Ben’s cousin, Alicia, and her family have been visiting for the past week. My children LOVE their “big” cousins! We are sure going to miss them when they love. My boys can’t get enough of “the boys” and I think “the boys” love playing with my boys!
I gotta say, nothing makes a day better than baking up some delish treats!
This morning I told myself I had two options. 1. Make the best ever chocolate chip cookies, and then end up eating way too many. Or 2. Make something I’ve never made before so I can give them away.
I chose the latter!
The cookie of choice was Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies. I only had the Reece’s giant peanut butter candybar, so I chopped it up and had just enough for the dough, and none left over to stick on top. Since they didn’t turn out as pretty as I hoped, I added a layer of peanut butter cream cheese frosting, cause frosting makes everything better!
You know you want one! Too bad! We are headed to the fire station for dinner tonight {Deer tenderloin, btw!} and I’m bringing these yummy delights!
Guess who read the the bedtime story tonight? I’ll give you a hint. His name starts with a P. And ends with an ER!
:: Parker reading his first “real” book. Arthur in a Pickle.::
Each day is a roller coaster. Continuous ups and downs. There are good moments and frustrating moments. Constantly. And just when I think, “Wow, we are having such a great day,” the mood switches and I find myself getting frustrated with my children. And, by the end of the day, after I have tucked them into bed, I wonder, am I a terrible mother? Am I messing up? What am I doing wrong? Every.single.day. I feel the same way. {And I want to go wake them up and give them a big hug, and tell them “I love you.” But I don’t cause I really don’t want them to be awake.}
I have started reading a blog. She {Shawni} is insightful. Fun. Honest. And so stinkin cute! What I think I love most about what she writes about is her honest, tell it like it is, day to day busyness. I feel the same way and I relate to her in so many ways. And I realize, most of us relate to her in so.many.ways! She is enjoying the journey motherhood and, although it is challenging, it is also very rewarding. And she is so darn optimistic! I love it. And, I want to be optimistic, too.
I love my family. I have so much to be thankful for. I have 4 beautiful children, who I am so thankful Heavenly Father has entrusted them to me. I have an amazing husband who listens to me, encourages me, strengthens me, loves me.
For FHE this last week, we tried to once again teach our children that it is important to make good choices. For example, sharing, being nice, taking turns, helping out, using nice voices, ect. We made them each a CTR Chart to keep track of their “good choices.” We make charts for them all the time to reinforce good behavior. But, for some unknown reason, this completely back fired. As in, they would gloat when the they got a sticker and their sibling didn’t. Or they would “tell” me every time they did something so they could get a sticker before their sibling did. They would start whining if someone else got a sticker. Which wasn’t the point. It was actually getting very frustrating. Why wasn’t it working?
So, I had to brainstorm again. What has worked in the past? I took their charts down. And made a Family Chart. One chart. That they could all work on together. Within minutes, the atmosphere changed. Immediately, no joke! They started being nicer to each other. They were excited when the other one got stickers. They were wanting to help each other out. And be nice to one another. Funny how that works, right?
This reminded me of a conversation I had with Parker a while ago. I was talking to him about when Paisley was born, and he and Preston went to stay at Mamaw and Papaw’s house. I was asking if he remembered it. He told me he did. Then we started talking about when Preston was born, and if he remembers that. He asked me if him and Paisley stayed at Mamaw and Papaws house. It hit me—Parker doesn’t remember a time when it was just him. It’s the same for Preston, and also Paisley. They have always had each other.
My kids really do love each other. They stick up for each other. {If anybody even threatens to be mean to Parker, Preston freaks out. Literally!} They are best friends. And they work better together, as a team. They may be little, but we have already instilled in them the importance of being a family, and loving each other. Friends come and go, but family will always be there. And, as much as they fight, or tease each other, they really do love each other.
So, this morning, after they were fighting, and after I redid their behavior charts, and when they started getting along, I couldn’t help videoing Preston and Paisley. I know it’s not much of a video, but when I watch it, my heart swells with love. Here’s Preston, playing with his sister, and here’s Paisley, who isn’t afraid/shy in front of the camera.
Or, rather, a whole fleet of Mayflower’s!! Ben’s Aunt Cindy, {who is amazing by the way!} made each of the kids their own ship. Made them! Aren’t they so stinkin cute?
Ben worked today and enjoyed his Thanksgiving feast at the fire station. I took the kids to Donna and Benjie’s, where we enjoyed the most moist turkey ever and tons of other yummy goodness! How was your Thanksgiving?
