Snow day, hot chocolate, and pepperoni rolls

Yes, those all fit in the same post.  In fact, they all fit in the same hour in the same day.  Last Thursday we finally had enough snow to play in, and the kids begged me to let them out in it.  While I was hesitant based on the fact that I was sure Nathan would end up with a cold and subsequent bronchitis (which is what is currently brewing), I decided to take my chances.  I could probably use that excuse to keep my kids from doing all kinds of fun stuff, but then they wouldn't have as many awesome memories as I do.  So we dug out the pair of snow pants that fit Nathan and discovered that we needed to go buy some for Natalie.  After a quick trip to Wal-Mart, the kids were ready to go.

All ready to go!

Nathan wasn't quite sure what to do at first...

...but you can bet Natalie was quick to teach him!

It's snowing!

Lawn mower turned snow blower

Footprints!

Snow angels!  Missed Nathan's and couldn't get him to do it again!

Somebody else wants to play outside...

"HIIII NOLA!!!"

Sissy came for a visit.

And Bubby did too!

Awwww...maybe next year, baby girl.

I let them play while I went to put Nola down for a nap, and by the time I got back they were ready to come in.  I had promised them hot chocolate so after they got all their warm clothes off, they joined me in the kitchen to help make their peppermint hot chocolate.  Boy was that delicious!

Haha...Nathan's face.

Sipping, sipping

Mmmm-mmm good!

And a dribble down the chin!

They are such good pals.  Makes a mama proud.

 Then they asked for their favorite light lunch: pepperoni rolls with cream cheese, crackers, and fruit.  These two aren't big lunch eaters, so most days we just have something light so they don't go to nap on an empty tummy.

Not sure how awesome the flavor combo of hot chocolate and pepperoni is, but we'll go with it...

Cheese!!!  Literally.

And that was our fun Thursday last week!

Growing up, reaching out

I learned a few valuable life lessons this week.

- Sometimes people will hurt others because they're not okay with themselves.
- Sometimes I'll be the one who gets hurt.
- Sometimes I'll hurt others, and that's not okay.
- I'll never get the opportunity to know the good in anyone unless I look for it.
- Sometimes it takes a death to see.
- Sometimes it's just not about the unkindness I've experienced.
- Sometimes it's about the love and passion someone shows in other areas of their lives.
- Above all, God's timing is perfect.

I've spent the last week a self-righteous, jealous, angry, vengeful mess.  I've said and felt some things that I'm ashamed of - things I'd be really quick to point out as wrong in someone else, I'm sure.  I've had to ask God to do a miracle in my mind and heart.  And boy did he show out.

On Friday, I felt that I needed to DO something to help.  So I spent 5 or 6 hours making food to take to a funeral dinner for a person who had done nothing but cause me harm and pain while living.  See, the reason I did that was because God revealed to me that there was more to this person and this situation than my narrow little mind could see.  Sitting in the funeral, I'm pretty sure I was crying as much as some of the close family and friends as I listened to the way this person had impacted the lives of those around her.  And I wondered if I had bothered to look for this side of her or if I had just gotten stuck in the victim role constantly holding a grudge and refusing to forgive her.

The truth is, this person has value - to her kids, her siblings, her friends, and even people who didn't even know her.  I had dismissed her value because I felt that she didn't acknowledge MY value.  I learned she had a passion for justice, for family, for life.  So what if she didn't have a passion for ME.  News flash:  Louise is not the center of the universe.  Ouch.

So anyway, God helped me do what I could to alleviate some of the weight on the rest of the family.  I'm so thankful for the experiences I've had over the past four days or so.  What a difference a change in perspective can make!

11 months old on Daddy's birthday!

Nola was 11 months on her Daddy's birthday. (Happy ??st birthday, honey!)  I'll say it again.  I can't believe how fast the time has flown.  She is not my teeny baby anymore as evidenced by her ability to stay with Daddy and even take a nap Monday as I went back to school.  She was not very happy with me when she woke up, and fussed, cried, looked at me like I was either crazy or torturing her, and refused to nurse.  I set her down on the floor, where she continued to cry.  But finally she came to me and decided to latch.  Admittedly, I was quite worried for a few minutes there, but I was able to stay patient long enough for her to forgive me.  Wednesday and Friday were better since she stayed up until I got home to nurse her and put her down for a nap. 

And now for the update...

