You want that? Really?

My uncle gave the girls gift certificates to Toys R Us for Christmas, so yesterday, we went to use them. We walked around a while, telling Lauren that she did NOT have enough money to get Dora's Talking Kitchen (thank God!).

First Lauren saw a very large stuffed Nemo, which she carried around for a while until she saw the McDonald's Cash Register. After that, it was all over for her. Since she's gotten it home, it is far and away the thing she has played with the most. She's constantly taking our orders, and never takes off the visor. I'm concerned about future job choices . . .

Sarah walked around even longer. I thought she was going to go for a skateboard--she's asked for one before, and she loved her bike, her scooter, her (new) roller skates--but she walked right past them and finally settled on a gladiator/knight dress up set. Two swords, a small shield, a breastplate, and gauntlets. I've taken to calling her "Zena."

Merry Christmas, Every One!

Baklava Dissection

I made baklava last night; here's the rundown.

It tastes ok. Sarah gives it "a thousand thumbs up!" I'm a little more discriminating, heh. It's definitely a thousand times better than last year's. Still, the bottom is a little soggy, a little over-saturated in the syrup. I've eaten a little to much of it to really be objective, though : my taste buds are on overload. There's enough to take a plate to my Dad & Sharon's tonight, and another plate to Jeff's parents' tomorrow night. We'll see how it's received there. No torte this year.

I still think there's too much sugar in the filling. Next time I make it, I'll do five cups of mixed nuts (instead of just the almonds--and no toasting, because then the almonds at the edges would burn for sure) instead of four cups, and a scant cup of sugar instead of two cups (the recipes I'm looking at online don't have any sugar in the filling, hmmm). Also, I only used three sticks of butter instead of four, which seemed to work fine. I didn't have cardamom on hand, so I used cinnamon, nutmeg & a little ginger. Worked ok.

The hardest part was remembering how many layers of dough I'd put down. It's really hard to concentrate on that when the kids are running around and constantly talking. I ended up putting them to work keeping track of the layers. I still have a few sheets of phyllo left, though.

Next time I make it, I'll be more willing to tweak the recipe, having done it once on my own now.

Breathing Room

As of today, I am free. Free from German classes, computer classes, dance classes, Brownies, story time, and Sunday School. Free until January 2, when German starts again.

Oops, I forgot Sarah does have one more art class on Saturday, but that barely counts.

All this free time means I have lots of time to bake and sew. I'll need it!

Sarah got her Girl Scout cookie order form last night. This year, her personal goal is 250 boxes. Um. Hmm. Last year, she sold about 75 boxes, and that was overwhelming. I don't know how Troop Leaders deal with it! I'm hoping she gets lots of sales from church & cookie booths, so we don't have to walk around the neighborhood too much, although she wants to go out today. Yeah, that's not happening. Last year, my Dad took her down to where he used to work, but I don't know if he'll be able to do that again. Jeff's company frowns on bringing in fundraiser stuff from kids, so that's out.

Simplify My Life

In the interested of making my life easier, I've decided not to make Christmas dresses this year. I just don't have time. I'll still make pajamas, starting tonight. Luckily, we found some cute dresses at Kohl's for $40 for the two of them. If I'd made dresses, it would have been at least $30, possibly more, so I spent a little more money, but I'm saving a buttload of time.

I didn't make baklava this weekend, nor did we make stockings for the teacher gifts. The dollar store had cute tins, so we went that way instead. I might make baklava later this week, but if I do, I doubt I'll make Christmas Torte. That would definitely make things easier as well.

Taking Stock

OK, what's left to do?

I bought phyllo dough & almonds, so it looks like I will make another run at baklava. Here's hoping it turns out better than last year, and better than the macaroons.

I want to put sugar cookies in with the Sunday School Teacher goodies, so those need to be today or tomorrow.

I need to sew up the felt stocking for said goodies, which also needs to be done today or tomorrow. I'm hoping the girls can help. Just a basic blanket stitch around the outside, but we'll see how it goes. A whip stitch would probably be easier.

Still need to buy presents for most of Jeff's family. Also, I'm picking up some Godiva for my stepmom--how did I turn into my dad's personal shopper, I'd like to know?

Lauren is constantly asking if we can make gingerbread cookies & a gingerbread house, and "wrap presents for me."

