melting chocolate November 25, 2008

I am going to make pilgrim hat cookies tomorrow and I need some help.  I am really bad at melting chocolate.  The cookies are made by turning a fudge striped cookie upside down and taking a chocolate dipped marshmallow and sticking it on top of the cookie.  I always have a hard time melting the chocolate to dip the marshmallow.  I know it should be easy, but it is like making sweet tea to me- simple directions,but never turns out for me.  So please leave a comment about how you melt chocolate to dip goodies in.  With the holiday season here, I am going to need this skill!

Thanks!

the freezer is full! November 23, 2008

Today, three friends and I cooked to fill up our freezers.  I have been doing freezer cooking for almost three years.  It has been a lifesaver in so many ways.  The bulk buying makes it so much cheaper, the shared cooking makes it much more fun, and the prepared meals make dinner time much less stressful.  This time our recipes included chalupa grande, taco soup, chicken tortilla soup, white chicken chili, beef stroganoff, chicken quesadillas, low fat pizza casserole, and cheesy chicken casserole. 

If you’ve done freezer cooking and have a good recipe to share, let me know! We are always gathering more ideas for the next time we cook.

Santa Claus is coming to town… November 20, 2008

Or at least visited a couple of weeks ago at the Botanical Gardens.

The Zellner girls easily visited with Saint Nick.

Cord made a quick visit.

Lucy had her first photo with Santa and I think she asked him for more sleep and no crying in the house-wait a minute, that was my list.

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Galaxy of Lights November 18, 2008

Last year, we drove through the Galaxy of Lights at the Huntsville Botanical Garden and had a great time.  This year we enjoyed the walking tour.  We arrived and the girls had their faces painted.

Then we walked the tour of lights with a wagon AND a double stroller!  The kids spent the time running, walking, riding, eating, laughing and crying- isn’t that the way it always is?

Half way through, the garden staff served cookies and hot chocolate.

This is about the time that Cord decided to stop riding and to start running!  It got a little busier at this point.

This is what Lucy did the whole trip.  Thank goodness.  We had one less to keep up with.

She woke up for a photo op! At the end of the tour was Santa! I’ll post those tomorrow.

Election Day play November 15, 2008

The day before the election, Olivia’s class did a play about the election process and what it takes to be a great president.  I loved the hats and decorations her teacher used.  The night before was one of those funny moments when you realize you need two dozen red, white, and blue cupcakes to take to school in the morning! The kids took a poll in class about what they would do with 20 minutes of extra free time.  They cast a ballot for what kind of class fish they wanted by going inside a curtain to mark their ballots (i think guppies won). All the details were so interactive and authentic.  Great Job Mrs Washam and Mrs Mathewson!

Photo fun contest November 13, 2008

Two of my friends have this contest posted on their blogs.  I have never done this before, but when I saw the topic, I knew I had a good photo to submit.  If you would like information about the contest, click here.

This contest is about celebrating our families through our FUN with FOOD photos. The winner will receive a $500.00 grocery card for a grocery chain in their area.

The photos can be anything to do with food – kids with food, animals with food, you with food – whatever you can dream up.  Just have fun!

So here is my photo:

Pudding thief…

Let’s hope that very messy, bad day ends up winning us $500.00 in groceries.

Veterans’ Day November 12, 2008

We celebrated Veterans’ Day by celebrating some veterans that we know- grandfathers.  Eric was out of town for the day, so I took the kids to see my grandparents in Birmingham.  The girls made cards that said things like,”I like the military.  Thank you.” or “To all the people of my military, I like you.”  We gave those to my dad and my grandad and listened to some stories and facts about their time in the service. The girls won candy if they could tell me facts that they learned from what they heard.  My grandfather, Popo, put on his military uniform and let the girls wear his boots.  We had a parade in the house.  Olivia played the recorder, Emma held Popo’s military award, and they all marched around the house.  Babe, my grandmother, treated us all to McDonald’s and we even got to stay and play on the playground

the girls with Popo in his uniform.

Wearing Popo’s boots.

Cord’s boots and Popo’s boots: 88 years of learning to go to fill those shoes.

the parade begins..

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Cord pulling Popo along.

Babe in the back of my van taking us to McD’s.  Look how happy the girls are.

I am truly grateful for all the men and women who have served in our military and provided the freedoms that I enjoy every day,  Thank you!

in need of grace November 10, 2008

Today is one of those days.  Actually, last night was one of those nights! Cord was up from 11:00- 3:30 am.  He was acting like he had just taken a nap and was as silly and playful as if it were daytime.  In the middle of that, Lucy woke up for a 1:30 am feeding.  After getting Cord to rest at 3:30, Lucy woke up for another feeding at 5:30.  Then the kids had to get ready for school at 7.  Exhausting.

But I was not going to let Cord ruin my day that I had planned.  I hauled the two babies off to the Wellness Center to get in some yoga.  I mean, don’t I need that after a night like that one? In the middle of class, the childcare came and got me because Lucy was wailing.  It is a little loud at the childcare center and there was no way she was going to take a nap, which she very much needed.

So I was thwarted again.  I packed them both up- while they wailed all the way out the door and to the car.

This is one of those days. I need to give up my plans and survive this day.  No expectations will lead to a better atmosphere for all of us.  But, if you think of it, lift up a little prayer for the zellner babies and their mom who needs a lot of patience. thanks.

Weight Watchers, here I come… November 9, 2008

As some of you know, I started taking off this “baby weight” a few months ago by using LA Weightloss.  I was having success and loving life, when the LA Weightloss center CLOSED its doors.  Since then, I have been pushing along by myself.  It is soo much harder for me to go it alone, so this morning I headed to Weight Watchers to find that much needed accountability. 

I have always loved the start of school, and this morning felt like I was beginning again.  New materials, new information, and new goals and dates to put in my calendar   I love the new addition of the etools where I can track all my points and use their references on line.  very fun!

The only drawback is the worldview that often accompanies programs like this.  Today, we brainstormed ways that we could put ourselves first, or as her campaign-themed material said,”Vote for myself”. I know many of you will think ”how true” it is that women don’t value themselves or that they don’t do anything for themselves, but rather give all they have to their children, husbands, or others.   But the idea of putting myself first is contrary to what our Lord says is the best way to live life.  Looking out for myself first, putting myself at the center of my day, is the worst way for me to evaluate my experience.  Me-centeredness is what gets me into messes to begin with. 

I would rather like to think of being a good steward, than putting myself first.  God has given me this body, these children, this husband, and this life.  I am called to be a help meet to my husband, a mother to these children, and a part of people’s lives in our church and world.  How do I do that the best? only by being at my best.  How can I have the energy to do these things? only if I am a good steward of my body.  I have a call to handle the gifts that I have been given with care and I see taking the time for Weight Watchers as one of the ways to do that.

So be my accountability and challenge me to be all that I can for the glory of God.  I am going to need the encouragement along the way!

lucy’s first halloween November 3, 2008

I tried to be a little creative this year.  I knew I would be wearing Lucy in the baby bjorn during the tailgate our church hosted on Halloween.  I had nothing for her to wear, so I made her a butterfly costume.  I talked with some friends who were going to dress up too, so I tore my whole house apart trying to think up something to wear.  Finally, I settled on being the flower for my butterfly to rest on.  Here is a group shot of the brave adults who dressed up at the tailgate.  Good job moms!