Eating: Everything.  Still loves veggies and fruits and is willing to try everything at least once.  Nursing several times a day still with no end in sight.

Sleeping:  After a severe rough patch during which I was not sure I would survive, she's finally started to improve a little.  Laying her down and having her sleep for more than two hours were the hardest parts.  I had an epiphany about a week ago regarding her waking every two hours.  Pretty sure she was waking because she was feeling herself wet her diaper.  So since I'm pretty sure that Pampers swaddlers absorb more quickly than the cloth, we've switched back to disposables and noticed a huge difference in just the short time we've been trying this.  Not sure if or when we'll go back to cloth, but I'm going to hang onto them for awhile because I loved them so much.

Teeth:  Two more on top, which brings the grand total to six.  So she's got all four across the top, and the two on the bottom.  So glad we seem to be in between teething sessions now, so we're both getting a little more sleep.

New skills:  More talking.  She now has words for "baby" and "Natalie," and she calls for Da-da every time she hears him move around the house.  She's starting to let go when she's standing up, and she laughs and thinks that's pretty cool.  I'm in no hurry for her to walk.  However, if she walks two days before her birthday I'll probably freak because that's when both Natalie and Nathan began to walk.

Loves:  Her babydoll.  This is new.  It was a gift she got from Daddy for Christmas, and every time I go to get her out of her crib or nurse her she wants her baby.  When she asks for it, her word sounds like "ba-ba," but there's an extra little vowel or something in there that makes it sound like something I have no idea how to type making it distinguishable from other things she says using the traditional "ba-ba" sound.

She's grinding her teeth...ooh, I hate that sound!

Nola meets her baby

Playing with her xylophone for the first time

Just crossed a line...

I have recently become one of "those" moms that will use cookies to trick her kids into eating healthy stuff.  I was searching for a cookie or cracker recipe that would incorporate some good grains, fruit, and not much sugar to replace the easy-to-grab but empty-of-nutrition club crackers that have become a staple in my kids' snack diet.  Unfortunately I was unable to find such a gem, but I believe that in the process I have developed something way better.

I've discovered quinoa (pronouced KEEN-wa, if you're like me and never would have guessed that).  It's a delightful little seed that when uncooked looks a little like couscous.  Although it's expensive, it's a new must-have on my shopping list.  I've learned that quinoa contains all eight essential amino acids, awesome protein, good fiber, and vitamin B as well as minerals such as iron and magnesium.  Sounds like another perfect food to add to Nola's repertoire of healthy non-breastmilk nutrition. 

So anyway, I wanted to base the recipe off that.  And it turned out surprisingly well.

"Banana" Cookies (as they are known to the kids)
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup peaches crushed, chopped, or pureed (I lazily just smashed em up a bit with a pastry cutter)
1 very ripe banana
3 Tbsp flax seed soaked in 5 Tbsp water
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup baby cereal (I used oatmeal)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream butter, shortening, and sugar together.  Add egg and vanilla and beat well.  Stir in quinoa, peaches, banana, and flax seed mixture until well combined.  Combine all the dry ingredients and stir in gradually.  Mixture will resemble more of a banana bread mixture than a cookie mixture, so don't worry if it seems too wet.  Drop cookies onto cookie sheet and cook at 350 for about 25-30 minutes until edges and tops begin to brown.  Cool and store in an airtight container.  Makes about 4 dozen.






My kids all love them.  They turned out a little more crumbly than I would like, but that just means I keep a closer eye on Nola with them.  These cookies are something I totally don't feel guilty about giving my kids even when they haven't finished their supper.

Craft time: Paper Snowflakes

For Nathan and Natalie, this craft mainly consisted of picking out which paper and ribbon they wanted and watching me do the rest.  Surprisingly, the did quite well and really loved the results.

He thought the spot he chose to hang them was GREAT!

Pretty girl with her snowflakes

First snow of 2012

Posing with the falling snow (excuse the dark picture)

Snow is falling, gently falling

So pretty...more please?

"Why da snow fallling on da ground, Mama?"

Nola likes it too!

Waffles

Probably the best Christmas gift any of us got this year was Kevin's waffle maker from my Mom.  We've used it many times just since Christmas, and we all love the delicious waffles Kevin makes with it.  And of course, I love this quote from the original Shrek.

Nathan cheesin' it up for the camera

Natalie cheesin' it up too

Nola with a mouthful

The special Moms only waffle - with Nutella...mmmm

And Daddy, the waffle King