Pantry Surprise

Just had a hearty laugh in the kitchen with Rebecca. Every once in a while when I clean out my cabinets, I make a concoction called "Pantry Surprise" which includes the leftover chocolate chips/butterscotch chips/white chips (whichever I have!), melted and mixed with the last of the peanut butter in the pantry. I stir in whatever nuts I have leftover, chow mein noodles, rice crispies (or any other last bits of cereal), and marshmallows. I had a handful of Craisins in the cabinet today and, even though I know Rebecca really doesn't care for them (or raisins!), I thought I could hide them in the mix and she would never know. I mushed it all down in a 8x8 lined with wax paper and put it in the fridge to harden. When I pulled it out to cut it into squares, Rebecca showed up in the kitchen. "Oh yea!" she said, "Pantry Surprise!" She then proceeded to scrutinize her square.... "Mother, what is this red thing?" So much for hiding the Craisins!

School Clothes

This is how Caroline lays her clothes out each night for school. Cuteness.

Air Time

Sweet Caroline....always taking the "back seat" so others can talk. She loves to listen and does not normally demonstrate a need for "air time" like her momma and her sister. She is observant, notices things...people...feelings. She is content to just be in your company.

Yesterday, after dropping Rebecca off at the YMCA for swim practice, Caroline and I decided to walk a couple laps at the track. It was an unexpected, beautiful, sunshiny, January day! Caroline decided to take advantage of a mommy all to herself. She talked, and talked, and talked, and talked.... and talked. I love her thoughts.

Dropping Ducks

She didn't shoot the poor creature... her daddy did. She still, however, sees it as sweet defeat... for the duck. I don't get it. I don't get the waking up at 3:30, decking out in camo, pulling all the shells, guns, seats, etc. together and creeping out the door in the middle of the night for a duck.... but they do, and they love it. It was a "Joy-Making Day" for Rebecca and her daddy. Caroline and I had fun hunting other things... at the mall!

Three Days of Unexpected Joy

The gift of three days.... three days of family fun! Three days to sleep in, enjoy breakfast together, stay in our pajamas til who cares when... three days to slip and slide and sled, drink hot chocolate, coffee and tea.... three days to make memories and soak up time with the ones I love the most. Thank you Lord for these three days.

Snow Cream

We woke up this morning to a Winter Wonderland. We've already hit the big hill in the neighborhood and enjoyed homemade chocolate chip banana bread french toast and hot chocolate. One of our favorite "Snow Day" traditions is snow cream. Ingredients include: milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla.... oh, and some snow! Yummy!

Pumpkin Scones

The caramel glaze was definitely the best part.

We made pumpkin scones today.... a first! It was a little messy, but well worth it. Actually, the girls did most of the work. I was just there for moral support... and to supervise clean-up. I hope it was the first of many scones. They were fabulous!

Here's a link to the book I bought myself for my birthday, Alice's Tea Cup ( a fabulous little tea room in NYC!), where you can find the scrumptious recipe:

http://www.amazon.com/Alices-Tea-Cup-Delectable-Sandwiches/dp/0061964921/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1293913042&sr=1-1