(Not Quite Wordless) Wednesday: Our Woods

Our family is often out hiking in the woods.  Our favorite forest preserve we have affectionately called: 'Our Woods'.

We will hike there every season and have even trudged through 4+ feet of snow to enjoy Our Woods and the beautiful river hidden within it.

On every hike, in every season, I can take hundreds of photos and come up empty handed.

That would have been the case on this most recent hike had it not been for my son saying, "Hey mom, look at the water droplets on this plant.  I think this would make a great photo!"

I think he was right.

For more photography, stop by my page.

Linked to: Live and Love Out Loud, Super Mom

"Quirky" Neighbors

The houses on either side of us are up for sale.

This leaves me wondering: Who will be our new neighbors?

For the 10+ years we've lived here, our neighbors have been nice and quiet.  Will the new neighbors throw loud parties? Will they have young, screaming kids and erect one of those giant tacky wooden play structures?  Will they be strange and quirky?

Oh, wait..... have I just described us?

Yes, we are the one family on the block that has their kids home all day. Recess and P.E. are often conducted in the backyard on one of those giant wooden play structures.

We're the family always riding bikes together around the neighborhood.  Yes, I'm the mom with the baby seat still on the back of my bike even though I no longer have a baby.  (What can I say, it makes a great soccer ball holder and library book "basket".)

Yes, my daughter is the one in the backyard wearing a pink Disney princess t-shirt, and digging in the mud.  She's the one who claimed a cicada was her best friend for a day and was then devastated when it crawled out of its shell and flew away.

If the widows are open you'll probably hear someone playing the piano, guitar, mandolin or banjo.

I'm the one in the kitchen with all the pots and pans crashing, making my own food from scratch.

I clean my own house.

I teach my own kids.

We mow our own grass.

We don't pay for television.

The library is our second home.

Yes, we're the family with the kids that sled in the front yard in the summertime.

We're the family with the dad in the driveway with long hair, covered in tattoos, building a huge sculpture out of tree branches from a dead tree.

That's me in the backyard with a camera taking pictures of food and flowers.

Yes, we're the family with the used purple station wagon with the missing gas cap.

That's our mini van with the bumper sticker that reads:

So why am I so concerned about who our new neighbors will be?

Perhaps they should be more concerned about the "quirky" neighbors living next door to them.  

(Not Quite Wordless) Wednesday: Waterfalls

When we bought our house 10+ years ago we had no idea what hidden treasures there were.  On a bike ride one evening my husband and I stumbled upon beautiful trails filled with wildflowers, waterfalls and Blue Herrings.

What a happy accident to fall upon such beauty just a short bike ride away. 

On a recent visit the kids had a fabulous time climbing the rocks near the waterfalls while I, with camera in hand, got clicking...

"...but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."  John 4:14



Linked to: Live and Love Out Loud, Super Mom, Project Alicia

Caution: Toothpaste Ahead

Two things I never like to hear come out of the bathroom while my kids are brushing their teeth:

1. "YOU HAVE REALLY BAD AIM!  AH HA HA HA HA!"

2. "EWWWWWW!"

I have three children. After they've brushed their teeth for the morning I need a pair of these...

And a big tub of these...

I don't know what goes on in that bathroom and I don't think I want to know.  But how so much toothpaste ends up in strange places is beyond me.

I have this rule:

***Only 1 child in the bathroom at a time.  The other 2 must stand in a line outside the bathroom and wait till child number 1 is finished brushing their teeth.

Great rule, isn't it?  I'll let you take it and implement it in your own home.

You're welcome.

I'll admit, sometimes I'm busy mopping up the morning breakfast messes and forget to enforce this rule.  I'm honestly not sure if it even cuts back on the messes.  But I do know it cuts back on the giggling.  And trust me as an experienced mother here, three kids giggling in a bathroom is never, ever, a good thing.

The stressful thing is, that the kids' bathroom is also the guest bathroom.  I've been considering forgoing the cute little rubber duck theme I've got going on and replacing it with a yellow and black 'caution tape' motif.

Well, I need to go clean the toothpaste off the ceiling now.

(Only kidding.)

(Or am I?)

(Not Quite Wordless) Wednesday: Let Down Your Hair

I never know what I'll find when I walk in the room my girls share.

Today I found Rapunzel 'letting down her hair'.

Aladdin, in his 'tighty whities', was climbing her golden mane of hair.

Sometimes I just have no words.

Card Playing Confessions

I must confess....

I played the, "IT'S MOTHER'S DAY.... CANT YOU JUST DO WHAT I ASK WITHOUT COMPLAINING?!" card yesterday on one of my kids.

