Work in Progress

I'm working on a post entitled "Family Values," which appeared for a bit but I yanked to do some more tinkering. Though, with a title like that, I imagine I could go on forever . . . .

Mommy the Hutt

"Mom, when you lie on the couch like that, you look like Jabba the Hutt."

I'm hoping that's a positional similarity not a spatial one.

Morning Gory

Some mornings flow more smoothly than others.

And those others can be downright awful: late wake-ups, fighting over who gets to hug Mommy first, races to get to the toilet first, refusals to brush/dress/put pjs away, dawdling over breakfast, heel-dragging about snack and bag packing, complaints about going to school and not having enough time to play, purposeful slowdown on socks/shoes/coat, late departure in tears.

When it's one of the above, it's all of them, with no real discernible cause. For example, last night they slept a full 11.5 hours and even woke up relatively happily. But something happened in the first five minutes that changed the flow of the morning. I'm just not sure what that something was. Bud cried in the beginning, Sis cried by the end. Mama and I try to stay calm or at least neutral, loathe to start the day at full pitch, aware that not engaging is often the best way of engaging, attempting to model peace and respect in the morning.

And somedays that, like our morning routine, works better than others.

This Time of Year

It occurred to me, as I looked over my Christmas card address list, that an entire address had effectively been erased. I mean the deaths this year of my aunt and uncle, to whom I'd always sent a card. Loss seems especially hard this time of year and so I remember them and others to whom I can no longer write. And I send loving thoughts to those who are trying to celebrate their first holidays, or even second or third or any, without important loved ones, from my cousins to my playgroup friend. Lastly, I send hope to the family of another friend as they struggle with uncertainty and fear. It's very dark now but the light comes back.

Teacher Gifts

Following Mama Teacher's suggestions and coming up with some of my own ideas, I have finally decided what to do about gifts for the myriad of teachers, aides, specialists (2 music, art, Spanish, PE, library), administrators, and staff who assist in the education of Sis and Bud: we're bringing a platter of breakfast breads--pumpkin, banana, strawberry, and chocolate--this week, on a day when they're all in the building, to put in the staff lounge. Because they so enrich the school experience and because the kids will have them all for years to come, I thought it was important to remember them. Also, Mama Teacher tells me they rarely get a thing. And while I'd considered some kind of homemade gift like hot chocolate packets in a mug (realizing each person would then get two, so I'd have to differentiate for Sis and Bud) or individually wrapped little loaves per teacher or a large donation to Heifer International in honor of all of them, this is what we decided on (no worries, we're donating to Heifer as a family). Additionally, next week, the kids will take tins of something (right now, it will probably be specialty chocolates from Teuscher's in the city) for their classroom teachers (I'll save the book gift cards for summer. Which seems so far off at this point). Wish us happy baking before then, we're doing all the bread tonight.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Pumpkin Bread

Makes 2 loaves

3 cups sugar

3 ½ cups flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons each nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon

4 eggs

2 cups fresh or canned cooked pumpkin

1 cup oil

½ cup water plus ½ cup apricot or peach brandy (or another ½ cup water)

1 cup each chopped pecans and raisins (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°F. Combine sugar, flour, soda, salt, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and cinnamon in large electric mixer bowl. Mix eggs pumpkin, oil, water (or brandy) and combine with dry ingredients; beat until well mixed. Fold in pecans and raisins. Bake in large greased Bundt pan until cake tests done, about 1 hours and 30-45 minutes.

Gommie Hungry
-=-=-=-=-=-

Banana Bread

Beat:

1 ½ cups sugar

½ cup butter

½ cup shortening

Add:

2 eggs

4 tablespoons milk

Sift and add:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

Add:

1 teaspoon vanilla

3 cups mashed bananas (appx. 6 bananas)

1 cup nuts

Grease and flour pan. Bake at 350°F for about 40 minutes. For miniature muffins, bake at 350°F for 15 minutes.

Makes 2 loaves

Gommie Hungry

-=-=-=-=-=-=

Strawberry Bread

3 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, well beaten

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup chopped pecans

1 ½ pints strawberries, washed and stemmed (Note: 2-10 oz. packages frozen

strawberries, thawed, may be substituted for fresh.)

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a bowl, combine flour, soda, salt, cinnamon and sugar; mix well.

In a separate bowl, mix eggs and oil; add to dry ingredients. Stir in pecans. Fold in strawberries until moistened. Pour into 2 greased 9 x 5 x 3 in. loaf pans. Bake at 350°F for 50 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Gommie Hungry

-=-=-=-=-=-

Church Cake Lady Chocolate Cake

Devils Food Cake mix

8oz sour cream

4 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup coffee or liquor

2 tablespoons grated orange peel

1 teaspoon cinnamon

12 oz chocolate chips

Mix all that together and pour in a greased and floured pan. I usually flour it with unsweetened cocoa powder, that way the flour doesn't leave a white mess on the fininshed cake. Bake at 350 for around an hour.

If you are so inclined, when the cake comes out of the oven, pour on the following.

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/4 cup orange juice or orange liquor

1/4 cup water.

Heat this together until the sugar melts and pour in over the cake while it is still in the baking pan.

Happy baking! J.W.

Advent Activity: Snow Day

Considering the very slow start to snow season, we're treating today as our first snow day, even if the night's dusting was light and all gone by noon. On snow days, we go outside to play--snowmen, snow angels, painting in the snow (no, not yellow)--and gather snow in bowls for snow ice cream. Well, today the kids wandered around drawing pictures in the snow on the car and sliding once down the slide to clear it off, but that was pretty much it for accumulation. No ice cream today. But we will have hot chocolate and popcorn--real popcorn made in a pot on the stove instead of in the microwave, a first for them and a first for me to make (though it's how my mom made popcorn in her pressure cooker--the only thing she did with it, and not even as a pressure cooker)--when I was a kid. We'll make cut-out snowflakes, out of white and also out of wrapping paper scraps, but abandoned our plan to do coloring-page snowflakes because our printer is completely, surprisingly out of ink. No worries. There's enough to do, even on such a minor snow day.

