Baking by the numbers

49 sugar cookies in various shapes including wreath, gingerbread man, Christmas tree, candy cane, bell, star  and mitten.

48 peppermint brownie bites

44 chocolate dipped vanilla wafer caramel sandwiches

42 peppermint kisses

30 pieces of toffee crisp

22 chocolate dipped pretzels with sprinkles

24 toffee bars

6 mini loaves of holiday pumpkin apple bread

1 large loaf of holiday pumpkin apple bread

3 trips to the grocery store 

3 items borrowed from 2 different neighbors (apple juice, Crisco shortening, green food coloring) 

2 number of times brown sugar and butter overflowed onto stove making a sticky mess

1 lesson learned: if you mix red and a drop of blue food coloring you get a 1984 mauve color

Related:

2010 Baking by the numbers

Why don't boys understand clothes?

In the last two days, I have had these conversations with the males in my house.

Conversation with my 8 year old:

Me: "Try these new clothes I bought you."

8 yo: "Do I have to? I don't need any new clothes."

Me: "Honey, you don't have enough clothes, and we don't wear dirty clothes."

He agrees after more grumbling, except then says things like this:

"These pants are too loud."

"These pants are too long and get caught in my shoes."

"These pants are too short and go up my bottom."

"These pants are too loose and go up and down when I run."

"This shirt's sleeves are too short. See how when I raise my arms above my head the sleeves go down my arms?"

"I don't like the stripe on here."

"This tag really sticks me."

Me: "Fine. I don't care what you wear to school as long as it doesn't stink and does not have stains on it...so just pick something out."

Conversation with my 9 year old:

Me: "Did you get that shirt out of the dirty clothes?"

9 yo: "Yes."

Me: "Why don't you wear a clean shirt?"
9 yo: "I don't have any. They are all short sleeved."

Me, after looking in his closet and finding five very cute striped long sleeved t-shirts, four of which would match his grey athletic pants very nicely: "You have five long sleeved CLEAN t-shirts in your closet."

9 yo: "Those are NICE shirts...they don't have anything 'cool' on them."

Me: "Fine. I don't care what you wear to school as long as it doesn't stink and does not have stains on it...so just pick something out."

Conversation with my husband:

Him: "Does this jacket go with these pants?"

Me, eyeing the garment in question: "How long have you had that?"

Him: "I haven't worn it in probably five years..."

Me: "No. How long have you HAD it?"
Him: "Oh, at least 10 years...but does it go? What?"

Me: "It doesn't look right...does it even still fit?"

Him, turning in the mirror: "Well, yeah...see?"
Me: "Um...no. What do you usually wear with those pants?"

Him: "They have a jacket that goes with them."

Me, bewildered: "Why don't you just wear that?"

Him: "I don't know, I think the jacket is at work. So no to this jacket?"
Me: "You are not wearing that."

Him, sighing: "Well, can I still wear this tie?"

Me: "No."

Him, big sigh. "Well then you have to pick out a tie!"

Then after a brief pause..."so this (holding the jacket from which I think is from the early '90s) goes in the give-a-way pile?"

Related:

January 28, 2010: Pick Your Battles

Wild animals

We always forget what fun it is to herd wild animals around during the holidays. 

Our original plan was to go to the zoo. We decided against it.

Better to let them run loose so they can dig, jump, climb, and play in the water.

 

 

One person in this photo doesn't need to "get her wiggles out."

We are thankful for: trash cans, Apple products, carrots and more.

Every Thanksgiving, guests at our Thanksgiving meal write down what they are thankful for. 

At the end of the meal we read them out loud and try and guess who wrote them.

This year, we are thankful for...

• my family and that I live in the U.S.
• this Thanksgiving day...this moment...for this time today.
• warm hearts and homes, and for family - those before and now.
• the new head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs next year.
• family, traditions and...I guess...Larry.
• Legos, mashed potatoes with gravy, Buddy the cat, mom and dad, oma and papa, the Wii, my cosons (cousins) and food.
• boys that keep me entertained, even if all they talk about is soccer and Jedi Knights.
• my family, for modern conveniences (like indoor toilets) and for coffee.
• time spent with friends and family.
• trash cans, toilets, toilet paper and my beautiful lovely wife.
• Star Wars, tomatotes (tomatoes), carrots, glassas (glasses) and my life.
• a paycheck, family, Apple "products," TBD (to be determined).

Related:

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2008

Thanksgiving 2007

2nd Grade Music Program

"On With The Show" featured tunes from favorites musicals like The Sound of Music, The Muppet Movie, Wizard of Oz, Annie Get Your Gun and more.

In the first segment, Zach is the first one speaking. His friend Cooper is the other 2nd grader.

On the stage, Zach is standing on the first row, second from the right.

During the crocodile song, Zach is the second boy from the right in the front row.

Please excuse the amateur quality of this video.