To ALL My Valentine's

Isa Video

Isa is a going concern these days as she's discovered her ability to slide her way across the hardwood floors. The slippery surface once presented an obsticle as she couldn't keep her knees under her, but now she has discovered that she can walk with her hands and just slide her bottom making all my hard floor surfaces perfect for this technique.

I can't believe how quickly she's grown. At 8 months it's already hard to imagine the 6lb tiny bundle they presented to me at her birth. She's probably closer to 18lbs now and is turning into a little person. Yesterday she waved goodbye to her brother as he left for school, and she loves to repeat my name "Mom" whenever she wants something. I just wish I could slow time down and savor every single moment, but as hard as I try moments come and go, and my baby will grow just as my other two have.

No More Pancake Guilt!

  Every year I attend some terrific local fundraisers where all sorts of talented people auction off / raffle off some fabulous creations.  When it comes to the raffles I never seem to win anything I put my tickets in for.  This year I bought twice as many tickets and tried for Hat & Mitts, Hotel Suites, Tea Basket just to name a few.  But again, no luck. (I don't mind really, the money is for a good cause).

  But every year my companions at my table feel sorry for me and send me home with one of the table centers as a consolation prize.  Each year it's a different recipe but the idea is the same - just add eggs, milk and oil.  You know the kind I mean, those cute little jars that someone has lovingly filled with a mixture of ingredients to create a cullinary delight in just a few steps.  I don't know what it is, but I never seem to find the right time to add those ingredients necessary to complete my part of the mixture.  It used to be my Mom was around to mix them up for the kids while I was at work after she noticed it had been sitting there for quite some time.  But with them moving to the other side of the country my guess is she won't bail me out this time.

  When I opened my cupboard this weekend, the jar was still there waiting for me (the fundraiser was in December).  It was taunting me saying, "Mix me up, it can't hurt as I'm a combination of all things yummy!"

  Chocolate Cherry Pancakes, how could you go wrong?!  The guilt got the best of me this time, so I pulled it out of the cupboard, took off that cute little mixing spoon and poored the ingredients into a bowl.  I added the neccesary egg, milk, and oil, and stirred it all together. Once in the pan, I could smell all that pancake goodness and was eager to try this new concoction.

And for once I didn't even burn them!

  The Pancakes were a hit.  I mean how could you go wrong with cherries and chocolate? (I'm not condoning chocolate for breakfast)  I even had some and I'm not a pancake person!

  So the next time I'm handed one of these cute little jars, I will not hesitate to open it up and try what could be a tasty treat.  Although I'm hoping I will win one of those fundraising draws one year.  But at least there will be no more Pancake Guilt!