SNOW!!

Not much, just traces, not even a school delay, but enough to don mittens, hats, and snow pants (so they could slide off the playset) first thing this morning. Breakfast was skipped, bags almost forgotten, cats left unfed in the excitement of the first dusting of the season. You can still see grass and roof tiles but it's the idea of it. "Mood snow," I've heard it called. Well, it does put me in a happy, winter wonderland, cozy kind of mood.

Birthday Bonanza: A Feast with Friends

On Saturday night, I had yet another birthday celebration, this time with friends over dinner at my favorite restaurant. Sure, it was vegetarian. Sure, it can be hard to find (and off our normal track). But several people came and we had a great time. I'd emailed them all about the quirks of the place--the unique ordering system, the bus-your-own-table m.o., even some of my favorite foods on the ever-changing menu--and so everything was smooth. We had three tables and pretty much the whole restaurant. We ate minestrone, French onion, Czech mushroom and potato, porcini and cream, and even parmesan rind soup. There were plates and plates of oatmeal bread. Plus several marinated tofu salads and house green salads. Then the entrees: Thai "chicken," solianka (a deconstructed stuffed cabbage dish), quinoa and mash with tomato gravy, I forget what else. And Chocolate Devastation cake, pumpkin bourbon ice cream with hot fudge, ditto persimmon ice cream, orange-hazelnut cake, and cranberry kissel with cream. Lots of good conversation, split between my playgroup buddies, my church friends, and my PT, most of whom have met at various parties at my house. Because I can't sit for long, I wandered among the tables able to chat with most everyone. Five "yes" RSVPs didn't show, mostly from this stomach bug which is creeping around the region. So we missed them but had a good time, chatting with the owner Selma, perusing the bookstore, sampling chocolates, reading the political posters. And there were gifts which they all kindly and generously brought--books and magazines and videos, coffees and teas, cups and mugs, cookies and candies, picture frames and candles and scarves and soaps, and different gift cards, all thoughtful things--which I didn't open (from time, space, and shyness, I think, though I'm beginning to realize, belatedly, that it's always best to open in front of people--it's more fun and meaningful for everyone) until we got home, late, after a drive along the water. And so the thank-you notes are in the mail, not even primarily for the gifts or the celebration, but for our friendships.

Birthday Bonanza: Intergalactic Birthday

Sis had told me the theme of my birthday celebrations, careful not to mention any presents. It was to be a Star Wars party, probably my second or third of that theme! But my first with kids.

I was sent out of the house after kung fu on Saturday, told to walk my full 40 minutes.

When I came back, the kids were bouncing in anticipation. There were streamers on the tree, my chair, and the stairs, hanging decorations on the windows, and a huge centerpiece on the table. There was a "Birthday Jedi Knight" button with Yoda to wear (and wear I did, all day, that night, and to church and lunch the next day!). Immediately gifts were pulled out from underneath the tree. And unwrapped almost as quickly . . . if this is any indication, the opening of presents on Christmas will last 10 minutes and the kids will open everyone's! I got a Princess Leia figure in Endor outfit with Wicket, a Han Solo, and a random rebel pilot who looked like Luke. I also got a Hoth Jedi fighter that the figures can fly in. Plus a Yoda pencil case. I also got two books, Toot and Puddle Around the World and A Bad Case of Stripes. And a lovely rainbow-colored basket made out of tightly-wound newspaper. And even though it sounds like most of those are for the kids, since I do play Star Wars with them everyday, it's nice to have my own figures (well, plus all my original ones and the Ewok Village, which I have gladly passed along).

One of those presents, I learned, has a story. When Mama and the kids were at the bookstore, Sis piped up, "Mom will like the book about the rainbow kid." Mama was floored; what was Sis talking about? Sis tried to elaborate, which sent Mama googling. Mama eventually figured out "stripes" and found the book. About a girl who loves lima beans but won't eat them for fear of being different. Sis is right; I love that book. And my girl, who has the most amazing memory . . . since I read that book to them only once more than a year ago.

To finish up the party, we played "pin the blast on the space ship" game, trying to take out the Empire with our eyes closed, while Mama got out cake and treats. Chocolate-orange flourless cake for me and Mama, vanilla cupcake for Sis, and blueberry frangipane tart for Bud (who only ate the blueberries!).

And then we went to watch . . . . How to Train Your Dragon!

Drop Off

We're in the midst of a drop-off playdate, our very first here. I have left the kids at others' houses in time of childcare need a few times (and much more rarely, vice versa), but this is the first time a child has come here for a pre-arranged, unchaperoned visit.

And it's odd.

The kids were exuberant getting off the bus and almost couldn't bare the time it took for their little school friend to get here. They cheerfully changed clothes while planning all the games they could play.

After a bit of a reluctant start as the friend settled in, the playdate is in full swing. The house is trashed--dolls out, fort built, rock band instruments abandoned, stuffed animals strewn about. But at least the frantic exuberance of those first 15 minutes is over as they jumped off furniture, couldn't settle on a game, and ran from room to room trying everything. Still, though, "what do you want to play now?" erupts every now and then. I think they've changed games a dozen times.

And the twins are gracefully taking turns as the guest plays with one and then the other based on the game at hand. First dolls, then dancing, Star Wars and then fairies, race track and then music. We had talked about being a good host and they are performing the task perfectly. So far.

Lunch is soon, my main role in the whole thing. Macaroni and cheese. Meatballs and vegetables. Fruit and cookies. Otherwise, I'm standing here at the computer, present but not visible, listening but not interacting, making sure no one (and nothing) gets hurt while they have a good time. So far, so good.

Birthday Bonanza: By Candlelight

Historic New England dominates this Texan's Christmas ideal: snow, sleigh bells, a-wassailing, gingerbread, candles in the windows of old salt boxes. Sure, it's an idyllic combination of German customs, Currier and Ives imagery, Little Women story lines, and modern sensibilities, but it's how I like to picture the holiday. And so, on Friday, we visited a place that attempts to reify the dream: Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village.