And in case you were wondering.....

.... it didn't work.

But seeing as I only get to play this card once a year, I figured it was worth a shot.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies (and two sick kids)

I've had two little girls sick with a 24 hour stomach bug.  Our day has been filled with Mary Poppins and ice chips.

I have memories of  Gilligan's Island on our old black and white TV when I was little and home sick from school.  I also remember that when I started feeling better and food sounded good to eat, my mom would buy or make me anything that I was craving.  One time it was ruffled potato chips and a Snickers Bar.  Another time it was a cherry lollypop.  I can remember pumpkin pie and Cool Whip.  Yet another time I remember just Cool Whip and a spoon.

Call my mom fantastic, or call her crazy, but the memories of the words "you can have whatever sounds good to you" was the light at the end of the tunnel after days of not being able to hold food down.

Well, it's my turn now to be that "fantastic/crazy" mom.

My one daughter wanted chocolate cake and my other wanted peanut butter cookies. I thought I'd compromise by baking peanut butter cookie batter into my chocolate brownies.

Call me 'a little bit' fantastic and 'a little bit' crazy'- but it was a good call.

(And a big thanks to my fantastic mom for leading the way.)

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Brownies:
((Printable Version))

Peanut Butter Batter:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup white sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg

Mix all of the ingredients together with a wooden spoon and set aside.

Brownie Batter:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 handful of semi sweet or dark chocolate chips (optional)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
5 tablespoons dark cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup flour

Preheat oven to 350F.

Melt the butter and pour into a large bowl.  Add the chocolate chips (optional) and whisk until melted.  Whisk in the sugar.  Whisk in the eggs, one at a time- then add the vanilla.  Combine the dry ingredients in a separate bowl and whisk to combine. Add the dry ingredients into the wet and stir to combine.

Line a 13X9 inch or 11X8 inch pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.  Drop the brownie batter and peanut butter batter in mounds.

Drag a knife through to swirl and spread smooth with an off-set spatula.

Bake for about 22-25 minutes.  Allow to cool completely before slicing.

Featured on: TasteSpotting
Linked to: 
All N Son's Sweet Tooth Friday
Sweet As Sugar Cookie's Sweets for a Saturday
Gooseberry Patch
EKat's Kitchen

We got a pet(s)!

For any of my friends that know me- the above statement makes them laugh.

A brief back history:

1. I can't stand dogs, although I can appreciate other people's dogs (sometimes).  When I was in grade school, a friend that I was walking home with was attacked by a dog.  Apparently I still suffer a bit of traumatization from that.  My parents eventually got a dog when I was in high school, and after a few years, I grew to love him.  I think I may have even cried when he died.

2. Fish smell to "fishy".

3. We had gerbils for a few brief weeks when I was a child.  We learned the hard way that daddy eats the babies.  Then there was the time the babysitter decided to let them loose all over the house......

4. I grew up in a house with cats.  I love cats.  But the "neat freak" I have become as an adult has led me to not want to have to deal with the smell and mess of animals.  (That, and having three kids at home all day is enough of a mess for me.)

But I finally loosened up a little as a mother.  (YAY ME!)

Yes, I must say, my daughter's pet(s) are the perfect fit for our family.

They're quiet.
They don't smell.
They involve no walking.
They're low maintenance.  In fact, they pretty much take care of themselves.

Their home doubles as a night light.

And you can cuddle with them if you wish.

What more could you want from a pet?

Mommy Guilt

If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to hear it, does it make any sound?

If you take a malt ball from your child's easter candy stash and they don't see you do it....

...do the calories really count?

Never mind, don't answer that.

Resurrection Cookies

If you haven't heard of Resurrection Cookies before, you and your children are in for a treat.  I've been making these cookies for years with a class I teach at my church.  Make sure you start the cookies the night before Easter and they will be ready in the morning for you and your family to enjoy.

Resurrection Cookies
((Printable Version))

Ingredients:
1 cup whole pecans*
1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup sugar
3 egg whites
pinch of salt
wooden spoon
zip lock bag
tape
Bible

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 300F.  Place pecans in zip lock bag and let the children beat the pecans with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, he was beaten by the Roman Soldiers.
Read: John 19:1-3

2. Let each child smell the vinegar.  Put one teaspoon of vinegar into the mixing bowl.  Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross he was given vinegar to drink.
Read: John 19:29-30

3. Add egg whites to the vinegar.  Eggs represent life.
Explain that Jesus gave His life to give us eternal life.
Read John 10:10-11

