Aunt Chick's Santa Cookie Cutter

I have a special, childhood memory attached to a specific cookie cutter. I believe we only made these cookies a few times in my childhood. They were very labor intensive, but oh my I loved them. The little raisin eyes, the sparkly sugar, the coconut "fur"...

By the time I was out on my own my mom's cookie cutter was cracked and fragile. She had given up on making Santa cookies. I searched. I tried various cutters, but nothing gave the molded features, nothing satisfied.

Then three years ago I stumbled across these cookie cutters. They looked like the cutter from my childhood! I ordered one and Hallelujah! Yes, it was that chubby cheeked Santa that I remembered.

Now every Christmas, my children look forward to making Santas. Yes, they are labor intensive. I have to set aside a couple days for these cookies. The kitchen becomes a complete mess. The cookies fly in the face of my goal to keep the nativity our prime focus. But, oh to see the sparkle in my children's eyes! And to know I passed on a special tradition from my childhood. Life is good!

Here are this year's Santa cookies, made yesterday and this morning. We're taking these jolly elves to dance class and Brownies. These cookies are meant to be shared!

Check out the history of the nostalgic Aunt Chick's cutters, recipes, decorating instructions, and how to get your own at Gramma's Cutters.

There and Back Again

Just a little over 24 hours ago, I did something very unusual. I followed a whim.

I traded places with my husband, went with my son to Malone College, spent the night in a hotel watching Lost, and hung out with college kids today.

It was an alternate universe!

I did all the driving in a metro area. Don't laugh! Canton is metro compared to Southern Ohio.

I was alone in a hotel and stayed up late...and did I mention I watched Lost?!? You see, I just currently finished season 1 on DVD. So last night was a huge jump in the story line for me. I have at least one thousand questions, but I loved every minute of it.

I slept in, took a leisurely shower. Ate lunch with college kids...a western omelette the size of tire.

Then we toured the nearest C&MA church, Whipple Heights and saw their awesome facility and programs.

We scrounged around a huge Salvation Army store, blew off our evening play, and ate at Cracker Barrell.

At the Country Store I bought myself a watch with beaded bracelet. I never, never buy myself anything. And never, never, never purchase myself anything on impulse.

After all that fun we decided to come home early and surprise everyone.

Their reaction?

They were mad! Well, frustrated probably is a better description. Because I came home before they could cover their tracks and clean up the horrible mess they'd made in the last 24 hours.

Oh well. Unusual whims sometimes end that way. I don't regret a thing.

I will now return to my predictable life, satisfied with my little fling.

13 Things I Love About My Husband

He...

1. is a glass half-full kind of guy
2. drops anything to please me
3. has a beautiful singing voice
4. is a great preacher
5. rarely says an unkind, critcal or negative word
6. lets the two littles sit on his shoulder and comb his hair
7. always has a smile
8. he is an overcomer
9. keeps me supplied with diet coke
10. actually wants to go shopping with me
11. has a beard
12. wears a cool leather coat
13. chooses me as his favorite companion

Happy Valentines Day, Brian!

This post is listed on the Thursday Thirteen.

Valentine Crayons - WFMW

Yesterday, during our snow day, the two littles and I made valentine crayons. I found the idea over at Family Fun.

To do this frugal and fun project you need:

• two blonde willing helpers, hair color optional

• heart shaped muffin tins or silicon baking cups, we used the silicon baking cups from Wilson which cost just under $9 and made this project no longer frugal!! But hey, the $9 was worth it for the fun we've had...and we'll re-use them.


• old, broken, junky crayons, any church basement is a good source for these if you don't have your own...just ask first.

Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.

Peel the crayons. This step will help you experience, in a slight way, Chinese Bamboo torture.

Break crayons into 1" or so pieces and fill your muffin cups to slightly overflowing. If you used mini-cups bake for 10 to 15 minutes. We used full-sized cups and it took 30 minutes to melt the crayons. Let cool. Pop out.

While baking these I thought we'd done something wrong. Coming out of the oven my crayons looked like tie-dye gone wrong, not like the Family Fun pic. But this was because I was looking at the bottom of the crayon.

Thankfully when we popped out the cool crayon they looked wonderful!

The next step will be to package these cuties. We will put a card behind them in a treat bag. Optional sayings could be:

• You color my world!
• Valentine, you make my heart melt!
• Happy Valentine's Day, for "crayon" out loud!

