Thursday, March 20, 2008

Easter Cookies




I mentioned in my last post that I was going to make Easter cookies with my boys this week. We did it last night, and it was fun and easy. They turned out great, and it was a new way to talk about the Easter story. Fat Baby was a little young to understand, but The President was old enough to read the passages aloud & understand the whole concept. My boys love to help in the kitchen.

Here's the recipe. It recommends doing this the night before Easter, but we're going to be out of town.

Easter Forgotten Cookies

These cookies are called "Forgotten Cookies" because you leave them in the oven overnight...forgotten. You can use chocolate chips in addition to nuts. The cookies are yummy.


You need:
1 cup whole pecans
1 tsp. vinegar
3 egg whites
pinch salt
1 cup sugar
zipper baggie
wooden spoon
tape
Bible
Preheat oven to 300

Place pecans in zipper baggie and let children beat them 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.

Let each child smell the vinegar. Put 1 tsp. vinegar into mixing bowl. Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink. Read John 19:28-30.

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

Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand. Let them taste it and brush the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin. Read Luke 23:27.

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 belong to Him. Read Ps. 34:8 and John 3:16.

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

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

Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven OFF. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the oven door. Explain that Jesus' tomb was sealed. Read Matt. 27:65-66.

GO TO BED! Explain that they may 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.

On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. The cookies are hollow! On the first Easter Jesus' followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty. Read Matt. 28:1-9.


I did add the chocolate chips, and explained to the kids that Jesus always gives us more than we ask for, so we're going to add in something extra yummy & sweet.

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Friday, July 20, 2007

All you ever wanted to know about me, and then some!

1. I am 35 years old, and it rocks! I know enough to keep me out of serious trouble, but I'm still young enough to have a good time.


2. I have been a working (outside the home) mom and a working (stay at home) mom. They are both hard for different reasons.


3. Right now I am a stay at home mom who does a little freelance work.


4. I love armchair psychology!


5. I don't leave the house in the summer without my toenails done.


6. I love love love diet coke with lime from the Sonic! (It's even better with a big shot of Malibu rum...)


7. I lost over 100 pounds after I had my second child.


8. It wasn't all baby weight, by far!


9. I did it all without surgery, only through diet and exercise.


10. My baby did weigh over 9 pounds.


11. I had a C-section.


12. Twice.


13. I would do it again.


14. The c-section was not nearly as bad as having my tonsils out at age 28.


15. People tell me I'm funny.



16. Now I can't think of anything funny to say.


17. I have naturally curly hair.



18. It was precious when I was a toddler...now, not so much.




19. I would rather read a book than just about anything else.




20. I love to cook. I once had a 90-ish volunteer at the non-profit agency where I worked say, "You can tell she's a good cook by looking at her!"




21. I thought it was funny.




22. I plan to say whatever I want to when I am an old lady.




23. I used to want to escape my roots because of the grossly inaccurate stereotype that Southerners are stupid.




24. I found out stupid people are everywhere, and being Southern is cool.




25. My dad & I butted heads constantly when I was growing up.




26. I turned out to be a whole lot like him...




27. I met my best friend when we were 13 years old.




28. We only lived in the same town for one year, but we've remained a major part of each other's lives through writing, phone calls, and visits.




29. I love unlimited long distance.




30. I have expensive taste and a cheap husband.




31. I am not an excessive spender, and I pride myself on not being unnecessarily frivolous.




32. My husband & I complement each other very well.




33. We've been happily married for almost 12 years.




34. If I stay on anti-depressants & he stays on ADD medication, we'll probably remain happily married.




35. I put together a family cookbook & surprised everyone with copies for Christmas one year. It was the best gift I ever gave, and their responses were amazing.







36. I'm working on Volume 2 of the cookbook right now.




37. The day I brought Fat Baby home from the hospital, something inside me changed like a light switch flipping; and I haven't been the same since.




38. Post partum depression really should not last three years.




39. I have experienced major life changes in the last three years--becoming full-time, stay home mom, husband changed jobs, my dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease, and recently some devastating family losses...I'm sure these have contributed to my anxiety and depression.




40. Recently, The President told me, "You're not joyful anymore, Mom....when I was three you were joyful all the time." He didn't know how true that was.
41. I guess it's time for me to write my "depression post."




42. I try to keep a positive attitude & keep moving forward. I always say, "it's harder to hit a moving target!"




43. I'd rather be funny than sad.




44. I'm very outgoing and social, but I have to have my "down time."




45. I am very content just to hang out at home with my kids.




46. I also enjoy taking them out to lunch or on an outing by ourselves...sometimes when you introduce more mommies/ more children it is more trouble than it's worth!




47. Right now I'm listening to Hannah Montana sing, "The Best of Both Worlds" on the mp3 player...thank you, Mr. President!







48. I was born on Friday the 13th.







49. At 2:22 a.m.







50. I usually have good luck on Friday the 13th.







51. But I'm not especially superstitious.







52. I am a Christian.







53. I was raised Baptist, but I'm in recovery.







54. I've decided that I'm a much better Methodist than Baptist.







55. My motto is "God knows what I'm thinking, so I might as well say it!"







56. I don't like confrontation.







57. #56 does not apply to My Baby's Daddy....I feel so safe with him that I will confront up one side and down the other--just ask him!







58. But I don't say or do things in anger to purposely hurt him. I believe that once it's out there, it can never be taken back.







59. I also try to treat my children with the respect I want them to show me.







60. With most other people, I tend to just internalize my feelings. I would say I'm passive aggressive.







61. I probably need to be in therapy.







62. When do I have time for therapy?







63. I am very self-aware.







64. This list is getting to serious for me...I'm going to think of some fun stuff now!







65. Once for a costume party in college, my roommate duct taped my boobs together. Gave me fabulous cleavage, but hurt like a sonofabitch coming off.