The evening started with dinner by fire and candlelight, traditional Yankee fare of roast turkey and the fixings, with cornbread in those little pones. Except Mama had prime rib and I had mushroom strudel, along with a tasty cheese plate of local artisanal offerings. There was mulled cider with rum and both heavily spiced apple and pumpkin pies. The kids were awed and subdued by what passed as fancy: dim lighting, candles, glasses glittering, cloth napkins. The wandering minstrel, first with bouzouki and then with mandolin, contributed to the 19th-century feeling.

We soon entered the village, after a stop in the shop--Sis chose a pink bonnet, Bud a straw hat--to get into the spirit. It was full dark by then and the candles showed the way to the green, where we spent 4 more hours visiting all the houses, absorbing all the period ambiance, learning new historical tidbits, and having a wonderful time.

Of course, I liked all the recipes. Each historic kitchen was at work: roasted chestnuts in one, "marchpane" in another, fruitcake and gingerbread being baked in the ovens of still other houses, all by interpreters in costume. Sis and Bud liked seeing how it was done, especially all the miniature marzipan fruits, but wouldn't partake. But Mama and I had more than one helping of the crunchy-topped, fruit-laden fruitcake delight. We did all enjoy the mulled cider--heated with a poker straight from the fire.

We made tinsel at the tinsmith's shop, twisting a strand of tin around and around and then pulling it straight to make a little icicle. We created cornucopiae for our tree out of shiny paper. We rode the horse-drawn carriage. We listened to carolers. We warmed ourselves by the bonfire while consuming Joe Frogger cookies (and blueberry muffins and chocolate chip cookies, too) and cider (and lemonade! Not everything was period). Bud loved the magician's show--"he turned balls in cups into potatoes!" Sis loved the creche.

And Santa. She had abandoned the magic show during the first trick and so I took her for a walk. We entered a building which usually has crafts only to find Santa Claus enthroned in his workshop. Usually reticent, she marched right up to him, sat on his lap, and proceeded to have a conversation about what she wants (Star Wars figures, Calico Critters) and how she likes school. He told her that he knew her teacher and knew her teacher loved her and was proud of her; she was thrilled that he knew her teacher. And he gave her a bag of candy. So she asked for one for Bud, but I said Bud would come back and she could introduce them. Then, she went right over to the letter table and penned Santa a note:"Dear Santa, Kan I have Star Wars, Calico Critters, and surprises." Proudly, she carried it right over to him and gave him a big hug. It was magical.

Later, Bud met Santa and was equally excited, talking about Star Wars and Transformers (?!) and How to Train Your Dragon. Also how he was a twin and how he picked on Sis and Sis picked on him. It was very cute. But because Bud hasn't been as timid and frightened of Santa, it wasn't quite the same.

We ended the evening by walking through all the houses, seeing real stockings hanging from mantles, admiring the small trees bedecked with American flags, wondering at sweet meats for a treat, and just exploring what it would be like to live in a world with so much less light.

On the way home, we listened to Little House in the Big Woods on CD, obviously not New England Christmas but redolent of Christmas past regardless. Sis had also gotten the paper dolls and fell asleep dreaming of recreating Laura's prairie cabin. Bud fell asleep clutching a groundhog. And they slept the whole way home, as Mama and I admired the snow which gently fell the whole way home, putting the icing on our day.

-=-=-=-=-=-

all recipes from Old Sturbridge Village handouts:

"Marchpane," the Modern Method

1 lb almonds, blanched, peeled, and coarsely chopped

3 large egg whites, kept at room temperature

3-4 cups powdered sugar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 to 2 tablespoons rosewater

Using blender/coffee grinder/mortar and pestle, grind the almonds into a fine powder. Place egg whites and salt in mixing bowl. Use the egg beater or mixer, beat egg whites and salt until they're frothy. Add the rosewater into the mixture. Sift in the first three cups of powdered sugar, one cup at a time. Knead the mixture after each addition. Add only enough of the fourth cup of powdered sugar to make mixture into a smooth dough, which should be pliable and not overly sticky. Divide dough into desired portions and wrap in plastic wrap. Enjoy at your leisure and store any uneaten portions in fridge, packed in an airtight container. If properly store, the marzipan should be good for up to eight weeks.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Fruitcake, the Modern Method

1/2 lb raisins

1/4 cup brandy

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon mace

2 teaspoons nutmeg

1 lb currants

3/4 lb butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

6 eggs

2 tablespoons molasses to 1/2 cup

2 oz. citron

Soak raisins in brandy overnight. Preheat oven to 350. Sift flour before measuring. Sift flour with spices. Add currants and citron if desired. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend after each addition. Stir in molasses and any brandy not absorbed by raisins. Stir in sifted flour with spices and fruits. Grease two 5 x 9" loaf pans, three 8" round pans, or one 10" tube pan. Pour into greased pans and bake 45-60 minutes.

-=-=-=-=-=

Mulled Cider

1 gallon sweet cider or hard cider*

9 whole cloves

9 whole allspice

6 cinnamon chips

Simmer the above for 3 hours over low heat, skimming the top as necessary. The cider should then be cooled and set for 24 hours. Before serving, simmer for 1 hour. Heat a poker cherry red and quench it in the cider as it is simmering. Do this once more immediately before serving.

(*If hard cider is difficult to obtain, use sweet cider and add 2/3 quart applejack and 1/3 quart brandy immediately before serving as the spirit will dissipate if heated in the cider.)

Note: To serve as a Yard of Flannel, add heavy cream and rum!

-=-=-=-=-=-

Molasses Gingerbread, Modern Method

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup molasses

1/3 cup lukewarm water

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

4 3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon cloves

1 teaspoon ginger

1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350. Combine flour, salt, and spices and set aside. In another bowl, cream butter until very soft. Add sugar and cream until light and fluffy. Beat egg and add to butter and sugar mixture. Add molasses. In a cup, combine water and baking soda. Stir into creamed mixture. Stir in dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Batter will be very stiff. Press batter into a greased baking sheet or jelly roll pan. Bake for 20 minutes or until a tester comes out dry.

