Glimpses of Our Snow Fun

A Reminder

On my challenging days, it is often hard to remember to simply smile. Some days I would like to put this sticky note on my kids' foreheads. I know the expression on my face communicates a lot to them. Is it warm, inviting, and loving or is it cold, disconnected or mean?

Now, I do believe that I should be honest with our kids if I am sad or angry. They need to know that those feelings are okay, too. I definitely don't want them to think the world or I am perfect, free of hurt or suffering. As I think about the need to smile more, I am referring to the moments that I am able and choose not to.

I remember some time ago, my grandma telling me that the best gift I could ever give to my children was to allow my face to light up with a smile when they walk into the room. Today, this is my challenge. May my children know that I delight in them, even on my fussy days. Want to join me?

Mars Needs Moms

Here is the cute little boy in the story, Milo, with his dog.

Milo here holding his Mom.

Kalen, our five year old, loves to pick out library books with aliens in them. Yes, when he was four he would always manage to find the Goosebumps series and bring me a handful of them for check out. I managed to somehow discourage the take home on those. When he brought me Mars Needs Moms last week, I gave it a once over and put it in our bag. This book must be good. Any book that implies that Moms are needed must be good.

My instinct was right. Ever since checking this book out, we have read it daily. It is a wonderful picture book by Berkeley Breathed. I highly recommend it. You'll laugh and maybe even shed a tear or two. I know it will touch you somehow if you can get your hands on it and read it. Oh, and I think they are making a movie out of this one.

Here is a review I found online at The Imperfect Parent website about the book. I couldn't agree more. Read it, it is really good.

Review by Amy Brozio-Andrews

It's a rare occurrence that I'll ever come right out and tell you in so many words that you need to go out and read this book, but, well, here it is: You really should go read Mars Needs Moms. I've read dozens upon dozens of children's books, and Berkeley Breathed's picture book really is something special.

On Mars, there are no mothers. No mothers to cook, clean, or carpool; no mothers to bake, bandage, or baby you; no mother to kiss you, miss you, or even discipline you. And so the Martians have been watching, waiting, and planning. And there's one little boy who cannot for the love of Mike figure out what's good about his mother. She a "bellowing broccoli bully" and a "slave-driving, trash-mashing, rubbish odor ogre." Milo cannot possibly imagine what's so special about her. And after one especially trying afternoon (from both of their perspectives), he tells her so.

Much to Milo's surprise, that night the Martians arrive and decide to take his mother back for their own. He takes off after them, finding himself aboard their ship, where he dons a helmet and waits to arrive on Mars. Upon landing, he tumbles down the gangway, and he makes it just fine, but the helmet doesn't. And so it comes to pass that one little boy, in one quick instant, realizes exactly what makes mothers so special.


Be forewarned, before the book is over, Mom's in serious jeopardy. I distinctly recall having a moment of blind panic while reading this to my child and seeing Milo's mother slumped against her son, safe in his helmet, and thinking, Berkeley Breathed had better make this end well because I am not up to having a discussion about death with my kid just before bedtime. And I breathed a sigh of relief, because he does, and does it well. While the idea of a parent being willing making the ultimate sacrifice for her child sounds really heavy for a children's picture book, in Breathed's hands, it's handled with grace and sensitivity; the specter of Milo losing his mother is brief but quite real, and Milo's realization that his mother is more than just a killjoy is a sweet revelation.

Famous for his Pulitzer Prize-winning Bloom County and Opus, Breathed's illustrations will look vaguely familiar to his newspaper fans. Colorful and stylized artwork speaks volumes; poor Milo's mom doesn't get more than an arm's worth of illustration-time until her slack body is being carried away by the Martians. But when she removes her own helmet to replace Milo's broken one in the harsh Martian atmosphere, we see her through Milo's eyes, and she's simply beatific.

With a nod to classic science fiction (the opening line is a derivation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds first line) and a real appreciation for little boy's perspective, Mars Needs Moms is truly a memorable story. Breathed keeps the tone and illustrations irreverent enough to save the book from becoming morbid or depressing. While younger readers may not fully understand the implications of Milo's mother giving up her helmet to save her child, they'll still celebrate Milo's overcoming the Martian invasion and abduction of his mother. This is a book that parents and children can share together, speaking volumes about the selfless love of parents for their children, no matter how many times we, like Milo's mother, might have to tell them how inappropriate sister-tinting is.

