Doctor Who?

Shocking how many of my FB friends were doing something other than watching the 50th Anniversary episode of Dr. Who.  Our household practically made it a holiday. I encouraged, pushed play, and made hot chocolate.  Here is what my kids did:

1.  Had a planning meeting to brainstorm ideas for a Dr. Who music video
2.  Started a storyboard for said video, planning main shots and B roll
3.  Recorded and mixed an original song (by Alison) about Dr. Who
4.  Made a red fez out of cereal boxes and an old corduroy dress
5.  Set their alarms to maximize daylight and marched, in costume, out into the 47 degrees plus windchill that was to be their constant companion for the next 5 hours.
6.  Filmed in three locations pre-determined by proximity and sunlight availability
7.  Dumped all of their video into the computer and reviewed noting edits that would have to be made
8.  Planned the next days' shots
9.  Enjoyed a little hot chocolate and some Studio C
10.  Approximated steps 5 - 7 again the next day
11.  Karina hunkered down in the 'editing bay' for the next three days with regular feedback and encouragement from the whole team
12.  Karina learned to embed links to other channels within a Youtube video
13.  Released a kickin' original music video!

Hey, that's the same number of things as there are Doctors!
Maybe none of this will fit on an academic transcript, but I consider it time well spent.

Playing dentist

This has to be the best time in the history of mankind to be a dentist.  Digital X-rays.  Cake batter flavored flouride!  Flatscreen and Wii U for young patients!!  We call it Mario-sthesia.  Maybe that just our dentist.  October was semi-annual check-up and cleaning month for the seven of us.  Yippee!  Sparkling smiles just in time our Halloween binge.  Our magic dentist and her charming hygienists inspired the imaginations of my three youngest into November.

Every night and some mornings, they want to "Emydent."  (I heart invented verbs!)  Our dentist is Dr. Evy of Evydent.  My name is Emily, so I hijacked her brand.  You get the idea.  It goes like this:

Kid - Can we Emydent tonight?

Me - Okay, bring your toothbrush with toothpaste on it.

[Set couch cushion on the floor to mimic dentist's chair.  Kid settles in.]

Me - [Smile]  Welcome to Emydent dentistry where we're always happy to see your smile. Let's see that smile!  [Smile]

Kid - [Smiles real big.  If it's Torpedo, he's already playing an imaginary game on imaginary Nintentoland with his imaginary Wii U.]

Me - Gorgeous!  Stick out your tongue. [brush tongue]
        Now, for the cheeks. [brush cheeks and palate]
        Now, for those beautiful teeth!  [brush all teeth, praising kid's cooperation]
        Okay.  [return toothbrush to kid] Spit and swish.
        Next.

It looks like this:

I'm pretty sure they just want attention.  I can live with that.  It's nice to take a moment to smile at each other at the end of the day.

Dry Run

It's birthday eve for Torpedo.  Tomorrow he turns eight.  It's a big deal for a Mormon kid.  We call it

[cue echo chamber] 

                                                The AGE of ACCOUNTABILITY (ability, bility, bility) 

 

That phrase has it's chest out, shoulders squared, and hands on hips.  It means, starting tomorrow, Eli is accountable to God for his choices.  Up to now, he's been scrimmaging with his own team.  Now he'll be in the scored game with The Opponent.  Fortunately, he'll be prepped with the cleansing power of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.   We thought such an important event deserved a dry run.

.  

Selfish Cookies

Today I scored big at Aldi!

$1.49 per box

In 2012, I spent the entire winter holiday season trying to find these minty wonders for less than $2.49 per box.  I may have sung some carols and wrapped gifts and thought of things I was thankful for, but in between, I was hunting for a great price on Andes Creme De Menthe Thins.  Even the crumbled baking version never got this cheap.  Not even after Christmas!  I bought a bundle today.  

Now that I have mine, I can share the news.  Peace on earth, good will and all that.  I guess I should share the recipe I use them in as well because we like these cookies so much that we make dozens and dozens and don't even share.  I like to call them "Family Cookies."  But Sparkle is probably more accurate when she calls them "Selfish Cookies."  Eleven year olds are honest like that.

As with most delicious recipes, this one is thanks to Mom.  In this case, My Hero's Mom.

Selfish Cookies

a.k.a. Chocolate Mint Cookies

3/4 Cup butter

1 1/2 Cup brown sugar

2 Tablespoons water

2 Cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 eggs

2 1/2 Cups flour

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Andes Creme de Menthes (1/2 mint for each cookie)

In large heavy sauce pan over low heat, cook butter, sugar and water until melted.  

Add chocolate chips and stir until partially melted.  

Remove from heat and continue to stir until chocolate is melted.  (This bit about the heat is really important so the chocolate doesn't overcook.  I actually remove it from the heat and then add the chips just to make sure because you won't know it's overcooked really until you bake the cookies and they spread instead of puff).

Pour into large bowl and let stand 10 minutes to cool.

With mixer, beat in eggs.  

Add dry ingredients, beating just until blended.

Chill 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  

Roll dough into teaspoon size balls.  

Bake 12 to 13 minutes (Cookies will be crisp as they cool.) 

Remove from oven and immediately place 1/2 mint on each hot cookie. 

Makes 80 cookies

There are 56  half mints to a package.

  

Bubble Wrap

Our neighbor is not the kind to drop by with cookies.  Industrial glue gun, anyone?  Maybe a couple of 6-packs of break-away glass bottles?  This week it was  a giant roll of bubble wrap!  We pinched, jumped, danced and then got creative.

Are we having fun, yet?

Saying YES!

I love it when I get to say, YES, to my little darlings.  Like the rest of humanity, they are impulsive and prefer their gratification to be instant whenever possible.  The hottest movie ticket at our house is currently The Adventures of Tintin.  That means all things Tintin are desirable to the point of fixation.    What is Mom to do when the light of her dear ones' hearts changes weekly?  "Mom, can I have a [fill in the licensed character du jour]?"  "YES!"

This is my solution.  We make our own.  They tend to last as long as the celebrity crush, but if not, are easily replaced.

Step 1:  Print favorite characters

Step 2:  Color

Step 3:  Glue onto sturdy cardboard (this is the inside of a cereal box)

Step 4:  DIY laminate with packing tape (optional)  I opted out this time.  

Step 5:  Play

Play

Play

Note:  This has worked for Disney's Cars, Shaun the Sheep, Angry Birds, and Dr. Who

Get on Your Boots

Brilliant idea of the day:  Get on your boots and go outside.

Friend in Need

Generally, it's not okay with me when Mermaid slides under a closed stall in the ladies restroom.  This is not an infrequent issue.  My usual response includes dropped shoulders, hand to forehead and the rolling of eyeballs followed by a frustrated groan.  Yet, there she goes, slipping under the stall door with her supernatural flexibility and popping up on the other side.  Her friend is in there.  Her friend, E, is throwing up.  E needs her.

I can see from Mermaid's ankles that she is standing to the side, but very nearby.  As the belly contents lurch again, Mermaid puts her hand between E's shoulders in a series of soft pats.  By now, I'm peeking through the slit in the stall trying to decide whether or not to intervene.  "Ooh!"  Mermaid says, "That's gross."  All the while patting E's back.  All the while standing by her friend.  All the while comforting her.  Never looking away.  Never minimizing E's suffering.  Mermaid stands there, by her friend just being with her.

My eyeballs are not rolling.  My shoulders do not shrug.  There is no frustration.  Only the unspoken wish that I could be more like Mermaid.