if you've ever wondered what...

...is outside my window: a grey, drizzly neighbourhood. It has been this way for the past week, with sporadic bursts of sunshine. Lots of snow last week, and then lots of sunshine for 3 days means brown, damp, squishy grass (if you want to call it that) and today it is grey and ready for rain at any time.

...I am thinking: that I cannot wait to go cuddle my new grand nephew. He is only 3 days old and I have not yet seen him or squeezed him.

...I am thankful for: Many, many things. I just have to remember to focus on those things and LOOK UP at all times rather than focusing on all that I don't have. I had a grumbly day on Friday where I wasn't grateful for a darn thing in my life and thought that everyone else was so much better off than me. It was not a good day. Thankfully it lasted for only a day.

...I'm making for dinner. I'm not - my hubby is cooking tonight be/c its the weekend, and I don't cook on weekends! That would be one item I am thankful for! He is making beer can chicken, cauliflower and left-over broccoli/rice casserole.

...I'm wearing: a better attitude (phew!), jeans and a grey sweater. I wear jeans a lot.

...what I had for lunch: Campbell's Gardenay Mushroom Soup. And some 7 Grain crackers from Kashi dipped in Chive and Onion cream cheese. I have to start making better choices SOON because I am NOT enjoying this spare tire that is growing at a rapid pace. Instead of making good food choices I choose to eat popcorn and cookies and cake. Something needs to click and soon.

...I'm creating: I have a project list a mile long and here are some of the things on it; a baby book for my niece, big giant letters for the girls' room, chore charts, bat goody bags for the girls' classmates. And it doesn't end there.

...I'm reading: Nothing right now - still haven't finished the book on Josephine B.

...what I'm hoping for: that my husband will come to the same conclusion as me regarding our house. To sell it, not to renovate it. I am done here and it is time to move on. Other than that, a bit more work, solid child care, kids that sleep and stop getting colds, more time to be creative, a flatter belly.

...is one of my favorite things: my morning chai and time to do bible study

...are my plans for the weekend: Since this weekend is gone and we had no plans (yay!) I'll tell you about next weekend - Friday I'm out for dinner w/ two Mom's from Gabrielle's school then Saturday afternoon/night 3 girlfriends are coming over to scrapbook and eat snacks. Fun!

...what Max would look like in pink sunglasses and picking his nose:


...what I learned in a PSE class:


A little photo montage of my 3 kids that I created for a key hook at our back door.

Have a lovely day!

its just that kind of day...

I don't know about you, but for me, cold, chilly (well icy cold really) weather makes me want to snuggle under a blanket, drink some hot tea and eat home made cookies. Which meant we had to make some cookies.

Gingersnaps. My fave.

Of course I had my two helpers there by my side. It went okay. Yep, just okay. And what I mean by that is that the actual cookie making experience went okay. The cookies are fabulous, it was the making of them that was a challenge.

Do you have girls in your house? Or siblings that bicker on occasion (that is said tongue in cheek because occasionally can be NON-STOP!)? Mine have days when they play fabulously and hearing them belly laugh together is just so awesome. But then there are other days when EVERY LITTLE THING is an issue. That's how it was during the cookie making...and several other times thru the day.

"She put in more stuff than me!" Said in a totally whiny voice and followed by a complete and utter melt down (hers not mine). That was just one instance of whining and complaining from today so...my blood pressure shot through the roof, I freaked more than I should have and it went far, far downhill from there. Her freak out (I'm not naming names) was really due to the fact that she was up way past her bedtime and clearly over-tired. My melt down was due to the fact that Max was sleeping and melt downs seem so much louder than normal when a baby is sleeping! Plus, Maxwell's naps have just sucked so bad this week that I was feeling pretty desperate for him to stay sleeping. Believe me, an hour nap is not long enough for a busy Mom of three.

Anyhow, we had our blow up, we all felt like poo because of it, we said our sorry's, kissed and hugged lots and then made cookies. And they are yummy. Here's the recipe if your interested and if you have a good one for chewy Gingersnaps send it my way...(also said tongue in cheek because no one reads my blog...I so funny). I would suggest you eliminate the temper tantrums and melt downs from this recipe. Enjoy!



Gingersnaps

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup shortening (I used butter)
1/4 cup molasses
1 egg
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1/4 cup white sugar

In a large mixing bowl place about HALF of the flour. Add the brown sugar, butter, molasses, egg, baking soda, ginger, cinnamon and cloves. Beat w/ an electric mixer on medium to high speed till thoroughly combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in remaining flour.

Shape dough into 1 inch balls. Roll balls in sugar to coat. Place balls 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake in a 375 degree oven for 8 to 10 minutes or till edges are set and tops are crackled. (I like mine soft and chewy so we baked for 8 minutes). Cool.