Note: The interpreter said hers had been made without egg so that the egg version would be more cake-like (Mama called this one "chewy."). Also, she said if baked low and slow it would make gingerbread like a cookie.

Old Sturbridge Village

Nutcracker Sweet

Sis and Bud saw a live performance of The Nutcracker in school last week, danced by a local ballet school. We had discussed the story in advance and, as I mentioned earlier, had watched Pacific Northwest's odd, almost Freudian version (the implied tension between Drosselmeyer and Clara creeped both Mama and I out), though we all preferred the Rockettes' teddy bear version.

Bud loved it and, as is his way, has been reliving the experience since then, through his own versions of the dance. He dons his tutu, requests the suite on the iPod, and cradles our own big red wooden Nutcracker in his arms as he dances his amalgam of kung-fu ballet. The boy loves to feel his body move.

And we love to watch.

Advent Activities: Prep Time

Because of the birthday bonanza weekend, we didn't hew too closely to our Advent activity schedule. We did do sugar cookies and decorated more gingerbread houses, but much of the activity was prep work. We picked up materials for Secret Santa packages and fleece for scarves for gifts. And so tonight, we'll take a break and do a carol sing via telephone. It should be fun.

Advent Activities: Sugar Cookies!!!!

Yesterday was cookie-baking day! It was a perfect rainy-weather day, with gusts and downpours. And so I made "Creamsicle" Sugar Cookies using my new fiori di sicilia from King Arthur Flour, an Italian vanilla-citrus extract used in panettone. Yum! The scent alone was fantastic. And they tasted good too.

And they looked great because Sis and Bud did Star Wars cut-outs using sets I bought from William-Sonoma. Yoda and Darth, X-Wings and Tie Fighters. Sure, not your usual Christmas cookie shapes; perhaps even better.

Until I burned the first batch. I haven't burned a tray of cookies in years. But with all the distractions, and perhaps rolling them too thin, it happened. Much to Sis's (and my) devastation. Luckily, we hadn't used the whole batch of dough and so we can make more today, when a little friend comes over for a drop-off playdate.

In searching for a cookie recipe to add my extract to, I realized I have several to choose from. Below are all the sugar cookies--cut-out, spritz, drop, brown--that I've made. We used Alton Brown's recipe, with a teaspoon of fiori di sicilia.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Sugar Cookies (with Creamsicle Variation)

3 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 egg, beaten

1 tablespoon milk

Creamsicle variation: 1 scant teaspoon fiori di sicilia

Powdered sugar, for rolling out dough

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. Place butter and sugar in large bowl of electric stand mixer and beat until light in color. Add egg and milk and beat to combine. Put mixer on low speed, gradually add flour, and beat until mixture pulls away from the side of the bowl. Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes.

Alton Brown

-=-=-=-=-=-

Aunt J's Spritz Sugar Cookies

1 ¾ cups sugar
1 cup crisco, butter flavoring optional
2 eggs
3 cups flour
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream sugar and crisco—add eggs and vanilla and butter flavoring. Add flour, etc. Press out. Bake at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.

Icing

2 cups powdered sugar
milk to consistency
dash salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
Rainbow sprinkles
Combine and then spread over warm cookies. Add sprinkles.

Aunt J

-=-=-=-=-=-

Sugar Cookie Cut-Outs

½ cup oleo

1 cup sugar

1 egg

½ teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon baking powder

2 cups flour

½ teaspoon vanilla

Cream together oleo, sugar, and egg. Add salt, baking powder, flour, and vanilla.

**My additions: divide dough into 2 balls, flatten, and wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes. Roll out ½ of 1 ball at a time, approximately ¼” thick. Tania suggests refrigerate the baking sheet or silpat as well. Cut cookies.

Bake at 400F for 8-10 minutes on greased cookie sheet. (let cool 4-5 minutes)

Miss T C

-=-=-=-=-=

No-Fail Sugar Cookies

Miss T loves and swears by this recipe. She usually cuts it in half. I made it all and froze half--the kids ate so much dough, we needed the whole batch for the party.

6 cups flour
3 tsp. baking powder
2 cups butter
2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract or desired flavoring (I like
almond myself)
1 tsp. salt

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix well. Mix dry ingredients and add a little at a time to butter mixture. Mix until flour is completely incorporated and the dough comes together.

Chill for 1 to 2 hours (or see Hint below)

Roll to desired thickness and cut into desired shapes. Bake on ungreased baking sheet at 350
degrees for 8 to 10 minutes or until just beginning to turn brown around the edges. This recipe
can make up to 5-dozen 3” cookies.

HINT: Rolling Out Dough Without the Mess – Rather than wait for your cookie dough to chill, take the freshly made dough and place a glob between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll it out to the desired thickness then place the dough and paper on a cookie sheet and pop it into the
refrigerator. Continue rolling out your dough between sheets of paper until you have used it all. By the time you are finished, the first batch will be completely chilled and ready to cut. Reroll leftover dough and repeat the process! An added bonus is that you are not adding any additional flour to your cookies.

**my note: this dough can be frozen in disks and thawed later.


http://kitchengifts.com/


T's Royal Icing
4 tablespoons merengue powder
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon shortening (to make it soft and shiny, optional)
1 teaspoon lemon extract
5 cups powdered sugar
colos

Mix ingredients. Add water if too thick. It should be the consistency of glue. Separate into bowls. Add colors with toothpicks. Stir with little spatulas.

T outlines with a #3 tip and then floods the inside when the outline dries (to make flooding consistency, add more water--really just a few drops). You can use a bag with tip or a spoon to flood, and toothpicks or decorating brushes to spread it into the cracks.

