Hope this makes you smile! I get a kick out of the dreidel interjection :)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
o-r-a-n-g-e- r-o-l-l-s...
How do you spell Christmas? I love to make orange rolls at Christmastime, to share and as a small selfish indulgence too! What-I haven't eaten lunch yet-oh well, let's just have rolls for lunch. I made two batches today which pretty much took up the larger portion of my day, but I figured why not since all the stuff was out and dirtied anyway. We made lots of plates and added some almond brittle-another guilty holiday pleasure-it's good it's only once a year! We took them around to friends and neighbors after school with the girls. All day I'd imagined all of us heading out in the van, Christmas music playing and everyone in great spirits as we gave rather than received. Sometimes I think my memory gets away from me, in reality things are not always so idyllic! Does that happen to anyone else?! The girls were bickering about who had gotten to take more plates to the doors, and getting back into the van climbing over one another seemed to be an issue. Oh well, it was fun, for me anyway, I like to share them. And, I think I've had my fill, enough to last me until next year!
happy happy birthday birthday!
The post of a million pictures, that's what happens with two birthdays on one day-I can't imagine three Lisa! This year the girls and I decided to do something a little different, we made a birthday pizza rather than cakes. You would think that after so many cakes I would be somewhat good at it-not the case. I make bad cute cakes. I can make one in the pan just fine, but the fun shapes and frosting all baffles me. Thus-the pizza. We spent a very fun Saturday afternoon making it, the girls loved decorating the sugar cookie crust with all sorts of things, mostly because they could eat them too I'm sure! When I pulled it out of the fridge last night it didn't look so great. And honestly, it grossed Cody and I out, the pudding, the soggy candy, the whole thing. Of course L & C thought it was fantastic which is all that matters anyway :) Fun to try something new, but maybe we're glad no one was able to come and partake of the birthday pizza, probably a frown by that recipe, we'll stick with fruit pizza! The girls got Littlest Pet Shop animals from Cody's mom, great, now what does Santa do!?!? Santa's out of luck, he's done shopping and there may be a day of returns and re-shopping when it's all said and done :) Tis the story for the December birthdays, poor kids. We're going to throw a 7 1/2 birthday party on June 16 next year. Outdoor games, water games, food-and kids- OUTSIDE- should be fun. It's just too crazy some years to do a party. We had a candlelight dinner with their favorite foods-spaghetti, meatballs, and breadsticks. I loved it, we don't get to eat dinner with Cody much because of his work schedule and I truly miss it, miss it badly. Hopefully someday. Anyway- we were all sharing stories about the funny thing we remembered about them. How they used to say mazagines and soldiers instead of shoulders. They were such innocent and sweet little toddlers, they've just improved with age. I can hardly wait to sit around the table when they're home from college and share funny stories. So many good times ahead, I can't wait- no maybe I can- I like it right now too! I'm waxing sentimental so I'll wrap it up. :) My kids really bring it out in me. So another birthday, it's exciting to see them grow up, but it also pulls at my heart so incredibly hard, I love these years.
This week is full of loose ends-sewing projects, wrapping, cooking-mmm, and all the other random things that need doing. Nothing I can post pictures of unfortunately, shhh, it's a secret. Merry merry days...can't wait for next week!
sarah mclachlan - wintersong
Just a Christmas song to share. Oh, I am a fan of Sarah. I also like her version of Joni Mitchell's River. So much good Christmas music to be heard, I love it.
sleeping beauties...
After picking the lock on Lauren's door-which seems to have become part of the nightly ritual- I usually find them both tucked into one bed sleeping like angels. Maybe they think we'll kick Chloe out of the bed so they lock us out, I don't know. Some nights after a challenging day this sight really cheers me up. Today they were trying to play Littlest Pet Shop together and having big issues about who was 'the boss.' It seems someone needs to be in charge of all those important decisions when playing and Lauren usually loves that role. Chloe, poor Chloe, she wasn't happy about being "bossed" around and then was crying and whining when she wasn't playing with Lauren. No happy medium today. But, for all the little spats they have they truly are the best of friends and they know each other so well, sometimes a little too well. Knowing exactly what sets your sibling off is useful and dangerous knowledge. They use it pretty well to their advantage sometimes. I love how they love each other though- never holding back, always genuine.