Attempting to Help the Hurting

I have typed up two posts that were about Haiti. I couldn't click publish on those because I felt like my words just weren't adequate enough. Here is a one minute message from someone who is and has been highly involved with Haiti and has been there within the past week.

Also, here is a link to Hope For Haiti Now. This is a site that you can donate from. Also, there is a telethon on all the major networks tonight. Here is a You Tube clip about that.

Coffee Chocolate

That is what they call it. When we have leftover coffee, Scott and I make this drink. We put the leftover coffee (always decaf) in a pot, dump in some soymilk, put a tablespoon or two of cocoa in, and several squirts of agave nectar. We whisk the ingredients together and heat on stove. Scott and I have been doing it for years. It is a fun way to not waste that leftover coffee in the coffeepot. We have started sharing this yummy drink with the kids over the past few years. It tastes like hot cocoa to them. Just thought I would pass it along. Please call it by the cute name they gave it. :)

Chocolate Chip Scones

As requested, here is a fabulous recipe for vegan scones from The Joy of Vegan Baking by Colleen Patrick-Goudreau. I doubled this recipe for my family and we ate on these yummy treats for days.

Chocolate Chip Scones

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons Ener-G Egg Replacer (equivalent of 1 egg)

2 tablespoons water (I think warm works best)

2 1/2 cups of unbleached all-purpose flour

1/3 c granulated sugar

4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 c of non-hydrogenated nondairy butter, cold ( I use Earth Balance)

1 cup of nondairy semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup nondairy milk ( I use soymilk)

Extra milk or water as needed

2 to 3 tablespoons nondairy milk for brushing tops

Cinnamon and sugar for sprinkling on top

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Lightly oil a cookie or baking sheet or line with parchment paper.

In a food processor or by hand, whip together the egg replacer powder and water until think and creamy. Set aside.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add the butter to the dry ingredients and cut it into small pieces with two knives or with a pastry blender. You're not creating a paste; you want a coarse crumbly batter that resembles bread crumbs. (To make flaky scones, leave some of the butter pieces as large as peas.) Stir in the chocolate chips.

Add the milk and egg replacer mixture, and keep the mixing to a minimum to avoid developing the gluten in the flour (which produces tough scones). Mix with a wooden spoon, fork, or your fingers just until the dry ingredients are moistened or nearly moistened. The dough will not be completely smooth like bread dough.

Gather the dough into a ball (you may need to add just one more teaspoon of nondairy milk or water, but you will be able to form it into a ball), and place on a lightly floured surface. Pat or roll the dough out to a 1/2-inch-thick (1.3 cm) round, and cut into 8 or 10 pieces - triangles are a traditional shape. Place them 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) apart on the baking sheet, brush with nondairy milk, and sprinkle with some cinnamon and sugar.

Bake until the tops are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Let cool on a rack or serve warm.

Yield: 8-10 scones

Scrumdiddlyumptious

My kids and I are reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory together. Words like scrumdiddlyumptious (meaning really delicious or marvelous) come to mind easily when I think of yummy food. We have enjoyed trying out some new recipes lately. Two of my favorite successes have been this awesome bread recipe from a gal I met here in our city and some chocolate chip scones I tried out from my new vegan baking cookbook. Let me know if you want the recipes.

Psst . . . they are vegan. Shh . . .

Straight from Brady

My favorite quote of the day was from Brayden. As he was cuddled close to me after dinner tonight he said, "I like you forever, Mommy." So sweet!

Cute Stuff

Madelyn made this sweet little felt bag. It was her first attempt at making something from her new Cute Stuff book. Jan and Jerry gave Madelyn this book for Christmas, encouraging her to sew (one of her latest passions). I helped her out quite a bit . She used my machine to stitch around all the sides, she picked out the fabric colors and what kind of animal (she chose a frog) applique she wanted to create. She really has a special touch with the machine and with maneuvering sewing materials. Have I mentioned how fun it is doing this with her? To connect on this level of common interest is really cool. She is growing up so fast. I keep telling myself, savor this.

Mostly Better

I have two little cute boys playfully squealing in the shower. The other two are slowly eating their breakfast. Laundry is at least folded. Homeschooling is almost underway. It is a new day. We are a bit renewed. The sun is shining and I am hopeful.

Yesterday, Scott officially started his six week session of Comprehensive Exams. He was given three questions and he has to give up to fifty pages worth of information, all he knows, pertaining to those questions or topics. This is exciting and stressful for him. I am very proud of where he is and how far he has come in his program at UNC.