Friday, October 31, 2008
Dessert Night--Caramel Apples
We have dessert night every Wednesday. By starting a dessert night we have cut back on the amount sweets eaten, I have lost a bit of weight ('cause I'm not sneaking sweets, I can usually hold out until Wednesday, thank you very much) and, maybe most importantly, the whining about dessert has almost entirely stopped! Anyone who dares to ask "Can I have dessert?" on any night but Wednesday will almost surely be answered with a, "It's not Wednesday, stupid!" from one of his brothers before Mom or Dad can say anything. Sure it's not exactly polite, but that's a different battle entirely. One thing at a time.
Wednesday this week we had caramel apples in celebration of Halloween. Colin has been asking me to make caramel apples for a while now. I was very proud of myself when I found the recipe online and followed it to make some lovely looking apples. Colin was very upset because he couldn't eat a crunchy chewy caramel apple with a loose tooth wriggling around in his head. Dad came to the rescue and pulled the loose tooth ensuring a happy ending for all.
If you want to try making caramel apples you can do a google search for recipes like I did, or you can click here for the recipe I used. It wasn't nearly so hard as I thought it would be. The only special equipment you will need is a candy thermometer. I think I bought mine at Target years ago, but you can buy them at most grocery stores. The other thing to know is this recipe makes a LOT of caramel so have a buttered dish ready to pour the extra into. After it cools you can cut it into pieces and wrap it up in wax paper, or if you are waayyy more coordinated than me you could use the extra to make chocolate turtles. As I ate my caramel apple I kept thinking how good this caramel would be in a turtle. Ummmm Yummy! I will have to remember to buy pecans next time we have this for dessert.
Oh, you don't know what a chocolate turtle is? You need caramel, pecan halves, chocolate, and some buttered tinfoil. Arrange four pecan halves on the buttered tin foil to form an X. These are the turtles feet, then spoon a big blob of melted caramel onto to the middle of the X. This is the turtles body. Then pour melted chocolate over everything. Chocolate turtles. Ummm Yummmm! Maybe I will make them for Christmas, then I can eat 1 (dozen) and give the rest away while I can still button my pants.
Wednesday this week we had caramel apples in celebration of Halloween. Colin has been asking me to make caramel apples for a while now. I was very proud of myself when I found the recipe online and followed it to make some lovely looking apples. Colin was very upset because he couldn't eat a crunchy chewy caramel apple with a loose tooth wriggling around in his head. Dad came to the rescue and pulled the loose tooth ensuring a happy ending for all.
If you want to try making caramel apples you can do a google search for recipes like I did, or you can click here for the recipe I used. It wasn't nearly so hard as I thought it would be. The only special equipment you will need is a candy thermometer. I think I bought mine at Target years ago, but you can buy them at most grocery stores. The other thing to know is this recipe makes a LOT of caramel so have a buttered dish ready to pour the extra into. After it cools you can cut it into pieces and wrap it up in wax paper, or if you are waayyy more coordinated than me you could use the extra to make chocolate turtles. As I ate my caramel apple I kept thinking how good this caramel would be in a turtle. Ummmm Yummy! I will have to remember to buy pecans next time we have this for dessert.
Oh, you don't know what a chocolate turtle is? You need caramel, pecan halves, chocolate, and some buttered tinfoil. Arrange four pecan halves on the buttered tin foil to form an X. These are the turtles feet, then spoon a big blob of melted caramel onto to the middle of the X. This is the turtles body. Then pour melted chocolate over everything. Chocolate turtles. Ummm Yummmm! Maybe I will make them for Christmas, then I can eat 1 (dozen) and give the rest away while I can still button my pants.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Always Be Prepared
Colin lost his second tooth yesterday. At bed time he told Dad, "I want to put the tooth under my pillow for the tooth fairy."
Dave looked at him sadly and said, "We can't do that today, remember you need to write a letter for the tooth fairy before she will take your tooth.?"
Colin grinned and ran straight to his desk, open the drawer, and handed Dad a letter for the tooth fairy. Short sweet and to the point.
David told him how proud of him he was and agreed to go the special box for the tooth fairy. When he came down stairs he told me about the letter and how he wasn't sure when Colin had written the letter because we had been busy all evening. "He wrote that letter the day he realized he had a loose tooth. He showed it to me but I forgot to tell you about it." I told Dave.
Guess he is learning something from Cub Scouts, always be prepared!
Dave looked at him sadly and said, "We can't do that today, remember you need to write a letter for the tooth fairy before she will take your tooth.?"
