Words

Normally, we have a family meeting this time of year and talk about what we want to accomplish in the upcoming year ... the dreaded resolutions.  I've been thinking about it and trying to come up with something new.  This is going to be a big year for us - a high school graduation, oldest child moving away to college - how to capture all of it and make it a meaningful activity.

I think I have an idea ..

Not a list of resolutions

Just one word

One word that reflects what you want for yourself in 2012.

YOUR WORD

YOUR FOCUS
YOUR HOPE


Words can hold great meaning.  
They can be powerful and serve as a catalyst for change.


So we are each going to pick a word.
I'm going to laminate each word and place it on the fridge.
We'll do some activities during the year to keep the focus and visibility high.
What words will we choose?

Really?

Just when you think you have heard it all ... along comes Mr. Rominger, attorney for Jerry Sandusky.  Rominger gave a interview that contained this little nugget of wisdom.

"Teaching a person to shower at the age of 12 or 14 would sound strange to some people, but actually people who work with troubled youth would tell you that there are a lot of juvenile delinquents or people who are dependent who have to be taught basic life skills, like how to put soap on your body."

Well, thank you Mr. Rominger for clearing that up.  Makes perfect sense now!  Sandusky wasn't doing anything inappropriate ... he was simply teaching these young boys how to soap up in the shower. 

Mr. Rominger will be clarifying that genius statement for the next few days ... Personally, I am counting on Seth Myers to properly handle this during SNL this weekend.  Come on Seth ... this is SCREAMING for coverage as a "REALLY with Seth"!



Bricks From Heaven

My oldest got this recipe from her teacher at church ... and the teenage girls quickly renamed them "Bricks From Heaven."  She took them to school this week and the teenage crowd is still asking for the recipe.  We didn't get a photo, but feel free to give them a try!

1 roll (16.5 oz) chocolate chip cookie dough

1 C. old fashioned quick oats

Dash salt

2/3 C. caramel Ice Cream Topping

5 T. flour

1 t. vanilla

3/4 C. chopped pecans (or walnuts)

1 C. semi-sweet baking chips (6 oz)

Heat oven to 350.  In large bowl, break up cookie dough.  Stir on knead in oats and salt.  Reserve 1/2 cup of the dough for topping.

In greased 9-inch square pan, press remaining dough mixture evenly in bottom to form crust.  Bake 10-12 minutes or until dough puffs and appears dry.

In small bowl, mix caramel topping, flour and vanilla until well  blended.  Sprinkle pecans and chocolate chips over crust.  Drizzle evenly with caramel mixture.  Crumble reserved 1/2 cup dough mixture over caramel.

Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool 10 minutes.  Run knife around sides of pan to loosen bars.  Cool completely.



New Friends

I met a great young family this past week.  You may have seen us on Facebook asking for costume donations.  The momma in this family is the founder of the Princess Alexa Foundation. 

It is my general personal belief that the word "trial" is widely overused ... there are daily challenges or aspects of life that just don't rise to the level of a trial.  For me, I will be ready to use that word if a day comes that we have to spend 2-4 years fighting leukemia with one of my girls.  I think I came pretty close the day my Dad died, and I was in Argentina ... you could say that the world came crashing down on that day and it took a few more days to get it back together.  However, that would be nothing in comparison to losing one of my girls.

I was so moved by this sweet young family.  They took the pain of losing a child and have translated it into a working non-profit.  They use the fun of playing dress-up to bring a little sunshine into the lives of some really sick kiddos ... and I'm sure the parents of these kiddos enjoy those few hours every bit as much.  What an amazing example of using your super powers for good!

It was so fun to get to know them just a little bit and we look forward to doing more with their foundation.



Mini-Mean Girls

Miss M came home from school a little upset ...

Apparently, a group of girls were making fun of her for not having boobs.

WAIT ... WHAT?????!!!!!

This is fourth grade!

I mean REALLY!!

Really ladies ... What? You think you have gigantic boobs!

Really!

Really ... you do recognize that a push up bra doesn't actually mean you have boobs!

Really!

  How dare one of you not maintain her social status by rocking a push up "C" cup!  The nerve of some girls!

I mean really!

Your mothers ought to be smacked for ...

Buying you a push up bra in the fourth grade!

Encouraging such an emphasis on your body at ten years old!

Not smacking you every time a snotty comment came out of your mouth so we could eliminate this charming behavior before you really start to hurt the feelings of others!

1000 Words

What's that saying ... A picture is worth a thousand words.

This is what is left of my beater after an unfortunate encounter with a glass bottle of corn syrup.

This so perfectly sums up the past two weeks of fun!

Eight airplanes in two weeks while trying to coordinate Christmas and school activities and general life has been a kick in the pants.

So last night when I pulled the beater off and set it on the counter, my entire house just roared with laughter!  Good news is ... they finally have something to add to this Christmas list they have been hounding me about.  :)