Another Hole In His Grin

A while after dinner this even, Hudson came to me with a big smile on his face and said that he wanted to show me what he could do with his loosest tooth. He smiled and then proceeded to push said tooth nearly horizontal with his tongue. He allowed me to give the tooth a quick wiggle and then after much wiggling on the parts of himself, Max, and I, he finally agreed to give me a shot at the little thing. He was worried about it hurting and every time I tried to dry the tooth, he would start to laugh and pull away, once again wetting the tooth when he closed his mouth. We finally got him settled down and I gave the slightest tug and out came the tooth. Hudson didn't even flinch...he looked at the pearly white that I was holding in between my fingers and started to laugh. He was proud to say that it didn't hurt one bit - a real improvement from some of the tooth-pulling adventures we've had in the past.

Here's a shot of his new smile:

And his favorite part of having two teeth on the bottom missing...sticking his tongue through the gaps:

Now that he's lost all four of the center teeth on the bottom, it's time to get going on the four across the top....all of which are loose right now. I'm just hoping that his two bottom teeth grow in sufficiently before those come out. I'm afraid I'd laugh every time he smiled if all he had was 2 out of 8 center teeth to show.

Pre-Easter Sunday

When I started getting ready this morning, I realized that today was our church's Easter Sunday and program as its bi-annual worldwide conference falls on the 1st weekends of April and October each year. I was a little bummed to think that I'm not going to be putting the kids in their new Easter duds on the actual day - we're all about causal clothes when we watch the conference from the comfort of our own home - but got excited about it as soon as I pulled the clothes out. As I've said before, I'm a real sucker for Gymboree and I was kind enough to help the company stockholders out by purchasing this year's outfits there (all except for Claire's sweater - courtesy of Target).

I was hoping to take pictures of the kids prior to going to church when their hair was perfect and every last seam was in place. Unfortunately, we didn't have time before leaving so these were taken when we got home. Notice the bruise on Hudson's forehead and that his vest is hanging crooked in the pic of the two of them. As for Claire, her piggies are a bit messed up - one straight, one more curly. Oh well...it's how it really was!

More pictures to follow next week after we've had an Easter egg hunt (or two) and the likes thereof. Have a fabulous pre-Easter week!

P.S. Just have to complain...right after yanking the tags off of Claire's tulip number this morning, I discovered (much to my horror) that the dress came with some sort of stain or flaw in the fabric. It's right at the neckline, slightly to one side, and looks like a half-circle drool mark or an error in the pattern. Either way, I'm ticked! I still want her to wear it at least a few more times so I'm calling the store in the morning to see if they'll make ammends and give me one that's as perfect as it should be (and they'd better!).

RECIPE: Homemade Chocolate Sandwich (aka OREO) Cookies

Before starting on the recipe, I have to give myself a pat on the back. This is the 1st recipe that I've ever posted with pictures for your enjoyment (and to make you salivate). Now on with the show...

This one is for those of you who a) need chocolate, b) feel like baking something, and/or c) are looking to put a few pounds on this week. We received a food storage container back from a dear friend and neighbor with a pile of these beauties inside. Max ate two, the kids each at one, and I'm not sure what happened to the others. Mind boggling. I'm not sure whether to curse or thank this friend for sharing the recipe and I hereby permit you to curse or thank me. Either way I'll take it as a compliment.

HOMEMADE OREO COOKIES

Cookie:
2 packages Devil's Food cake mix
1 1/4 cup margarine, softened
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix all ingredients well. Drop by the spoonful on an un-greased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Allow to cool 1-2 minutes on cookie sheet prior to transferring to a cooling rack.

Filling:
3 1/2 - 5 cups powdered sugar (start with 3 1/2 and work up to get desired consistency)
8 oz. package cream cheese, softened at room temp
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 cup margarine, softened

Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Assemble!

Here's a picture of my platter of OREO "towers". Even though there are only 30 pictured, the recipe turned out 31 sandwiches for me (each about 3" in diameter). Believe it or not, I was not the one who ate the 31st - it was Max and the kids who dutifully shared it so that my towers would be even.