Colin grinned and ran straight to his desk, open the drawer, and handed Dad a letter for the tooth fairy. Short sweet and to the point.
David told him how proud of him he was and agreed to go the special box for the tooth fairy. When he came down stairs he told me about the letter and how he wasn't sure when Colin had written the letter because we had been busy all evening. "He wrote that letter the day he realized he had a loose tooth. He showed it to me but I forgot to tell you about it." I told Dave.
Guess he is learning something from Cub Scouts, always be prepared!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Driving Solo
I did it! I finally drove solo in Germany. I had to pick up Alonzo at school, he stayed late for chess club. I know driving to pick up the kids doesn't sound all that impressive, but I really haven't driven much in the last couple of years. For the two years we lived in Jakarta we had a driver (Hi Haryono! We miss you!). I was really nervous driving. The road signs here are different from the states. The streets are made for teeny tiny Euro cars not big American mini-vans. Some things that would be completely illegal in the states are normal here, l like parking on the sidewalks. Other things that are fine back home are illegal here, like turning right on red. Don't try that here!
David has been coming home at lunch and driving to the school with me so that I could get used to driving again before the kids are in the car yelling and fighting. I feel for all those teens out there just learning to drive. Dave has been doing a great impression of my dad. You know, "Watch out....turn you blinker on...the light is changing....there is a woman in the crosswalk...", actually David has been very patient with me and I do appreciate that he hasn't screamed in terror, at least not out loud.
I made it to the school and back with out incident but it will probably be a while before I feel totally comfortable driving in Germany.
David has been coming home at lunch and driving to the school with me so that I could get used to driving again before the kids are in the car yelling and fighting. I feel for all those teens out there just learning to drive. Dave has been doing a great impression of my dad. You know, "Watch out....turn you blinker on...the light is changing....there is a woman in the crosswalk...", actually David has been very patient with me and I do appreciate that he hasn't screamed in terror, at least not out loud.
I made it to the school and back with out incident but it will probably be a while before I feel totally comfortable driving in Germany.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Peace and Quiet!
David is home, the fall break is finally over and all children are at school. I have THREE HOURS of quiet time ahead of me this morning. Yahoo! I am off to eat bonbons and read romance novels while taking a bubble bath. Bliss! Well nooooo....actually I am off to do the laundry, wash the breakfast dishes, make the bed, vacuum, pick up toys, set bread to rise for dinner (seriously honey wheat bread, jealous aren't ya?!) oh and try to find a home for all the arts and crafts the kids did over the last 2 weeks. Sigh! Hey, I get to listen to my ipod while I am working and I will actually be able to hear it because there will be nobody screaming. Bliss!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Overheard Conversations
Conversation between Alonzo and Colin:
"I speak Germanese!"
"Eins, zwei, drei, vier, funf, sechs! I speak Germanese too!"
Hmm...Germanese, I'm so proud!
"I speak Germanese!"
"Eins, zwei, drei, vier, funf, sechs! I speak Germanese too!"
Hmm...Germanese, I'm so proud!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Recycled Art Paper
This month's PSBN is an easy one. Give your kids used paper to draw on. My kids could happily go through an entire ream of paper in no time flat drawing, painting, folding, and cutting. Instead of crisp blank new paper and coloring books I give the kids junk mail, all those notices from school, old magazines, and any old paper I find laying around. A lot of these pieces of paper have only one printed side leaving a blank side to color and draw on. Even if both sides are used the paper can still be used for origami, and paper air planes. Some of the junk mail and magazines have bright colors that can be cut and glued to make a fun collage. Kid level recycling!
Monday, October 13, 2008
Ooops!
This morning is Cody's first day back to school after fall break. None of the little ones have to go back yet, they are on a different schedule. Makes things interesting.
Last night I reminded Cody to set his alarm and make sure everything was packed. Sometime early this morning I heard his alarm go off. I lay there listening until I was sure he was up and moving, then rolled over and went back to sleep. What a good mommy I am. A little while later I heard the front door close. I sat up and checked my clock. He shouldn't leave for an hour yet. Hmmm, must have been his bedroom door. Back to sleep. My alarm goes off at 7. I get up and head to the kitchen to make coffee. As I cross the living room the front door opens and in comes Cody. He looks both happy and irritated at the same time.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"I don't think school starts until tomorrow, there wasn't anyone at the bus stop, I could have slept in."
"Uh, the bus comes at 7:30 and it's only 7." Cody just stared at me in disbelief.
"No the bus comes at 6:30."
"The bus in Jakarta comes at 6:30, the bus in Frankfurt comes at 7:30." He looked so sad.