She recommends the following schedule:
Day 1--baking
Day 2--icing
Day 4--packaging (too soon and the icing will be damaged)
Because of the icing, the cookies will stay fresh for about a week.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Brown Sugar Cookies

Dough:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter

1 egg yolk

2/3 cup light brown sugar

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

Topping:

1 cup chocolate chips

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

3 tablespoons light corn syrup

colored jimmies, colored nonpareils, finely chopped nuts, or other sugar decorations

To make the dough: In a large bowl, beat together the butter, egg yolk, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt until well combined. Mix in the flour. Cover and chill the dough for at least 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 375F. Lightly grease (or line with parchment) two baking sheets (I needed three).

Break off teaspoonfuls of dough and form them into balls. Place on the prepared baking sheets and flatten to 1/4 inch thick with the bottom of a glass dipped in granulated sugar (it helps to moisten the glass the very first time. We also used colored sugar for fun, but won't top those with chocolate).

Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until they're lightly browned. Remove them from the oven and transfer to a rack to cool.

To make the topping: In a small bowl in the microwave, or in a small saucepan set over very low heat, melt the chocolate chips and butter together, stirring until smooth. Stir in the corn syrup.

When the cookies are cool, use a flat butter knife or small icing spatula to cover half of each cookie with the topping, so you're looking at a cookie that's half iced, half bare. The make small piles of whatever garnishes you use--it's fun to mix and match--and dip the chocolate-coated side into the decorations. Nonpareils and colored jimmies are fun. Toasted, finely chopped nuts are tasty. Refrigerate the cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet until the chocolate sets, about 1 hour.

The King Arthur Flour Cookie Companion

-=-=-=-=-=-

Mama Teacher's No-Roll Sugar Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
4 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cream of tartar
1 tsp. salt
Colored Sugar

In a large bowl with electric mixer, beat sugars and butter on medium speed unti light and fluffy. Beat in oil, vanilla and eggs until well blended. On low speed, beat in flour, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt until dough forms.

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight for easier handling.

Heat oven to 375. Shape dough into 1-inch balls; place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten each with a "cut-glass" tumbler dipped in colored sugar. Bake 5 - 8 minutes or until set.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Frosted Cookie Cut-Outs

2 1/4 cup flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

2/3 cup superfine sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten, room temperature

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup buttermilk, room temperature

Sift together flour, soda, and salt. Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Add buttermilk alternating with flour mixture.

Chill for 2 hours. Roll out to 1/8" thick.

Bake at 375F for 14 minutes (which seems tooo hot and too long to me)

Icing

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup butter, room temperature

pinch salt

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

2 tablespoons milk or cream

2-3 drops food coloring

Mix together.

adapted from Hannukah cookies recipes in Holiday Baking by Sara Perry

-=-=-=-=-=-

Sugar Cookies

1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 375F.

Cream the softened butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Add the egg and vanilla to the creamed butter and sugar. Blend the ingredients well.

Mix the dry ingredients in another mixing bowl. Add this dry mixture to the wet mixture. Blend it well. You have dough!

Chil the dough for (at least) 15 minutes, and then rool and cut the dough. Place the dough on the greased cookie sheets.

Bake for 8-10 minutes.

Allow the baked cookies to cool before decorating or eating them.

Rose Dunnington, The Greatest Cookie Book Ever

Birthday Bonanza: Thanks, Everybody!

It was a great three-day birthday extravaganza! (And I promise to tell you all about it very soon.) I feel blessed and thankful, relaxed and re-energized, loved and lucky. With all that, older just gets better!

Birthday Bonanza: Continued . . . .

Early-morning calls. Gingerbread houses. Creamsicle sugar cookies. Church. Lunch. Shopping. Movie. Rain. Whatever we dream up.

It's another busy birthday day!

Birthday Bonanza: I'm the Birthday Jedi!

Late and lots to tell: the celebrations have continued into a second day, with a Star Wars party with Mama and the kids this afternoon and a birthday dinner with my adult friends at Bloodroot this evening.

Tomorrow promises more fun (and some rain), though probably of the low-key family kind.

Birthday Bonanza: Busy Day

We left home around 1:30 to spend the afternoon and evening at Old Sturbridge Village for their Candlelight Christmas festivities. We've just gotten home, at 10:30 p.m., having driven through a snow globe the whole way. Yep, our first real, though light, snow of the season. A double happy birthday to me! More tomorrow . . . .

Birthday Bonanza: Let the Festivities Begin!

The fun for my birthday has started with Mama taking the day off . . . .

Advent Activities: Gingerbread Houses

'Tis the season for making gingerbread houses, real or graham cracker. And yesterday the kids made both. Sis went to her second gingerbread house tea party, the event that occasioned so much sadness for Bud last year, this time for her Daisy troop. But I was prepared this time and supplied Bud, his friend, and their babysitter with gingerbread house kits and the same snacks the Daisies would have for their own party. Both were a success. I mean, how can you go wrong with candy, frosting, and rice krispie treats??

Advent Activities: Bonus Track

One of our activities, though not one we've selected yet, is carol singing by telephone to family and friends. Turns out, the kids are really excited about this one and have been practicing nightly. Right before bedtime, with the tree lit, we sing Christmas carols. Mama plays at the piano, I lead the singing, and the kids dance around with a selection of instruments. Sis prefers songs that mention Baby Jesus, as her enthrallment to him continues unabated (though, so she understands, we've been talking about our brand of Unitarian vs. Christianity, in the sense of all babies are special vs. Jesus was divine, humanity not needing salvation vs. Christ as savior, the inherent worth and dignity of people vs. Original Sin). Bud likes things with a beat. So they both like "Little Drummer Boy." I like soaring hymns ("O Holy Night" and "It Came Upon a Midnight Clear," a UU carol) and catchy tunes ("Winter Wonderland"), singing them both in what I call my campfire singing. Mama is trying to fancy up her piano playing by adding flourishes. We're not the von Trapps, or even the Brady Bunch, but it's fun. And we'll be ready for those caroling calls later this month.

Advent Activities: Reuse, Part 2

I forgot to mention earlier in my post on our "reuse" theme for today that we are also now reusing the empty clothespins on our Advent activity string: to hold all the holiday cards we get! It looks much more festive than blank areas on a string in the center of our mantle.