With the holiday’s just around the corner, I’ve kinda been bummed out that most of the yummy treats that come during this time of year are heavily laden with dairy products! My favorite muffins, for instance. I love love LOVE eggnog. When I was little I used to “water” it down with sprite, since it was too thick and too strong. And now that I am older, I think about all the fat and calories that I’m drinking with each glass of pure goodness. When I was at the store today picking up some coconut milk, I saw Silk Nog. It’s worth a shot, isn’t it?
Without even reading the nutritional information, cause, come on, you don’t drink egg nog to be healthy, I poured myself a glass. It’s a lot thinner than egg nog. {Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.} But does it taste like egg nog? You bet it does. But, it’s not as strong---just a light smooth taste. So, to me, perfect!
But, that’s not the best part. Here’s the kicker:
Let’s compare nutrition information. Pet Egg Nog vs. Silk Nog
Egg Nog {Serving size 1/2 cup}: 180 calories. 8 grams fat {5 of them saturated}. 60 mg cholesterol. {and it has eggs,and high fructose corn syrup!}
Silk Nog {Serving size 1/2 cup}: 90 calories. 2 grams fat {No saturated or unsaturated fat}. No cholesterol.
How exciting is this? I might just enjoy me some nog all. season. long!
Parker’s school held a Unity Circle this morning. {A fancy name for their Thanksgiving Music Concert.} Everyone met outside in a big circle in the parking lot. Parents were invited to watch their children sing songs about Thanksgiving.
We love our little Kindergartener. It was fun to see all the girls surrounding him and talking to him. :) I don’t blame them, either. Isn’t he a cutie?
On Parker’s turkey feathers there were three things he is grateful for:
I wish I could say that I enjoyed taking these pictures. But, in all honesty {and if you know me at all} I was cringing the entire time. And reminding myself to breath. And not to be so “anxious.” And I had to repeat in my mind that they are having fun. Can’t you see the look of pure joy on their faces? How can I deny that?
Guess who lost another tooth? Funny thing is, he didn’t even know it! I noticed it right before he was getting on the school bus this morning. It, meaning, the lack of a tooth in his mouth. So, at some point today {or last night} it fell out {or he ate it?}.
And, because these pictures are too cute to pass up…..
Coming home from eating Sunday dinner, we were packed in the car. Ben had grabbed some fishing poles to bring home so he could go fishing in the morning. Parleigh reached her little hand out of her carseat so she could grasp the fishing pole. It won’t be long until she’s fishing with the rest of them!
Since I did a Twilight and New Moon Party, I thought, what the heck? Let’s have a Breaking Dawn party! And party we did! It was so much fun hanging out with just the girls and going to the movie afterward! Thanks, ladies, for putting up with my craziness and humoring me when it comes to all things Twilight!
{I wish I would have taken better pictures before everyone showed up. But, I didn’t want to look like a nerd snapping pictures of my spread. But, I think we got a few. They aren’t the best quality, cause of the lighting. But, you can get the idea!}
We had fresh fruit, strawberries and cream, red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and drenched in chocolate ganache, veggies and hummus, chips and dip, pumkin cheese ball with gingerbread pita chips, Italian soda bar, and red and black candy: hot tamales, twizzler bites, black licorice, hershey’s dark m&m’s, dark chocolate peanut butter cups, and red oreos! Way too much food. Everyone needs to remember for next time: don’t eat for at least 3 days before coming to one of my parties!
I had door prizes, a prize for whoever wore their “Team Edward” or “Team Jacob” apparel, and we played “Breaking Dawn Jeopardy”! So.Much.Fun! {Or super cheesy, you choose!}
We then headed over to the theater an hour early so we could make sure we had good seats and that they would be together!
I think the pumpkin dip/cheese ball {call it what you want} was the favorite dish at the party. And….I came up with the recipe myself! I saw these gingerbread chips at the store and knew I had to buy them and eat them with some sort of pumpkin dip. I searched the internet and couldn’t quite find something I liked. And then when I was at Trader Joes, I found some Pumpkin Butter {think apple butter} and knew I could come up with something.
Pumpkin Cheese Ball
Combine cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl. Blend until creamy. Add pumpkin butter and vanilla. Mix until combined and fluffy. Put in fridge for at least 3 hours. When ready to serve, form into a ball.
Easy, and so yummY!
