A Grocery List of "Essentials" - author unknown

To my delight I discovered another little note this morning.  I would have scanned it but it is on a small notepad paper of approximately 3 inches by 4 inches.  However, it's content I feel is worthy of internet recognition.  Hence I have transcribed the note as you see here.  (Please note that no spelling has been altered.)

cack
bred
appl's
allmins
4 Luchubl's
Par's
Bagl'se

It is also worthy to note that next to the "Bagl'se" item on the list is a small circular drawing with little black dots on it that is unmistakably - a bagl.  I knew you'd all be as pleased as I when you read this list.  Please don't hesitate to spread the joy and laughter that has undoubtedly filled you very existence upon reading such a fine display of childhood's most esteemed grocery items.

HOT DATE

My recent conversation with Liam:

L: Mom, did you know I have a girlfriend?

You have a what?

L: A girl friend. And she has magical powers.

Oh. Ummm...what's her name?

L: Uh-I don't know. I can't remember.

Oh. Where does she live?

L: WEllllll...you go across the street and then turn and then turn and turn again.

Where did you meet her?

L: Well, sometimes she comes in my room and sometimes we just play outside.

Okay, what do you do together?

L: We just show each other our Christmas presents and just talk.

Wow.

L: Can I call her now?

So what do you all think? Should I let my 5 year old call his imaginary girlfriend or should I make him wait until he is 16 to call his imaginary girlfriend?

I'm IN, I'm IN!!

I have to do a short-and probably sappy- post on the music group I've gotten involved with. It's a sextet (currently, though we're looking for a strong ALTO,) of women- and I am lucky enough to be the accompanist. We meet after kids are in bed so we have all the time in the world. These women are A MAZE ING! Every single one of them is unique and incredibly strong, spiritually and physically! Every week, I find myself in geek mode around them. I say stupid things that I think about later, blushing of course. I feel like the most nerdy girl in the high school that somehow, inexplicably, got accepted into the popular crowd. But I've learned so much from their testimonies and life experiences. I've really enjoyed getting to know them and I hope we'll keep meeting for a long time.

Birthday and Cakes

Eli turned one this week! I cannot believe how fast this year went by! He's such a funny kid. He likes to tease me and make me chase him. He giggles with the kids and loves to sit in our family prayer circle at night. He is always challenging Ben to lightsaber fights and loves to wrestle with Liam and Natalie. He can say mama, da, uh-oh, thanks, and hello. He's a smart little guy.

We let the kids vote and they picked to go to Pirate Island to celebrate his birthday. We had a blast together! The kids got a lot of tickets, which they combined so they could have a lot more tickets. They ate, they giggled, they left without anyone creating a scene or getting lost. Eli sat in his high chair and grinned and giggled at everyone around him.

Afterward, we headed home for cake and ice cream. Before we knew it, it was bedtime.

Elijah's birthday was a whirlwind, he chose to only wait an hour and 45 minutes from the time labor started to making his grand entrance. He immediately stretched out as much as he could and went to sleep. He still loves to be free and able to move about and stretch. He's learning to go to sleep on his own and loves to eat! We're so grateful for him in our family.

The other day, Jason and I watched the movie about Julia Child. That combined with a recent viewing of "No Reservations," my mom's new cookbook that arrived in the mail the other day ("Martha Stewart's), and a secret addiction to "Cake Boss," I suddenly felt like making something a little complicated...and blogging about it. Of course, it turned out nothing like the picture in the book, but my-oh-my it was a scrumptious piece of confectionery goodness. It would have to be with 3 cubes of real butter and LOTS of chocolate to soothe the senses. This is all that was left:

It was supposed to be a devil's food cake with whipped ganache (don't you love that word) filling and a mint chocolate ganache icing. Well. I was in too much of a hurry to wait for the whipped filling, so I just used whipped cream and the icing was very runny, but very satisfying. Altogether, I'd say that it was worth all the calories, fat, and HUGE mess. (seriously, it was a big mess, there were even chocolate paw prints on the floor.)

Let's all say ganache. Ganache. Ganache. Ga-yummy!

A Christmas Gem

Jason found this little note by Liz the other day and I had to share it.
It says "Dear Jane, mom says that we get cole just cole in our stockings for christmas lets try to be good so that we wont get cole just cole for christmas love lizzy.

PS I never said she was going to get "cole" or "coal" in her stocking.