We have another snow day today, so we may be trying this valentine idea too!

For more great tips for your life in general, go to Works For Me Wednesday, hosted this week by Don't Try This At Home!

Snow Day

Ah, the warm cozy feeling of a snow day. I love it! The kids are all home. The two littles are out frolicking in the back yard. And I'm contemplating what this day might hold.

Valentine crafts with Jodan and Else Annah.

A crockpot of taco meat.

Felted slippers.

An Inspector Morse episode.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I was up past midnight in hopes of a snow day. My husband and older boys were finishing Lost season 1. It was riveting again.

My hope was not in vain. I...am...so...relieved.

I don't function well on little sleep...oh, and Lost season 2 is in transit. Yippee!

Thank you to all who visited me during the Big Bloggy Move. That was so fun!

Sliced Pizza, Sinuses, Lost, and Other Random Drivel

Today is pizza-day at our little Christian school. $1 per slice. My children squeek by with 2 pieces each = $4. For $5 I could get them a whole Little Ceaser's pizza. I hope the school is making some kind of profit on this. It's the only way I can make peace with it.

Joseph is home sick today. I'm not sure what ails him other than sinuses. My ASD child clearly is not in touch with his body. He rarely can read the warnings of illness. I sent him to school yesterday with a stuffy nose. They call me at 10 to please come get him. Joseph was white as a sheet and couldn't process what people were saying. It all leaves a mother feeling rather helpless.

I just finished watching Lost: Season 1 on DVD. I know, I know. I'm way behind the times. But we don't have cable or satellite TV...for which I'm truly thankful. I must admit this series is riveting, in an Alfred Hitchcock-slash-Survivor kind of way. I am breathlessly watching my library holds to see when season 2 comes in. What happens to Walt!!! Don't you dare tell me.

Today should be an office day for me, but with Joseph sick I'll try to work at home. I just don't feel comfortable leaving him alone, even though he is a teenager. I'm praying desperately that I actually do get work done and that my newest DVD series, Inspector Morse, will not drag me in.

DVD series can be evil!

We're Off to See the Wizard!

It's official! Josiah is cast as....

The Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz.

How can you beat that? The title role. The one all mankind searches for. All yellow brick roads lead to him.

Plus he gets the best line in the whole play...

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

My prayers were answered. He is happy and excited. He persevered with grace. I believe he will have fun.

And just to whet your appetite...

You can reserve your tickets any time...

Snow White Visits the Library

Here's my little princess at today's Princess Party at our local library. Sorry for the blur; forgot the flash.

This Snow White costume was a Christmas present. She requested it and I knew it was a "must do". She'd worn her store-bought one to shreds.

I made the costume from Simplicity 9384. This pattern is not for a beginner. The bodice had self-made piping. The sleeves were sewn with three layers of fabric and multiple steps.

But it was cheaper to make than most princess costumes. The fabrics are all broadcloth purchased at 50% off. There are no special trims. The only notions were thread, hooks & eyes, interfacing, zipper, and elastic. I had all of those on hand except the zipper.

I made this costume a bit big, in hopes it will fit her the Summer of 2009. I'm dreaming of another trip to Disney...

But for now, we satisfy ourselves with a Princess Party at the library. Enjoy the pictures!

Riveting story time...

Crown with jewels, glitter and feathers...

And a princess parade!

Call Backs!

The game is on...

Josiah has callbacks on Saturday at 3 pm.

I'm thankful it's not till afternoon. He doesn't get home till 10 pm tonight.

For you Mitford fans, I'm praying the prayer that never fails...

"Thy will be done."

Stretching the Space-Time Continuum

As if this drama-slash-tribal council isn't enough stress in my son's life...

Today Josiah and his dad head to Cedarville University for an overnight stay and college viewing.

Tomorrow he will go to two classes of choice, interview with admissions, go to chapel, interview with a professor, eat with theater students, go to the college production of "Alice in Wonderland," and arrive back home around 10 pm.

Day after tomorrow, Josiah hopefully will have call-backs. Then scurry to Marietta College for a tour, dinner at the dining hall, and viewing of their college production of "Stop the World - I Want to Get Off."

...that seems appropriate...

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Brian takes a group of five up to the Akron area for our district missions training.

