On Baking and Feeling Stressed

Ugh. I feel like I'm one of those people who doesn't blog anymore! (Yeah, you know who you are.) I had all of these wonderful plans to use my evenings to get caught up on the blog after my class ended on December 9th. Then, with less than 24 hours of freedom under my belt, I found out that I had to get to the end of my "Academic Year" (a.k.a. take another class) before I could actually get a break from the prison that I call school. ( I was pretty down about it for a few days but don't worry--I am dealing.) So much for the "extra time" that I was counting on for holiday baking, card making, and blog updating. Cards are out the window and my usual marathon baking for this time of year has been reduced to a few of Craig's lucky co-workers. Good thing we're new to this area and I can start off with the bar reeeally low. Alas, my two-week break on the horizon has me hanging on and thinking of happier times.

But speaking of baking...

Two hours for tonight's mini-marathon of fudge,

peanut butter bars, and Muddy Buddies.

The diabetic coma should come around in half that time.

I'm not sure how long it took to clean up.

My aching back and feet are 

telling me that I'm still doing it...

Not to advertise or anything, but is not this 

mountain of chocolatey, peanut buttery 

goodness one of the greatest things on earth? 

Chex "yes" or "no"

A Simple Equation

1 unlandscaped backyard + 1 incident of accidentally leaving the hose on + 1 curious two-year-old + 1 five-year-old ignoring the "don't go outside" warning = 1 sad, muddy Lexa and 2 messy, muddy shoes

Super Star

We got a note home that Julia was chosen as student of the month in her class for November. Of course, we were pleased as punch and went to the school assembly to cheer her on. Sadly, I forgot to bring the fog horn to blow when her name was called. So, our loud and embarrassing voices had to suffice. (Craig turned a few heads in J's class with his sheer volume/enthusiasm.)

The girls' school holds their assemblies outside in the courtyard. As everyone sat there "freezing" in the chilly 50 degree morning, the Principal made a comment about the "brutal Arizona winters" that we are all subjected to. Amen to that. My long sleeve tee was barely enough to keep me from getting frostbite!

waiting to get started

shivering in her skirt and half-sleeves

J was so cold that her nice teacher offered to give
 up her own jacket. This might have made me feel
like a bad mom, except that I had brought Julia a jacket
which she opted not to wear because she doesn't like it.

moment of glory

cute Savanna sitting with her class

J and her BFF

donuts and milk for the kids and their parents afterwards!

(Forget those chalky sprinkles. It's all about the glazed.)

So proud of our little Bean. Can't wait for her to get some more awards so we can get free donuts again!

We Three Trees

Well, one solid advantage of (still!) having no window coverings in our front room is that our beautiful Christmas tree is multiplied by three. Can't believe Christmas is already around the corner. Especially when we still have highs in the 80s. (Not the decade, mind you...the temperature.) Good thing that isn't keeping me from drinking hot Pero and listening to Christmas music everyday.

Wednesday Wonderings

*Think the real purpose of a smartphone might actually be to make me go crazy. Can't seem to compose a message using swype without having to correct half the words. Magically, infuriatingly, "Work" becomes "quirk," "let" becomes "key," and "talk" becomes "gadfly," along with some other unmentionables that had me laughing so hard right before bed last night that I couldn't fall asleep. And really, folks? Is gadfly even a word?

*Supposed to be reading "Lord Jim" by Conrad this week for my English class. Good thing it's not called "Lord Jim Goes to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" or I might not get through it. (Well, okay, I might not get through it anyway.)

*Exactly what will I complain about when I finish school? I'll have to think of something.

*Christmas shopping is so far from done that it's not even funny

*Seems as though the kids like to complain about dinner even when we're having something they like: "What's wrong with these mashed potatoes? Why are they so watery?"

*Thanksgiving, plus Thanksgivings 2 and 3 (in which many leftovers were consumed) has me done with turkey until next November.

*One day I am going to see about getting a research grant to study the unexplainable magnetic forces with which my children's clothing is drawn to the bathroom floor. I mean, surely there must be a scientific explanation. I'll be sure to publish my findings.

*Started "James and the Giant Peach" with Julia tonight. I sure hope I don't find out halfway through that Roald Dahl was a woman...

*If this is what we call "after school snacks" at our house, I really shouldn't wonder about the kids not eating dinner, should I?

*"Thou shalt not covet" does not apply to a fancy beach cruiser stored in the garage for a neighbor, right??

That's it for now. By the way, gadfly apparently means nuisance, pest, or meddler. Cannot wait to incorporate that one into my vocabulary. Watch for it, folks.