4. Sprinkle a little salt in each child's hand.  Let them taste it and put a pinch into the bowl.
Explain this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers and the bitterness of our own sins.
Read Luke 23:7

5. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.  Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us.  He wants us to know and and belong to him.
Read: John 3:16 and Psalms 34:8

6. Beat with a mixer on high speed for 12-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.  Explain that the color of white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sin have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3

7. Fold in the broken nuts.  Drop by teaspoons onto wax paper covered cookie sheets.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus' body was laid.
Read Matthew 27:57-60

8. Put the cookies in the oven, close the door and TURN OFF THE OVEN.  Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door.
Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed.
Read Matthew 27:65-66

9. Explain that they might feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.  Jesus' followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22

10. On Easter morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie.  Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.  Inside the cookie you'll find a small hollow hole.
Explain that on the Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matthew 28:1-9


HE IS RISEN!!

Enjoy!

*Update 5/23/15: This year I substituted the pecans for mini chocolate chips. Many kids in the past complained about not liking nuts. I also had the problem of not being able to use nuts in the classroom I would teach this object lesson in. Chocolate chips fixed both problems. Instead of hitting the nuts in a bag, I had the kids bang on mini Hershey bars.




Linked to: Alli N Son's Sweet Tooth Friday, Dee Dee's Delights,
Sweet as Sugar Cookies' Sweets for a Saturday, So Sweet Sunday
Featured on: TasteSpotting

Conversations.... Overheard

I overheard my 7 year old daughter telling my 5 year old daughter that she use to be a boy.

Aliens came and changed her into a girl.

After many tears and reassuring hugs.... I think the 5 year old believes me when I tell her she was not abducted by aliens and changed from a boy to a girl.

This is payback.

When we were kids I told my younger sister she was left at our front door by gypsies who didn't want her.  Our mom and dad felt bad and decided to keep her.

As grown adults and mothers..... I think I owe my sister an apology.

(Not Quite Wordless) Wednesday: Should I be concerned?

I caught Wonder Woman (peeling top and all) binging on a three tier cake. 

Apparently, Jesus really is on Facebook.

Mom is passed out asleep in bed with the TV on 

while baby is left alone in the swing.  

(Notice the large jar of cookies in mom's bedroom in the upper left.)

Joseph is home sweeping the house.  

I think Mary might be at work.

(Very progressive.)

Captain Hook has a trident around Mulan's throat.  

Barbie, Joseph, and ballerina girl have passed out in fear.

(Apparently Mulan was caught picking her nose 

in church and Captain Hook got angry.)

I leave my son alone for a minute 

and he's got Mario doing his homework for him.

My girls decided to design swimwear for their Barbies using

paper and scotch tape.

(The design is in no way influenced by the choice of swimwear of their mother.)

Linked to:

Dagmar*s momsense

and....

Well, that's an hour of my life I'll never get back!

Last night I watched prime time TV for the first time in about a year.

I realized I wasn't missing anything.

We don't pay for TV.  Our choices are limited.

My news comes from on-line.  My entertainment comes from the library.

But tonight I gave in, and against my better judgment, I (finally) let my son watch Wipe Out.

I'm not sure what demographic that show is geared for..... but I'm not it.

To each there own.

I can now check that off my list of things to do.....

.... and never do again.  :)

Epic FAIL or Happy Accident?

I am embarrassed to admit that I had an epic FAIL in my kitchen.

I don't think this has ever happened to me before when it comes to a dessert.

((head hung in shame))

I'll spare you the details, but it came out a sticky, gooey, underdone mess.

I was ready to throw the whole pan away but decided to start slicing instead.

My son came in and asked for a taste.

I obliged.

"Mmmmmmm.....," he said.

He went on to say, "Well mom, even though you made a mistake, your mistake might very well taste better than if you had never made the mistake in the first place."

What a sweetheart.


My son went on to ask me if I planned on serving these to my friends.  He said I should.

So be warned friends.....

if you taste anything from my kitchen in the near future....

it may be an epic FAIL....

or a happy accident.

Dishwashing Helping Hands

My 7 year old daughter decided to surprise me by hand washing all the dinner dishes that didn't fit into the dish washer.

There were a lot of them.

There was water everywhere.

I think 1/4 of my liquid soap was gone.

"Clean" meant that there were still bits of food left on everything.

She even decided to start putting the "clean" dishes away.

That's when I walked in and caught her.

This is the moment where I had the choice..... good mom or bad mom.

(Stop.)

(Think.)

(Don't react too quickly.)

I went with 'good mom'.

"Thank you for doing the dishes sweetheart.  That was a great surprise."

Now off to sort all the "clean" dishes from the clean dishes.