NOTES:

• The cookie dough/batter really takes a good beating to get smooth and for all of the dry cake mix to beat in. Be patient and try not to eat the dough before making the cookies (tastes kind of like brownie batter...mmmmmm).
• Make sure you remove the cookies from the sheet after only a couple of minutes. I made the mistake of leaving on an errand and had to remove some when they were completely cooled - totally unawesome.
• I added a even more powdered sugar than called for and little bit of milk to my frosting/filling and really liked the way it turned out. Not too cream cheesy and it made a little extra so I was really able to fill each cookie well.
• When doing the frosting, you can just spread it on one half of the sandwich and then put the other half on. Another option is this method that I used: fill a quart-sized Ziploc baggie with filling...clip off a corner, squeeze a large dollop of frosting onto one half, and then press the other half on. I was thrilled that almost every cookie turned out with a nice, even filling and edge to the frosting.
• These freeze very well...just be sure to put a layer of waxed paper in between the cookies so they don't stick together (though a double decker sandwich isn't such a shabby idea).

Doesn't this just look positively disgusting?

Hope you love, love, love them as much as we do!

LIST: Spend, Spend, Spend

A while back, I had a poll up on the side bar of this here blog. It asked y'all to vote on ideas for lists for me to write up. The winner was "Things I Said I'd Never Do As A Parent" (see that list here) and the runner-up - and only other topic to receive any votes - was "Places Where I Like To Spend and Waste Money". Seeing as how I am apparently unable to come up with any other time-worthy lists, this is what my list-loving-self and I are giving you today:

PLACES WHERE I MOST LIKE TO USE MY AMEX

• Crate and Barrel: I have been addicted to C&B since long before my days of having my own place. I bought my 1st set of dinner plates there when I was 18. And I still have them...white plates with a pretty blue pattern of plum branches. I can't tell you how much I love this store and just about everything they carry. Plates. Table Linens. Holiday and seasonal decor. Barware. BBQ toys. Cooking and baking utensils. Heavy metal measuring cups. Dish towels. Cutting boards. All these and many, many, many more things that make my kitchen-loving world go round. You don't want to know how many of their plates, drinking glasses, serving dishes, linens, and culinary gadgets I have in my cupboards and drawers upstairs. If you really want me to, I can count them all for a future post..but I would likely end up neglecting my family for a solid three days while I tallied it all up. Final word on this store: the peeps over at C&B need to get their heineys in gear and open a store here. They'd survive their 1st year on my purchases alone.
• Gymboree: My sister-in-law got me hooked on Gymbo years ago. Such darling kids' clothes...I can't help myself. I'm happy to say that I don't ever pay full price (except maybe for socks but even then, but I buy a few so I get them for cheaper). I wait for the sales and then use a coupon on top of the existing discount to get the best deals possible. Oh - and I don't use my AMEX here. I actually use my Gymboree VISA...it gets me a discount at Gymboree and I earn a gift card a couple of times each year. And I make my husband carry a Gymboree VISA for when he goes to stores that don't take AMEX. He curses me for having this in his wallet but I love my gift cards.
• Bath & Body Works: I obsessed about their candles in a post a while back and here, I'll obsess about those and everything else this store sells. Their candles rock - you don't even have to light them to get a nice scent in a room. Just take off the lid and you're in business. My favorite lotion is their Tahiti, Sweetie cream...I use it all summer long and during the winter months, I count down the days until it's okay to smell all tropical again. I'm often tempted to ingest their antibacterial foam hand soaps while washing my hands (Grapefruit, Coconut Lime Verbena, etc.). I once did get some in my mouth on accident, though, and they don't taste nearly as good as they smell. It actually tasted horrible. All of the products that I have tried are simply fabulous. Only problem with this place is they're really good at luring you in with sales and the likes thereof.
• Costco: I don't really think that this one needs much explanation. I'd just like to take this opportunity to thank them for carrying boneless leg of lamb, really high-quality salmon, fatty loaves of Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese, fun seasonal stuff (mainly Christmas and yard items), and those fantastic cook-em-yourself torillas. Oh - and most importantly, for adding those insanely delicioso braided apple strudels to their bakery selection. My thighs will never be the same. Other than my deep appreciation, all I can say is these two words: black hole (see previous post about Costco here).
• Gayle's: If you've followed my blog to any extent, you just might have noticed that I kinda like this place. And their Princess Cake (their description: three layers of vanilla genoise cake ~ layers of pastry cream, raspberry jam & whipped cream inside ~ pastel marzipan shell outside ~ sprinkled with powdered sugar ~ topped with a fresh rose. Hang on...I just started drooling. Gayle's is a darling bakery and rosticceria in Capitola, CA. Darling because of it's mis-matched chairs and vintage decor. Darling because of its brick patio. Darling because every last little morsel of food that they make is worth every last penny. Not only have they blessed this world with their Princess Cake, they also whip up tasty downtowners with sugar, perfect fresh fruit tarts, chocolate mousse, apricot croissants, hot meals (pastas, chicken, ribs, etc.), sandwiches, salads, and let us not forget, super delicious breads. Yes, you can almost break the bank in one visit (especially if you purchase a whole cake to take home). And yes, you should abstain from eating there more often than one a month for fear of gaining 50 pounds from devouring their garlic bread alone. But let me tell you...after noshing on Gayle's goodies, you'll not only be willing to gain weigh from eating there, you may well want to do so. Mmmmmmm.
• Target: I still remember the 1st time I ever heard the name of this store. My best friend Kim got a new CD player for a fabulous price and upon asking her where she got such a deal, her response was, "My mom got it at Target." I had no idea what Target was or where it was. Now I know what and where it is and there is absolutely no chance of turning back. I love Target. Very much. Especially our local Super Target. I could wander their aisles for hours on end (and I may or may not have actually done so a time or two). Cute kids clothes and shoes, home decor, toiletries, groceries, toys, entertainment...you name it, it's really quite possible that they've got it. I would explain my love for Target further but I'm fairly certain that all 6 of you who read my blog know exactly what I'm saying.
• Williams-Sonoma: Like Crate and Barrel, Williams-Sonoma has a special place in my heart, in my kitchen, and in our magazine basket. Their catalogs are totally fantastic. They make me want to leave my very comfy life as a perfectly happy mother, wife, and cook, and instantly become filthy rich so I can purchase every last thing they dangle in front of me. I only have a handful of their items gracing my kitchen...just my all-time favorite mixing bowls, a super awesome drip-less turkey baster, some really cute colored rubber scrapers, my favorite rooster bowls (the black and white rooster is the only one I don't totally love - when I serve in these bowls, I always make sure I end up with one of the others), a number of dishcloths and dish towels, my favorite Italian serving platter and shallow bowl, and a few other things. This really doesn't sound like "a handful" but compared to how many items I would purchase if I had cash to burn, it's nothing.
• Expressionary: I can't recall how I stumbled upon this website but I really truly love it. I discovered their darling stationary just prior to having Claire and had a field day picking out note cards and personalizing them with her name. Some of the things they offer are fairly cheesy (though deep down inside I really do wish someone would get me the Maltese Folded Notes) but for the most part, I simply can't get enough of their folded notes, address labels, etc. If you're tempted to get something from them, just hold your horses and consider this: coupon codes. Get on the company's e-mail list and you'll get super marvy offers from time to time like 70% off clearance items...I seriously made out like a bandit just after the New Year with that one.
• Old Navy: Being on the tall side, I love shopping here for their special "tall" sizes. Extra length in the sleeves and body and a really fantastic 36 inch inseam on pants/jeans. I am not too freakishly tall but I do have uber-long legs. I'm only 5'9" but I have about a 34 inch inseam. If I buy pants with this measurement and they shrink up much, they become floods. Very stylish back in the '80s. But we're about 20-30 years past that style and I thank Old Navy for providing me with pants and t-shirts that are nice and long.

