Ballerinas In The City!

Oh how much fun did 

Mama Holli 

have with this photo shoot!

TOO MUCH!

What a lovely day in the city!
Such beautiful baby girls
inside
and 
out!
Kudos 
to
their dance home,

Denver Academy
of
Ballet

Drunken Cheese Tray

Drunken Cheese Tray

• 1/2  cup  grape seed oil
• 1/2  cup  white wine vinegar
• 1/4  cup  fresh lime juice
• 1/2  (7.5-ounce) jar roasted sweet red peppers, drained and diced
• 3-4  green onions, minced
• 5  tablespoons  chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2  teaspoon  white sugar
• 1/2  teaspoon  sea salt
• 1/8  teaspoon black pepper
• 1  (8-ounce) block Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese, chilled
• 1  (8-ounce) block Sharp White Cheddar Cheese, chilled
• 2  (8-ounce) packages Cream Cheese, chilled 

Whisk together first 3 ingredients, add diced red peppers and next 6 ingredients. Set marinade aside.

Cut all 4 blocks of cheese in half lengthwise. Cut halves crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. cheese. The cream cheese can be tricky but make sure it is really cold prior to cutting.

Arrange cheese slices in rows in a shallow serving dish. Pour sauce over cheeses. Cover and chill at least 8 hours. 

Serve with your favorite crackers, bagel chips and bread at room temperature.

My favorite part.....

Any remaining leftovers can be used in the morning and spread on a toasted bagel!! YUM!! 
Another popular recipe here on my blog.........

Sausage and Cream Cheese Crescent Bars!

CRAZY EASY and SO AMAZING!

A Prayer To The Holy Innocents

A Prayer To The Holy Innocents
Holy Innocents, you died before you were old enough to know what life means, pray for all children who die young that God may gather them into His loving arms.

Holy Innocents, you were killed because one man was filled with hatred, pray for those who hate that God may touch their hearts and fill them with love.

Holy Innocents, you experienced a violent death, pray for all who are affected by violence that they may find peace and love.

Holy Innocents, your parents grieved for you with deep and lasting sorrow, pray for all parents who have lost young children that God may wrap a warm blanket of comfort around them.

Holy Innocents, those around you certainly felt helpless to prevent your deaths, pray for all who feel helpless in their circumstances that they may cling to God for courage and hope.

Holy Innocents, you who are now in Heaven, pray for all of us that one day we may join you there to bask in God's love forever.Amen.

Mama Holli Loves Babies!

How fun to spend some time loving, cuddling and playing with these cutie patooties!

I had so much fun taking their sweet pictures! I could just eat them up with a big old spoon!

These babies are just plain YUMMY!

 I can't stop staring at these pics! I miss them already!

 Mama Kristi and Mama Amanda, your pics are coming soon!

Perky Pancetta Bruschetta

Oh my I have been away for awhile! Sorry about that! I can breathe now that school is out and summer is here!

We have been cooking up a storm at our house. The girls and I made some wonderful bruschetta the other day! We added some fancy new ingredients! 

Check it out!

So here is the deal.........we whipped up some fresh pesto and added a touch of cream to it to soften it up. 

Then we fried up some pancetta! 

YUM! 

I wanted to eat it by itself! 

Chopped up some vine ripe tomatoes, threw them in a bowl and drizzled them with olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper. 

Grabbed some nice greens and tossed them in a bowl with some fresh lemon juice and olive oil.
 Snatched some goat cheese from the frig. 

Grabbed a loaf of french bread and 

started to assemble these puppies!

First layer - goat cheese
layer 2      - creamy pesto
layer 3      - toms
layer 4      - crispy pancetta
layer 5      - fresh greens

Spread them out on a baking tray and broil on high for about 2 minutes or until sides of bread are crispy!

You could heat these puppies up on the grill as well!

Then you add a smoky flavor to it......

DOUBLE YUM!

See ya later!

Mama is off to eat some pancetta!
I like to say it PANCETTA
PANCETTA
PANCETTA
PANCETTA


Thank you Graphics Fairy
for the perky mama pic!

Mama Needs COLOR!

and

NOW!

So it goes like this.....

As soon as March rolls around

Mama starts getting restless for

COLOR!

You see we live in beautiful

Colorado.

Don't get me wrong, it is beautiful!

But

(There's always a but)

and

(Sometimes a butt)

BUT

We won't go there!

Sorry...got off track.

So we all agree that Colorado is beautiful

BUT

Sometimes a Mama from Texas

 just needs a little 

COLOR in March!

