Time

This picture is a representation of my life this year.

My 'baby' lost her first tooth.

Years earlier than any of her siblings, and catching me by surprise.

She is five. A whole hand, and will be starting kindergarten this fall.

All day kindergarten.

My other 'baby' is a decade old.

She is in her last year of elementary school.

Off to middle school.

We shop out of the juniors section.

The next 'baby' will be sixteen this summer.

He will start drivers ed in the spring.

He plays 2 varsity sports. And shaves.

Drivers Ed? I just took the training wheels off.

My oldest 'baby' is an adult.

So says the law.

In two months he graduates High School.

He will go to college in the fall.

He can vote. He was just born.

I know this is my job, and I would like to think I have done it well.

I look around and am shocked to see no diapers, and pacifiers.

Shoes that are too big for my feet.

Big kids where yesterday there were babies.

Each day is a gift, and each night after teeth brushing, prayers and tucking in, we are one day closer to the day when they fly out of the nest.

I didn't think it would be this fast though.

Calgon take me away...

This being the season of snow, we have been forced to be much craftier than usual.

Craftier than usual has seemed to morph into "what craft are we doing today??"

We have made stained glass, wind chimes, painted, baked cupcakes, cookies, bread, and sculpey creations.

We have made homemade goat cheese, for god's sake.

Enough is enough.

Camp blizzard is closing. The camp director was suddenly stricken with a bad, bad case of PMS.

Crafts are supposed to be fun. Not hissing, spitting cat fights over whose is better. Not outrageous crying jags of "I just can't do anything right".

Crafts are not supposed to bring out the craving for a nice stiff drink.

Our latest craft came out the best. probably because it was fraught with much angst and drama. I got the idea from my imaginary friend Erica.

You will need:

• Soil
• Activated Charcoal ( I had to go to the Pet Store for this. You can apparently get it at any other WalMart besides the piece of crap one that's near me)
• Aquarium gravel
• Smallish plants
• Container(s)
• Optional Sculpey to make little things to add.

If you find that crafting is not complete for you without whining, crying, and fighting, you're gonna have to do the Sculpey part.

Layer gravel, charcoal, soil, plant, more gravel.

Add your little figure thingys and...Ta Da! You are done. Pour yourself a drink.

This one might have to be a gift! That is, if she wants it!

When I was a kid...

One day my girls will be able to say

When I was a kid

My mom was the meanest

We had to walk to school

All.the.way.across.the.street.


In a blizzard

In nothing but our barefeet fake Uggs

Snow Way!

I love snow. I have always loved snow.

I will probably continue to love snow.

Right now?

Snow is pushing it's luck on my infatuation.

The first Blizzard of this week dumped 30 inches.

The second Blizzard, a whole 2 days later, is still dumping as I type.

21 inches so far.

Boredom abounds in spite of my best efforts.

The bird feeders are full.

Slash is enjoy the camouflage of the snow to stalk the birds.

And Roxy is as happy as a clam.

And so is Steve. Since he is in CALIFORNIA.

How?!?

Please tell me how we got here so fast.

Happy 18th Birthday Teddy!

You may legally be an adult, but you are still my baby.

The Meteorologist called for a cold dry weekend.

Maybe a light dusting of snow.

Little to no accumulations.

Our new Christmas saucers sitting unused in the garage.

You have to love when the forecast is wrong!

Sucker

I have seen a lot of people making cake pops lately. My favorites are from bakerella. Lesser mortals have made them, and they have come out really cute. We have a big birthday coming up tomorrow, and I thought they would be fun.

You will need: (any flavors)
1. A boxed cake mix
2. A container of frosting
3. Melting chocolate for coating
4. Sprinkles (optional)

Bake cake according to directions on box. Combine crumbled cake and container of frosting.

Mix well. Chill for at least an hour.

Roll into quarter sized balls
Melt chocolate coating according to package directions. Place stick in coating, then into cake balls. Dip balls into chocolate, swirl to remove excess, than decorate with sprinkles.

They can also be made without the stick.

Enjoy!

Here is the review: These were a huge pain in the ass to make.

They were really messy and I had chocolate and sprinkles everywhere.

They are NOT a kid friendly cooking project. Well, unless you call yelling "PLEASE just get OUT of the kitchen!" kid friendly.

They tasted really, really good. And I don't even like cake so much. Or chocolate. So they would taste REALLY good to a normal person!

I think I will make these again. I will make the cake balls a little smaller (grape sized.)

I will melt the chocolate in smaller quantities.

I will use a better quality chocolate melts

I will put them in the freezer a bit to chill them more

I will do this when the kids are at school.

I will add any or all of the following (to my glass!):