Anna's school art show and Abigail's preschol visit morning

We've been so busy around here.  All good.  Spring sure is busy.  There seems to be a special event every day.  I find myself having to get super organized (on top of already being organized) at night.  Last night was Anna's school art show.  I have the portrait lens on, oops!

This morning I had such a fun morning with Abigail at her school.  It's the Week of the Young Child.  The teachers had different craft stations set up. 

 We decorated a tree branch for Easter. 

We painted coffee filters in beautiful colors which turned out to be flowers.

Planted sunflower seeds and grass haircut men.

Fun finger printing

And the most fun of all, I painted her hands for a handprint butterfly and then she loved painting mine.  So cool!

Finally Outside

How nice it is to be outside and feel the warm sunshine.  Still cold enough for a hat but I still love it!  Look what Abigail can do!  Last summer and fall I tried to get her to pedal a tricycle and she just couldn't.  I'd have to push her along and she had no idea how to steer.  I guess all she needed was to grow a wee bit more and now she can do it, mostly! 

Yes, I know she's not wearing a helmet.  She's really going way too slow for one! 

Our daffodil's are starting to bloom... ahh!

Pure cuteness.  Kids always look so adorable even after having a hat on all morning!

Although I usually don't let myself "go there" I started thinking about next spring and then just one more after that.  Next year she'll have preschool 3 mornings a week and then Kindergarten.  I get a a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.  How I would stop the clock if I could.  My girls little and me JUST being mommy and wife. 

Best Brownies

These are the best brownies, they don't even compare to the box kind.  Give them a try, you'll be glad you did.  (and totally adjustable to the EE  Abigail diet)  Here is the original recipe from Joy of Cooking

Chewy Brownies (Reduced Fat)  really?

These Brownies contain just under 4 grams of fat apiece.  Position a rack in the center of the oven.  Preheat the oven to 350.  Line an 8x8 inch baking pan with greased or nonstick spray coated aluminum foil, allowing it to overhang 2 opposing ends of the pan by about 2 inches. 

Whisk together thoroughly: 

3/4 c all purpose flour

1 1/2 T unsweetened cocoa, sifted

1/4 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

Melt, stirring constantly, in a large, heavy saucepan over very low heat: 

4 oz semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

2 t corn or canola oil

Remove from the heat and stir in until well combined:

1/2 c packed light brown sugar

1/4 c sugar

2 T light corn syrup

1T water

2 t vanilla

Add and stir until the sugar is dissolved:

2 large egg whites

Stir in the four mixture into the chocolate mixture until well blended and smooth.  Scrape the batter into the pan and spread to the edges.  Bake until the center of the top is almost firm when lightly pressed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, but still moist and fuggy at the bottom, 20 to 25 minutes.  Remove the pan to a rack and let stand until completely cool. 

Using the overhanging foil as handles, lift the browned to a cutting board.  Carefully peel off the foil.  Cut into bars. 

Thanks Liz

Do you remember that feeling when you were a kid, getting something in the mail?  It could have been anything!  Elation!  A few weeks ago my girls got a huge white envelope.  They were so thrilled they literally squeeled!  And I smilied.  Don't you love when other people are so good to your kids? 

This was from Liz who is still so good to me.  I had her two kids in first and second grade years ago.  Liz quickly became my good friend and even after moving far away she still keeps in touch with me, sends my girls little love packages, and I will treasure my friendship with her forever. 

Thanks Liz.  They loved their puzzles.  They loved the huge white, padded envelope.  They loved ripping it open in their jammies after bath. 

Craft Project

It's Saint Patrick's Day!

We had so much fun making these for Abigail's preschool. 

My silly girls on St. Patrick's day!  I love how Abagail looks at Anna this way all the time.  She is adored!

Yes, the cookies slipped right off the little stand seconds after this! 

Makes me smile, "Irish Princess!"  ?  She tells us that she one pinch Irish.  "Sure," I tell her.  Just as much as our redhead Abigail is one pinch Chinese.  Although that's true a bit.  Chinese is in our hearts. 

If we'd let her this little Irish princess would exist on frosting and elelcare (her formula) alone.  If only...

I love all of these little happy days tucked into a regular week.  Just a bit of extra joy... and frosting!

40 days 40 bags update

40 days... more like 140 bags for our family!  I loved Sara's idea since I love organization.  How hard could it be to reorganize my already organized house.  It'll be fun!  And, I thought, it'll finally get me to do my closet and Scott's shop which are true disaster areas.  So I divided up each little nook and crany of our house.  (the attic alone being 16 days... there's that much up there) And we started! 

We made it a family lent project.  Each area (46) are written on cards in a bag.  Anna and Abigail take turns each morning choosing a card.  I've been doing just a bit while they're at school but most of it is as a team.  Although it would have been easier for me to clean (and pitch) up Anna's closet alone, doing it with her was so rewarding.  She couldn't stop thanking me for days.  She said things like, "mommy, thank you so much for helping me find so many special things."  "Mommy, I just love my new closet; I know where everything is!" 

Even Scott (who wouldn't let me take his picture) said, "finally, you found a way for me to really clean up my shop," as he attacked the "clean under the stairs and paint cans" card on the weekend. 

Sometimes when I feel stressed I just want to go stand in the areas that are done.   Ahh! 

Anna's closet
One little bit of Scott's shop
One tiny, tiny little bit of the attic (we need to rent a dumpster for that) 
Living room
Dining room

Abigail peeking around the corner

the "before" prending to be happy that we were about to tear apart her closet and throw a bunch of her stuff out