cinnamon buns & enjoying the ride

We made cinnamon buns a while back and even though the kitchen was a wild mess at the end, we had a blast. I am learning more and more how to step back and let my children do more for themselves. It is hard at times to let go…knowing I could pour the two cups of flour easily with minimal amounts of flour particles billowing into the air.

But I’ve realized over time that letting my children make mistakes is their best teaching tool; even in the kitchen. For some mothers, that sounds like nails on a chalkboard. But my kids know where the paper towels, napkins, rags, hand broom and dust pan are and when they inevitably spill something they say, “oops!” and scurry to clean it up properly. I tell them it is alright to make mistakes and that they now know how to be more careful next time; and they are.

Our fancy-shmancy cinnamon rolls came from my Betty Crocker recipe book.

 We had fun mixing the yeast and kneading the dough, watching the dough rise and their favorite…rolling out the dough.

I can’t decide which is sweeter:

 the cinnamon buns or my sons tiny hands pulling the thread around the cinnamon roll.

"Wait!"

 "We have to bake them first!"

When the cinnamon rolls were finished baking, we poured a simple vanilla, powdered sugar icing on top. Yum!

I love how simple and yet tasty the Betty Crocker recipes are.

Their recipes are perfect for this busy stage in my life.

I know there will be plenty of opportunities in the future when I will have the time to hunt down obscure ingredients, but for now, I am focusing on making memories with my children and not competing for a blue ribbon.

*** 

I will leave you with my favorite quote from the movie Parenthood (1989).

[Gil has been complaining about his complicated life; Grandma wanders into the room]

Grandma: You know, when I was nineteen, Grandpa took me on a roller coaster.
Gil: Oh?
Grandma: Up, down, up, down. Oh, what a ride!
Gil: What a great story.

Grandma: I always wanted to go again. You know, it was just so interesting to me that a ride could make me so frightened, so scared, so sick, so excited, and so thrilled all together! Some didn't like it. They went on the merry-go-round. That just goes around. Nothing. I like the roller coaster. You get more out of it.

***
Bake something with your kids. Get messy. Enjoy the ride!

{ What do you or your kids love to bake? }

s.m.i.l.e

I stumbled upon Color Me Katie’s blog a while ago and found it happy and, well, happy! When life gets blue, I bypass my regular news websites and choose to focus on positive things to keep moving. Those things are, in order; God’s promises in the Bible, going down my mental list of things I am forever thankful for, extra sleep, eating healthy food, saying no to unnecessary stuff, calling family, taking a walk and perusing happy/inspiring websites.

When I saw the little things Katie did around her neighborhood just to make someone smile, I giggled. Check out this link that inspired me to paint my own little rock. I have it outside my door and every time I walk in my house I smile.

I may just make some more and put them around the neighborhood!

little milestones

I remember when I was a little girl and I wanted nothing more than to learn how to whistle. My two older brothers and my older sister could whistle. In my head, they whistled like song birds and so I practiced all day long to try to make a single note. I clearly remember the pure joy and excitement that followed when I finally, finally learned how to form my little cheeks and lips to whistle! I was so happy to share my new talent with my siblings and parents.

Learn to whistle; Check!

This week my youngest experienced pure joy from reaching yet another childhood milestone; blowing a bubble with bubble gum. I know he is almost seven, but I rarely give my kids gum, because I am smart like that, and they have had few chances to practice. So when I handed the boys a piece of bubble gum this week my youngest was determined to learn this whole bubble blowing thing and practiced like an Olympian athlete. Chomp, chomp, chomp, silence…….chomp, chomp, chomp, silence…. “almost!” He finally got it and could barely keep the bubble gum in his mouth because he was smiling so big and giggling.

Learn to blow a bubble with bubble gum; Check!

If you are lacking in your bubble gum,

bubble blowing skills here is a little tutorial.