"Oh, guess that explains why it was so dark." Yes, yes it does. The next few minutes were punctuated by my laughing hysterically at the expression on his face and him bursting out with a whispered "It's not that funny!" He was whispering because as far as he was concerned the only thing that could make it worse would be having his brothers awake and pestering him.
Sorry Cody but I had to blog this, it is too funny not to share.
Last night I reminded Cody to set his alarm and make sure everything was packed. Sometime early this morning I heard his alarm go off. I lay there listening until I was sure he was up and moving, then rolled over and went back to sleep. What a good mommy I am. A little while later I heard the front door close. I sat up and checked my clock. He shouldn't leave for an hour yet. Hmmm, must have been his bedroom door. Back to sleep. My alarm goes off at 7. I get up and head to the kitchen to make coffee. As I cross the living room the front door opens and in comes Cody. He looks both happy and irritated at the same time.
"What are you doing?" I ask.
"I don't think school starts until tomorrow, there wasn't anyone at the bus stop, I could have slept in."
"Uh, the bus comes at 7:30 and it's only 7." Cody just stared at me in disbelief.
"No the bus comes at 6:30."
"The bus in Jakarta comes at 6:30, the bus in Frankfurt comes at 7:30." He looked so sad.
"Oh, guess that explains why it was so dark." Yes, yes it does. The next few minutes were punctuated by my laughing hysterically at the expression on his face and him bursting out with a whispered "It's not that funny!" He was whispering because as far as he was concerned the only thing that could make it worse would be having his brothers awake and pestering him.
Sorry Cody but I had to blog this, it is too funny not to share.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Warm Play-do
What to do with the kiddos when the weather isn't looking good for playtime outdoors? Make play-do! My kids prefer the homemade play-do to the store bought because it is softer. I prefer it because I make a big batch all one color. No more tears over mixed up colors. As an added bonus I know exactly what is in it, so if they eat it no big deal. I keep their play-do toys in a cheap plastic tool box so they are always ready to go. If you don't have play-do toys don't worry garlic presses, rolling pins, plastic cutlery, tortilla presses, and cookie cutters work perfectly. Kinda makes you wonder why we have so many play-do toys.
The preferred play-do around our house is Kool Aid play-do. It comes in bright colors and smells good too. The color pictured above is Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade. Try the old fashioned flavors (cherry, lime, grape) for the brightest colors.
Kool Aid Play-Do
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 package unsweetened Kool Aid
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
Mix flour. Kool Aid, salt and cream of tartar in a pot. Stir in water and vegetable oil until smooth. Cook over low heat stirring constantly until it forms a ball. It will get pretty hard to stir. Remove from heat and knead until smooth. Give the warm play-do to bored kids and watch the fun.
You can find this recipe and a whole bunch of others at teachnet.com.
For some reason cooking the play-do seems to keep the Kool Aid from staining hands and clothes. When it gets on the floor it sweeps up pretty easily. If it gets in your carpets, don't panic, or get it wet. Just pick up what you can and let the rest dry. When it is totally dry use a butter knife or spoon to scrape at it until it crumbles then vacuum it up! Have Fun!
The preferred play-do around our house is Kool Aid play-do. It comes in bright colors and smells good too. The color pictured above is Ice Blue Raspberry Lemonade. Try the old fashioned flavors (cherry, lime, grape) for the brightest colors.
Kool Aid Play-Do
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 package unsweetened Kool Aid
1/4 cup salt
2 tablespoons cream of tartar
1 cup water
Mix flour. Kool Aid, salt and cream of tartar in a pot. Stir in water and vegetable oil until smooth. Cook over low heat stirring constantly until it forms a ball. It will get pretty hard to stir. Remove from heat and knead until smooth. Give the warm play-do to bored kids and watch the fun.
You can find this recipe and a whole bunch of others at teachnet.com.
For some reason cooking the play-do seems to keep the Kool Aid from staining hands and clothes. When it gets on the floor it sweeps up pretty easily. If it gets in your carpets, don't panic, or get it wet. Just pick up what you can and let the rest dry. When it is totally dry use a butter knife or spoon to scrape at it until it crumbles then vacuum it up! Have Fun!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Poor David
David in in Munich for the next week. He is a bit sad to be missing the kids fall break but he is even more sad about the internet and TV situation. You see he was told there were English language channels on the TV at the hotel. There are! Three channels, all news, all the time. Guess he won't have to worry about missing out on the election news or the state of the economy. As for the wireless internet it is only available in the lounge downstairs and it costs 2.50 euro for 15 minutes. Guess he won't be spending much time web surfing. Poor David!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
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