Magically Delicious

Sundays are the best days.  They are the only days we have together, all three of us.  We started it with homemade blueberry pancakes.  I make a double batch and freeze the extras.  They’re great warmed up.  Sorry, no pictures, I’m not at my best in the mornings!

Next up, Grace and I made Apple Pie Cookies!  Oh my goodness, they are delicious!  We didn’t make any changes, unless you count G dumping sugar over some of them.  They were crunchy and super fantastic.  The recipe was easy to follow, and not too terribly time consuming.  The cookies only need about 30 minutes to bake in our oven.  Plus, it’s great for little helpers.  G dunked the apple slices in the spices and “spinkled” sugar over them.  So wonderful!

 

For dinner, it was Buttermilk Roast Chicken.  Mixed the brine last night, and it smelled so good.  It smelled even better this morning.  This recipe was easy and so quick!  The chicken only takes 30 minutes to cook, which is good when there are hungry kids (and boys) involved.  Served it with mashed potatoes and gravy.  The chicken was moist and oh so flavorful.

                                                                         (my brother in law, Danny!)

 

Everything was absolutely yummy.  I love Smitten Kitchen’s recipes.  They are always fun and delicious.   Baking is one of my favorite hobbies.  I love making food that my family enjoys, but I especially love it when Grace is able to help me.  It’s great Mommy And Me time, and it makes her so happy to help.  G puts on her apron and chef’s hat and hops onto a chair.  Seeing her smile, hearing her laugh….nothing compares to that.  I hope she always want to bake with me.  Even when I’m old and lame!

 

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Mommy And Me

We started baking before we’d even changed out of our pajamas.  Snickerdoodles were the chosen recipe.  They are delicious.  Grace had to make some extra large ones for Daddy.  We’ve eaten most of them already!

That darn middle cookie tipped back right as I took the picture.  I didn’t feel like readjusting and taking the picture again.  After the cookies, Grace ran wild outside for awhile.  She was really hoping the horses were out, alas, they were not.  She still had fun marching through the mud.

After lunch and a short nap, we skipped on over to paint some pottery.  Grace chose a stack of Easter bunnies.  There were some creative differences, (I wanted the bunnies to have pink noses and G wanted multi colored noses was one) but we had a lot of fun.  I think the bunnies turned out pretty nice.

We came home, ate cookies and watched The Princess And The Frog.  Chris is currently making us meatloaf and helping G with her homework.  Today was a really nice day!

Family Days Are The Best Days

 

I love Family Days.  Today didn’t start off as a Family Day.  Chris and Grace went tubing while I lounged at home.  Haven’t been feeling well lately, this strange weather we’ve been having is killing my sinuses.  But, once my kiddies came home, the crafts got rolling!  We made pinwheels, which were pretty easy.  Grace didn’t seem to really care too much for them.  As soon as we were finished, she ran off to her bedroom to read.  I didn’t see her again for over an hour.  She finally came traipsing out with a really great idea.  Clothes pin fairies.  Grace raided my craft room for scrap fabric and away we went.

 

There are more, but Grace doesn’t make them one at a time.  She’s constantly coming up with new great ideas, so she was always re-doing hers.  It was really nice sitting with her at her art table, listening to her babble on and on about her ideas and dreams and telling me all the stories she forgot to tell me over the week.  I love listening to her.  Grace has the funniest insights on life.

We finished the night by making a stepping stone.  Lil’G gets to pick a place out in the garden for it.  Surprisingly, there was very little mess.  A 7 year-old and 7 pounds of cement, no mess!  How is that possible?!  If I hadn’t been there, I never would’ve believed it, but that’s the truth.  I think it looks pretty good!

 

Grace and I are home tomorrow, no work or school for us!  The plan is to bake some cookies.  I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with fun craft projects, but I think I’ll it up to Grace.  Maybe we’ll do some paper dolls tomorrow to go with her fairies.  We’ll see.   I can’t wait for fresh baked cookies and milk with my little bean!  I hope all of you had a great weekend, I’m off to get G some ice cream.  It’s movie time now!

Hair Brained

There’s been a whole lotta knittn’ going on.  Unfortunately, I didn’t take pictures.  At least not with my camera.  Blankets, sweater, hat, cowl and dress!  Not really sure where this sudden creative drive is coming from, but I like it!!!  Currently, I’m knitting a hooded vest for Grace.  There are so many cables, I almost put my needle through my eye.  Thankfully, I’m done with those and am working on the very easy body.  The pattern is Paprika and I’m too lazy to link it.  While there is a lot of cables, it’s a very easy and beautiful pattern.  I’m using acrylic yarn, nothing fancy.  It’s for a seven year old.  I need it to be sturdy, machine washable, and I don’t want to cry when she ruins it.  And yes, she will ruin.  Again, Grace is seven!  It happens.

