Forbidden Things.....

There are just some things that are forbidden.  I can think of a whole bunch i am sure, but that could take up multiple blogs and no one likes to focus on the negative.  But the other day while we were all out grocery shopping i realized at the check out that i hadn't let Sarah pick out a box of cereal.  So John said he's go with her to let her pick something out. 

I couldn't believe my eyes when he brought back this:

I was like, "Seriously!  What are you thinking?"  John apparently isn't aware of the ongoing rule that cookies for breakfast are forbidden.  My kids will ask me (mainly Eden will ask me) from time to time if they can have this cereal and i ALWAYS say no.  I mean why kind of mother would i be if i let my kids have cookies for breakfast?

So i assessed the situation.....we were already checking out, and didn't really have time to go and get another cereal and John had already told her it was okay.  Sarah apparently said she was also unaware of the no Cookie Crisp for breakfast rule.  So i looked at the sugar content...11g, not horrible and then quickly looked at the sugar content on the box of Frosted Mini Wheats i had in the cart....12g.  (Sarah has to be careful how much sugar she eats) Hmmm......well just this one time, i said. Although no doubt the FMW had some more things in it that were healthier for you, the Cookie Crisp's nutritional content wasn't too horrible, surprisingly enough.

She certainly enjoyed them though.  Eden tried them and said they didn't actually taste like cookies at all.  Jack likewise has thoroughly enjoyed them.  Well, love them while they last, but it will be the last!  ;-)

Pagan Traditions And Other Such Non-Sense......

Well we have many of those don't we?  Things we try turn into Christian holidays that then because of "political correctness" we again turn back into nothingness.....(no joke on a Blue Clues VHS we own from when Iman was a baby they refer to Valentine's Day as Love Day, yep it's true!) well except an excuse for someone to make money.  It always amazes me how much sooner each year the next holiday's decorations and merchandise comes out.  There really isn't a break any more.  We just go from one money maker to the next and buy into it all.  Thinking and feeling that our children or loved ones deserve it all. But they deserve much more, or time an attention really.  In my opinion if you want to make the holiday meaningful then make a resolve to show them everyday how much you love them.  

When i was at Wal-mart on Saturday, trying not to get sucked in myself, i noticed that Wal-mart actually had some Easter things out too.  So i guess now we don't even have to wait for one holiday to be over!  ;-)

As i stood in the store and pondered what i could do to surprise my kids (i hadn't actually planned on doing anything as usually Valentine's Day has been reserved for just John and I in my mind, but Eden specifically asked and i told her no, so i decided to surprise them anyway) I couldn't help but be bothered at how cheap all the products were, like awful chocolate that no one really enjoys eating, and ugly stuffed animals and over priced flowers that don't smell, because after all it is winter.  I didn't want to spend ANY of my hard earned money of anything like that.  I was even almost tempted as there was actually a cute little box of chocolate covered animal crackers that had been decorated as a monkey and Sarah LOVES monkeys.  Then i looked on the back of the package at the nutritional information (sorry force of habit) and notice that there were only 7 cookies in it.  It was three dollars....not a huge sum of money i know, but when you have 4 kids it adds up and I'm afriad that 12 dollars for something that is essentially junk and will in a week or so be forgotton, just doesn't seem justified anymore.

It was then i that i was inspired in the middle of the isle to make my own treat for them.  Duh!  Why didn't i just think of it before?  I decided to make giant sugar cookies and frost them myself with the kids' names on them.  i knew that anything bigger than normal would be thrilling to them and i am happy to report that it was.

So did i get sucked in?  Perhaps a little, but i do make cookies for them all the time anyway and "a little magic in our lives is always a good thing!" (a little tribute to the show i am in with my husband and kids this week  ;-))

I don't really know how or when Valentine's Day started.  I am pretty sure that what we do and celebrate today is not quite what was originally intended.  But this i do know....i love my whole family and my dear sweet friends each and everyday, no matter what the occasion or lack thereof either.  :-)

Yeah, I Did It, I Did It! (Being a Big Boy is So Liberating!)

The other day i thought to myself, "ya know, Jack really should be trying to dress himself by now."  We've been working on him doing his own shoes and coat (velcro shoes of course) and he's been doing well so far.  But on this morning i decided to see if he was ready for the full monty.

I had to help set up his clothes laid out on the floor so that he knew which way to start putting them on, but slowly bit by bit, he put each article of clothing on.  It made me laugh so hard when he kept trying to put his arms and feet in his shirt at first, but he eventually understood what i was saying in that the shirt had nothing to do with the feet.  The fun part for me was that he was as giddy as a little kid on Christmas morning.  In fact for Jack i do believe he was more giddy about this than he was about Christmas. Grinning from ear to ear with each thing he put on he exclaimed, "I did it, i did it!"

Socks were another story and i definitely had to help get them halfway on his feet before he could do the rest, but still he was completely satisfied and proud of himself.

I love the simple pleasures in life.  Normally for me teaching my kids to do something for themselves proves to be a bit of a fight as they get frustrated when they aren't as able as they think they should be.  But for Jack it was pure joy.  After he had finished every thing he did a victory dance and was literally screaming, "YEAH I DID IT, I DID IT," while dancing across the room. What a fun experience for us both!  ;-)

Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies.....

 

{The bestest cookie book in the world!}

I love to make cookies, but i have to admit chocolate chips are kinda boring....Don't get me wrong they are delicious to eat, but just so simple to make and i like new things that challenege average-ness (yes i know that's not a real word, but humor me for today).  

Anyway i promised a friend and her darling 4 yr old son some chocolate chip cookies as a returned favor and well, after not hearing the timer on two batches (not totally wasted, but only good enough to let my kids eat) and ending up with only a dozen or so nice ones i decided to keep them for myself....or rather for the ladies i have grown to love at work.  Don't worry i will make some more for that good friend and her darling 4 year old.  In the meantime the ladies at work enjoyed them and my boss's husband came over from his office next door to her office to have seconds.  I think that's a good sign, even if they are just plain old chocolate chip cookies.....

Maybe it's all about the cookie bible as i like to refer to it as....Well after all the author does refer to them as "Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies."  Maybe a slightly fancier name does the trick....or it could just be all that sugar, butter, vanilla, and chocolate.  Mmmm! ;-)

Anyway even if i am making boring cookies, it's always fun when i have my baking crew.  I now have a new addition, his name is Jack-a-lope.  :-)

I just cannot stand how cute this little man of mine is.  He was so excited to help that he was dancing and "shaking his bootie" to the music i had playing.  He also frequently reminded Sarah of how it was "my turn, my turn" when he wanted to add the next ingredient.  

I have been making cookies with my babies since Iman was about 2 years old and it NEVER gets old for them.  It reminds me of all the sweet memories i have when my mother would let me and my sister bake with her....the smell as the mixer creamed the butter and sugar....eating raw dough that revolted my mother....and of course licking the spoon!  I hope my children also look back on these days with fond memories....and perhaps one day they will be able to make yummy cookies for me too!  :-)