And I will hopefully keep everything else together...four remaining kids, Sunday prep, and my own sanity.

Out Wit, Out Play, Out Last - Wizard of Oz Style

Forget Micronesia. Jeff Probst and CBS cameras should head to our high school. Alliances...strategies...betrayal...you'll find it all in the drama department.

Teachers are lurking outside the drama doors trying to catch a glimpse. Teachers are leaving notes in the drama instructor's mailbox for inside information. TEACHERS are asking their students which way the prevailing winds are blowing.

And that's nothing to the electricity and paranoia circling among the students. Each class of the day is consumed with the latest gossip on who has tried out for whom. How their try-out went. And the conventional wisdom for who is getting what part. Loyalties are shifting like quicksand.

Very little instruction or learning is going on at this school this week. Unless you count it as prep-school for Survivor 17.

In case you're interested, Josiah thinks his stock has risen. He learns tomorrow if he has callbacks on Saturday. On Monday we'll pick up the pieces or wildly celebrate.

Overheard

This account comes from my son's children church teacher...

Upon discussing God's desire for us to share and viewing a picture of children sharing their toys, Jodan says...

"I have a hard time sharing my toys. I think I need to talk to God."

He immediately folds his hands and prays silently while the stunned class looks on.

With a big smile, "OK. I feel better now!"

Where did this child come from?????

Oh that I could do business that quickly and simply with God!

My Son, The Wizard of Oz, and High School Try-Outs

Movie Wizard of Oz Cowardly Lion
Originally uploaded by cepatri55

Starting today, my oldest starts a week long flurry of try-outs for the "Wizard of Oz". This is the crowning moment for the drama department, their yearly musical. In the world of this little rural high school, these try-outs are huge.

Josiah has loved the "Wizard of Oz" since he was two years old. He watched it repetitively and had most of the lines memorized by the time he could talk in full sentences.

In grade school, Josiah played a munchkin for a similar high school production. He was one of the beefy lolly-pop guild. He had the striped socks till Junior High.

And now my son wants to play the Cowardly Lion. There are three boys vying for the part. Conventional wisdom at school is that Josiah will not get it.

But Josiah practiced his heart out this weekend. While telling himself he probably wouldn't get it, it was clear that he wanted the part even more.

So I pray for this oldest of mine, that he has peace and fun this week. That his interactions are full of grace. That he learns whatever life lesson God has for him...

And that he wins the part of the Cowardly Lion.

I am his mother, after all.

The Svenson Brothers in The Grave Prince

My oldest son loves drama. He is part of a very active drama troupe in his high school. He is also a thespian!

This last weekend the drama department put on a medieval comedy dinner theater. It was a hoot!

My son was one of the four Svenson brothers. And here you can see him third from the left. The one with glasses.

These four brothers have come to court the clumsy Grace. Yes, four brothers, one girl. You see these brothers do everything together. In fact it takes all four of them to complete a sentence.

Alas, the fourth brother can only say one word: Ed. It's handy that this is also his name. Each brother says a word or so and waits on Ed to finish their thought.

And our proudest moment in this play was each time our son slapped poor Ed in the back of the head. The result? In deepest tortured voice..."ED!"

Here's how it went...

Please
forgive

our brother...

ED!

He is

absent

mind...

ED!

Where are

the lovely ladies

to be court...

ED?

Oh no,

we are never

separate...

ED!

We believe

that in the end

the best brother

will have triumph...

ED!

After this beautiful elocution, Grace comes in and knocks them all out with her mop.

It was a proud moment.

Good job Svenson brothers!

I hope Ed wasn't

permanently

brain damage...

ED!

Overheard...

Sunday morning our two littles were singing praise songs in preparation for worship...

They are so spiritual for 5 and 6.

Their little voices raised in song...

"He is insulted. He is insulted on high!"

Daddy says, "What was that?"

5 year old says, "Yes, Daddy! Jesus is salted. He is a-salted on high!"

Oh my.

Davey Crockett Crochet Jacket & Hat

After a year and a half, I finally finished it. I think I originally started this in August of '06.

I'm great at starting projects. Not so great at finishing them.

After much reminding from my little guy, I finished this Davey Crockett ensemble right before Christmas and put it under the tree.

He barely can get it on, to my shame. But he loves it anyway. For the week after Christmas he rarely took the sweater off.

