Wish list

In case you are still wondering what to get us for Christmas, Nathan and I could both use new hats.These look much worse in person. Also, someone could teach me how to rotate pictures in blogger.

Dear Manager at Applebee's.....

Dear Manager at Applebee's,

I would like to inform you that children's ears, though smaller than adult size ears, work similarly. When speaking to small children, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SHOUT. It is actually a bit intimidating to be screamed at by an overly-animated stranger who pretends to care about your dining experience. Being long winded and being sincere are not the same. Instead of screaming at our kids about your love of Halloween candy, maybe you should tell our server to quit rolling his eyes at our table.

Sincerely,

Me

gourmet noodles

I was feeling fancy today and wanted to be gourmet. Three hours later, I am not feeling too gourmet and am really thankful for Ramen noodles.

I Knew this would happen

After living in the big U-T for a year, it is now finally time to retire our Indiana license plates which expire this month. I went last week to get new plates for the suburban and when the nice kid who was helping me gave me several different background choices, I thought to myself, "Nathan will agonize over this decision, I shouldn't tell him there are options."

I should have trusted my instincts.

I was planning on going and getting the plates for our Jeep today. But, last night as we were driving down our street, I asked Nathan which plate-type he preferred.

The agonizing began. I have had to postpone my trip back to the plate-place because he hasn't had time to fully contemplate the different options and how they will look on his car.

I have formally withdrawn my willingness to complete this errand. If it takes him to the end of the month to decide, Nathan will have to go stand in the long terrible line himself.

An abridged version of my day today.....

--when the alarm rang at 5:30, opted to sleep in, rather than go to the gym. Happy about that decision.
--read extra in scriptures to make up for my slothfulness
--made breakfast
--deposited children in 3 different locations
--stayed to watch daughter's first swim meet
--other daughter got bored and we had to go to the park
--intermittently worked on 6 remaining loads of laundry (down from 12 yesterday)
--finally finished laundry
--swept laundry room floor
--pulled weeds
--made some delicious chicken enchiladas
--took daughter to and from gymnastics
--picked son up from basketball camp
--read 5 Dr. Suess books
--welcomed a new nephew
--had a doughnut "birth"day party for new nephew
--did lots and lots of dishes
--changed 4, count them 4, messy diapers (this is an unusually high number)
--accidently stuck my finger in contents of messy diaper
--watched in dismay as my toddler worked her magic in my garden. Pretty sure that is why I changed so many diapers
--bathed said toddler and put her to bed. 1 down, 7 to go (three extra today)


***noticeably absent from my list ***

Showering (I did get dressed though)

The Greatest Cookie Ever

So, I saw a recipe for the perfect cookie several weeks ago on a recipe blog that I like. I have wondered if these cookies were really that great. There was a post about tips. Apparently to get the most delicious cookies the dough should be kept in the fridge for 36 hours. Also, this recipe calls for cake flour and bread flour. I finally remembered to get some of these two types of flour (I wanted to try the original before making my own substitution). I used real kosher salt and fancy chocolate chips. I chilled the dough. But really, who can wait for 36 hours. I made it 18 hours and consider it a victory.

I think they turned out pretty well. I think they are slightly over done, so maybe I didn't make them large enough to bake them for the suggested time. I

I think the extra effort was worth it....these will be my new go-to cookie to impress the masses.


The Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
Adapted from The New York Times, David Leite and Jacques Torres
submitted by Melanie

Yield: 1 1/2 dozen 5-inch cookies.

•2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake flour * leave the TBs in for high altitude*
•1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour
•1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
•1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
•1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
•2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter
•1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar
•1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated sugar
•2 large eggs
•2 teaspoons natural vanilla extract
•1 1/4 pounds bittersweet chocolate disks or fèves, at least 60 percent cacao content (see note)
•Sea salt
1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt into a bowl. Set aside.

2. Using a mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugars together until very light, about 5 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Reduce speed to low, add dry ingredients and mix until just combined, 5 to 10 seconds. Drop chocolate pieces in and incorporate them without breaking them. Press plastic wrap against dough and refrigerate for 24 to 36 hours. Dough may be used in batches, and can be refrigerated for up to 72 hours.

3. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.

4. Scoop 6 3 1/2-ounce mounds of dough (about 1/3 cup) onto baking sheet, making sure to turn horizontally any chocolate pieces that are poking up; it will make for a more attractive cookie. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt and bake until golden brown but still soft, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer sheet to a wire rack for 10 minutes, then slip cookies onto another rack to cool a bit more. Repeat with remaining dough, or reserve dough, refrigerated, for baking remaining batches the next day.
**When I make these I use my favorite semi sweet or milk chocolate chips--I like guitard, but sometimes I use the big bag of Nestle semi sweet from Costco.

Ten

Today Zoe is ten years old.

She has been excitedly carrying around the telephone to field her many well wishers. Zoe is a shining star. She is helpful, capable and passionate. I love being her mother.


What else is new......spring is now here and we are ready. We have been working in the yard and getting dirty and trying to pretend that we know what we are doing.

Dylan thinks the world is her oyster. She loves getting knives out of the knife drawer and mutilating bananas. It is an odd obsession that I am hoping will be a passing phase.

February

Sometimes we get bored and take pictures of ourselves on Photo booth. It is pretty much the only way I prove my existence...I am rarely in photographs, but not my best angle. Boo.

Today I made and burned a pan of toll house bars. I have been eating them anyway, but am mourning what might have been.

Dylan has started speaking in full sentences and calling her father by his first name. Hi-lar-i-ous.

I wanted to be sugar free for February. That's not really working out for me so far.

I strongly dislike science projects. I will most likely be spending my Valentine's evening "helping" Zak with his. So romantic.

My family has used 7 boxes of kleenex since December. Is it me, or is that a lot of snot?

A family in church proudly declared to a new family that they have been sitting in the same pew for the last 15 years. It took everything in me not to tell her that she pilfered that row from my family and that we had been sitting in it for 10 years before they started arriving to church one hour early to stake their claim on it. I would like to reclaim the pew, but, will refrain so that I don't embarrass my mother. Talking about it here has been pretty therapeutic.

I Blame Utah

I have just returned from the dentist and my 2 oldest children have a combined 12 cavities. Twelve. I am sick. Every state that we have lived in recently has FLUORIDE in the water. Seven months of no fluoridated water and this is what we have become. It boggles my mind that people vote no for this initiative.

We do have prescription fluoride that I try to remember to distribute in the mornings, but it often is forgotten in the hectic morning rush. My kids have also had sealants placed on all of their teeth. I wish I could have a second opinion with my rockstar pediatric dentist in IN. Loved her.

It also probably hasn't helped that Zak feels it is is life's mission to quickly locate and consume any and all candy in our home.

We have our weaknesses, but I still blame Utah.