Let’s Get to Know our 1/3 Moms!
(Thanks Abbie Wilson for sharing your table with us!)
Back Row: Shauna LeGrande, Alexa Margary, Tiffanie Thompson, Alicia Kurzenburger, Jessica Van Voorst
Front Row: Marta Kolosso, Abbie Wilson, Chris Mayne
Christmas in Russia
By Shauna LeGrande
Let's go back in time to
Christmas 2009. My family had just moved to Moscow, Russia one month earlier.
My oldest son Conrad was 22 months and my son William was five months. We were
still adjusting to our new life and had just received our household goods a few
days before Christmas. I did my best to completely unpack the house by
Christmas but there was still a lot of work yet to be done. I accepted the fact
this would be no ordinary Christmas. I was so caught up with unpacking, getting
my oldest son settled in his new preschool and just life in general that it
didn't dawn on me we didn't have a Christmas tree! My options were limited as
our car had not arrived from the States yet, so I either had to pay a driver to
transport me or hitch a ride with a neighbor.....except I quickly realized that
just about all of the expats had left Moscow for the holiday break. So, I took
the Metro to the closest mall to see what I could find. To my amazement I found
the most pitiful trees on display for unrealistically inflated prices. There
was no way I was going to spend $200+ on a sub-par miniature tree. So, I
decided to focus my efforts on the Christmas feast, rather than décor.
Later that day when I picked
up my son at preschool, I commented on the school’s beautifully decorated
Christmas tree and mentioned my discovery at the mall. Since the school would
be closed through early January, the director (also my son’s teacher) readily
offered the tree for us to borrow. I felt a little weird about the thought of
getting a hand-me-down Christmas tree, but figured something was better than
nothing. At that time it was snowing and the most efficient way to transport my
two year old to and from our residence and school was to drag him on a sleigh.
It was quite a site to see a crazy woman pulling a sleigh with a little boy and
a Christmas tree. Note, this was no landmark Christmas tree as it made Charlie
Brown’s tree look like a prize winner. Still, we staged our little loaner
Christmas tree in a prominent place in our home and placed a few gift-wrapped
presents around the tree. We even managed to get our two young sons to pose for
a Christmas photograph to capture the story.
The Moscow winter of 2009 was
the coldest in 90 years, but it forced us to hunker down on our cozy home. I
don’t remember what we ate for Christmas dinner, or what Santa Claus brought
the children but I do remember how it felt to be together. Despite the
challenges of living in a completely foreign place with no friends (yet) or
family, we were together and God was watching over us. As our family reflects
on past Christmas days my husband and I will continue to tell our children
about our many adventures in Russia, especially Christmas in Moscow.
A Tradition in Our Family is...
·
One of our Christmas traditions at the Kurzenberger's is when all
of the presents are opened on Christmas morning the grandchildren get to wrap
up grandpa in all the leftover wrapping paper. They think it's funny to bury
him in the wrapping paper. (Alicia Kurzenberger)
·
As
a first generation American of Puerto Rican decent, my memories of Christmas
conjure up many traditions. As I mature in my Christian walk both as a wife for
11 years and a mom of 2, I want to make sure my family maintains our cultural
traditions without losing site of the true meaning of Christmas.
The 24th of December was
always our Noche Buena celebration. Preparations would start early in December
because one of the staples of the menu was pasteles; a laborious task but oh so
delicious. I recall staying up late as my family sat around the table sharing
stories as they prepared the pasteles in assembly line fashion. One of my
grandmothers always made my sister and I specially sized pasteles. This year I
am excited to have my grandmother visiting in early December; I will be making
my first pasteles with her. It should be interesting trying to find all the
ingredients locally.
