Oh Fudge

I've been trying out this whole sugar free thing for the last several months.  And, really, it's not so bad.  Honestly, I'm not totally sugar free.  There is sugar EVERYWHERE.  Ketchup, barbecue sauce, etc.  But, for the most part, I do all right.  When my friend Charlotte (a clean eating vegan) gave me this recipe, I had my doubts.  But, this is AWESOME.  It got me through the holidays without feeling deprived.  It's rich and delicious and addicting.  And somehow I've lost 2 pounds eating it.  So, maybe it's heavenly, too.:)

Easy, Sugar Free Fudge

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup pure maple syrup (a glycemic index 26 points lower than sugar)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch of salt
4 tbsp (ish) evaporated milk (not in the original recipe - I added it to make it a little smoother)
any nuts/berries, etc you choose

Put everything in a blender and blend.  Spread on some parchment paper and freeze a few hours.  Enjoy.  (Keep cold since coconut oil melts at 74*)

Snow. Sigh.

Winter has been so mild thus far.  We even hit 50* or something close the other day.  When we usually hang out in the 20's this time of year, 50* is heaven.  Then yesterday came.  I can't complain since it was mostly rain.  But the snow did show up late afternoon-ish.  Tom's and my favorite weather forecast is "Rain in the valleys, snow in the mountains."  That way we don't have to worry about water shortages and the ski industry, but we don't have to deal with the headache of snow.  The snow yesterday was very wet and slushy so it melted quickly.  But even Gracie was trying to figure out how she felt about it. Snow.  Sigh.

Breakin' the Rules

Can you count the parenting mistakes I made when taking these pictures?  Let's see - rope around the neck, wooden gun that Grandad made years ago pointing straight at a person/camera, dirty face from a boy who can't bite from the front (teeth missing) so everything goes in the side - any more?   Maybe the polka dot bow with the plaid dress - verdict's still out on that decision.  The mom I was 13 years ago would be ashamed.  That's when I had a no guns rule, a clean face rule and dreams of a little girl who would have perfectly matched instead of eclectically matched.  And I still have the no ropes around the neck rule.  And the no pointing guns at people rule.  But Jake was so dang hilarious on Friday when he wanted a photo shoot.  I have 5 other pictures of him in different areas of the house with the same pose- staring straight at me.  "Now let's do the staiws!"  "Now on the couch!"  He was in heaven.  And in his mind he was a perfect shot.

Birthday Party

We survived.  That's about all I could ask for given the situation.  18 8-9 year old boys at our house for a birthday party in January.  Any other time we would have been cooped up- but with an unusually warm winter we were able to have a rip roaring soccer game.  It was a lot of fun for him.  And the kids were really good (for the most part).  It's interesting to realize that he's at an age where he and his friends can maintain control of themselves (for the most part - again).  Now it's over and I don't have to worry about another party until May.  Happy birthday, again, Scotty.  Love your guts.

Sleeping Beauty

Avery Anne isn't feeling so great tonight.  She's been sick off an on all week long.  During the day she's fine but at night she crashes.  Poor little thing. 

ps- I did put a blanket on her.:)

Tarzan

As I was working out in the basement this morning (lame, I know) I sent Ave off to the toy room to watch the VHS copy of Tarzan on the VCR (yes, I said VHS and VCR).  We just have a few tapes left to play on the little TV/VCR combo that resides mostly unused in the toy room.  As I heard "You'll Be in My Heart" wafting in from a couple rooms down my own heart kind of fluttered.  You know how some songs, movies, TV shows, etc. bring that deja vu feeling?  Tarzan is totally one of those for me.  I remember being pregnant with Garrett when it came out on video.  I wanted a little girl more than anything.  When I went to the ultrasound and found out he was a little boy, I was kind of devastated.  Tom surprised Ben and bought Tarzan (a surprise for me, too since he knew it would keep Ben occupied and I could rest).  I remember that night still nursing a little bit of hurt from that morning's news and watching Tarzan with Ben.  As I watched that little cartoon baby boy I was overwhelmed by the love I had for my boy, Ben.  I knew at that point that boy or girl, I would LOVE the guts out of my baby.

Ben watched Tarzan a thousand times.  Actually, as a two year old, he watched the first 45 minutes of Tarzan a thousand times.  As I remember it now, I almost tear up from that feeling of being a young mother.  I don't so much remember being overwhelmed, bored, annoyed or whatever else I felt day in and day out as I raised the little ones with a tight budget and tight space.  I just remember their little bodies and their big eyes that depended on me completely.  When people talk about their hearts hurting, soaring, etc. - I know exactly what it means.  I literally feel it in my heart.  I just don't know if I'm feeling joy, hurt or a little bit of both - or something I can't put my finger on.  But what ever it is, I just want time to freeze right where it is.

Brace Face

I've been back and forth on braces for Ben for a long time now.  His teeth aren't bad at all.  Each tooth is pretty much where it should be.  Just a bit skiddly-wompas.  The dentist said it wasn't necessary.  Tom said it wasn't necessary.  Ben didn't want them.  I saw my handsome boy and thought his smile needed some tweaking.  It was just hard to swallow the price tag if  I was the only one who thought he needed them.  So, I gave up.  As soon as I gave up he told me that he wanted straighter teeth.  I don't want him regretting not having braces all his life.  So, here we go.  Then, a couple of weeks ago the dentist told me Scott had some serious overcrowding.  I couldn't imagine that when I saw his smile full of gaps.  When the dentist showed me his teeth coming in on the roof of his mouth because there wasn't enough space, I got it.  So, in goes Scotty too.  Scott's work will be in 2 phases - 1 to separate and then to straighten in a few years.

Now I'm feeling a little bit poor with 2 kids in braces.  But, grateful that we have the resources to do them.  And hopeful that they take good care of their expensive smiles.:)

Sunday Game Day

Check it out- It's a cold, January Sunday and the kids are cooped up inside.  BUT, nobody is fighting.  Thank you, Tom, for corralling them and having a little Jenga fun.

ps- Jake knows it's wintertime but after his triumphant rookie basketball game yesterday, he hasn't wanted to take off his new jersey.

Happiest of Happy Birthdays, Scott!

Love ya, Kid!