When I’m not knitting, I’m making hair bows.  Yup, I have a new crafty obsession.  My nights are filled with yarn and ribbon.  Overall, bows are quick and easy.  Glue guns can be cruel, malicious devils, but they get the job done.  I made quite a few as Christmas gifts, and there were some very happy little girls.  These babies are great for last minute gifts.  I totally forgot about G’s Christmas party at school, I made four in under two hours.  See?  They’re fantastic.

Other than that, life has been very quiet.  We’ve been spending most nights playing games like Spot It, Blokus and Headbands.  It’s so wonderful having Chris home at night.  G has been so much happier, both at home and at school.  She loves being a real family.

Well, that’s all from me kids!  I hope you’re all having an amazing start to the new year.  Any resolutions?  Mine is to eat more chocolate.

Let It Snow

Today was a great day.  It didn’t start off feeling like a great day, but it was.  Grace and I got up, ate blueberry waffles, and watched some Madeline.  Then we wandered off to A+ (school daycare).  To my immense displeasure, I discovered that I was supposed to have dropped G off by 9:00.  It was almost 10 when I got there.  I somehow missed the part about there being a field trip today.  Needless to say, Grace was disappointed.  And so was I.  After a grueling six day work week, I was looking forward to a day off, spent entirely in my pajamas.  Well, we drove home, tossing out possibilities for the day.  We settled on Grace playing outside with Adele when we got home.  Which she did, for an hour.  I made lunch and she finished her homework.  We both took naps, which I desperately needed, I haven’t been feeling good.  Then we baked cookies, making a huge mess and giggling the entire time.  Grace got quiet and dropped a sweet little bomb, “You know what mama?  I’m glad I didn’t go to A+ today.  I always have the best days with you.”  I may have teared up a bit.  Chris came home from work while we destroyed the kitchen with frosting and sprinkles.

The good day didn’t end there!  Next up, daddy and G made a gingerbread house.  If I thought the cookies were messy, they were nothing compared to the house.  I loved watching my husband with a decorating bag in hand!  We will be sweeping up sprinkles for weeks.  Grace put cookies in a bag and wrote a letter to Ella Snowflake, her little shelf elf.  She wanted to make sure she was sending enough cookies to Santa.  Best.  Day.  Ever.  Because it was unexpected, and simple, and exactly what we needed without knowing it.  We didn’t spend money, or go someplace cool.  We stayed home and just spent time together.  Baking, laughing, and making a huge mess.  I love days like this.  It’s one I’ll be thinking of and cherishing for a very long time.

A Special Thank You

Tomorrow, as we all know, is Thanksgiving. So, I want to share with you what I am most thankful for. That just so happens to be our parents. I am lucky to have the best parents and in-laws a person could ever ask for. Everything we have, we owe to them. They have supported, motivated, held us accountable, pushed, and loved us, whatever we needed, whatever was necessary. Because of our parents, we got Chris through college, paid off bills, and last year, we bought a house. We have built an amazing life for our daughter, because of our parents. We have become people we can be proud of. Not just as individuals, but as a couple, and most importantly, as parents.

Their strength and love have seen us through our darkest days. Though we have weathered the storm, our parents are still right beside us, ready and willing to help. We can never say thank you enough. I hope they know how much they mean to us. So, to my parents, Shawn and Kelly, and my in-laws, John and Mary, we love, respect and appreciate you so very, very much.

I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Don’t be ashamed to pop the button on your pants if you eat too much!!!

 

 

Sugar Helps

Friday I made my first attempt at gluten-free baking.  I made Breakfast Cookies.  They are absolutely delicious.  I added mini chocolate chips and dried cherries.  Next time I may add almond slices.  Also, I need to figure out how to dehydrate them to make them crunchier.  That’ll be the next time I make them, and I am definitely making them again.  My goal is to pack Grace a lunch with as much nutrition as possible.  Tomorrow she’s having a ham and cheese sandwich, breakfast cookie, almonds, a small salad, raspberries and a small jug of milk.  I like the idea of giving her a cookie that is actually good for her.

So far, Grace really likes the 2nd grade.  But things aren’t smooth sailing.  Grace has not one, but two bullies.  They’ve been calling her names, throwing things at her, taking and breaking her pencils, you get the idea.  The stress and frustration are really starting to show.  She is a lot more sensitive, quick to cry and get angry and she isn’t sleeping very well.  We told her that from now on she is to completely ignore the boys and let her teacher know right away.  What else can we do?  When she starts to cry or starts having a meltdown, we are trying to calmly talk her through it.  It helps.  We’ll just take this one day at a time.  I feel that as long as we allow her to vent to us and give her lots of support and love, we’ll get her through this.  One thing did happen today that really made her heart happy.  We went to Whole Foods and found cupcakes with sprinkles.  Naturally colored sprinkles.

These are honestly the best cupcakes I’ve ever eaten.  We’re having a movie night and these sweet little treats are the perfect companions.  The puppies are eagerly cleaning up the crumbs.  Here’s to a better week Sweet Pea.