66. I was glad to be highly intoxicated when the duct tape came off.







67. My roommates were nearly evicted after my 21st birthday party. It was awesome!







68. My Baby's Daddy was out of town for the party, but sent me a dozen roses...and we hadn't even been out on a date yet.







69. The guy I had been going out with got me a card & probably hooked up with another girl after my birthday party.







70. I effortlessly, unintentionally collect (mostly) worthless knowledge...tv theme songs, trivial facts, phone numbers and addresses.







71. Then I walk into a room & forget what I'm supposed to be doing.







72. My Baby's Daddy & I love our "appointment television." Some shows we've been hooked on include: Friends, Grey's Anatomy, 48 Hours Mystery, American Idol, Desperate Housewives (it's gone way downhill since the 1st season), Seinfeld, Big Brother (pregnant with The President during the first season--watched it every night with a big bowl of ice cream perched on my tummy!) and Dateline. The DVR is a member of the family!




73. I have some very particular, neurotic rules about food.





74. I don't like for my food to touch. I especially can't stand the juice from one thing running into another.





75. Combining sweet & salty things (like ice cream with potato chips) is a definite violation of the laws of food. Don't even get me started on the people who dip fries into a Wendy's frosty....ick.





76. Chocolate and mint is also a violation...Mint should be used as a breath freshener, not as a side dish to perfectly good chocolate!





77. I just rubbed my contact out...that reminds me--I just got contacts for the first time ever.





78. I wore glasses for 13 years before getting contacts.





79. I wore braces for two years when I was 13-15. They were the big "railroad track" kind.





80. I had an extremely severe overbite.





81. Now I have a nice grill.





82. I've never had a cavity.





83. I've never tried an illegal drug.





84. I've never been skinny-dipping...but I want to try it.





85. I've tried plenty of other things.



86. When I go to the movies, I must arrive early (before the previews start), sit in the center of the theater 3/4 of the way up, and remain seated for the whole show if at all possible.

87. When watching movies or tv shows at home, I must also see the entire show. I can not start a movie in the middle, and it drives me crazy when My Baby's Daddy does it. If I miss the first few words of dialogue, I will rewind.

88. I think it's perfectly fine to be neurotic, as long as you celebrate your neuroses.

89. I am a typical first-born child, with perfectionist and over-achieving tendencies.

90. I am a total planner, and list-making maniac.

91. I hate it when my well-organized, long-standing plan is suddenly thwarted.

92. Having two kids, a husband with severe ADD & a parent with early onset Alzheimer's Disease has taught me to learn to be more flexible.

93. I've also learned that blessings often come the hard way.

94. The lists have enabled me to keep some degree of sanity with four people depending on me. They are all thankful for my organizational tendencies.

95. I'm glad to be the only girl in the household....because I have more than enough hormones to go around.

96. I have one kid headed for the White House & one headed for the Big House.

97. I am headed for the Nut House.

98. Or maybe I'll just stay around here & keep blogging about it.

99. I hope you keep reading...and commenting. I think I should get 100 comments on my 100 things, don'tcha think?

100. I can't believe that I'm finally finished with this list!


(And a bonus, because this is actually my 101st post....)
101. I've been working on this here & there for over a week...well, actually I started a 100 things list when I began the blog, but never did it. So, I pulled up the old list and added about 98 things to it. I am so ready to get back to writing the daily news...thanks for reading!
































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Sunday, April 15, 2007

Triple Threat

Mamma at Mamma Loves invited me to play along with this Three Things meme. That just makes me all kinds of happy because you know I can't resist the opportunity to publish more fascinating, worthless crap about myself.

Three Things That Scare Me: swimsuit shopping, the supernatural, rats

Three People Who Make Me Laugh: My Baby's Daddy, Will Ferrell, Ron White

Three Things I Love: Snuggling with my boys, Diet Coke with Lime from Sonic with Malibu coconut rum (seriously--shouldn't I have an endorsement deal from the Malibu people by now?!?) and reading a good book

Three Things I Hate: When My Baby's Daddy snores & won't put on his C-Pap, Mornings, being at the mercy of someone else while shopping or running errands...I can't stand to wait around for plundering

Three Things I Don't Understand: Angelina Jolie, why gas prices are so ridiculously high, why I can't be skinny and have a good sense of humor

Three Things on my Desk: Easter candy wrapper---damn you, Reese's peanut butter eggs!; my glasses (please remind me of that when I'm cursing & frantically looking for them later), and
Lipstick Jungle by Candace Bushnell

Three Things I'm Doing Right Now: Drawing super-heroes for The President, wishing I had my pajamas on, waiting for Desperate Housewives to end so I can watch it on DVR & fast-forward through the commercials

Three Things I Want To Do Before I Die: get a tattoo, win the lottery, finish this meme

Three Things I Can Do: cook, plan parties, write grants

Three Things I Can't Do: Drive well at night, be pleasant and calm when I have PMS, fly a plane

Three Things I Think You Should Listen To: your conscience, children laughing, the Grease soundtrack (I dare you not to sing along!)

Three Things I Think You Should Never Listen To: blatant negativism, the sound a fork or knife makes scraping across a plate (makes my teeth hurt just to write it!), the voices in your head

Three Things I'd Like To Learn: to grow my own vegetables, sign language, yoga

Three Favorite Foods: I love good food...can't narrow it down to three individual foods, so I give you my three favorite food genres--Italian, seafood, and chocolate

Three TV Shows I Watched as a Kid: Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers (in that order--now how the hell did I remember that?!?), and the Electric Company



Tag, you're it!!!!: Janet a.k.a. Wondermom, Queen of the Mayhem, Ann

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