Honestly, I could probably add another 4 or 5 of my favorite spending haunts to this list. But I've rambled on long enough, my fingers are tired, and I have things to do...now will someone please pass my wallet?

Expanding Her Horizons

We've witnessed a small miracle at our house in the past week. As I've mentioned before, Claire is a picky eater...especially when it comes to meat. Prior to last week, there were only 3 dishes containing meat that she would eat: pasta with meat marinara sauce, my mom's recipe for chicken & rice casserole, and chicken nuggets (and she's picky on those). Then the winds of change came blowing through our kitchen...

Last Sunday night, I made breakfast for dinner - skillet potatoes, bacon, and pancakes. When I took Claire her plate, I held up a piece of bacon and told her that unless she took a bite of it, she wouldn't get any pancakes or "fries". She protested and said that she didn't like it. Then she actually took a bite. And she didn't spit it out. Lo and behold, it was a hit! And she proceeded to eat a total of 3 or 4 pieces that evening.

On Wednesday, I made our favorite tostada salad recipe for dinner (will post it one of these days...so very yummy). The recipe includes a mixture of ground beef, black beans, Mexican stewed tomatoes, and green chiles. I tossed the meat mixture into her bowl with some shredded lettuce, cheese, olives, and avocado - all of which are on her favorites list - and crossed my fingers that she'd at least give it a try. Max offered her the first forkful and upon hearing that it was salad, she wolfed it down. She was immediately ready for more. I was shocked and beyond happy when she not only ate the first bite but polished off the entire bowlful that I had prepared for her.

