The Chocolate Cure

What do you do when you've got an armful of feverish, sickly baby?

And a couchful of feverish, sickly kids (4 down - 2 to go in this house), and nothing but grey, deary rain outside?

You go in the kitchen - make a big mess - stirring up a concoction in a mug - put it in the microwave for a minute.....

And take the Chocolate Cure!!!

Don't forget the glass of milk!!!

Beware - this definitely is NOT diet friendly, gluten free, fat free or something to count on Weight Watcher points.  But it IS yummy, satisfying and makes a dreary, sick kid filled day very doable :)!!  I almost wish I had not discovered these mug cakes on the Internet - it's oh sooo tempting.

Blessings,
Christine

Okay - this may be silly but I am editing this to quickly add - I did make chicken soup and tea for my poor sick kiddies - hahaha - I didn't want anyone to think I didn't take of the sad, sickly little ones

Maybe...Maybe Not

In an effort to distract myself from the world of Maybe?!!!! ...maybe not

(by that I mean - the constant - or almost constant contractions that make me wonder every day if It's Time for Baby)

I decided to make up a cake recipe.

 I used some leftover homemade yogurt, blueberries, and steusel topping (well there were other things too but these items were my inspiration).

And yes - those are little feet on my counter - probably not very clean either - and there were probably little fingers in the batter when my back was turned :0)

But I could not leave my baker's helper out of this cake baking party!!!

I layered blueberries and streusel in the middle of the cake...

Ans put more sweet streusel on the top...

Put it in the oven and waited to see what would happen...

 And ta-dum!!!

 I made up a cake recipe that was a success!!!  I was advised by the hungry hordes in my house that this recipe was a definite do-again!!!

Off to find some more distractions....and eat some cake with a cup of tea :0)!!!

Blessings,
Christine

My Favorite Cookie

A long time ago when I was a little girl my mom would have me make cookies for the family - a job I loved!!

But she finally banned me from making chocolate chip cookies (my favorite to make!) because I ate way too much dough (which is still the best part!!!)

She had me make a different kind because she thought I would not like the taste of the dough quite so much - she was right.

I didn't like the dough so much - but they turned out to be my favorite baked cookie ever!!!

Snickerdoodles!!!!  Mmmmmm golden crunchy on the edges and chew yummy in the center!!!  Oh my!!  Thank you mom for teaching me to bake such yummy stuff!!!

Hope your day is filled with yummy blessings!!

Christine

A Recipe and More

Our day of being (pretend) snowbound is over and we are back in the swing of things - meaning school is going full force and Mama is attempting some clutter control (except that my yummy new yarn and pattern that I LOVE keeps calling me to add a row - or 2 or 3!!)

I've been asked for the recipe for these delicious treats!!  You won't believe how easy they are - or how very naughty they are if you are counting calories - ugh!!!

Saltine Cracker Treats

Line a cookie sheet with saltine crackers (I like to line my pan with parchment paper - way easier clean-up - more time to eat sweets hehehe!!!). 

In a sauce pan melt:
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
bring to a boil and and boil for 3 minutes - pour over crackers and spread

Bake at 400* for 5 minutes.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with 2 cups of chocolate chips and let sit for 5 minutes.  Spread melted chocolate.  You can top with chopped nuts, sprinkles or crushed candy canes (I like mine just plain!!)  I find that I need to put the pan in the fridge to get the chocolate to harden enough to break into pieces - but that may be because I am too impatient to wait!!

If you are like me and LOVE salty, sweet treats these will most certainly satisfy!!  In fact these cookies were calling my name all afternoon yesterday (and to think I made them for the kids!!!) - and I think I hear them faintly from the closed pantry right now!!! 

Oh dear, with my super cool new yarn and these treats I have shown a distinct lack of self control - I wish I could blame it on my pregnant state but I don't think that would be quite truthful!!!

Blessings,
Christine

The Snowstorm...

that didn't happen!!

For days the weather man has been predicting a once in a generation snowstorm...you know...the kind you tell your grandkids about..."I remember when there was 20 inches in one day!!".  That kind of storm.  And yes, they were thinking around 20 inches!!!  That's huge around here!!!

Well, the snow started last evening...beautiful, sparkly snowflakes whirling out of the sky!!  The kids were giddy with excitement at bedtime.  Sweet hubby and I took a lovely walk and enjoyed a chat with the neighbors (everyone seems to come out in weather like that!!).

But when I awoke this morning the first thing that registered in my brain was the gurgling in the rain gutters :0( !!!  Our epic snowstorm had turned into a yucky, slushy mess of rain and wind.  And the rain is scheduled to last for days...the kind of rain that makes Seattlites have to take Vitamin D in tablet form to survive!!!