So I changed the blog background,

bought some bulbs to plant,

 asked daughter #2

to make some perky baked goods, 

 asked daughter #1 to paint a colorful painting,

 then bought some flowers!

I think that will hold me over

for a little while!

Sending you some 

COLOR!

Boys Will Be Boys!

"MOM, This is fun!", says baby boy #1.

Mama yells, "GET OFF THE ICE!"

"NOW!"

"I just want to get that rock over there." says the boy.

NO!!!!

says the mama

"I can roll to it!"

NO!

says the mama once again
even LOUDER!

He finally gets tired and crawls back to the bank.

Kids...don't try this at home!

Thanksgiving!

I am so excited that Thanksgiving is nearing! I will be a baking, cooking, stuffing, decorating mama for sure! What fun we will have on this special day. A day where we give thanks for all of our many countless blessings.

Here I am gathering holly from the garden!

I will be bringing out our Turkey Tins again this year!

Go HERE to read how to make these cute decorations!

Please Pray, Reflect and Discuss

Death is never easy, but the death of a child is even more difficult to accept. It is even more challenging when that death is a suicide.
My children attend Regis Jesuit High School in Colorado. Because they attend this school, our family immediately becomes part of the amazing and loving Regis Jesuit Community. In the course of the past 4 years we have shared mostly joy but also great sadness within this extended family known as Regis Jesuit. Last Thursday one of my son's teammates took his own life. Words can not express the enormous grief the family and community is experiencing at this time. Dominick will be laid to rest on Monday. I share with you this event not to bring you sadness, but awareness. I challenge each of you reading this post to discuss and share the topic of suicide with your loved ones. Discuss life's challenges and obstacles and how we can help each other through the most difficult times. Make it well known to the ones you love that there is absolutely nothing they could do that would change your love for them, and no obstacle that can't be tackled. Please refer to the resources provided by our school. Copy them and share them with the ones you love.
Please pray for this family and all who loved this young man. Pray for the countless others who are affected by suicide and the devastating trail it leaves behind.
Rest in Peace Dom.




Dear Parents,

Many of you have already heard the sad news of the death of one of our Regis Jesuit students. Last night, junior Dominick Doyle took his own life. Dominick was the older brother of Boys Division freshman Donovan and Girls Division freshman Aly. Early this morning Fr. Kevin Dyer and Fr. Phil Steele prayed with Dominick’s parents, Derrick and Flo, at the hospital and blessed Dominick’s body. We will let everyone know when the funeral arrangements have been made.

The devastation, grief and confusion being felt by the Doyle family is shared by the entire community of Regis Jesuit. I know how readily and generously our families will step forward to offer the Doyles the support and help that they will need to get through these dark days. Here at school, we are trying to maintain a sense of calm and normalcy as much as possible, but also to attend to those students who are most deeply affected by this tragic event. All day today, the counselors, pastoral team, and administrators are available for those who would like to talk. We told the students that anyone wishing to do that should simply ask the teacher to be dismissed.

All of us—adults and students alike—will need to be more than ordinarily attentive to each other. The adults will be here for our students and each other; the students will be here for one another. The greatest gifts we can give each other at a time like this are presence and prayer. In fact that is all we can give; there are no words that can make sense of this. We can and must simply be with one another, share the sadness, and allow God to be present in and through us. Above all, we pray that God hold his dear son Dominick close to Himself, and that God will reach through the pain of this moment to grant strength and hope to Dominick’s family and friends.

Today at 12:30 pm, the Mass in the Rupert Mayer Chapel will be celebrated for Dominick’s eternal rest. Anyone is welcome who would like to come and pray for Dominick, and for the consolation of his parents, his brother Donovan and his sister Aly. He was a wonderful son, brother, and friend and a great gift to all who knew him. May he rest in peace.

One final note: Dominick was a football player, and his father is on the football coaching staff. The family has told us quite forcefully that they want tonight’s football game to be played. They feel that will be best for our students, and we agree.

Sincerely,

 
PHILIP G. STEELE, SJ '66
President

Over the course of the last few days our faculty, staff and counselors have been active in responding to the context in each building. Along with our school therapist, the pastoral departments and the counseling departments in both Divisions have worked hand-in-hand with the faculty and staff to speak with students who are significantly challenged by Dominick's passing. They have additionally responded to parent concerns about individual students, holding conversations as necessary and keeping administrations in both buildings informed.

Included here are resources to give you some tools for conversations with your students at home. Please take a look at them. We believe these can be very helpful and can provide a good sense of questions and conversations to have at home.

Please continue to pray for the repose of the soul of Dominick Doyle, pray for the Doyle family and for the entire community of Regis Jesuit.

