My Kitchen Co-pilot

    My little guy LOVES, LOVES to be in the kitchen with me. Even if it's just to make a cup of coffee (speaking of which wait until you see my post tomorrow! Coffee.., yum!!) Since being home more with the little kiddos, T.W and I have been spending time in the kitchen while Bear is napping.
    Our recent project was ice-cream cone cupcakes! We had some extra ice-cream cones that I knew wouldn't make it to summer time and plenty of cake mix so we surrendered to a new project and it turned out to be a truly delish treat!

 

Cover a cupcake pan with foil and poke holes through the foil.

 

Place the ice-cream cones in the holes - they will stand up right.

 

Mix your cupcake mix (He chose red velvet - yummm)

 

Fill up the ice-cream cones

- we ended up filling most up just a smidgen too much.

As you can see in the picture below..,

Let them cool down - one helpful hint we found was if you poked a small hole in the bottom of the cone as it cooled the cones did not become soggy.

We used a toothpick to do this.

 

Since we didn't have any frosting I ended up using some chocolate melts.

I was very happy with using them because the chocolate cooled down so when they bumped into each other there wasn't frosting all over the place.

 

T.W had a blast decorating them

- even if his fingers turned reddish from the colored sugar crystals.

 

Bear even approved!!

 

Do you have a kitchen co-pilot too?

What is one of your favorite projects that you both create in the kitchen?

Kid Art!

    I love kid art. It doesn't even have to be my own kid's artwork. Kid art is super fun to look at and wonder what they were thinking or feeling. Some is systematic - like my son's artwork. Some is emotional - like my older daughter's artwork. Some is just scribbles - like my younger daughter's artwork. Whatever the art - its wonderful!!
    I like to frame some, fridge art some, tuck away some and even have scanned some to make an art picture book. What are some things you like to do with your kid's artwork??

Handprints are one of my favorite pieces of kidart!

Lulu's picture of her and her siblings

Tis the season for traditions

    I've been trying to move around more hoping that my body lets me bend and stretch the way I use to - you know - before the whole rib cartilage damage from my chiropractor. I think it's working or at least I am having the illusion its working. My hips are still awful when I try to bend down to pick something up (Side note to that! I cant believe how much I fumble when it's so much work to bend down. I swear I have been dropping more and more things.) And for some odd reason my ankles are still super sore when I walk or stretch them. I haven't figured out how that is related to my injury but I'm trying to deal with it.
    This weekend we'll be going to hunt for our Christmas tree. One of my favorite things to do during this holiday season. The past few years have been pretty mild weather wise and I'm still sad that the original place we use to go to closed down. But we are keeping this tradition going and my children are so excited.

Last year there was no snow

- pretty sure there will be snow this year!!

    We also have a story and brunch with Santa planned for the next weekend! I am totally excited for that! It's at the local mom & pop toy shop in town. When possible we support our local shops. I just can't wait! The kids are going to have such a great time. Bonus! There will only be 25 kids altogether there so it's a relatively intimate setting.

    What are some traditions you have during this time of year? What new ones are you trying out?