So in the mourning our loss of sledding and snowman building we decided to pretend we were snowbound:

We built a fire and got out all the Lego's:

We turned saltine crackers into:

these yummy delights (these go a LONG ways in comforting sad kids!!!):

I got out my new yarn and started a fun new project:

And we did NOT go outside since every step in the snow turned into a muddy puddle right under foot (last night before we turned out the lights we had 6 lovely, fluffy inches of snow on everything - the roads were covered and every tree branch had a beautiful sparkly coating):

So many people around here get so upset at the predictions of snow.  They go crazy thinking that they might not be able to make it to work or out to run their errands.  I keep thinking that maybe snow is God's plan to slow us down - to make us step back and enjoy His creation, to enjoy the family that He blessed us with, to connect with and serve our neighbors and just to take a deep breath every now and again!!!  I can't help but wonder why so many people don't like it - 'cause really, when we get snow around here - we are pretty much guaranteed that our weather will turn back to our normal rain in just a few days :0)!!!

So all the grown-ups and kids in this house are praying for another chance at an epic snowstorm.   I would love a great snow story to tell my grand kids!!!!

Blessings,
Christine

Happy Camping

This:

 Into this:

Into this:

Makes my Hubbie into a very happy man!!!

Sweet Daughter doing this:

And making this:

Makes me into a very happy Momma

I will admit - this:

Gave me pause - then I got busy with my green scrubbie (and licked the fudge pan) and I was a happy camper again!!

Oh yeah - smashing candy canes to make this:

Made the littler kids into happy campers too.  (I confess to forgetting to take pictures - but they really did have fun!!!)

I hope you are all camping happy too - in this wintry season of joy!!!

Blessings,
Christine

Sweets

One of the best parts of Christmas is the sweet treats!!!

So we're beginning to create those yummies!!

The biggest challenge is keeping the big boys (especially Hubbie) out of them until the proper time!! :0)!!

So much to their dismay - I have hidden the tin - such a meanie I am!!  But be assured - the cookies will be eaten up with gusto - just not before the celebrating starts!!  :0)  (I'm not too much of a meanie - I did leave out a plate of treats for everyone to enjoy :0)!! )

Blessings,
Christine

Counting My Blessings

Oh my goodness, what a week it has been!!! It feels like this week has lasted three weeks and it's only Wednesday!!! Hubs and I had a huge decision to make - that while a blessing to have to do - was complicated and difficult. Naughty little children and sassy big ones (yes, my kids do have their moments - gasp!!) coupled with lack of sleep have made my days long. I have struggled to bring my stress to God and have been threatened with overwhelming anxiety. Sigh - I wish I was better at handling the crazy times!!

So because I have struggled to have something nice to say I decided to post pictures that would remind me to count my blessings!!

A future veggie garden - ahhh!!! The joys of playing in the dirt!!!!
A new project (although in the store with bad lighting these colors looked so much better together - I took that blue row off after I snapped this picture). So, even if the colors aren't working just yet - keeping my hands busy is good for my churning brain!!

My baby weeping cherry tree is enjoying her first Spring in my front garden!!

An adorable puppy we took care of for a couple of days this week - so cute!! And she did cure my urge for a puppy - for which my husband is very grateful!!! Abbie was enchanted with her until she pottied in the house and then commented that puppies are a lot of work :0)!!! She was a wonderful, perky distraction!!!

Did you get yours? My, the government wants a lot of information!! This will keep my busy for a while!!!

A new mug to sip my coffee (for only $1!!) Why does my coffee taste so much better in a pretty mug?
Making cookies together - what a great team!!!!
The resident, assistant pastry chef. We have a birthday coming up - so I needed this critical help with the cake decorating!!
Well, these pictures have certainly helped me count my blessings!!! My life is so richly blessed!!! God is good and I am able to go to sleep every night knowing my children have full tummies and a warm place to lay their head!! When I slow down and take a breath and put myself aside and God first (where he is supposed to be) I know without a doubt He is good!!!

Blessings,

Christine

P.S. And as I sit here at my computer typing this out, I am being serenaded by the most wonderful frog songs - Spring has arrived!

Evening

This is how I spent my evening - until long after the kiddies were in bed - this is one way I show them I love them:

Hubs also likes it when I love my family this way:

Packed up to share with the kid's friends at co-op tomorrow:

And so the festivities begin!!!

Valentines - the holiday of love - may your weekend be filled with lots and lots!!!

Blessings,

Christine

One of Those Days

After days of dark, rainy deariness things are starting to go crazy around here!! Kids cooped up, stinky dogs stuck in the house, cats unwilling to step a toe outside - this old woman in a shoe is going nuts!!

Well, that may be a slight exaggeration but I am definitely feeling the need for comfort - especially in the food department. Which is a no-no right now as I am trying to shed some stubborn baby pounds (I'm not sure they can really be called baby pounds anymore - but that's my story and I'm stickin' to it :0)!!!)

Somehow a carrot is not doing the trick!! How bad can can two (thinly sliced) pieces of homemade bread lightly toasted with a dollop of homemade grape jelly be? The seconds I'm wanting on the other hand....

Hope your day is sunny (in your heart if not outside!!!)