Entries Tagged as 'dad'

Jessica’s 10th Birthday

May 27th, 2013 · 1 Comment

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Jessica & Ashley

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Mom, dad, Ashley and Jessica playing bocce ball.

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Pier Jumper soda by Big Bay Brewing (Shorewood, WI)

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Steph, Mom, Jess, Richard and Amanda opening gifts from Japan.

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Steph, Mom, Jess

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Stephanie and her boyfriend Joey.

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Richard and Brian putting together a telescope that Jess got as a gift.

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Jessica, Joey, Stephanie, Nick, Karen

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Elderly Shorty

Over the holiday weekend I went to Oak Creek for Jessica’s 10th birthday party. We grilled out and played yard games. The weather wasn’t as great as it could be, but it wasn’t terrible either. Jess requested brats and hamburgers, so my brother grilled those up. Dallas went to our friend’s lake house the day before and made up a bunch of Korean kalbi ribs. He gave us one bag to grill up and everyone seemed to like them. Jess got a ton of presents from Dallas and I, my parents, Brian and Sheila (and Ashley and Jason) and Amanda’s parents. I hadn’t seen my family since we went to Japan and had a bunch of little gifts for them. Some souvenirs, lots of candy and crackers, oragami sets, bonsai tree, some kokeshi dolls. Good to see everyone! Happy birthday, Jessica!

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Easter and Birthdays

April 3rd, 2013 · 1 Comment

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Dad getting ready to carve the turkey.

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Dad and Jess with the cake they made.

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Surprise inside!!

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A few of the birthday gifts that Stephanie got from me and Dallas.

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I think Amanda liked the Vosges chocolate bars!

Dallas was out of town,* but I drove up to my brother’s house without him on Easter. My parents went too and we had a all had a nice turkey dinner. For dessert we had a cake that my dad and Jessica made. The big surprise was that the not only was the cake decorated very colorfully, but inside the cake the dough was layered with different colors.

Amanda and Stephanie’s birthdays are not until this weekend, but that is when we leave for Japan, so I gave them their birthday gifts early. Fun fact via my brother: Stephanie was born on Easter Sunday 17 years ago, but it won’t fall on April 7 again until 2075, when she turns 79!

Nice seeing everyone! Hadn’t seen most since Christmas time!

* Dallas has been/is travelling on average, every other weekend for work or pleasure for about six months, I think.

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Big Soft Ginger Cookies

December 30th, 2012 · No Comments

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I made these cookies for Christmas because my mom told me that Jess now loves gingersnaps. And my dad is always a big fan of spiced cookies. And I like them now and again. They turned out thinner than I’d expected, but they were very soft and chewy. I liked them a lot and would make them again.

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Big Soft Ginger Cookies
From: All Recipes

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

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