Cards go out today.

Pajamas, which I will probably start on Sunday. I'm still trying to decide if I want to put lace on the collar & cuffs. Since it's a plaid, the lace would "girl it up" a bit, and they'd both like that, but I worry that lace gets itchy at the wrists & ankles. So, don't know on that yet.

A Bomb

Not to be confused with "the bomb." My mom makes kick-butt macaroons, and the recipe only has three ingredients (14 oz coconut, a can of sweetened condensed milk, 1 tsp. vanilla) and three steps (mix all ingredients, spoon onto a baking sheet, bake 10 - 12 minutes at 350 degrees). They taste like the inside of a Mounds Bar, and most other recipes I've seen call for beaten egg whites, so I figured this one was a winner.

Except, not.

They taste fine--really, more like candy thanks to the sweetened condensed milk--but they spread badly. The coconut stayed in a heap like it was supposed to, but there was a "puddle" of tasty goo around the bottom of each one. So those will not be going in the Christmas bags this year.

Today is a stay at home day. No work for me, no classes for the kids, no shopping (I still have some left to do, but it will wait). We're going to jam on housework and schoolwork, and make more treats, including turtles. Those are so no-fail, the girls do most of it. Just take a small pretzel (I use the square ones), put a chocolate covered caramel on it (I couldn't find Rollo this year, so I'm trying Hershey's Treasures), and put into a warm oven so it gets soft. Push a pecan half into the top so that it squished down a bit, then let cool. Yuuuuuuuuuum.

Library: check. In addition to the books I always get books for Sarah to quiz on at Book Adventure, she found three books about space exploration. They all look to be written in the 70's, and are at least junior high level reading. I'm sure she'll look at the pictures, but will ignore the words. I also got Curly Girl, about dealing with curly hair. I only glanced through it, but it already looks interesting. There are many anecdotes in the "I hated my hair and tried to straighten it, but now that I let it be curly, I love it" family. Yeah, I get it. Her hair is awesome, and I'm not going to mess with it, but I would like to be able to deal with it better, maybe even make it curl more. The most interesting thing so far is that the author recommends never using shampoo. I have yet to find what to use instead, though. I'm looking forward to reading the rest.

Macaroons: nope, because I'm out of parchment paper. I did make peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate and a few mint chocolate dipped Faux-reos, though. Macaroons & more of the mint dipped cookies are on the list for tonight.

Christmas cards: bought, and signed by Jeff. I need to get stamps, and get the girls to sign them before I add mine and get the addresses rolling.

Internet shopping: bought a puzzle for Jeff's mom, and cheap software for the kids. I still need to order a Coney Kit for Jeff's grandma & uncle in Florida, and some CDs for his dad.

Work: Have you ever had a coworker you wanted to throttle but couldn't because she's also a good friend? I know she's overwhelmed right now, and they have her juggling too much, but every time one of those balls falls, it seems to hit me on the head. I'm not mad, just frustrated. I'm once again looking at trying to find something else. Of course, all the stuff I see either requires skills or education I don't have, or pays about half as much as I'm making now. This job really is great in most aspects. It just isn't reliable.

Today is grocery shopping, and once Jeff's parents get here to babysit, I have a few more presents to look for before I go to work.

Today's Plan

Today's plan includes

• internet shopping
• macaroons
• library
• Christmas cards
• figuring out WTF is going on with work
  

We decorated the tree last night--Sarah can get ornaments about 3/4 of the way to the top!

Last Week's Silence

I really planned to keep posting every day, or almost every day. I have a lot going on, and I still have more homeschooling stuff to talk about. Last week's big project was the shepherd girls' costumes for church. Well, not such a big project. Skirts that are made from two pieces of fabric, with one seam and a drawstring waist, aren't a big deal, even if there are six of them. But of course I procrastinated, maybe because it wasn't' such a big thing, and I knew they'd go quickly once I got started. But every time I went to post last week, all I could think was, "I should be working on those skirts." So I didn't post.

I had a couple sewing machine issues, but they did finally get done, and the girls really liked them. I'm glad no one tripped, because I left them as long as possible and they did go down to their ankles. The play itself went really well--Sarah even got to solo on "Teen Angels are Teenage Fools." CUTE! Lauren got a little bored and fidgety, but did ok for the most part.

