Craziness

Today my sanity was saved by a youtube video.  Which is somewhat crazy in and of itself, but it's true.  Today it was my turn to host preschool.  (I'm in one of those neighborhood groups where the moms take turns teaching preschool rather than pay exorbitant fees in order for someone else to teach our kids how to count to ten and say their ABCs.)  Of course, I am the kind of person that starts getting ready for 9:30 preschool at about 7:45.  So, I log on to my computer and search out printables while I am wracking my brain for some kind of game or creative craft.  Something super simple that looks amazing so the other moms think I spent a lot of time preparing... Our letter of the day was "R" so I went on youtube to find a clip of Reading Rainbow to show the kids.  I used to love Reading Rainbow.  And, I found this.  Now, try very hard not to laugh at me over this--I have not been in a great place this week.  I've been feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, short-tempered (yes, it's somewhat to do with PMS, but feelings are not less valid just because they are hormone-induced).  This little remix made my day so much better.  And when I clicked on the Bob Ross video by the same person, I felt so much better I almost cried.  Bless you 'melodysheep'.  Bless you PBS.  Bless you LaVar Burton and Bob Ross.  You were my miracles today.

January's Books

I think I mentioned that I like to read.  Love to read.  Spend as much time reading as I think I can get away with.  I've decided to share what I am reading with all of you--all three of you that read my blog. ;)  This is what I read in January:

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Not bad. I think I liked Strangling Your Husband Is Not an Option by Marrilee Browne Boyack better.

Princess Academy: Palace of Stone by Shannon Hale
Sequel to Princess Academy--loved this one, but I love pretty much everything by Shannon Hale.  I think the only one she's written that I probably will not read again was The Actor and the Housewife.  Still good, just not a favorite.

Midnight in Austenland by Shannon Hale
Here she is again, I really do love her books.

Janitors by Tyler Whitesides
Young/Teen fantasy about the creatures in schools that only janitors can see.  They suck kids' brain waves, and the janitors fight them.  It was cute.  I passed it to my 8-year old.  He likes it too.

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
This is the author of The Frog Princess (made into a Disney movie). I think her writing is getting better.  It's a young read, but still fun.

Cybele's Secret by Juliet Marillier
Juliet Marillier is another of my favorites.  This is the second book she has written for teens (as far as I know, the first was Wildwood Dancing).  I loved this one.  I love her other books as well, but there are parts in them that are definitely not for kids.  I often prefer reading younger fiction.  I like my books PG-ish.

The Satan Bug by Alistair MacLean
I always think of my dad when I read Alistair MacLean. :)

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Don't let the name throw you, this book is a rare find.  A truly charming read, I cannot recommend it highly enough.  I am just so sad it is the only thing Mary Ann Shaffer published before she died.  She has an amazing voice.  I am definitely going to look into whatever her niece (Annie Barrows) has written.

Unlocking The Spell: A Tale of the Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker
These books are just great for when you want a quick, cute read.  My 10-year-old loves them.  I would say readers as young as 5 or 6 would enjoy this as a read aloud.  (Or read alone, depending on reading level.)

Aaahhh.  It was a lovely month for reading.  Sadly, February is not so promising.  I am trying to force myself to get some cleaning (blah) and taxes (double-blah) done.

Cold Shoes

It has been a great year for snow.  And it has been cold enough that most of it has stayed.  This is me lying on my driveway with my legs propped up on the snow.  It is extra deep here, because it gets piled up when we shovel, but there is a good three feet in the middle of the lawn.  Happy Winter friends!

Birthday Shoes--look closely!

Birthdays are so fun.  But they are also a reminder that my children insist on getting older--and by extension, I am getting older!  Most of the time I can somehow delude myself into thinking that I am the same as I have always been, but when my babies hit milestones it's hard to pretend I'm still seventeen.  Or even twenty-seven. (I age by decades.  I really did feel about 17 until I hit 27.  I think I'll just stay at 27 for a while still.)

Enough about me.  Birthday boy is six years old!  Happy birthday you sweet, stubborn little man.  Here is your Transformers cake.  (I know when you asked for a Transformers cake you were expecting a 3D Bumblebee--like the Cake Boss might make--but this is still cool, right?)

And, here are your birthday shoes.  Some people might think they are silly, but I knew you would love them.  I love you, Munchkin.

 (The cake is strawberry---not meant to look violent.)

Favorite Breakfast

mmmmmmm.  A friend of mine recently mentioned how much she loves baked oatmeal.  Baked oatmeal?!?  I did not know such a fantastic thing existed.  I will never be the same.

My recipe: (I've made it several times now, and tweaked it until I love it even more.)

Mix together in 8x8 pan:
2 cups oats (quick or not, either way)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (maybe a little more)

In a separate bowl mix:
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup applesauce
2 TB melted butter
1 large egg

Pour the liquidy stuff over the dry stuff, mix together.  Sprinkle all your favorite oatmeal things on top. (I do raisins, craisins, frozen blueberries and chopped walnuts.)  Tap down a bit, bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes. (Depending on how set you like it.) Eat plain or with milk. (I pour milk on mine, and then drizzle a teeny bit of maple syrup on top.)

Mmmmm... Happy New Year!