More than the food we will
prepare, it's the time I will spend sharing, learning, laughing and maybe even
some singing with my grandmother that I will remember for years to come. She
always reminds me of her choice to follow Christ on a Christmas Eve when she
was 16. Through all the hustle and bustle of the season, it's her love of Jesus
I want to cling to the most as I now have my own family to infuse with
Christmas traditions. (Alexa Margary)
·
Growing
up we always set up our Christmas tree in front of a window. We were missionaries in Taiwan and being a
Buddhist/animistic country Christmas was little known. One night we noticed that some neighbors (we
lived in apartments) were all gathered at their window looking at our tree lit
up. This memory has always been a good
reminder to celebrate CHRIST at Christmas and let our His light shine through
me. (Abbie Wilson)
Let’s Eat…
Let’s Eat…
1
13 1/2 ounce can crushed pineapple
2
3 ounce packages lemon gelatin
1
7 ounce bottle gingerale
1
1 pound can (2 cups) jellied cranberry sauce
1
2 ounce package dessert topping mix (Dream whip)
1
8 ounce package cream cheese
1/2
cup chopped pecans
1
Tbsp butter
Drain
pineapple and reserve liquid. Add water to pineapple juice to make 1 cup of
liquid. Heat to boiling and dissolve gelatin. Cool to room temp. Stir in
gingerale and chill till gelatin is partially set. Blend pineapple and
cranberry sauce together and add to gelatin. Put in 9x9 pan and chill till
firm. Prepare Dream whip according to package. Whip cream cheese until smooth
and mix with Dream whip. Toast pecans in 1 Tbsp butter and sprinkle on top. Can
also use a 9x13 pan. Double the recipe and use 9x13 pan if you want the jello
part thicker.
Irish wheat soda bread (from Jaime
Stiles)
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups white flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups buttermilk
Mix dry ingredients
Stir in buttermilk
Transfer to floured surface and knead briefly and lightly just to mix ingredients and shape in ball.
Transfer to greased cookie sheet. Flatten ball of dough to an oval about 1" thick
With a sharp knife cut deep cross in center of loaf almost to cookie sheet (this allows bread to cook in the middle)
3 cups whole wheat flour
3 cups white flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3 cups buttermilk
Mix dry ingredients
Stir in buttermilk
Transfer to floured surface and knead briefly and lightly just to mix ingredients and shape in ball.
Transfer to greased cookie sheet. Flatten ball of dough to an oval about 1" thick
With a sharp knife cut deep cross in center of loaf almost to cookie sheet (this allows bread to cook in the middle)
Brush loaf with buttermilk to
produce a shiny glaze
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
Bake at 350 for 45 minutes
Zucchini
Bread (From Alexa Margary)
3 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated raw zucchini
2 tspn cinnamon
1 tspn salt
1 tspn baking soda
1/4 tspn baking powder
Less than 1/4 tspn ground nutmeg and cloves
3 cups unsifted flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a loaf pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about one hour. Store in a covered tin or tightly wrapped in foil.
3 eggs
1 cup canola oil
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 cups grated raw zucchini
2 tspn cinnamon
1 tspn salt
1 tspn baking soda
1/4 tspn baking powder
Less than 1/4 tspn ground nutmeg and cloves
3 cups unsifted flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a loaf pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about one hour. Store in a covered tin or tightly wrapped in foil.
Easy Peanut Butter Blossoms (from
Marta Kolosso)
1 roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies
3 tablespoons sugar
36 Hershey's® Kisses® Brand milk chocolates, unwrapped
Heat oven to
350°F. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar.
On ungreased cookie sheets, place balls 2 inches apart.
Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately
top each cookie with 1 milk chocolate candy, pressing down firmly so cookie
cracks around edge. Remove from cookie sheets to cooling racks. Cool completely
before storing.
Frozen
Peppermint Oreo Dessert
(from Jessica Van Voorst)
1
package of Oreos
1/4
cup oleo
1/2
gallon peppermint ice cream (may use other ice cream flavor of your choice)
2
jars Hershey's hot fudge topping (Microwave enough to spread easily)
8-ounce
Cool Whip
nuts
(optional)
Crush
3 cups Oreo cookies and add 1/4 cup oleo (melted). Press into bottom of a
9x13-inch pan. Freeze. Spread 1 jar of Hershey's hot fudge topping on top.