So for this week, I have shopping, baking, and pajama sewing to do, in addition to the regular life stuff. We're decorating the tree this afternoon.

My job drives me up a freaking wall. Again. Some more.

Oh, that's right.

No pajama work tomorrow. I forgot that I promised to make skirts for the shepherd girls in the Christmas play, which is next weekend. I got the fabric from the Sunday School director today, and measured all the girls. Since they're all different sizes (6 girls, ranging from a 24" waist to a 31" waist), and I don't want to worry about who has which skirt, I'm going to do drawstring waistbands.

I have to confess to being a little gratified that at least one of the girls was excited I was making the skirts (I'm going to try for some kind of scarf/collar/shawl thingy, too), because she liked Sarah & Lauren's Halloween costumes so much.

The pajama pattern I want to make isn't on sale until next weekend anyway, and I'll hopefully be able to find some fabric I really like then, too. I don't need to have the pajamas for my nieces & nephews done until New Year's, since that's when we usually get together, so that's easier. I don't know if I'll do the tops and bottoms for all four of them. Last year, I made them pajama pants, got a t-shirt in a co-ordinating color, and made a pocket out of the pants fabric. This year, I might totally lose my mind and cut the letters of their names out of fabric and appliqué them onto shirts (not t-shirts, though--they keep their house really chilly). A lot of it will depend on what I find next week and how much it costs.

Lemon Poppy Seed Bread

Done.

No baking tomorrow--we're going to Jeff's parent's house for his brother's birthday.

Monday will be either buckeyes (but I need to buy more peanut butter), mint-chocolate oreos (need to buy faux-reos), "turtles" (need to buy Rollo candy and square pretzels), sugar cookies, more tartlets, or macaroons.

Baklava is still on the "maybe, because I'm a masochist" list.

I do need to hit the fabric store tomorrow, though, so sewing might take up all of Monday instead.

Off to a decent start

When Jeff asks how my day went, the happiest answer is usually "productive." I love that feeling of accomplishment.

Yesterday, I accomplished (i.e. bought):

• TV Land--Detroit for my Dad. Soupy Sales, Bozo the Clown, Bill Kennedy at the Movies, Sir Graves Ghastly--all classic tv figures from my youth. There are more, from his youth, that I don't recall right now, but he'll love it.
• Uncle John's Bathroom Reader Plunges into Michigan for Jeff. He likes local travel & trivia, and you don't have to read it in the bathroom!
• Potholder loom, loops & book for Sarah. Remember making those? Sarah loves crafty stuff, and the book shows you how to do other stuff with your finished potholder, like turn two of them into a purse.
  
• 4 pounds of milk chocolate, 1 pound of white chocolate, and 50 cellophane bags in which to seal the goodies once they're done. Once I buy the Not-reo cookies, I'll be able to go to town on those.
  
• A shredder for my stepmom, from my dad. I've now done most of my dad's shopping this year, and am glad I could.
  
• An apple peeler/corer/slicer for Jeff's cousin Kristi. When she and her husband came over to look at the album I was making them for their wedding present, they really liked the apple pie I made. My P/C/S makes short work of apples, and she thought it was cool, so I got her one. I'm going to attach some apple crisp topping in a jar, and maybe even some apples.
  
• A freezable/microwaveable pillow for my stepmom. She's been really hot at night. I was going to get her a Chillow, but I've heard mixed reviews. I'm hoping the one I got stays cold. I have something similar that I love to microwave and put at the foot of the bed when it's cold, and it's wonderful!
  
• A book of Sudoku (sp?) puzzles for my stepdad.
• Playdoh tote for Lauren. She adores play doh, and most of our stash has gotten old and hard.
  
• Princess clock for Lauren. Sarah has a clock with her name on it, and Lauren really wants a clock of her own. I was going to get her the same thing, but I saw this, and it's Cinderella, and includes a picture frame. It's a little smaller than the one I was planning to get, but I think she'll like it. Also, it's small enough for her to take into bed with her, which she'll love. It's also small enough for her to easily lose, I just realized.
  
