Thursday, November 27, 2008

Where did all the bedding go?
















The house was clean this morning. Totally clean. Look what the kids did while I was "distracted" today. Little stinkers! Oh, and I have NO idea why they were wearing their bathing suits. It is close to freezing outside.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Prayers Please

Received devastating news this morning... I sat down at my desk and received an email from one of my closest friends that I had not heard from in a while. The email said that she has been diagnosed with cancer - an inoperable brain tumor. Chemo and radiation start next week. I spent much of the day in shock, in tears and on the phone with other college friends who were also in shock and in tears. Plans are being made to go visit and help. I will post more when I am in a more positive frame of mind.

Also, later today my oldest daughter fractured her wrist in gymnastics. We are hoping she will be able to compete late winter / early spring, but honestly this is minor in comparison to what is going on with my friend. Right now I feel drained of all energy but hopeful that tomorrow will be a better day.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

My favorite winter treat

I go through phases of drinking coffee or tea.  Right now it is coffee all the way.  My favorite is a cinnamon mocha:

1 large cup of coffee
half and half
1 teaspoon of hersheys cocoa
2 packets of splenda or other sweetener
cinnamon

Mix well - the cocoa and the cinnamon can "float" to the top so you need to make sure that the coffee is well blended.  The cinnamon brings out the flavor in the chocolate.  Premium cinnamon also makes a huge difference - it is a little more costly but so worth it!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Miss E. and the Family Turkey Project

A 1st grade tradition is the family turkey project. The child comes home with a turkey printed on two 8 x10 sheets of paper (one half the top and the other half the bottom of the turkey). The papers are glued or taped together to complete the bird and each member of the family helps adorn, decorate and complete it. The result is a piece of art to be displayed for all to see in the classroom.

Miss C. had her project 7 years ago and Miss N. toted her turkey home last year. The family turkey project is truly a family affair. Miss C. and Miss N. LOVED working on the turkey together - we colored, glued, glittered, feathered and beaded the turkey - each one of us contributing. Miss E. on the other hand did not understand that this is a collaborative effort. She is mildly OCD (like her mom) being very structured, regimented and needing to be in control at all times.

The project was due today and the only thing completed was that Miss E. had colored the turkey in. When she was at gymnastics last evening, I took the liberty of gluing beads on the turkey. It was half completed and I needed to start dinner so I left the rest for later.

When Miss E. arrived home and saw what I had done to "her turkey" she had a total meltdown. It was HER turkey and it was NOT supposed to have beads on it. The turkey looked stupid. The beads were the wrong color. The beads were in the wrong place. I used the wrong beads. This went on all through dinner. Only after Miss C. and Miss N. told her it was the most beautiful turkey EVER, "even better than theirs!", did she relent. By then Dad, Miss C. and Miss N. had put forth all of their energy into explaining the turkey project process and had no desire to decorate. This ultimately was more of a "Mom and Me" project. The only contribution from her dad and sisters were their efforts towards selling Miss E. on the idea of the family project.

Miss E. and I resumed the project, dumping glue, buttons and beads onto that darn turkey until it weighted at least a pound. A sparkly, glittery pound, but a pound nonetheless. Seriously, it was so heavy that she needed to take it on a clipboard to school and I am not sure how the teacher managed to get it hung up on the wall....

After all the DRAMA we had a fairy tale ending. This morning Miss E. carefully put her name on her turkey before hauling it off to school with a proud smile on her face.

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Blogg'n and Baking

Royal Baking Powder Digital ID: 1259260. New York Public Library

I love Sundays. Today Miss E. and I cooked and baked all morning. I forgot to buy frozen waffles at the grocery so first on our agenda was waffles. Out came the waffle maker! Miss E. helped me mix buttermilk waffles that turned out fabulous. By the time we started the cinnamon raisin waffles she ran out of steam. Between intervals of sponge bob and commercials I received a sporadic bouts of "help". We finished and ate only one - the rest were bagged up and placed in the freezer.


Next on the agenda was Pot Roast in the slow cooker - no help there. Miss E. likes baking but cooking does not suit her. When I finished peeling the last potato I announced that it was time to start on the Pumpkin Bread. She helped me dump everything into the my beloved Kitchen Aid mixer and into the baking pans.

Last on my list was Chili - again in the slow cooker. I browned what I thought was beef but realized it was ground sausage. I dumped corn, tomatoes, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, black beans, chili powder, fresh cut onion, a smidgen of garlic salt and chipotle seasoning to my other slow cooker. I am hoping this turns out OK - it is for my husband to take to work to thank all of his friends for helping us move a couple of months ago. I will also throw in a loaf of pumpkin bread for him to take and share with his co-workers.

Now I am catching up on my blog giveaways, emails, etc. Miss N. is sleeping over a friends and I am just waiting for her to come home. Miss C. (my teen) is hiding in her room as normal and hating that tomorrow is Monday....

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