Encourage one another. Live in harmony and peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. —2 Corinthians 13: 11-12 REFLECTIONS ON THE RECENT DEATH IN OUR COMMUNITY Dear Parents and Guardians, There can be no greater sorrow for a parent than to lose a  child—and, thank God, not many of you have had to  endure that experience. Few of us can even imagine  what it is like to suffer the loss of a child. In ways large and small, the death of junior  Dominick Doyle has touched the entire community.  Some have been shaken to the core; others will  experience it less intensely—but all of us are  affected by this death. For some of our students, this is the first experience  of the death of someone close to them. For others,  it is the first experience of the death of someone  their own age. In addition to the questions that  always confront us at such a time, the sudden  death of a young person unleashes a special  torrent of questions among his or her peers.  (Why didn’t I take the keys? Why didn’t I tell someone?  Why didn’t I reach out? Is there some sign I missed?)  And when the death is a suicide, the anger, guilt,  and confusion can be overwhelming. Those close  to the person have a special kind of loss to deal with.  But all sorts of feelings can also be unleashed in  young people not necessarily close to the person  who died, but who may already be struggling  with issues of depression, loneliness, breakups,  a relative’s death, etc. Last Friday, when news of Dominick’s death  became known, the entire community of Regis Jesuit  came together in sorrow, support and prayer.  Some students simply sat side by side in the  hallway—silent at first, then crying, quietly talking,  praying and hugging. Some went to class, where  perhaps they were able to share their questions  and confusion. Some spoke to counselors, teachers or  coaches. The football team gathered in the field house  where they could remember their teammate, pray and  begin to wrestle with the impact of this sudden death.  Some parents came to school simply to be near their  children. Others came to pick them up, feeling that home  was the best place to be at that moment.  During mid-morning, rosaries were said in  both divisions. Shortly after noon  a memorial Mass was held in the Boys gymnasium.  Nearly a thousand students sat side-by-side on the  floor, with many parents and teachers on chairs  nearby. The holy silence of that room expressed  powerfully the reality of grief and love that no words  could express. I write today to simply voice my awe and gratitude  to this community, and to affirm that all of us will  need to offer even more generously than usual the  precious gifts of presence and attention to our  children in the weeks and months ahead. During  school hours teachers, counselors, coaches and  school administrators can offer to parents those  extra sets of eyes and ears that are often able to  spot early signs of trouble. But they can never  replace the time and attention to their children that  parents can give. Honest conversation when the  time is right; extra hugs; family meals—such simple  gifts, but so important at a time like this. Not many parents feel prepared to deal with  situations like this. Excuse the cliché, but it really  does take a village. You can be a great source  of support to one another. You can help each  other immensely by paying attention to each  other’s children. Ask questions. As you know,  some kids find it easier to talk to their friends’  parents than their own!

Mama Has Been Busy!

Sorry it has been so long since my last post.

I have been quite the busy bee!

School started fast and furious with three babies in high school!

I can't even stand it!

Here is a snapshot of my life lately!

A Life That I Fully

LOVE

and 

ADORE!

Baby Boy

 Baby Girl #1

Baby Girl #2

Life

is

GOOD
VERY
VERY
GOOD

Mama is Craving Spicy Noodles

Spicy Veggie Asian Noodles  

Mama needed a quick spicy Asian fix last week!

So I rummaged through the frig and pulled out whatever I could find to create this easy dish.

and.....

It was GOOD

REAL

GOOD

Spicy Asian Veggie Noodles

1/2 box of wide whole wheat noodles

1 cup of fresh snow peas

1/2 small purple onion (sliced in wide lengths)

1 cup of cherry tomatoes (cut in halves)

1/2 cup of green chives (sliced in wide lengths)

1/2 cup of cilantro (slightly chopped)

1/2 cup of peanut butter (slightly soften in microwave)

1/2 cup of nonfat plain yogurt

2 T soy sauce

1/8 t red cayenne pepper

1T peanut oil or sesame oil

Combine peanut butter, yogurt, soy sauce and pepper in a small bowl. If not spicy enough you may add more pepper! Set the sauce aside.

Cook noodles according to package instructions, drain but do not rinse.

In a saucepan add the oil and saute veggies until slightly brown. Remove from the heat and mix in cilantro. 

In a large bowl combine noodles, sauce and veggies. Toss to coat noodles evenly.

I usually end up adding some chinese hot chili sauce to my serving. I sometimes squeeze a little lime on mine as well. Just play around with the flavors to your liking. If you like more sauce-double it. You may also throw in other veggies or substitute the ones I chose. 

This is my friend!

HOT Chili Sauce

YUMMMM