Winter Break 2011

Christopher had last week off school for winter break.  The week started off appropriately with about 3 inches of snow on Monday morning.   Here is Christopher's list of what he wanted to do during the week (after he did his chores....I'm a meany and still make them work on vacation) :) 



Christopher doesn't like to spell things wrong so he usually makes me help him with some words. 
But this time I told him just to do it how he thinks is best and he did great
(he did copy "piece" from the puzzle...that's a hard word).  Here is a translation of a few of them.
2. I want to play with legos
4. I want to sleepover at Shannon's house.
5.  I want to make cookies.

 Here is a picture of some of the fun things we did.  I think we checked off everything on his list.  We also had fun playing card games and even taking naps.

We checked out lots of books from the library.  One was a book of poems by Jack Prelutsky.  He writes funny poems for kids.  I did skip quite a few though cause I'm not into super silly or slightly gross things that my kids might repeat of copy.  But this poem actually made me laugh.  We read it like 5 times and laughed.

Hello! How are you? I am fine!
is all my dog will say,
he's probably repeated it
a thousand times today.
He doesn't bark his normal bark,
he doesn't even whine,
he only drones the same Hello!
How are you? I am fine!

Hello! How are you? I am fine!
his message doesn't change,
it's gotten quite monotonous,
and just a trifle strange.
Hello! How are you? I am fine!
it makes the neighbors stare,
they're unaware that yesterday
he ate my talking bear.

Jacob says "Cheese"

This has got to be the cutest thing ever....Jacob saying cheese (more like "eeees") and giving a cheesy grin.  Annie's fake cry at the end is pretty funny too. ;)

Valentine's = Sugar Overload

I think Valentine's Day is the sugariest holiday ever...at least in our family.  I think it even surpasses Halloween.  We are now on a limited sugar diet to try and cleanse ourselves of all the sugar we ate on V Day.  But it was fun.  Here are the highlights:



I started the tradition of making each of my love's a big yummy sugar cookie with their names on it.
  My decorating skills leave something to be desired, but they tasted really yummy.
I've posted the recipe at the end.

 

Decorating sugar cookies with friends.



Annie had a little too much fun with the frosting.



Michael really liked the m&m's



Valentine's Day at school is so much fun. 



My sister sent a fun package with something for each of the kids.
 This is one of the dresses she sent Annie...so cute.



Jacob likes his shirt too. :)

This is seriously the best sugar cookie recipe EVER!...well if you like soft sugar cookies.  If you like the crisp kind, this recipe isn't for you.  This recipe is a lot like the Grannie B cookies with the pink frosting.  I frost mine with homemade cream cheese frosting which I could eat straight out of the bowl if I wasn't worried my kids would see me and want to do the same thing.

Carolyn's Sugar Cookies (who was my mom's friend when I was little)

2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening (butter flavor is best)
4 eggs
3/4 c. whole milk (don't try to go less fat...whole milk is better) ;)
5 c. flour
1 1/2 t. cream of tartar
2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. vanilla
(you could add some almond extract if you want)

Cream the sugar and shortening in large bowl.  Add the eggs and vanilla.  In another bowl mix the dry ingredients together.  Alternately add dry mixture and milk to sugar mixture.  At this point the dough will still be really sticky.  You can add up to 2 more cups of flour until it is workable.  I usually add 1 more cup.  It will still be sticky but I try to add as little flour as possible, otherwise the cookies might be dry.  Plus you will need to add a little flour when rolling them out.
Roll out the dough and cut with cookie cutters.
Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes (I do 9 on the East coast)
Cool and frost.  They are even good plain.  Store in tupperware and they will stay super moist for days.

16 Months

Jacob will be 16 months old in a couple days.  He isn't talking much yet, but he sure lets you know when he wants something. :)  Everyone always tells me how much he looks like Michael so I had to go through pictures and see if it's true.  This is all 3 boys at 16 months (give a week or two).  They actually look really different to me...obviously brothers, but different.  Can you guess who's who?