Valentine's Day Treats

We had such a busy week last week that I didn't get a chance to post the fun Valentine's Day treats that Gregory and I made for his class.

They were super easy and soooo yummy!

They were a huge hit and I know we will be making them again next year. Actually, I decided I could even make them for St. Patrick's Day or Christmas and use Creme de menthe (obviously, not for the classroom (or Gregory)).

We packaged each in individual bags with a bow.

Gregory is a huge SpongeBob fan and put SpongeBob Valentines on each.

There are just five ingredients:

* Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers
* Heavy Whipping Cream
* Sugar
* Vanilla Extract
* Maraschino cherries

*Here’s the tricky part, the Chocolate Wafers are pretty hard to find and they are not found at every grocery store. They didn't carry them at any of the grocery stores in New Richmond. We had to go to Stillwater and they had ONE package at Cub Foods. They are in the cookie aisle, usually on the very top shelf, by the gourmet cookies. Here is a picture of what you are looking for:If you still can’t find them you can also use Oreo Snack Cakes as an alternative. These you can buy at Target and I thought these worked out great for the school treats because they are a bit smaller and a perfect bite size; so they are not so messy for the kids.


Beat the whipping cream at high speed until stiff peaks form (you will use about 1 cup of cream - possibly 2 cups if you want to make a lot of Wafers). Add sugar to taste, or to make yours extra sweet - add 2 Tablespoons sugar per cup of cream. Then add 1 tsp. vanilla.

*To make them pink for Valentine’s Day, add the cherry juice to the whipped cream (this gives the cream a sweet cherry flavor too).*

Once your cream is whipped, start building! Place one wafer on a plate, add a spoonful of whipped cream, stack another wafer on top, then more whipped cream, one more wafer, and then add the final dollop of whipped cream and top it off with a cherry.

*Note: I only made the Valentine treats for the kids at school with 2 wafers because 3 gets a bit high and more messy for the kids to handle. (The teachers and principal's were 3 :) )

Have fun!

Rest in Peace

Grandma Teddy's funeral was yesterday.

I want to thank everyone for their emails, comments and cards. Everything is appreciated very much and means so much. Thank you.

Rest in Peace Grandma Teddy. We love you.

Happy Valentine's Day

Love.

Sweet. Wonderful. Complicated. Crazy. Can't live with it. Can't live without it. Makes us regret doing some things. Makes us regret not doing some things. Looking for it. Running from it. Living for it. Dying from it. Grasping for it. Holding on to it. Losing it. Letting go of it. Never the same before it. Never the same after it.

Love.

..............................

Unspoken, selfless love. The best love of all.

You say it best....when you say nothing at all.



Great movie for Valentine's Day.


Notting Hill.

A great movie to enjoy by yourself or with someone else.

Happy Valentine's Day.

....and they were gone

February 11, 2009.

An emotional day. Great sadness, loss, wonder, acceptance, a presence of peace and internal warmth and comfort.

I write this with a heavy heart; heavy with grief for a young mother who has lost her child and had to bury him today, a life that will go unlived, plans unmet, and dreams never realized.

I write this with a heavy heart; heavy with warmth, gratitude and love for a woman who lived a full, fun, compassionate, strong, love and laughter filled 90 year life beyond dreams and expectations.

I write this.

Due to some circumstances, Kyle was not in school this morning, but was with me. He had made arrangements to go into school later so he could take the test for his driver's license.

He knew that today was the balloon release for Baby Aiden. He wanted to go with me to get a balloon and release it before his test. I was concerned about being short on time to get him to his test on time.

We stopped at Cub Foods and I noticed they sold balloons at their floral counter. I asked if we could get a blue balloon. We were told the helium tank was out of air and not working. She had turned the tank off. She then turned it back on to show us how it would not pump air. Well, for whatever reason, it now worked and did. In a misunderstanding, she filled two blue balloons. We only needed one, but we took both. A man behind us also wanted to get a balloon, a Valentines' Day balloon. She went to blow it up for him and the helium tank would not work. It was out of hellium..............just like it had been two blue balloons before.

