Why I Hate Our Weather In The Midwest

I read numerous blogs every day. Many of the authors are talking about the gorgeous weather, sunshine, and blooming flowers they are observing in their areas. This is what it looks like at my house...

Wet, heavy, icky snow. Can this winter just be over already? We were able to go for a walk last week Thursday wearing only our jackets (no parkas or mittens required!). And today? Today, we are sitting and sulking. We are so ready for spring. I think we're ready to move to wherever it is the rest of you bloggers live. Wherever the gorgeous weather, sunshine, and blooming flowers are we're on our way!

The Skills She's Developed Are Simply Amazing

Here's how Daisy "helped" me organize the papers on my desk last March when she was 2 years old.
And here's how Lil' Daisy "helped" me fold the laundry this March when is 3 years old.In fact, she did this by herself while I was changing Simon. I don't think I've ever seen a more beautiful sight!

Welcome to the Celebration~Ultimate Blog Party 2008!

Hello and welcome! Come on in and make yourself at home.

Daisy, my sweet 3 year old, is anxious to entertain you with her graceful ballet moves and soulful singing. She'd be the one in the pink tutu over there. Simon, my mischievous 1 year old, is around here somewhere. He's probably climbing on the couch or the coffee table since he knows I'm distracted at the moment. My husband's in the kitchen, celebrating his Norwegian heritage by brewing coffee so black you can't even see through it. Please don't feel like you have to drink it!

Can I get you a slice of triple layer cheesecake? How about a lemon bar? It's my mom's recipe and they were one of her trademarks. I'll be sure to get you the recipe before you head out.

A little info about me? Hmm....what can I tell you? In shortened form anyway!

After a less than desirable childhood, I graduated from college with a degree in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Kindergarten education. I married my boss' cousin and taught preschool for four years.

My mother was diagnosed as terminally ill in 2001 and she passed away just over a year later. She had a lung disease that decreased her lungs' ability to function until they just shut down. Three weeks after my mother's death, my sister (and only sibling), got married and moved over 1000 miles away.

After adjusting to the new normal of just my husband and I we became foster parents in 2003 and had our first child in 2005 (that'd be Daisy-in the tutu). Simon was born almost two years later. I'm ready for number 3 but my husband's not too sure about being outnumbered. I've been a stay-at-home mom since I was pregnant with Daisy.

Enough about me, I want to hear about you! I'd love to come by your place and hear part of your story. Leave me a link and I'll stop by soon.

Thanks so much for coming! Oh, and here's my mom's lemon bar recipe. Careful, they're very addicting!

Lemon Bars

2 c. flour

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 c. butter or margarine (softened)

4 eggs (beaten)

2 c. sugar

1/3 c. lemon juice

1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Crust:

Sift first two ingredients and cut in butter until mixture clings together. Press into a 9x13 greased pan. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until lightly browned.

Filling:

Beat together eggs, sugar, and lemon juice. Sift together the 1/4 c. flour and baking powder; stir into egg mixture. Pour over baked crust. Bake at 350 for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with addition powdered sugar. Cool and cut.

Ultimate Blog Party Hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom

The fantastic ladies at 5 Minutes for Mom are hosting a huge celebration for all women bloggers. The big event, that even includes prizes, gets underway tomorrow. Click here for all the information and plan to be a part of the festivities!

WFMW-Curing the "I Wants"?

Today is another edition of Works-For-Me Wednesday Backwards Edition hosted by Shannon over at Rocks in My Dryer. Instead of offering a tip to other readers, today I get to solicit advice. And oh, do I need advice!

My little girl is 3 years old and is pretty mild manner and compliant. However, she’s reached the age where she wants to own all the fun things she sees in stores. We actually avoid the toy section of stores so it’s not necessarily even toys that catch her eye. It’s the cute pink shirt, the cute butterfly bed sheets and the like. Can you tell she’s a girly girl?

The conversation usually goes something like this “Look, Mommy! This shirt is so cute!” I respond, “Yes, it is cute.” She requests, “Can we just take it home?” I squash her dreams by responding, “No. Not today.”

Typically, she’s okay with that answer. Sometime she fake pouts or displays another pitiful expression. The problem is we have this conversation 20+ times per outing. It is just draining. And soon, my son will be joining in and he’s not as mild mannered as my daughter is. I feel like I have to establish our guidelines now before this spins way out of control.

So there you have it. For all you experienced mommies, is there a better way to do this? Do I just tell her she can’t ask because we don’t purchase anything that’s not on our list? (I do deviate from my list for bargain items).

Thanks for your words of wisdom and be sure to share your advice with others over at Rocks in My Dryer!

Lesson of the Day

I am horribly frugal. That being said, I hate to throw any thing away-especially food. Yesterday, I discovered a forgotten block of cream cheese in my fridge. It wasn't all that old, but it had passed it's expiration date.

I decided to use it for something rather than throw it away. I scoured the internet, for about 20 minutes and found a recipe for a french toast bake using cream cheese. I gathered the ingredients and spent about 20 minutes getting the dish ready.

I think the recipe itself was fine, but the dish-not so much. It was less than tasty to say the very least. I'm pretty sure the cream cheese was the culprit.

Lesson learned? Sometimes it's just better to throw out the $1.89 block of cream cheese than to spent 40 minutes of your time and $4 worth of other ingredients to fix your oversight.