That Elf

We are the hosts of an Elf on the Shelf, which the kiddos remembered vividly from last year (thanks, Gommie!). But we're not so interested in the spying-to-report-back-to-Santa narrative. Instead, our Elf's job is to renew our Christmas spirit, which can sometimes lag in the chaos of preparations and flagging patience. So, each day, it moves. Not at night, as that occasions very early rising to search the house for its new position. Instead, it moves throughout the day, usually during school but sometimes during rest. A clue: the cat always seems to meow when the elf is about. And it is that which occasions the mad dash in search of the new hiding place. "It" because last year it was "Amy Tango" something; this year, it's "Shaun," after the sheep, a funny British claymation import. Of course, other people warn the kids that the Elf will tell Santa how they behave. But, I tell them that Santa knows and, because no one is perfect, he doesn't expect perfect: good is good enough.

B-I-N-G-O

It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. It was Family Game Night at school.

And even though we have been hosting our own family game night at home for weeks now, with a particular focus on bonhommie and good sportsmanship, it didn't go particularly well.

Sis was bored silly and gave up playing halfway through the first game. Instead, we visited the bake sale four times and made snowflake ornaments and bell bracelets at the activity table.

Just the opposite was Bud, so intent on playing that he would try to will numbers to transform so he could cross off another one. But he didn't win game one or game two or game three. Nor did we win any of the raffles announced in between, though his little classmate across from us did. He was deep into game four, ignoring baked good and craft enticements, trying to fill out the entire card in a blackout game.

And he didn't win that either, though he was only 3 numbers off when 5 winners shouted "Bingo!" He was devastated. He wanted it so badly. He tried so hard, as hard as you can at bingo. And he wanted something to make him feel better. "May I have a treat because I didn't win please?" he begged as we left to meet our babysitter (for it was office-party night). I knew that a treat wouldn't actually make it better, really.

But we gave him one anyway, in a way, the next morning, by giving in to repeated requests to be allowed to watch How to Train Your Dragon. Sis and particularly Bud were thrilled and crawled into bed with us to watch what is now their second favorite film, after the original Star Wars trilogy (which I'll count as one film because they see them as a continuum), but before Brother Bear, Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro, and Kiki's Delivery Service, etc.

And so How to Train Your Dragon--with its hero's tale (Sis really likes heroes right now), it's endearing dragons (Toothless is just a big flying black cat!), and action sequences that make you feel like you are flying--made it all better.

Bingo.

Advent Activities: Reuse!

Today is reuse day in our Advent cycle: we started making a whole holiday village out of discarded boxes--happy meal, drink cartons, tea bag boxes, a box of Belgian chocolates, whatever I had in the house (yes, I know, this option wasn't on my original list; we're adapting it as we go). I made a New England salt box, complete with wreath on the door and candles in the window, out of an empty coffee pod box. Bud decorated the chocolate candy box as a gingerbread house. Sis is still working on how to decorate her happy-meal-turned-church. Still to come, we're hoping Mama takes her turn at turning a creamer cartoon into a lighthouse!

New and Improved

I'm trying a new recipe today, one that I'm sorta making up as I go along: Curried Apple Lentil Soup. The idea came from one of those gift jar mixes featured in a Christmas magazine. I was going to get dried apple and onion until Mama gently suggested I just use fresh. Ah, right. Since it's not a gift, I can. And I'm also making it in the slow cooker to make it that much easier. So, while the kids eat meatloaf with the babysitter tonight, here's what I'll be having (I'll update you on how it is):

Update: I added 2 cups of water and probably 1+ teaspoon more salt. I thought it was delicious.

Curried Apple Lentil Soup

5 cups water

1 cup brown lentils

1 cup red lentils

1 apple, peeled and chopped

1 small onion, chopped

1 tablespoon sweet curry powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon salt

Combine in 3-4 quart slow cooker and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours.

Mommy Hungry

Advent Activities: Guess Who's Coming For Dinner

You might think we might take today to catch up with some abandoned activities, to make cat treats or teacher treats. But no, we're having a dinner guest: new babysitter neighbor MJ (yes, all our babysitters are named M! So I've added a J for clarity). The kids have wanted her to stay every Tuesday for weeks and I understand from her mom that she would love to stay. Especially when we have meatloaf. So, we're having meatloaf and potatoes and vegetables and maybe rolls and dessert, the last that she helps make with the kids. We might make woven paper placemats or napkin rings, too.

And, if there's time, we'll do some of those abandoned activities.

Advent Activities: A Jedi Christmas

Monday's Advent activity didn't go as planned. We were supposed to "make treats for teachers and others," for which I'd bought tins, pans, bags, and ingredients. But the kids never got into it.

Instead, we had a Jedi Christmas.

The kids spent the better part of the afternoon wrapping existing toys and books in blankets and such to stash under the tree. For Wicket and Obi-Wan, Luke and Leia, even Jabba and Vader. There was a new bow for Wicket, a belt and sword for Obi,"a ring of force for Luke," books on the galaxy for Leia, etc etc etc. And when all the presents were unwrapped, we started all over again.

So, I took the opportunity to practice another thing on our Advent list: how to receive a gift gracefully and gratefully, even one you might have or not like. All it takes is "thank you."

I imagine that Vader would have a different response, though.

Advent Activities: Twofer

On Sunday, we got two Advent activities for the price of one because we actually did one of the activities on our list before we even checked, "watch a holiday special like The Nutcracker, Emmett Otter, etc." We watched The Nutcracker on tv, Pacific Northwest's original dream-oriented interpretation. Mama had actually never seen the ballet, even though she grew up in the city of Balanchine's famous version. I'd seen it once, at the enormous Jones Hall in Houston, with Miss B, son C, and other friends. I think I still have the mini Nutcracker ornament to remember the magical day. This tv Nutcracker wasn't too magical, with settings and story so abstract that it needed voice-overs to explain it, not your typical beginner's ballet. And so the kids were turned off and instead begged to watch the Rockettes' version, with giant bear characters and dancing pandas. I liked it better too.