We had only needed one balloon. I had given much thought as to how many balloons I wanted to release for Aiden. I wanted to do one, but then I had a hurt in my heart of "him" being alone. I had thought about 3; one to represent him and then each of his parents, but obviously three was not an option because of the tank running out of helium. We had ended up with two. What sense did two make? "Who" was going with him?

Kyle and I went to a park in Stillwater. A place with special meaning to us. A lovely place. Quiet areas with benches for reading books and watching birds. A wooden bridge arched over a stream that winds among the bear grass that blows in the breezes of summer. Tall majestic oak trees for shade and climbing. A place with a grand playground where we have seen children at play; laughing, swinging, running, jumping. A place enjoyed by all ages. For all seasons of life and living.

We wanted Aiden's presence to be felt there.

I held the balloons on my lap on the way to the park. I commented on their white strings; perfect for the angels. It was comforting to hold the balloons, to have them lifting gently and playfully off my lap. I had such a sense to only let one of them go. I really wanted to keep the other with me. It was a strange sensation. I really didn't want to let it go and so wanted to just put it in the back of the van and bring it home. I only needed to let one go.......I should keep the other. I had come to terms with releasing one. One for Aiden. It really made me sad that I was going to release that second balloon. How silly, I thought, but the feeling was there.

When we got to the park, I hesitated with the second balloon and Kyle said we needed to let them both go. He would hold them while I took the pictures. I then took one of the balloons from him. I wanted to take a picture of it tied to a child's swing. Something Aiden should have had the opportunity to experience. And would not. While taking those photos the other balloon ended up tied to a bench. A bench where a Grandma would rest.

I took the photos of the balloon and the swing and then Kyle gathered them both up and said we needed to release them. At the same time. They needed to go together. I touched both of them gently, I could see the emotion in Kyle's eyes. He also hesitated at the second balloon. He lifted his hand, opened it, and let them go.

We watched. The tears could not be held back and trickled down our faces. The presence of the Lord was heavy upon us. In the gloomy, windy and cold day we were warmed, comforted and at total peace. All was still. We watched the balloons. It was beautiful. They went higher and higher. They started off together, and then drifted apart briefly. Then, they came back together with such purpose.....there high in the sky....they bumped into each other. They then continued their journey up and away, together..........we squinted and watched until they disappeared into the white clouded sky..................













...................and they were gone.


Kyle and I walked back to the van. I noticed the light on my phone was blinking. I had received a phone call and a message while we were releasing the balloons.

It was a message from Jay.

Grandma Teddy had just passed away.

Two lives......
.......one yet to take a first breath
.......one filled with 90 years of them


.................and they were gone.

Theodora "Teddy" Earnest
Grandma Teddy

Always with a smile and a belly laugh
You are loved by many and will be missed
We know you were greeted by Grandpa Jay, Sally, Johnny and Gary today and are surrounded by long awaited laughter and love

Reality

One thing about kids. They always force us to look deeper into ourselves.

Gregory had an away tournament near Turtle Lake. It was a real learning experience for him. This was a tournament based solely on weight, not experience or grade level. The kids he wrestled were real good. They had all been wrestling for at least 4 years; one of them 10 years and had been to State.

Gregory took 3rd in the tournament and we are very proud of him. He was disappointed. He took 2nd in his first tournament and expected to either do that or better here. He received his 3rd place medal.

A short while after receiving his medal I looked at him and noticed something different. The colors on the ribbon of the medal that he was wearing around his neck were a different color than they had been half an hour earlier. They were now red and black (Stillwater colors).

I asked him what was going on with his medal.

G: I'm wearing my 2nd place medal from the Stillwater tournament.

M: Why

G: It is 2nd place. It is better.

M: Gregory, you are at this tournament, you should wear the medal you earned here. Not one you earned from another tournament.

G: It is better. I don't want to be 3rd place. I'm going to wear 2nd place. Now I am 2nd place.

So is that how it works? No matter what place he gets, he can keep that 2nd place medal in his bag and whenever he gets anything less than 2nd place he can pull it out, put the other one away, wear 2nd place and now he's in 2nd place? He never has to face reality?

Don't wear reality. Don't face reality.

