Ghost Story

OK, let me explain my nightly ritual:

Every night, I multi-task by saying my prayers in the family room while my rice bag (thank you Monika - I am still using the one you gave me forever ago) heats up in the microwave. Last night, I was all alone (meaning my husband was gone and the kids were in bed) and it was later than usual (maybe 11:30).

So, I am praying (cue the scary music), and feel this little rush of cold air by my feet. Hmm, that is strange, I thought. Then, I was just sure someone was in the room, but good grief - I am praying, so maybe that is a good thing (or maybe not, depending on my behavior the last 24 hours). I talked myself out of someone else being in the room with me, and tried to focus on praying. I dutifully kept my eyes closed (maybe out of fear) the entire time.

Well, when I woke up, I mean opened my eyes, there was a slight movement behind me.

Pause:  is your stomach churning?

Aggghhghgh, there was my son!! He was right behind me and had somehow silently waited there without making an audible sound (that could never, ever happen during the day). I freaked out and hugged him so tight, I think he thought I was trying to crush his bones.

End of story. And, now it is time to go say my prayers. Even just telling this story gives me the hibijibis.

Crazy Singing

I live in a unique home. I made my children aware of their 'vocal chords' early on, by explaining how we definitely don't want to injure our vocal chords (I am a Speech Language Pathologist). The other night, my son and his dad were watching a show from National Geographic, something like "How the Body Works". The singer Steven Tyler, (I don't know his official title) from Aerosmith (am familiar with this band - rock style music), was interviewed and followed after injuring his vocal chords. According to my son, Steven Tyler's singing was "crazy singing". I can't even tell you the extent of the interview or the injury. All I know is that when prayer-time came around, my son was concerned and prayed that Steven Tyler would stop injuring his vocal chords.

Do you think this is a first for Steven? Should I write him a letter to let him know he made the prayer list?

Aspring Actress

I get such a kick out of my daughter. This time I am talking about my two-year old. She has this skill where she can (and has always been able to) feign sleep at any given second. She uses this skill when she wants attention. I tried to get a picture of it today, but I am telling you - this happens on a daily basis. If it happens in public, which it did today, I get all kinds of looks and concern from passersby. Look at the photo, then read on. Today we were walking into an appointment. She was holding my pinky-finger (always) and tripped up a bit, falling to the floor. She layed there, for -- I am not even exaggerating -- a full minute before she even moved a bit. Her face is touching the floor, arms sprawled and she just lays there waiting for me to shower love and concern on her. She is motionless and silent. I know her act, we went through this at the grocery store yesterday. I have to put down everything in my hands, reach down and pull dead weight up. Then, she is on her way, happy as can be.



Bad Day



I'll try to get a photo of her doing this in car, I'll tell her she can't watch a movie and (picture me snapping my finger) instantly she has tilted her head, peacefully closed her eyes and she's out. Or so it seems.

Mt Wanna Hacka Luckie

I am borrowing a "funny" from the other day. I'll do that from time to time or maybe more often than that.

You know the movie, "Nemo"? It is definitely a favorite around here. I have only watched it a few times, but I've listened to it countless numbers of times while driving my kids either to Idaho or to Oregon to visit family.

There is a part in there where some of the non-main character fish are chanting something that sounds like "Mt Wanna Hack a Loogie" which strikes my husband and I funny every time we hear it. Our kids are clueless though.

I laughed and laughed the day I heard my little girls playing pretend on their car mat. They named the airport "Mt Wanna Hacka Luckie" and kept saying it over and over. Now, they know something is funny, but they aren't sure what. I simply can't hide my giggles.

6-Layer Bars

Sometimes happiness is found in "cleaning up the edges" on amazing desserts. Here's one of my favorites.

6 Layer Bars

1/2 cup butter or margarine, mltd

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (abt 1 pckg)

1 (14 ounces) can sweetened condensed milk

2 cups semisweet chocolate morsels

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped nuts

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees (325 for glass dish). Coat 9x13-inch baking pan with no-stick cooking spray. (I use a glass 11x8 inch pan so they're thicker)
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into bottom of prepared pan. Pour sweetened condensed milk evenly over crumb mixture. Layer evenly with chocolate chips, coconut and nuts. Press down firmly with a fork.
3. Bake 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars or diamonds. Store covered at room temperature.

I don't have any credit to give as to who 'invented' this recipe but I can formally thank my friend Janelle for giving it to me.

Here's one funny story behind this recipe: I took a pan of this to my cousins in the area. We had dinner with our uncle and aunt visiting from Idaho. We enjoyed a great afternoon of visiting and laughing. When I brought out this dish, we enjoeyd more talking and each of us took a polite serving of this dish.

The more we talked, the more I noticed my uncle taking just a little more. When I asked him about this, he just said, "I am just cleaning up the edges".