I crocheted the sweater in a terry yarn rather than the suggested suede. After finishing, I sewed on suede fringe.

The hat is crocheted out of a furry, mohair look yarn. The key is to choose something that looks like a dead animal. he he

The hat has a raccoon tail, of course! Crocheted in stripes.

This ensemble is just TOO cute! Hopefully I'll find a little boy to share this with once Jodan let's go of it.

Today he wore his Davey Crockett sweater to school. I snapped his picture early this morning. Doesn't he look proud?

This pattern comes from the book: Crochet for Kids: Sweaters for Infants, Girls, and Boys. I highly recommend this book for anyone who crochets. The patterns are wonderful.

Frankly, I usually don't like crochet for wearables. I much prefer the look of knitting. But this book offers crochet wearables that even pass my snooty test.

If you crochet, you should give it a look!

My Favorite Christmas Present

My comfie slippers. My mother made these.

She's gotten so cool since all of us kids have grown up and gotten out of her hair. Now she spins her own wool. She knits her own wool. She felts what she knits. She sews a ton of clothes for grand kids and orphanages. She embroiders. She quilts. She crochets. She needle-tats. She leaps over buildings with a single bound...

Well, not really. But she does give me hope that some day I'll have time to do all these things too. When I have grands. But I'm in NO hurry!

Back to my comfie slippers. My mother knit and felted slippers for the whole extended clan this year. These were not made of her hand spun wool, but carefully chosen variegated wools. Each pair was different. And they all had these cool leather soles.

I love my pair. The sole of the slipper was double-knit so that when felted it feels exactly like walking on foam. Amazing!

And I love the suede soles that go up on the side. Very practical. Since I wear these while walking through crushed cheerios and such.

I have five kids. Give me a break.

I love these slippers! Thanks mom!

Overheard...

My 15 year old son...

With wide eyes and manic energy....

"I remember THAT move (The Silver Chair)! It was the first time I had Colby cheese!"

Huh, imagine that...Prince Caspian and Colby cheese forever linked in your psyche...

A Mother's Preconceptions

Sally has a great post over on her blog, A Gracious Home. She poses the question, "What should children do by the age of ten?" and then has a great list and comments.

I have three children over the age of ten and two more half way there. Her list reminded me how I eagerly anticipated re-experiencing the joys of my childhood through their eyes.

As I went through her list, I recalled this expectation. I also recalled how often I was totally disappointed by my children's reactions.

Sitting here today, I found it all quite funny! I had preconceptions of what my children would enjoy. The reality was they rarely reacted how I planned. Do children ever?

I'll borrow from Sally's list and share my remembrances...

Catch fireflies...I have not gotten one...ONE...of my children to be willing to do this. "Catch bugs??? What's wrong with you, Mom!?!"

Light sparklers...I have spent every 4th of July twirling sparklers while my family watches at a safe distance with buckets of water and sand. Well, not the buckets, but they're clearly ready to run.

Build a snowman...None of them have lasted a full snowman. After about the middle snowball, they're ready for snow angels or hot chocolate.

The beach...Great memories there, but their favorite thing was the hammock on the cottage porch.

Sandbox...They loved it. I hated it. Sand in the hair, the ears, the laundry, the floors, the shoes, and so on...

Baseball game...They were bored by the game, but thankfully it was minor-league. They loved the dancing characters and t-shirts shot out of cannons!

Camp...This was similar to the sandbox. Great for them. I felt like I'd turned into a domestic slave. Cook. Clean-up. Straighten-up campsite. Repeat.

Swing...finally, yes swinging is/was a good memory.

Fishing...fishing?!? Refer to fireflies.

Ride a bike...it just hasn't come natural for most of our children, motor-skill issues. Two of my olders now refuse and two youngers are still on training wheels. That equals one qualified bike rider out of the lot.

Zoo...yes, good memory. They got bored a bit quick, but still a winner.

Thanks, Sally for the fun I've had reflecting on your post today. That little list helped me laugh at something that has troubled me in the past. I can let go of my unmet expectations and enjoy the kids for who they are.

Maybe my grandkids will like sparklers....

Overheard...

...by her Sunday School teacher.

"Dear Jesus, thank You that I got the mostest gifts..."

What a proud moment for the preacher's wife...