the butter, olive oil, onions and curry powder in a large stockpot uncovered over low heat for 15 minutes. Onions will become soft, dont burn them. (scrape bottom of pot occasionally).

Meanwhile, peel the squash, cut in half, remove the seeds (can be difficult if its not ripe, I used a serrated knife). Cut into chunks. Peel, core and cut into chunks BOTH apples.

Add the squash, apples and 1 cup of water into pot; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, cover and cook over low heat for 30-40 minutes. When apples and squash are soft, process in a blender or a food processor until you acquire a smooth puree. Be sure to not blend it when it is piping hot, its dangerous. Pour soup back into the pot, add the cinnamon, brown sugar, apple sauce, apple cider and taste to determine flavor and spicy-ness (add more pepper or even hot sauce). Serve hot.

I served mine with toasted cinnamon walnuts. You could use pumpkin seeds, wasabi nuts or anything you'd like to give the soup a good texture upon serving. Yummy Yummy.

Mr. Haller, the schoolyard bully

Friday was a rough day at recess. I was playing kickball with my class, as I do every day at recess, and one student was running back to first base. Normally I don't play my hardest, but for some reason I was in the mood to get some kids out who try to steal the bases. As I see this student running back to first base, my desire got the best of me and I hurled the rubber kickball at the student. What would have hit any other student in the torso, this shorter student received a ball square in the side of his face. To make matters worse, he was wearing glasses. The ball caused his glasses to fly off his face, him to fly forward and trip over first base, and land in the very red dirt of North Carolina. The whole motion was priceless in my memory (and to the other students watching), but I felt awful, especially since his glasses were bent almost to the point of being unwearable! Even after I made sure he was okay (he was) and that he realized it was an accident, I still feel like a schoolyard bully. Thankfully, he is a good sport and laughed about it later. That was one out NOT worth making.

Also, my kids have said some pretty funny things, like any innocent 4th grader would. Here's a sampling:
-"Mr. Haller, your nose is pointy...like a reindeer."
-"That's why I like you, Mr. Haller...you're young, and you understand us."
-"You and Mrs. Haller look like twins!"
-"Do you and Mrs. Haller hug and kiss and stuff?"
-(to Jenny when she visited and was helping us read a play about Langston Hughes): "you know if it was the wife, she would be the same as the maid. No offense." Haha!
-"Do you and Mr. Richardson (my friend from college who teaches 5th grade) love each other...as friends?"

I will keep everyone posted with more funny stories and sayings as they happen!

Other Sights at the Festival

Dan and I loved this home in a quaint little neighborhood with old homes, huge trees and lots of gardens. We dreamed together of the day when we can buy a home and plant a garden, not to mention decorate, read and not have to go to a laundromat!!



A photo taken in front of a field of wildflowers, a willow tree, a fountain and the pond. It was a pretty day and we had fun!


Being that Lowe's Motor Speed-way is right around the corner from us, the area attracts fans of many kinds, including this Tony Stewart female...we like to call it, "Charlotte's Finest). And yes, this is a permed mullet (just an FYI)

This is a photo of us kissing (at least, its our shadow!)

Festival in the Park

Because I have no ability whatsoever to do art, I enjoy seeing/appreciating other's art. AND so does Dan; I have a wonderful husband who has similar interests (food, college football, art...the important things!) We attended the Charlotte Festival in the Park and really enjoyed ourselves. We ended up meeting and loving this one artist named Larry Smith. His oil paintings are not only filled with Biblical allusions but are also beautiful, simple and colorful. We purchased one... (remember to click on it to see a bigger picture and find the fallen sparrow).

When A Sparrow Falls

Dan with the Artist, Larry Smith (and a bag of good ole' Kettle Corn)

Daniel's Dream

So I (Dan) had a dream last night...everyone was in Atlanta at Todd & Rebecca's house. There was lots of excitement because 2 family members were pregnant at the same time! Before you think I'm trying to give a hint or that I have the gift of prophecy, let me clarify that the 2 who were pregnant were Todd and Ryan! Haha, it was so hilarious because their stomachs were HUGE (Todd's was bigger, at about 8 months, and Ryan's a bit smaller at 5 months) and they were being so gentle and careful around everyone for fear of hurting their babies. Thought you all could use a good laugh to end the weekend.

The Good Ole Google

Well, thanks to Google maps, Dan and I have found our way around Charlotte and we've discovered quite a few new places to visit... Until one day, we needed to go somewhere and I googled the address from ours...and this is what we found. (click to enlarge)

Notice step 18 please....I'll get right on that... "Dan, grab your swimsuit"

Yes, we have friends...

Their names are Isaac and Abby and no, we dont pay them! We went over last night for a cook out and games. We played multiple games including "Truth and Dare Jenga" (yes, juvenile but still, really really funny). PS- The women dominated in Cranium...


This is the truth and dare jenga, the blacks are truths, the reds are dares.

One of my (Jenny's) dares was to 'exchange an article of clothing with someone else'...Dan and I decided, around the corner from Isaac and Abby, that he could at least try to put my pants on...Yes, he put them on but NO he could NOT zip them up... :) :)

And here is my outfit with matching shorts...Ha.

Canoeing, Lake Norman

Well, Dan and I, after a really great church service, decided to go canoeing. It was really fun because we had been cooped up in the house and watching ND lose (okay, Dan didn't care as much and has, for the second day in a row, worn his OSU shirt proudly).

Here are some sweet photos of our adventure! (it was a gorgeous day, not as hot as previously and we enjoyed the nature, plus, it was only $5.00 to canoe!!)

We have a few changes around the apartment...we rearranged the couch and the desk...And Jenny cut off four/five inches off her hair. I couldn't believe she still had some blonde pieces from high school!? We like all the changes, but I especially like her hair!

The Village Trailer T-13

Though its a work in progress, here are some photos of Dan's classroom/trailer!

Before the AC and before chairs, bulletin boards and posters...

After the first day of school, books in the kid's desks, papers on the tables, bulletin board up...yipee!!

Jenny's help with the 'sports' bulletin board! "Mr. Haller's All Stars" :)
(notice Dan's bamboo...)

Mr. Haller hard at work, sweating over the Expectations, "Haller's five Haves: Have Respect, Have Responsibility, Have Kindness, Have Questions, and of course, Have Fun!!"

He will want to post more photos as the room gets more decorated but that will come!