We made these for breakfast this morning and they turned out so well. I did it mainly for Jillian and Corinne, but the big kids liked them just as much. I just used my own pancake recipe (whole wheat, of course!) and then we decorated them like this. Simple and cute—this recipe is going into my Christmas recipe binder. Enjoy!
Tall, tall, tall. So tall that the kids had to get inventive to stack the huge balls on top of each other.
We didn’t even have a lot of snow—about 6 inches—but it was nice and wet and made great snowballs and forts and igloos. Evan asked if he could sleep here tonight:
I think he was a little bit glad I said no. But what a great day! This kept everyone busy and happy and working together for hours—priceless. I love these unplanned, spontaneous, free activities when everyone is getting along and having fun. It wouldn’t have gone nearly as well if I had suggested it and insisted they all go outside together.
“Mom, come look at this snowflake I made!” I hear from the other room. “Yeah,” the other kids chime in, “you gotta see this!” I walk toward their voices, pasting a smile on my face and vowing I won’t say anything (yet) about the mounds of little white paper scraps that are bound to be all over the just-vacuumed floor. Sure enough, Evan made the most amazing snowflake—and with no little white scraps! Enter technology. This website kept 5 kids busy for quite awhile, all of them taking a turn at making a snowflake masterpiece. Try it—it’s addicting!
http://snowflakes.barkleyus.com/index.html?taf=sender
It’s telling of my life these days that I evaluate projects based on their mess factor. I weigh my responses carefully to the “Mom can we make_________?” questions based on the amount of cleanup I’ll face afterwards.
We celebrated Alyssa’s 15th birthday today two days ago (why does it take me days to write a single post in between lots of interruptions?). It was a busy day but she was so understanding about us squeezing in a cinnamon roll breakfast before school and a lasagna dinner in the few minutes between basketball practice and YW in Excellence & the scout court of honor. We didn’t do cake and presents until after 9pm when we were all home again.
What would I do without Alyssa? She is a second mother to Hayley and she is so good at it! Much better than I was at her age. I don’t even have to ask for her help—she just jumps in and changes diapers or offers to read Corinne a story. Brian and I have slipped away on a date a few times since Hayley was born and Alyssa does such a great job taking care of everyone while we’re gone.
When I read my teenage journals, I look at Alyssa and realize that she is more mature and self-assured than I felt at her age. She is becoming quite talented on the piano and can play music I never could. She is an amazing artist and already draws much better than I did in my high school art classes—and she’s never taken a class until recently. And last weekend when I played a game with her I was reminded again how intelligent she is.
I watched her during the YW in Excellence program on her birthday while I held Hayley in my arms and realized what a beautiful, kind, and accomplished person she is becoming. I marveled how quickly the last 15 years have passed since I was holding Alyssa the same way. I am so thankful for the gospel and the teachings and guidance it gives us as we strive to raise excellent young women. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful oldest daughter. I love you, Alyssa!
