Sacrament Meeting Doodles

My kids always doodle and draw during Sacrament Meeting. It keeps them quiet and from bugging each other and me :). Normally Dallyn is drawing a shark or a fire-breathing dragon eating people. The girls are playing tic tac toe or drawing mustaches, glasses and beards on the picture on the front of the program.But today this is what they did..... Bailey

Dallyn

Madison

Its nice to know that occasionally the important stuff sinks in. :)

Christmas Baking

Grant & I don't spend a lot of money at Christmas. We buy for the kids but ever body else gets homemade goodies. The only problem is in our house anything that even resembles a cookie never lasts long. So I usually have to get it all done and packaged at once, if it has any hope of making it to its intended recipient. Today I have spent the day baking....Cinnamon Rock Candy (I know the picture is out of focus) Super hard to find the Cinnamon Oil (extract is not strong enough) but well worth the search.

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Cinnamon-Rock-Candy

Dipped Shortbread

1c Icing Sugar

1lb Butter

3c Flour

1/2c Cornstarch

Vanilla

Whip butter for 15 minutes (or til your arm is sore) add everything else whip 15 more minutes

Shape into balls, press with a fork , bake 10 minutes. Once cooled, dip in chocolate.

***dipping anything in Chocolate, makes people think your the next Martha Stewart***

Sugar Cookies

My friend Dawn gave me this recipe 15 years ago and I've used it ever since. It works every time and is easy to roll out.

1/2 c margarine

1c Sugar

1 egg

2 Tb Milk

2c Flour

2 ts Baking Powder

1/2 ts Salt

Cream wet ingredients, mix in dry. Roll out & bake 10 minutes @350 F

Butter cream Frosting (from The Sisters Cafe):

4 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

4 tablespoons milk

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cups butter

Ginger Bread, I actually use a Ginger Snap Recipe.

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1710,153178-254193,00.html

This is the icing recipe...icing dries hard.
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/sugar-cookie-icing/Detail.aspx

Hopefully 75 % of these cookies make it out of the house, but we'll see. Tomorrow I'll tackle the Butterscotch Haystacks, Snowball Cookies, Toffee and Peppermint Cookies or maybe I'll just take a nap :)

Grandma's Ornaments

Since Holly was a baby Grant's Mom has hand painted ornaments for each one of her grandchildren for Christmas. This week we received a box in the mail with these treasures inside. Twenty ornaments in all, four for each of my five. I am always amazed at Lynette's gift for painting the intricate details that bring these ornaments to life. These will be treasured for many Christmases to come. Thanks Grandma!

My Dad Called...

This morning my Dad called. This is nothing unusual, he calls several times a day, every day. But today was different, I had a glimpse of the Dad I use to have. He was happy, asked how the kids and Grant were doing, remembered our conversation from the night before and told me he loved me. I am grateful for these moments with him.

Watching my Dad's struggle with aging, depression and boxed wine has been heartbreaking for my sister and I. So its the little tender mercies, like this morning that I try to hang on to. I found these articles of my Dad's tucked away in an old photo album last week. My Dad loves music, especially Jazz. I am grateful he has shared this love with my sister and I and his Grandchildren...even though it took me until adulthood to agree with him on the Jazz part.

My dad was honoured when he was invited to adjudicate at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival, in Moscow, Idaho. Its a Jazz Drummer's heaven there. He has returned year after year for the last 19 years...He will not be returning this year. He is heartbroken that he no longer able to continue.

Dad on the front page of the local Moscow paper Feb 1997

I think my dad is always happiest behind his drum kit or in the front of a lecture hall teaching his "famous" percussion workshop. Its hard for me to except that even these things have become too difficult for him now.

Grant & I were able to travel down in 1997 to see my Dad in action at the festival. It was wonderful for us to share these moments with him.

Article from 1997.... I love my Dad. His love and talent for music has and will always bless our lives. It is a blessing that on his good days, like this morning I can talk to him, but on bad days when my heart breaks for him, I can still listen to his music and the music he taught me to love.

Christmas Letter 2010

I 'm amazed with myself for actually getting a Christmas Letter done this year.
If you receiving a physical copy of this letter requires anything to do with Canada Post. You probably won't get one. It's nothing personal, I just suck at mailing things...just ask my sister. So Merry Christmas and if your life can't continue with out an actually copy of this...message me you're address and I can guarantee delivery by December 2011 ;)


MERRY CHRISTMAS from the KRAMER'S

"Remember as far as anybody knows we're a NICE, NORMAL family"

Since nothing about our family fits into the standard Christmas Brag Letter and we are not about to start making things up. We have decided to re-write the classic Christmas carol "Jingle Bells" To give you a peak into the life of a Crazy KRAMER. Only thing is you MUST SING the following. (Come on I know you're already humming it)


Jingle Bells- Kramer Style


Dashing out the door;
Is everybody here?
Don*t forget our Dallyn;
We did that last year
On our way to Church;
Bailey can*t find her shoe
What*s that on your shirt?
Alex, did we bring that talk for you?

Oh laughing kids, barking dog,
Someone spilt their milk
Oh, what fun it is to be,
One Crazy Family
Oh, lost homework, laundry piles,
Where*d all the hot water go?
No one knows what*s for dinner-
So, It*s out for pizza we go!

And then the door bell ring?
Of course the house* a mess
Just ignore the dishes;
And all the rest.
Maddie*s bugging Dallyn;
Holly*s piano playing
What*s with all the noise?
I can*t hear what you*re saying

Oh, Who*s turn*s it?
Please stop that!
Because I said so!
Oh what fun it is to be;
One crazy family
Oh Merry Christmas from our family,
To all of you
Yes its crazy, but we;re happy
And hope the same for you!


Our family is healthy & happy. We have survived our new adventures in dating & driving with only a few gray hairs so far. It is wonderful to watch our children grow into the amazing people they are. We love "Island Livin'" and consider it a great blessing to raise our family in one of the most beautiful places in the world. We wish all of you the best in 2011.

All our love,
Grant, Robin, Holly, Bailey, Madison, Alex & Dallyn

http://krazykramers.blogspot.com

Band Parent of the Year ;)

The fact that I am the offspring of two extremely musical people, one a retired high school band teacher makes the following post almost sac religious...but as a band parent of six years, I have come to the realization that once you've been to one concert you've to them all. I know bad parent...Don't get me wrong, I have complete respect and admiration for our kids band director he's an amazing teacher and the kids always play well and have fun doing it. There are just a few things that just don't change...no matter the school or level.

1. The seats (folding chairs, bleachers, or plywood theater seats) are behind-numbingly uncomfortable.

2. No matter how few songs are on the program your will be there for no less than two hours

3. At least one kid always drops their instrument.

4. The "Pirates of the Caribbean" theme song will be played at least once.(the last 12 concerts, seriously) Madison asked Grant if he was able to come tonight...Grant:"They're just going to play "Pirates of the Caribbean" again. Maddie: "How'd you know?".....Here is Maddie's Grade 9 concert band playing it tonight...Well done girl!....My numb behind was well worth it. :)

Bethlehem Walk

At the last minute, our youth had the opportunity to go to the Bethlehem Walk, put on by the Parksville Baptist Church, down Island. This event recreates life in Bethlehem around the time of the birth of Christ. Complete with live animals, vendors and craftsman.....

But of course the ride in the "loser cruiser" is the most fun.

The kids a a great time... so glad they could go....Thanks Brother Schick for taking them.