On a much yuckier note, Chloe passed on the pukes to Lauren who graciously shared with Cody last night. Noah and I are praying we'll be left out. No fun, but I think the worst has passed. Such a busy month, L & C turn seven on Sunday so time to start baking cakes and wrapping gifts. I see a month of very few posts ahead!
at home today...
Last night about 3 a.m Chloe wanders in to our bedroom and complains about her stomach. the "mom" instinct kicks in and and I jump out of bed rushing her into the bathroom. Fifteen seconds later she's lost her dinner. Poor little lamb, about every hour she was up, this morning it finally subsided. Lauren said her stomach hurt as well and was home from school until noon. Fortunately, I don't think it's contagious no one else has been so unlucky. L & C had a birthday party last night and had the usual party food, not sure if that's what got her or not. Cody was also home not feeling the best. I finished Christmas shopping while everyone napped, I think it's early to bed for me tonight though. It was nice to have everyone here today, just lounging around.
I had to post some of Chloe's "poems" that she wrote last night. I just got the biggest kick out of these little pearls of wisdom from a six year old. I'll translate for you although I'm getting pretty good at reading their words.
"You ar rit war you ar." You are right were you are.
"The wold is big but its a good plas for you." The world is big, but its a good place for you.
"Wuts a hart without love?" What's a heart without love?
"The wold is a plas war you can love." The world is a place were you can love.
"the sciy is blue but the sun is yellow." The sky is blue but the sun is yellow.
"you ar nice but sum peopoll mit be mene to you but be nice to them and thell lrn to be nice.
You are nice but some people might be mean to you but be nice to them and they'll learn to be nice.
"you ar speshell even if your not treted that way." You are special even if you're not treated that way.
"your good and I'm good too."
"your life is a geft." Your life is a gift.
So fun, Cody and I love to see their writings, since we both enjoy that also. Hope they bring a smile to your face, they did mine. Which one speaks to you? :)
bring on the birthdays...
Happy 30th birthday to me, yikes! Cody and I celebrated Friday night by going out, it was fun. My Mom and Dad came up to watch the kids which we so very much appreciated. I don't feel too much older. I guess you quit telling people your age when you start to feel older, so I'm not there yet! My Mom made a delicious oatmeal cake which was quite hot by the time we got all the candles going. I burned Cody's hand in the process...sorry honey. I have to be honest in saying that I would love to have a birthday in say February or July, but December is a festive month. We also have Lauren and Chloe's birthday on the 16th, my brother Landon on the 17th, so it's a fun time, a bit hard on the checkbook, but fun!
One of my sweet friends gave me this cookbook for my birthday. I read about it in the Reader's Digest actually and was planning on checking it out. The whole idea of sneaking healthy foods into dishes isn't new by any means (right Mom? :) But I guess being married to Jerry Seinfeld gives this chick a little more time and money to put it all together in a fancy schmancy book. It is a great idea really. Tonight I made Blueberry Oatmeal Bars-with one entire cup of pureed spinach. Even my husband's discerning taste buds approved. Success! can't wait to try some other dishes. I made all of Noah's baby food by pureeing veggies and fruits, so this shouldn't be too much of a stretch. Give them a try-I was pleasantly surprised!
Blueberry Oatmeal Bars
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 1/4 cups flour (I used whole wheat pastry)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup butter
1 cup blueberry preserves
1/2 cup spinach puree
Heat oven to 375, spray 8 by 8 in pan with cooking spray. Combine all dry ingredients with vanilla then cut in butter to resemble coarse crumbs. Press half of mixture in pan and bake until lightly brown around edges-10-12 minutes. Mix blueberry preserves with spinach. Spread over baked oat layer and top with remaining oat mixture. Bake until browned 15-20 minutes. Cool completely before serving.
(I doubled the recipe, grinding up half the oats and just making a blueberry sauce on the stove rather than using jam. It turned out pretty tasty.)
