Cranberry Relish

Today, as I prepare for Thanksgiving, I've decided to make my cranberry relish and can it for the first time. Generally, when eating cranberry sauce for your Thanksgiving meal, a little dab goes a long way! So, when making my relish from 1 bag of cranberries, I always wind up freezing half of it for Christmas. This works well, but with all of our canning fruits this past summer, it donned it me that the cranberry relish could be canned too! It turns out beautiful and I think it would make a perfect gift!

Cranberry Relish with Pineapple and Pecans

3/4 Cup Pineapple Juice
1/2 Cup Sugar
1/4 teaspoon Cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon Nutmeg
Dash of ground Cloves
1 - 12oz package of Cranberries
1 - 20oz can of Crushed Pineapple
1/2 cup toasted chopped Pecans

Toast pecan pieces on a shallow baking sheet at 300 degrees stirring occasionally, until you can smell the pecans from the oven. Set pecans aside to cool. Strain crushed pineapple. Add the juice to a medium sauce pan, and set the pineapple aside.

Add sugar and spices to sauce pan, stir over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Add cranberries and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and stir for 3 to 4 minutes until cranberries pop. Remove from heat and add crushed pineapple and pecans. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving.

You will love how good this smells! Enjoy for the holidays!

Soccer Otherwise Known as Swarmball

The boys have really enjoyed playing soccer this fall for the first time ever! Really, it's just Swarmball as 5 members from each team go after the ball all over the field. They just travel in a pack and kick the ball together. The goal is just to break out of the swarm and score! It is very exciting when it actually happens since everyone works so hard! :)

Robby's team is made up of 3 and 4 year olds, so some games are filled with a lot of tears and temper tantrums. Robby enjoys playing though and he really likes to be the goalie. Mommy would prefer that he is out there running as much as possible since he seems to have a lot of energy that needs to be used up.


John's team is just 5 year olds. John is really good at running and kicking the ball hard to clear the swarm. John scored a goal on his first game, but hasn't scored any others since. However, today, he had 2 assists in goals, so he was just as happy! We have really been encouraging teamwork with John since he really likes to do too much on his own.


I've enjoyed being a soccer mom! We have 2 more weeks and then it will be basketball season. I think we will just sign up John for basketball and let Robby wait until next year. We'll see how that goes; Robby may have a different opinion since he thinks he can do everything that John can!

Wow! It's been almost a year!

I can't believe that it has been almost a year since I wrote anything. I guess I've been a little overwhelmed that I don't really really want to concentrate on anything in particular to write.

My brother and sister and I have started a Biggest Losers competition between the 3 of us. I'm not winning right now, but I have at least made progress. I've made progress in cooking and in exercising. I've got the boys eating vegetables instead of just fruit! I've been walking almost every morning...early in the morning! Getting up at 5 AM wouldn't normally be ideal for me since I really like to sleep in, but in the morning is when my feet feel at their best instead of all swollen at night. One thing about walking that early is that it is before others get up...it's quiet and, finally, cool! I put my music on and walk...not thinking about anything else...which is relief! At work it is go, go, go and home I'm cooking dinner and we then have to get after homework! Fit in soccer practice and an evening at church, and we have a very full week.

After we make some further progress, I'd like to get new family pictures taken. I'm proud of my family and I'd like to show off the new us.

Man, was this post random or what!?

Christmas Eve Part 2

After enjoying a good meal and good conversation, it was (finally, according to the boys) time to open presents! John and Robby donned the Santa hats and passed out presents. This is a pretty challenging feat for two little boys that don't know how to read! There was a lot of pointing and shouting to get everything in the right place!

John opening his favorite helicopter!

Robby concentrating opening his present, that's why his tongue is hanging out. He loved his present too!

Daddy helping his boys get everything opened! (And maybe playing a little too!)

Richard and I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Mommy sneaking a Christmas Eve kiss on Daddy!

A special thank you to Becky (Aunt Buckee), Ann and Lisa for making this a very special evening for our family. We had a terrific time! The boys were passed out on the way home ready for Santa to come in the morning!