• The first double batch of Pecan Tartlets. (This recipe is a little different from mine in that it uses less chopped pecans and puts a pecan half on top. I use about 3/4 cup broken pieces. The girls did that part of it this year.) I got an even 5 dozen, but there are always a few that fall apart when I take them out of the pan. I'll make at least one more batch. These are the cookies that people look forward to the most. When Lauren was about 9 months old, I just didn't have the energy to do much Christmas baking. I mentioned this to Jeff's family when we went over there, and when his Aunt saw the Tartlets, she said she was so glad to see those, because they were her favorites.

Jeff is home again today (he had yesterday off) because the weather is terrible, he feels terrible, and they're not doing that much at work. I'm planning to go to the post office to mail the great-grandparents' photo albums, and then go to the store for a few things, including lemons. Once I get those, I can get lemon poppy seed bread out of the way. And someone please talk me out of making baklava--I don't think it would travel well/be good in goodie bags, but I have a very strong urge to give it another try this year!

Agenda

The weather this past week has been amazing. It's been more like mid-October than the end of November. We've been in the 50's and low 60's. Since Jeff is home today, I was planning to go run around and get some Christmas errands done. But today it's raining and chillier (we're supposed to get snow this weekend, which thrills Sarah beyond words), and I'd rather stay home and finish my book. I'll go out eventually, but right now I think I'll put some butter and cream cheese out to soften, so I can make my first batch of Pecan Tarts.

Arr, Matey!

I thought of Pez when I saw this, but I think it's fun enough to post on my own. Captain Bogg & Salty's Pieces of 8ight video. If you can't see it there, it's on YouTube. I want a substitute like this!

Did you realize?

I knew Christmas was coming. It's kind of hard to miss. In spite of that, the realization that Christmas is just four weeks from yesterday sends me into a little bit of a tizzy. I have so much to do: baking, shopping, sewing. Nothing has been done so far except for two rather important tasks.

1. I know what I'm planning to get just about everyone.
2. The photo albums are done.

Other than that, I'm utterly screwed. Happy Holidays, all!

Homeschool: English/Reading

For Reading, we're using a site called Book Adventure. It has quizzes on different books, both fiction and nonfiction, and you get points. You can cash in the points for prizes at the site, but we are just coming up with our own prizes. We started doing this in May, and Sarah has read 101 books as of today. She's earned a badminton set, a snorkel, swim fins & mask, computer games, and a magazine subscription. The quizzes are weighted by age, and if you don't get enough questions right on the first try, you get a second chance. I like that there is already a substantial bank of quizzes, although sometimes I question how they level them. Some books seem like they should be considered higher, and some seem too high.

When we go to the library, I take a list of books that I know have quizzes, which requires a bit of work ahead of time. I maintain a list, print it out whenever we go, and add to it when I have time. I also maintain a list of all the books she's read, or I'd be getting the same things out again and again, because I can't keep track. We also get out a longer book for me to read to her at night. We've been doing a lot of the Ramona Quimby books, which she likes, but I don't think she realizes that someone else in this house will probably identify with Ramona more than she does, at least eventually.

For English, we're working on Nouns, Verbs, and Adjectives. We've been spending more time on these than I thought we would, because Sarah's having a hard time with them. We've recently added Common and Proper Nouns into the mix.

English Basics has a lot of good stuff, as does ABCTeach.com. Grammar Gorillas and Noun Dunk are good for practice. Naturally, IKnowThat.com also has lots of stuff.

I'm falling down on the job

by not posting every day lately. Unfortunately, today will continue that, because I just got out of the shower and the kids just woke up. In the next half hour, we have to eat, find clothes for church, get dressed, and get rolling. So--later, all!

So did I do it?

Did I go out shopping today? Hell, no!

When I was in college, my stepmom & I would go out for Black Friday, and we had a great time. We'd get up at 4 AM in order to get to the nearest mall by the time it opened at 6. Said mall was 60 miles away, via a 2-lane road (that's one lane in each direction), usually with a fair bit of snow. We'd go in and shop until lunch, then get McDonald's (a big treat, since that was also the closest McD's as well).

Now, though, it just isn't worth it. It's too cold, the lines are too long, it's too dull to go by myself, and I get too many good deals from shopping online. I'm still tempted sometimes ($1/yard flannel at JoAnn's!), but I haven't even bothered to go near a store the past few years.

I'm thankful . . .

that I have wonderful in-laws, who like taking my kids for sleepovers. :)