Tonight was the icing on the cake. I made a favorite salmon recipe for dinner and as I usually do, I put a small serving on Claire's plate. A very long, long, long time ago, Claire ate salmon a time or two and seemed to like it. But as of tonight, it had probably been a good 18 months since she'd willingly taken a bite of our favorite finned food. Once again, I informed her that she had to take one bite. Surprisingly enough, she opened up fairly quickly and after I put it in her mouth she said, "I like it!" and proceeded to eat 4 more good sized bites over the course of the meal.

In addition to her doubling the number of dishes she'll eat containing meat in a week's time, she also added another item to the list of things she likes today: a peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwich. We've tried to get her to eat them before but it was always a no-go (as with just about everything else new that we place in front of her). When I sat the kids up for lunch today everything seemed normal...Claire with her picky-girl special and Hudson with his usual spread. Hudson got up from the table for a second and when he turned back, his PB&J was sitting on his place mat with a small bite out of one corner. Claire was quick to admit that she had stolen said morsel and that - drum roll, please - she liked it! I made her a half PB&J of her own so that she wouldn't have to steal more from her brother. She polished it off without a problem.

I'd been worried for some time that Claire would never try (and heaven forbid, actually like) anything new unless chocolate was the main ingredient. She didn't like every new thing I made her try this week. Grilled filet mignon is apparently disgusting. But I'm okay with her thinking that. Her accepting four foods onto her very exclusive list of edibles in a week's time is positively monumental. I think I see a tiny light at the end of the tunnel and I'm hopeful that she'll continue to broaden her horizons when it comes to food. Miracles never cease...

Hudson - One Year Ago Today

In going through a bunch of pictures on my computer the other day, I discovered this treasure:

I remember the afternoon that I took this shot. My mom and I were letting the kids play with the dress-up clothes in the attic and we could not stop laughing after we put Hudson in this "outfit". It still makes me giggle.

BUMMER!

As has happened in times past, I have a serious case of writer's block right now and have for a while (hence my cheatin' by simply providing a link to something amusing from Bob Costas/Jimmy Fallon for my last post). At this particular moment, I kind of feel like complaining a bit. So tonight, I give you another list:

THINGS THAT ARE "BUMMERS" TO ME THIS EVENING

• Winter-like weather doesn't end up here until somewhere around mid to late April. In the meantime, the possibility of spring will continue to tease me with warm-ish weather days between spurts of days with snow and slush.
• I have at least 4 loads of laundry upstairs waiting to be folded.
• I have at least 2 more loads of laundry upstairs waiting to be washed, dried, and folded.
• One half of my favorite pair of black slip-on flats sustained an injury while we were in Southern California and I'm not sure that it's repairable.
• The heavy snow we got this afternoon (that is still coming down) has wiped out our satellite reception for the time being.
• Without our beloved DirecTV working, TiVo can't record American Idol and we're probably going to miss Grey's, too.
• I've had a headache almost every day for well over a week. I'm pretty sure that it's due to my going to bed too late each night but I don't really feel like changing that right now.
• My kitchen floor needs a good sweeping and mopping and my imaginary maid doesn't really exist.
• I'm afraid I might have unintentionally offended someone...they have hardly made any kind of effort in our relationship in some time but I can't figure out what I did or decide if I should approach this person about it.
• My skin is suddenly ultra-dry...again. It seemed like it was okay for a month or so and has gone back to its ugly, crackly ways.
• I am approximately 2 1/2 years behind in my scrapbooking/photo books. Haven't done anything for Hudson since he turned 3 and haven't even started on Claire.
• My deaf ear is really annoying. It's frustrating when I can't pick out a sound or voice like I used to and when I forget that I lost my hearing on that side (like when I try to switch ears on the phone or cover that ear to block out excess noise).
• I just cleaned the upstairs bathrooms three days ago and they already look like I haven't done so in weeks.
• I can't find my brown-tone framed glasses. Been missing for weeks (months?) and while I remember seeing the case, I can't find it or the specs for the life of me.
• Lastly, I don't have a Princess Cake from Gayle's sitting in my fridge upstairs...and if I did, eating a slice would most certainly make everything else listed above seem okay.

Okay, I'm done. I promise my next post won't be such a bummer to read.