Then, our official Advent activity was "make treats for animal friends." I had a box mix and fish cookie cutter to make treats for our cats but we got too busy. Luckily, the church kids' sale had bird seed ornaments for sale. We bought one for each of us to hang in the yard. Though, truth be told, these were more for the squirrels, who were chomping on them in minutes.

And if the old wives' tale about fat squirrels presaging a hard winter, it's going to be very cold and snowy this year.

Going Bananas

I think you might have to be one of the 1.75 million people currently enrolled (in meetings or online) with Weight Watchers, or be an alum, to appreciate this near headline-making news: bananas are free!

Yep, as one blogger noted, it's "Weight Watchers meets Michael Pollan," with a new plan focused on--imagine this, from a company renowned for hawking its prepackaged food and for selling its copyrighted Points label to other food manufacturers--fresh fruits and vegetables, most of which are now "free."

This might sound simple or obvious or stupid to non-members (and most of the snarky and righteous commenters on the NYTimes article above), but previously one banana had the same value as a 100-calorie pack of Oreos. Now, for those of us interested in whole, local, seasonal, and/or organic real food, that was an easy choice most of the time, but Oreos call and bananas don't.

Except now, because I've been craving them. And oranges. And snap peas. Sure, these were "cheap" foods before, and a better choice than chocolate or whatever, but I didn't get into this mess by always making sensible food choices, even as a vegetarian (in fact, it's easier to eat crap as a vegetarian sometimes. I mean, Fritos are meat-free!)

But now that my chocolate, pizza, hummus, peanut butter, whole Greek yogurt, homemade bread, etc. "cost" more than they used to, the rules of the psychological game (and isn't that the biggest piece?) have changed entirely.

Wish me (and those 1.75 million other people) luck! And be prepared for a national banana shortage . . . .

Advent Activity: Festival of No Lights

"Dinner by candlelight" was today's Advent activity. And it was a perfect one after a long, hectic day of multiple activities, including pulling out the decorations and putting up the tree. The kids ran back and forth placing and replacing all manner of holiday items, while Mama diligently worked on the tree (a new, pre-lit artificial one, a surprise purchase this year; our old one was about 13 years old and sloughing lead apparently and the cats can't have a real tree). Instrumental Christmas carols recorded by the musicians of Old Sturbridge Village played in the background.

In one of the holiday tubs was our punched tin lantern, also from Sturbridge Village, and it was this we lit for dinner. Sure, the microwave and stove lights glowed, as did the fridge when we opened it, but the overall effect was still a powerful one. The kids were mesmerized by the light flickering through the little holes and learned all new vocabulary for it--wick, flickering, embers. At first they couldn't see their food, non-traditional leftover Chinese for them, Italian pasta e lenticchie for me, all for Mama. But their eyes soon adjusted. And we talked the whole meal about what life would have been like a long time ago, for pilgrims and pioneers, from morning chores to midday suppers to stories by candlelight.

So, for bedtime stories, I dug up three books we happen to have about winter or Christmas in the olden days, Tomie DePaolo's Early American Christmas and two beginning readers based on Little House in the Big Woods. The first describes the bringing of Christmas traditions to a New England village by the newly-arrived German "Christmas Family," who make bayberry candles, bake gingerbread cookies, and decorate a tree. The second two relate Laura Ingalls Wilder's childhood in Wisconsin with big pictures and short text, specifically a party at her grandpa's house with food and fiddle music. I didn't have time to track down the chapter in Little House on the Prairie, I think, which relates how Mr. Edwards meets Santa on his trek to the Ingalls' and brings shiny tin cups, a candy stick, sugared cakes, and penny. That, along with the opening chapter of Little Women ("'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!'") are my most vivid literary childhood memories of Christmas.

Maybe we can read those tomorrow night.

Advent Activities: Holly and Ivy

Actually, we didn't use holly or ivy, but we did make a wreath out of fresh greenery on Friday. Using a wreath core made out of sticks (bought from the store), we inserted branches of boxwood and tied on a big red ribbon. Of course, the branches point in all different directions and there are bare spots, but it still looks lovely on the front of the house.

Today

7:11 a.m. Bud wakes up, still smarting from not winning at school bingo the night before (more on that in a bit), and asks for a treat.

7:12 a.m. Mama puts How to Train Your Dragon in the DVD player, as both kids had been begging to see it.

8:45 a.m. I realize that I had lots to do and not much time to do it in.

8:59 a.m. I leave the house to drop off cookies and pillowcases (thanks Miss M.Q.! We'd been saving them for today and they sold like hotcakes!) for the church sale.

9:12 a.m. I head to my Weight Watchers meeting to hear all about the new "Points Plus" plan: fruits and most veg are free; I get more points; pizza and other things "cost" more. It'll be invigorating.

9:29 a.m. Mama and the kids leave the house for kung fu.

9:49 a.m. I tempt Mama Teacher to go to the bake sale with me while sitting in our WW meeting! No doubt cookies "cost" more now too.

10:01 a.m. We head for the bake sale. Lots of yummy goodies, including Mexican Chocolate Surprises, which were my favorites last year too.

10:30 a.m. I arrive at home, get the shoes Mama forgot, and the birthday card.

11:04 a.m. Mama and I arrive in the parking lot of the birthday place. I take Bud to the party; she takes Sis to the cookie sale. Sis had agreed to get one of each cookie for Bud, since we think the sale will run out before the party is over. It did.

12:40 Mama and Sis have done the bake sale and are eating Chinese for lunch. Bud's party is over. We rendezvous at the restaurant and swap again. She gives me lunch; I give her Bud. They're going shopping for my birthday. I'm going to a moms-only party (jewelry sale or something).

Whew.

It was like those families you read about with too much going on: eating on the run, swapping kids in parking lots, never altogether. I'm glad it isn't our usual Saturday morning. Though, I fear it might be increasingly more like this. Because everyone seems to be doing it. Let's hope resistance is not futile.

