Dream Dinner

Okay, this is sappy.

I have served heart-shaped meat loaf to Love Man for Valentine's Day for 21 years.

It is silly, I know.

But, it is our tradition.

We went to see "The Reader" last yesterday afternoon.

The girls turned on the oven with meat loaf already in it and burner on the stove for the potatoes.

When we got home, we had dinner.

I also picked up 101 cases of cookies.

The girls have eaten almost all of our stash.

I have to admit, I have had a few myself,

even Love Man,

who barely eats anything bad anymore.

We still have 57 boxes of surplus (you order 12 in a case) to unload.

I still have 5 Moms to come and collect their cookies.

Once they are picked up,

I will email the rest of the troop with the extras available for sale.

Sugar Cookies

These are fantastic,

very simple and great. And, speaking of cookies -

I am off to collect

101 cases of Girl Scout cookies as I am the cookie mom.

My neighbor is taking me.

Love Man surprised the girls and is taking Miss Thing to her soccer game.

They were thrilled.

Miss Brunette started to cry.

Never Fail Sugar Cookies

1 pound butter
2 c. sugar
4 eggs

Beat very well until creamy.

Mix Together
6 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. soda

Add gradually to egg mixture.

Chill overnight (I sometimes chill a little bit).
Roll out on lightly floured board. Cut in shapes.

Bake 350 - 375 degrees for 8 minutes

Do not over bake, they should be not be brown. Cool on rack

NOTE: I sometimes only chill for an hour or less.

I only work with a small section of dough and keep the rest in refrigerator.

A hint of almond
extract is awesome,

but be careful of people with nut allergies.

This is mother-in-law's recipe.

She doesn't own a computer,

so she doesn't read the blog.

Shhhhh!

The girls will be getting a big surprise this Valentine's Day.

No, it is not a dog.

I would tell you, but they read this blog.

Not regularly, but they read it.

A Sweet Valentine

We have been baking and decorating cakes for our preschool families.
The children frosted and decorated them today.

I was surprised that she sorted her candies by color and type for her cake.

Most of the cakes looked like this.

This one has a face. He has six other siblings, so this cake may be a bit small.

We baked 20 cakes in all.

I brought one home for the girls to decorate.

They will be excited.

The love it when I drag stuff home from preschool.

I hid it in the refrigerator to save until tomorrow night.

Still Life

All is well. It was cold last night. There was frost on the outdoor cushions. This weekend, Miss Brunette and I are going to discuss her birthday party.

Tonight, Tonight

Tonight is Mom's Night at the preschool.

The little preschoolers are whipped into a frenzy.

We painted pots to plant flowers in.

One boy dropped his and chipped another girl's.

Her mother tells me she is traumatized about it.

I told her she could have the new one she painted today and the chipped one,

which I naturally saved in a bag for her.

Please, I have done this for a few years.

You can not throw away anything that they make.

The Mom will have to sneak the extra one out of the school as 18 other eyes will surely notice.

She may have to make something mosaic out of that pot.

Back From the Weekend

We have been pretty busy lately.
Running here, there and everywhere.
Blonde Girl scored her first GOAL in soccer.
She feels completely different after the goal.
She told me so on the way to school today.
It has apparently changed her entire life.
Miss Brunette has a Valentine's Day dance tonight.
Parents get to come.
I will try not to embarrass her.