Feelin' 85

    This morning I laid in bed thinking of everything I have to do today - it was a long list. I have to finish up the kids pajama pants, design and print out tickets for their super special Polar Express train ride this weekend, go through papers, finish up a few dollies, make some masks, treat Lulu to a movie for a fantastic first Parent/Teacher conference, organize Christmas gifts, cut out Grampa's gift, the list went on.
    I could hear the kids moving about and knew I had to get up and moving. Only one problem - I was completely and utterly sore from neck to toe! I was laying on my belly and stretched out. My ankles screamed out in pain, my right side muscle tightened up and the intersection of my neck and shoulders burned in angst. My eyes welled up in tears. I took some breaths and coached myself away from crying. Chanting "Be strong" I tried to turn over on my side to begin my descent from the bed.
    That phrase "I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy" went through my mind as I used all my might to push my upper body up. You know what??!! I DO wish this pain upon my worst enemy - once I find one.
    I can't remember when I last felt like I could skip through a field of daisies and toss in a few cartwheels in there. I can't remember when I last felt like I could just toss my body into bed and curl up in a ball under the covers without having to ease in and carefully maneuver my body into a semi-comfortable position.
    As I tried to stand up and felt my upper body push downward into place all I could chant in my head is "This is BS.., this is BS" - and the BS did not stand for "Be Strong".
   After the whole doctor debacle I went through a few weeks ago, I am thankful that it is not kidney stones but knowing it is rib cartilage damage stinks too. I almost wished it had been a broken bone. It can take up to a year for cartilage to heal.
    So I suppose I can look at the glass half full. I'm already 6 months down, what's another 6 to go? Yes, my sanity and yes my will power are already stretched thin. I miss being able to jam all the kids in my car and haul them to the zoo for an afternoon outing or off to the park all on my own. It frustrates me that it takes double time to do something and it totally frustrates me that since the big move I still have boxes upon boxes of stuff to go through.
    Shy of winning the lotto and hiring a maid, an organizer and an Au par - I have to continue to push myself and chant "BS.. BS"  (And that time BS means "Be Strong")

Wordless Wednesday

Call it "going green"

We had to substitute the infamous carrot with a celery stalk

for the first snowman of the season.

The remaining thankfulness

    Before I forget and while I have some time I suppose I should wrap up that whole "things I am thankful for" list. I left off at number 19. (yikes! It's been that long since I've blogged?)

    20. Currently I am thankful of knowing my body pain is a result of a rib cartilage. Why am I thankful for that? Because now I know that heating it was causing me more harm than good. Sure it felt like heaven sitting in a warm bath with epsom salts but 20 minutes later I wanted to curl up and disappear. Although its not prime time to be favorable to ice my body, its feeling better.
   21. I hate to admit it but DVR and On Demand. There are few things I enjoy to watch which are more like guilty pleasures (ie. Vampire Diaries - yeah I'll admit it).
   22. So thankful for Burt's Bees Intense Hydration Night Cream. Lately the weather here has been cool to cold which is drying my skin out!! I've been slapping this cream on my face and it literally feels like smearing heaven on my skin.
   23. Saturdays! Before the Hubs used to work on Saturdays with an occasional Sunday so the kids and I had brief weekends with him. Now that he's been rocking his new job he's got his Saturdays with us!!
   24. My mum's afghan she gifted to us for our wedding shower. It is soft and uber warm. It is truly a piece that has been pulled out each and every Fall.
   25. I am thankful for my son's curiosity in the kitchen. Although sometimes it can waiver on that thin line of annoyance, he is the perfect little side kick when prepping delish foods. He was a great help making my real cranberry dressing (although we had to have the canned crap for my in-laws as I hear just how much they love it.., meh)
   26. Rainbow colored popsicle sticks in a tin can. I cant even begin to tell you just how much those simple little sticks have been keeping Baby Bear entertained. She carries them everywhere! Sometimes she doesn't even play with them. Sometimes she does. Either way, she loves them and dare if you will touch them. Helpful hint? Ask first.
   27. My daughter's Kindergarten teacher. She has made such a huge imprint on my daughter's schooling, she is amazing!
   28. (This one will be obvious merely for the day - Thanksgiving) Family. Through thick and thin, through love and hate - they are there.
   29. Today was Black Friday and I am thankful that I have been DONE with gift shopping/making. Although today I did manage to nab me a deal on a new desk. Well, the Hubs nabbed a deal on a desk for me.
   30. Last day! I am thankful for a the time I have taken to do this list of thankful things. Yes I wake up and start my day, sometimes set on cruise control throughout then bed. But little do  I realize the little things that are there to be thankful for.

    Phew! Ok I am all caught up and we have crossed the finish line!! I hope you enjoyed seeing things I am thankful for and have taken a few moments to be thankful for the things in your world.