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.

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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.

A Time to Play

"Summer and every single moment is worth its weight in gold!" -Phineas & Ferb

Memorial day couldn't come soon enough and now the long sunny days of summer are nearly gone. 

Did we change our pace?  

Did we make enough memories?  

Did we sleep in and snuggle?  

Did we take a road trip?  

Did we visit friends?  

Did we taste adventure?  

Did we eat ice cream?  

Did we dance?  

Did we make new friends?  

Did we get mosquito bites and sunburns? 

Did we stay up late reading stories?

Did we use up all of our glue sticks?

Did we watch movies?

Did we catch fireflies?

Did we write new music?

Did we eat watermelon?

Did we attend a family reunion?

Did we camp?

Did we play games?

Did we have lengthy play dates?

Did we enjoy it?

You bet we did!!  We allowed so much time to play this summer that I'm actually itching to start the routine and schedule of a new school year.  It's so great to have the balance tip so far in favor of play that I choose to tilt it back towards work.