Freeze. Spread 1/2 gallon softened peppermint ice cream on top. Freeze. Spread
1 can Hershey's hot fudge topping on top. Freeze. Spread an 8-ounce carton of
Cool Whip on top and freeze. You may garnish the top with crushed Oreos or
nuts.
Fun Things To Do in Omaha This Holiday Season...
*Holiday
Air Affair at Strategic Air & Space Museum, Sat. Dec. 8th! Send Santa off to space in a hot air balloon
at 9:30, then go inside for the lighting of a museum aircraft, cookie
decorating, photos with Santa, and other activities.
*17th
Annual Christmas at the Cathedral, Dec. 7th & 9th! Hear music from the Omaha Symphony Chamber
Orchestra at St. Cecilia's Cathedral.
There will be a guest appearance by the Archdiocesan Children’s Choir.
($3)
*"Madeline's
Christmas" at The Rose Through Dec. 16th!
Everyone’s favorite schoolgirl in the bright yellow hat is back for some
festive fun in France! This musical
theater production is recommended for ages 4 and up.
*
Gingerbread House Display at the Mormon Trail Center
Starting
on November 17th, 2012 and running through December 29th, 2012, the Mormon
Trail Center will house the annual Ginger Bread House Display. The display is free to attend. The center will
close at 4 P.M. on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, and will be closed on
Christmas day
*Visit
Live Reindeer at Mulhall's Through Dec. 16th!
There will be reindeer-themed activities for kids throughout the store, too.
*Christmas
at Union Station @ Durham
Western Heritage Museum
801
South 10th St. Omaha (402) 444-5071
*Dickens
in the Market - Victorian Christmas
The
Old Market Omaha 10th to 13th Sts., Harney to Jackson Sts.
Each
Christmas season, Omaha's Old Market becomes a Victorian-Era holiday
marketplace. Festive decorations,
carolers in Victorian dress, and horse-drawn carriage rides add Dickensian
cheer to the festive season each Saturday and Sunday.
*Holiday
Lights @ Gene
Leahy Mall 12th & Farnam Omaha
A
million lights decorate the trees at the Mall from Thanksgiving to early
January.
*Holiday Wildlights @ Henry Doorly Zoo
3701
South 10th St. Omaha
Wander
through the Omaha Zoo's winter wonderland. Glimpse at the glittering lights on
the trees and bushes, and catch sight of the moving animal images. Make
a holiday craft in Santa's Workshop, visit the Touch Tank in the Scott Aquarium
and have a snack from Durham's TreeTops Restaurant.
*Classic
Holiday Film Series @ Marcus Midtown Cinema
Saturdays
at 10AM, November 24 - December 22nd
Join
Midtown Cinema for the 2012 Classic Holiday Film Series, in conjunction with
the Miracle on Farnam Celebration at Omaha's Midtown Crossing. Enjoy classic
holiday films for the whole family on Saturdays at 10AM for only $5 from
November 24th to December 22nd!
A
Christmas Story
November
24th
The
Grinch
Dec.
1st
Miracle
on 34st Street
Dec.
8th
Elf
Dec.
15th
It's
a Wonderful Life
Dec.
22nd
For
more information and/or to purchase tickets:
*Indoor Ice Skating Rinks:
Mid-America
Center Ice Arena
Motto
McLean Ice Arena in Hitchcock Park
Moylan
Ice Plex
*Outdoor
Ice Skating Rinks:
Dundee
Neighborhood Ice Skating Rink
(No
website). This is a small outdoor ice skating rink that Dundee Bank and the
Dundee-Memorial Park Neighborhood Association provide free of charge to the
public. The City of Omaha flooded the sunken area in the boulevard parkway at
Happy Hollow Boulevard and Underwood Avenue. Skating is at your own risk.
Because there are no lights around the rink, skating is limited to daylight
hours. Skate rental is not available, so please bring your own. Please also be
aware that there are no restrooms or other facilities.
Eugene
T. Mahoney State Park Ice Skating Rink
University
of Nebraksa Medical Center Ice Skating Rink
http://www.holidaylightsfestival.org/icerink.html
(For more ideas go to http://www.momsofomaha.com/)
