Managing the Busy

My mind is full of the things that lay before me for the rest of the week and I swallow down panic before it builds.  Drew and I are heading into our busiest week of the month.  Where it feels like all commitments slam into each-other.  It happens, one week of the month where everything collides.  And its just life.  And all you can do is continue.  Move from one thing to the next, give it your best and leave it behind you.

Time management is becoming crucial in our lives, for the quiet days to be used smartly to prepare for the busy nights.  And during weeks like this I find I miss my husband, I miss the quiet nights of last week when we sipped wine and talked.  It will come back, next week, a night here and there.  And those nights are what make these busy ones work. We're learning to be thankful in everything, in the busy and in the quiet.  For there is a lot to be thankful in the busy weeks.  That we are able to be busy, that we can work together and encourage one another.  That we can watch each-other grow in our church community.  That the quiet nights become so precious.  

And so if I'm quiet on here next week it is simply because I am sipping wine with hubby and recovering from this busy week :)

And here's a favorite recipe.  One that is my fail proof for any event that requires baking, church functions, family functions.  Its easy, full of sugar and can be made into squares or cookies.  Enjoy!

1cup margarine

1cup brown sugar

1cup white sugar (I warned you it was full of sugar:)

1tsp vanilla

2 eggs

2cups oatmeal (I'm pretty sure the oatmeal cancels the sugar?)

2cups flour

1/2tsp baking powder

1tsp baking soda

1/2tsp salt

1cup choc. chips

Beat margarine and sugar(s).  Add vanilla and eggs, beat.  Add oatmeal, beat some more.  Add all remaining ingredients (except choc.chips).  When the flour is mixed through, add choc. chips. 

Spread into a greased 9x13 and bake for 15-20 min (until brown at edges)

or bake into cookies and then bake for 10-12ish min (until brown at edges).  

They are wonderful, quick and the crowds love them.  I don't often bake them for just as as we eat them too quickly :)  But they freeze wonderfully....which is also good.  Considering that frozen baking doesn't deter me....

Until next time,

Pumpkin Muffins

And as wonderful as Monday was, Tuesday was 5 times worse.  Horrid Tuesday.  I wanted to sent out resumes and find a job outside of the home horrible.  Screaming and doors slamming and feet stomping.  Awful.  I wanted to change my name and leave my children with a stranger horrible.  I wanted to sell my house with my kids still in it awful.  That kinda day.  

As with all days there was good times to be had, but snatches of awful are what stick in my mind.  In all honesty Maddie and the little boy I babysit (once a week) were wonderfully wonderful.  It was really just my oldest two.  And my nephew for the time I had him, he was really good. 

Sigh...

These awful days, they are apart of being home with little ones, they are apart of everyone's life.  They don't not happen just because you're home or because you work.  And you get through it and the next day is new.  Fresh.  And the two that caused all that horror woke up with no remembrance of the trauma they put on their mother.  They have behaved today and have played well.  The younger two are napping well.  Kaylin is at a playdate and Jacob has been wonderful.  And today I feel like I know what I'm doing and yesterday, well I felt like i was ruining them, one by one.  And that Maddie was sweet still only cause she hasn't been around long enough for me to ruin her.

And today is good.  And today is what I need to remember.  That those awful days are apart of mothering and there WILL be more like that. Probably many more.  And cause I don't want to think of the terrible yesterday I'm only going to think of today and share with you a yummy muffin recipe.  Not healthy (unless you can convince yourself that the pumpkin eliminates the sugar...I can).

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
1 2/3 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1TBSL pumpkin pie spice (or just apple spice)
1tsp baking soda
1/4tsp baking powder
1/2tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin
1/2 cup margarine (melted)
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350.  In a medium bowl stir together dry ingredients, set aside.  In a small bowl beat together eggs, pumpkin and margarine.  Stir in choc. chips. Add to dry mixture and stir until just moistened.  Pour into greased muffin tin and bake for 15-18 min or until muffin tops spring back when touched.  Makes a dozen muffins (I always double the recipe so I can use a whole can of pumpkin and freeze half....they freeze great)....oh and you can add pecans, just brown them for a bout 5 min in the oven and add them with the choc. chips.

A disclaimer....if you know where I live and I post on a Monday that I'm going to be baking muffins later  do NOT show up after 9:00 thinking they are done and ready to be eaten...(ahem...Mom:)...it means I will be baking them LATER.....you can show up the next day to eat one:)

Yes to chocolate pudding!

A friend on facebook posted awhile ago a chocolate pudding recipe. Made with avocado's, honey and coconut oil. A thing of beauty and healthy goodness.

Well....

The kids weren't so sure about it. After all, its NOT full of sugar. But they kept trying...

Jacob kept sneaking little licks and shaking his head and saying "I dunnoo....i just dunnoo".

And after a few tries Kaylin decided that she did like it.  I enjoyed it the next day. The first day I couldn't get past the blender full of avocado. More to do with the fact that a couple of weeks ago Maddie had a rather bad reaction to avocado (or banana's we're not sure).  And I can't help but view avocado as something terrible and evil after that.  But we're slowly getting over that......

Heres the recipe!

Chocolate Pudding
2 Ripe Avocados (peel and cube)
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup of cocoa
2 TBSP coconut oil

You mix in a blender (a bit tricky cause its thick, it would be easier in a magic bullet)  And because all I have is a blender at one point I needed to add a dash of milk to help it mix.

Enjoy!

And on the home front, the colds have passed and we're a happy family once again! Phew!

Happy Monday!