A 10 year old at a wrestling tournament is not alone. I know I have seen this, and personally experience it, in many things worn other than a medal at a wrestling tournament. Lack of reality and living in yesteryear is often witnessed in shoe stores, clothing stores, and my own closet.

I don't know how many times I have been in the shoe department and watched as the attendant measures someone's feet...........you will need a size 8. No, I am a size 7. I have never been a size 8. It says size 8. Please get me a size 7, I am a size 7. Size 7 doesn't fit, she squeezes and molds, walks around with a limp. Something is wrong with this shoe. I am a size 7 and it doesn't fit right.

How many of us try to fit into a size small shirt when we really wear a medium. How many of us try on or wear a pair of pants or a dress that is a size or so too small. If that is the size we can get on.......have on.......that is the size we are. Regardless of how we look or feel. We were that size once, and because we have squeezed and stuffed ourselves in it again, we are that size today too! We don't want to be 3rd place........we want to be 2nd place..... and there we stand looking like idiots.........but we have on our 2nd place medal...........so that's what we are!

If only we could accept that it is o.k. to be 3rd place. We need to either be happy with 3rd place and enjoy it or if we really want to be 2nd place we need to do something different to make it happen. Work harder, make changes. Pretending we are in 2nd place, when we are in 3rd, doesn't make it a reality.

We all look like idiots when we try to be something we are not.

The real first place winner..............The one wearing the 50th place medal, but wearing it proudly and well!

Wrestling "Boxing" Results

Kyle has been suffering from bronchitis and wrestled for the first time in 2 weeks last Friday. The tournament was in Minnetonka.

I think Kyle and the kid he was wrestling were a bit confused. I think they thought it was a boxing match rather than a wrestling match.

It started by other kid giving a pretty good intentional blow to Kyle's left eye. So hard in fact, Kyle's vision turned blurry and he had a hard time clearing his head. Kyle got MAD. He attempted to drag and throw the kid into the chairs twice....once stopped by the ref......the other not. Several heal of the hand blows to each others faces later, followed by cradles, head locks, and hard knocks ended with the following match results:

Kyle one black and swollen eye, one bruised brow, blurred vision.
Other kid; 2 black eyes, swollen face, scraped forehead, bruised ego.

Winner of Fight: Kyle
Winner of Match: Kyle

Kyle spent the weekend sporting his new look that looked an awful lot like "Rocky".....after Apollo Creed. You remember them, they too were wrestlers :)

Saturday Simple Pleasures

I should title these posts "Saturday Simple Pleasures Posted on Monday", it seems that is when I can finally get them posted!

Busy weekend, but these are some of the simple things I enjoyed on Saturday:

Gregory first noticed the beautiful sunrise. We went out and stood in the quiet, sleepy street and took some photos in the glow of the watercolor painting surrounding us.

I went out in the sunroom to see if I could get a good shot of the sunrise.....it was amazing


When I was out in the sunroom I realized it wasn't freezing! How exciting to know that we are going to get to be spending some time out there. I can't wait to watch the gardens bloom and watch the kids in the backyard in not too long from this great vantage point. This is a photo of 1/2 of our backyard. I can't believe we have yet to use our smokehouse or our sauna.....kind of forgot we had them.


While I was out there I looked over at the daybed and had to laugh. This pillow case on the daybed shows the last time we were out in the sunroom. I will be getting something springy on there!

I had to take a photo of my Valentine's Day flag blowing in the breeze and the melted road beyond it. We're turning that corner into spring!!!!


Saturday Bundt. Was gone by Sunday night. Homemade German Chocolate with a homemade frosting. It was soooooo yummy.



This also brings me to another pleasure. Many have written me asking me why I don't post the recipes to these delights. Very exciting news........we are adding on to our blog house with a recipe wing. It won't be ready for about 7 weeks. I know, but those that know me know...... I don't MOVE fast. It will be very exciting when it is ready to move into and all of these recipes will be there!

Speaking of MOVING. Whenever we have moved, the last thing I have taken off the wall in the "old" house and the last thing I put up in the "new" house to signal the transition is complete is the following :


It was hung up this Saturday signaling the transition from Stillwater is finally complete. If anything can bring a smile to face that is sure it!