-=-=-=-=-=-

MEXICAN CHOCOLATE SURPRISES

Sift together: 1 1/2 cup flour

3/4 cup cocoa

` 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

pinch of blackpepper

pinch of cayenne pepper

Cream: 3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup sugar

Beat in: 1 egg

Mix creamed and dry ingredients. Form into 1 or 2 rolls 2" in diameter and roll in waxed paper. Freeze and then cut into 1/4" thick slices and place on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.

Note: I usually make a double recipe and measure 1/8 teaspoon each of the peppers.

(The Divine) Miss M

Same Old, Same Old

Yep, another December, another holiday office party. But not ho-hum at all:

• herb and cheese pinenut truffles
• red pepper truffles
• wild mushroom ravioli
• vegetarian edamame dumplings with lemon-sansho sauce
• thin crust pizza
• Belgian waffles with a). specoloos sauce (Gingerbread cookies) and b). Belgian chocolate and strawberries
• french fries with curry spice
• nachos with aged Gruyere
• butternut squash lasagna
• paella cake with fried artichoke

plus:

• sushi galore
• short ribs
• beef empanada
• grilled shrimp and chorizo
• nachos with Gruyere and crab
• Mumbai street style
• crabmeat samosa
• gingerale with pineapple and lime

Not gonna weigh in well tomorrow!

10 Dozen Goodies

I needed a large batch of cookies for the church bake sale, something easy and dependable, but not oatmeal-raisin or chocolate chip, because those wouldn't be special or enticing. I didn't have a recipe like that, but I do now:

Mary Baird's Christmas Cookies

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 eggs

4 oz. bitter chocolate (approximately 2/3 cup), melted and cooled

4 cups flour (KAF unbleached, of course)

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

3 1/2 cups (1 pound) walnuts or pecans, ground or chopped finely

Preheat oven to 325F.

Cream butter and sugar together until light. Beat in eggs. Melt chocolate and let it cool slightly before adding it to the butter/sugar mixture.

In separate bowl, combine flour, powder, and salt. Add this flour mixture to wet ingredients in three stages, mixing thoroughly after each.

Grind nutmeats in a blender or food processor, or chop them very finely. Stir them into dough.

Roll walnut-sized pieces into balls and place on greased (or lined) cookie sheet. (They do not need a lot of space as they don't really spread). Bake for about 13 minutes (or until set--they didn't really seem ever to brown).

After they have cooled, store them somewhere to "mature." (Apparently these are better after awhile).

Makes 7-8 dozen.

The King Arthur Flour 200th Anniversary Cookbook

Advent Activities: Festival of Lights

With the beginning of Hanukkah last night, our Advent activity (yes, I get the irony) today is "learn about another winter holiday." I filled the little sock with blue and silver chocolates and presented a bag of activities including dreidels, a book Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat, and a box of latke mix for lunch. The kids were very excited about the chocolates, a few of which they ate for breakfast, and the game.

Intrigued by the idea of learning about different winter holidays, Sis asked, "Mom, what holiday do Christians celebrate in December? Maybe we should do that some year."

Maybe.

I guess that's both the joy and concern of being a Unitarian Universalist child: you get to learn about and celebrate lots of different holidays, but sometimes you get confused.

-=-=-=-=-=-

Update: The latkes were a surprise hit, considering that Bud doesn't like potatoes and Sis doesn't always like to eat new food. We downed an entire batch and are ready to make a second with Mama later this weekend. Also, of course, dreidels were fun. And Bud even invented a new song, "Spin the dreidel, spin the dreidel, spin the dreidel. Yum! Yum!"

-=-=-=-=-=-

Last Update: The played dreidels several times throughout the day, with Bud even taking the game over to a friend's house to play while we had Daisies. Upon coming home, he turned to me, "Mom, I'm glad you're Jewish because I like Hanukkah!"

Advent Activities: Deck the Deck

Our first Advent activity for this year was "make paper decorations for doors and windows." Perfect for the rainy, blustery, wintry day we had yesterday. Last year we painted trees, wreaths, and Santa Claus directly on the glass (but that is cold to clean up with water in January!). This year, we cut gingerbread people and houses out of poster board and brown paper bags. We're very big into gingerbread these days, eagerly anticipating the creation of lots of graham cracker gingerbread houses.

But our paper gingerbread creations took an unexpected turn: they became Jedi. Yep, everything must have a Star Wars component these days, which is both amusing and tiresome. I mean, I like the movie and encouraged the enthusiasm, but I was unprepared for the pervasiveness of it. But motherhood has encouraged (enforced!) my letting go of expectations and so there are Jedi gingerbread people and a green Yoda hanging on our doors and windows. It's festive in its way. And they loved it.

And that's what it's all about.

My Amazin' Babies

It's been a

week of "Mommy chooses the bedtime books." Which means, instead of reading yet more Arthur or Bearnstain Bears or Star Wars books, I choose what we haven't read in awhile and/or what I like to read. I like books with pleasing picture, flowing text, and thoughtful or interesting narrative.

Last night, I chose board books from their early and mid babyhood, nostalgia on my part as I've been thinking a lot on those baby days since the birth of Cousin Hungry. So I read I Kissed the Baby, a striking black-and-white board book with a sing-song narrative (at least the way I read it), Star Baby (even more poetic, as it walks you through Baby's day), and The Napping House, which repetitive refrain and amusing pictures soothes. The kids liked hearing the stories, not remembering any of them, but especially liked that I pointed out that I Kissed the Baby was missing a corner--where they had eaten it! They thought that was hilarious.

And then Bud read it back to me.

Yep, read. Sure, it was fresh in his mind because I'd just read it and it is easy, but he spotted his sight words and sounded out several of the others. And then he even mimicked my vocal patterns! I was so proud, so amazed. Then, Sis picked up The Napping House, a harder book with more text, and also started to read it. Again, not all of it, and surely some of it from memory, but I could hear the difference: she was reading. And they both kept at it and we delayed bedtime so we could all bask in this new-found, hard won accomplishment.

And then I went out in the hallway and cried. Tears of pride, joy, maybe even more nostalgia . . . .

And of course I kissed the babies! Even though they clearly aren't babies anymore.