Water Parks and Breakfast Casseroles

So what do water parks and breakfast casseroles have to do with each other? Not much, really, it's just that I had planned a completely different post full of pictures from our afternoon playing at the indoor water park with Grandma and Grandpa D. and Uncle Jacob.

But, I left the camera at the hotel, so that post will have to wait. At least the camera still works, unlike the cell phone I dropped in my apron pocket yesterday...and then washed. UGH.

So, in lieu of fun pictures of everyone splashing around, here's what's for brunch at my house tomorrow before we celebrate an early Christmas with the grands and Uncle Jacob. (Amelia, by the way, thinks celebrating more than once is the best idea EVER.)

This is my all-time favorite breakfast casserole. I love that the potato crowns never get mushy like bread sometimes can. And don't skip the mustard, even if you don't think you like mustard. Trust me, it's what puts this over the top. Here's the recipe:

Ham and Potato Strata
1/2 package potato crowns (think flat tater tots)
1 16-oz package frozen cut broccoli
1 cup chopped ham
8 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tsp. ground mustard
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Grease a 13x9" baking dish. Arrange frozen broccoli evenly over bottom, and sprinkle evenly with ham.

Cover with a layer of potato crowns.

In a medium bowl, beat eggs, milk and mustard until smooth. Please don't skip the mustard, I beg you! It's what makes the dish, and I say that as someone who doesn't really like mustard. If you don't have ground mustard, you can substitute 1 tablespoon of prepared mustard. Pour egg mixture evenly over the potato mix in your baking dish.

Sprinkle with cheddar cheese. Cover and refrigerate for several hours or overnight.

Uncover and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Perfect by itself! Add a little fresh fruit and coffee cake or muffins, and you've got a very nice brunch fit for celebrating the holidays with family and friends or just for treating yourself.

Tomorrow, pictures of the water bugs. In the meantime, enjoy!

Like A Duck to Water

Amelia is taking swimming lessons at the YMCA right now. Today we all went to the Y for her class. The boys went to the daycare (where they caused quite a stir!) for the first time while Amelia and I swam and Daddy took pics.


It's the first swim class she can take without Mom and Dad, though one or the other of us has still been going into the water with her.


Amelia LOVES to swim. She's getting pretty good at being able to move herself across the pool when she kicks.

But Amelia's favorite part of class is getting to jump off the diving platform into the deep water at the end of class. She'd do it a thousand times if we'd let her.

I went to the locker room to get dressed while Dad watched Amelia finish up her class. It was a life-changing experience.

You see, I have always used either the Girls' Locker Room or the Family Locker Room with Amelia. Today I used the Women's Locker Room for adults only because it was closer to the pool.

Most locker rooms are nothing to brag about, but this one...this one has a WHIRLPOOL and a SAUNA. It even has a couple exercise bikes, a TV and a couple of couches. Combine that with the two hours of free child care and you can see why this was a life-changing experience.

Expect my Y membership to get a great workout...but only so I can relax!