Yes, I know it is "wintery" but it stays up all year. If you are going to make something out of that you will probably want to make something out of my kitchen calendar that NEVER gets changed. I hung it up (it was the correct date) the first Christmas after we got married. I am too busy to spend my time re-doing a calendar every month, so it has stayed the exact same ever since. Every December 1st I check it to see if this is its year to be correct. (I don't look beforehand, because it is like a Christmas present and I don't want to peek). Something to look forward to every year!

Some call it laziness. I call it a great life lesson.

I think it's a very creative gift for the entire family once a year. So we have to look at the wrong month and date 11 months out of the year. Here is the great life lesson: With everything great there is always a sacrifice!

And because even after looking at the wrong date for 11 months (sacrificing) it usually still is not correct (another great life lesson: Just because you sacrificed doesn't mean it is always going to turn out the way you hope!)


It is going to bring me great pleasure to walk into all of your kitchens now and see calendars with the wrong month and date, sharing these life lessons with your family :)

Can we come up with a life lesson for falling way behind on laundry?

I'm Sad The Angels Get To Play With You Before I Do

These are the words Cynthiaa said to her son Aiden as she held him in her arms upon his birth.

Cynthiaa was due to deliver her son in just 2 weeks. But on Monday, February 2, when she went to her routine doctor’s appointment she learned that her beautiful baby boy had passed away due to umbilical cord strangulation. They immediately scheduled her for a C-Section and Aiden James was born into heaven at 11:23 that morning.

This is a mother who wants her baby back. She wants everything to be "fixed". God has a plan for all of us and only in time will we know what that is. In the heart of grief it is so hard, nearly impossible, to imagine what His plan could possibly be. He whispers to us through our pain that there is a life beyond the present suffering. He sits silently with us in our anguish, in the moments that are so heavy and unimaginable, the ones that we cannot escape or blink away. He reminds us that the seemingly endless grief is but a moment that will fade in the vast expanse of the Life to come.

He promises, trust in Him, He will carry us through this, there will be Goodness, but it is difficult to see beyond our grief at the moment.

Please pray for Cynthiaa and that she lets Him carry her right now. Pray He will comfort her and hold her close. Pray that she will hear His whispers and know that she is not alone.

To read more about Cynthiaa and Aiden please read her blog here.

On Wednesday, February 11th, there is going to be a balloon release for Angel Aiden. They are looking for everyone possible to join in. If you could release a blue balloon (or a few of them..your choice) and take a picture, then email it, they would like to put them into an album, showing all the places that balloons were released for Angel Aiden.

If you would like to participate...THANK YOU...please spread the word. Contact information is:

e-mail address: yummy_mummy_x@live.com.

Coordinator's Corner

I just received my layouts for publication from Pat, a wonderful photographer (Sandhill Photography), who I had shoot a wedding we planned, designed, provided the decor and flowers and coordinated last fall. (Look at Kathy's beautiful flowers :) )

This is the ONLY wedding I have ever had that it was a complete downpour from start to finish, and, of course, it was an outdoor ceremony. Rain was not in the forecast, but we are always prepared! In Minnesota, if you have an outdoor wedding, you always have a Plan B (usually a tent (in this case a couple)). You never, ever, know what the weather is going to do.

The reception had originally been planned to be an outdoor reception on a rooftop, but due to many different circumstances, we had to change that just a week before the wedding (and had to totally redesign the reception). We did end up with it indoors, which worked out perfect for the weather conditions.

For so many reasons, and not just the pouring rain, I do believe this is the most difficult wedding and reception I have ever planned and "made the magic happen". This gives me all that much more fulfillment and gratification to see it take life and come together.

If you will notice the violinist, Jim. Bless his heart for playing in the rain. I do believe he is the only musician I know that would do that, and with good reason, those instruments are expensive and rather fragile with the elements. Most of the time we were holding an umbrella over his head as he strolled the pathway upon guest arrival. He insisted we do one quick shot without it.

These are the beautiful shots after everything came together. (click on photos to enlarge).















Beautiful Weddings Don't JUST HAPPEN

Now a look behind the scenes (remember this was all done in the POURING RAIN!) (this is why people hire us :) :