The Sweet Smell of Success

Abby and Ally ask me often if they can take over the kitchen and make some baked goods.  (By "often" I mean 6 or 7 days a week.)  Abby has memorized Grandma's recipe for Health bread and Ally is able to whip up a batch of gingersnaps all by herself.  Yesterday, however, they pursued a new challenge.  They asked to try their hands at a Cinnamon yeast bread  using a recipe they found on America's Test Kitchen.  I didn't start making yeast breads until after I got married because I know what an undertaking they can be (especially since my BreadMan died a few years ago), but I obliged their request. 
The entire process took about 4 hours, with rising, rolling, and baking.  I didn't help them one iota -- they did the whole thing themselves. The result: pure awesomeness!

 Here are the happy bakers. (This photo also illustrates why, when Abby outgrows clothing, it sits in storage for a few years before Ally can wear it.)

                                                    Beautiful!

                     

    Mmmm...can you smell how yummy it is?

                               You want one more look, don't you?

Wordless Wednesday

"Well, this is awkward, what with us showing up to breakfast wearing the same outfit."





Best. Day. Ever. (or at least, pretty close)

Wednesday, Feb. 16:
 Day three of my life as a 41 year-old. The snow was long gone and the kids were looking forward to playing outside in the sunshine. My laptop was (still is) unusable while I await a new power cord to arrive, so school was staggered and improvised among the girls.  I heard Matt's phone ring and brought it to him (he was ...ahem..."indisposed" at the moment) and realized it was just a solicitor calling.  Then I noticed his email symbol blinking. He didn't have his glasses on so I read the email to him.
It was a job offer.
He accepted.
He starts Monday.
He received another email: our tax return was accepted and the refund is on its way.  Whew! We hadn't been sure how that would pan out since our only income in 2010 was from his unemployment payments.
His phone rang.  It was so-and-so publisher. The survey Matt filled out last week just won him a $250 Visa gift card; no strings attached. Well, okay - if you insist!
I had to order a new phone for Zac because his broke. I had a free upgrade on my line so I let him pick out the phone he wanted and I started to place the order online.  The phone was free but it's $18 to upgrade the line.  What a rip-off! Matt suggested I call AT&T and see what I could do to avoid  having to pay the fee. I did, and "Gloria" (the customer service rep)  laughed and agreed that the fee was rather ludicrous, then sweetly gave me an $18 credit on my next bill. Why, thank you!
Zac went to youth group that evening armed with his registration form and $28 for the 2-day retreat they're holding this weekend. We really wanted him to be able to attend the retreat so we rearranged this week's grocery budget to cover the money.  He texted us to say that his youth leaders announced the winner of a photo contest they'd had, and it was he who won! The prize: free registration to the retreat.
To top off a nearly perfect day, we watched a previously-missed episode of Burn Notice.
Ahhh...life is good.

February 14: Varnell-entines Day

  Matt always does something sweet for our girlies on this day, and this year he went REALLY sweet!  He baked a cookie-cake last night all by himself from scratch.  He surprised them with it today at lunchtime. I, ever the documentarian, captured the process in pictures.   Our daughters are so lucky to have such a thoughtful daddy!
                                                 

Matt analyzing the best way to spread the dough

                                            

What's with the beater?  Nathan grabbed it from the drawer and waved it in front of the camera just as I snapped the picture!

                                                   

Matt wanted to include all four girls' names but they just wouldn't fit

                                           

Daddy's little sweethearts loved their surprise!

Hello There, Cupcake!

Over the weekend I promised to let the kids make some sweet treats.  The older three had gone their separate ways so it was the younger ones' turn to take over the kitchen.
Here they are, ready to start:

Mmmm...fresh from the oven!

I topped each cupcake with vanilla frosting and let the happy bakers decorate them from that point. (that's dark chocolate drizzled on top.)

 Letting my girls watch "Cake Boss" and "Food Network Challenge" has really paid off!  Look at these works of art!

Snow Days

I just took Zac and Seth to the bus stop. School has resumed after being closed the past two days; but it was actually closed for a total of seven out of the past 9 days!  Last week they attended only on Monday. I spent the next 4 days suiting up the younger kids to play outside; then drying their wet outdoor clothes, the  suiting them up again, then drying...you get the picture.  It was fun for them.  Our neighbor's dog Copper spent some time over here frolicking in the snow while Luke and Katie chased him and squealed with delight.  Even Nathan enjoyed playing out there for small amounts of time.  I took apart his no-longer-used Exersaucer and made a sled from it and the kids took turns pulling eachother.  Too bad we live in an area where there aren't any hills.  
We were surprised by a request to show the house last weekend. We had only 2 hours' notice but we were able to pull it off.  Apparently the buyer really liked it and wants to bring his wife to see it; though we don't know when that will be.  So, we wait....and clean....and organize...and purge the clutter...and hope that we can fix the just-started-leaking kitchen faucet before their next visit.
Last weekend we also had our own little SuperBowl party for the kids. We didn't have a lot to offer them but I think they appreciated the effort.  We set up a taco bar and had snacks that we normally don't allow.  Overall, we enjoyed the festivities even though an outsider might not see it as anything special. (and in case you're wondering, we like both teams that played.  Zac and I were rooting for the underdog while Matt and Seth went for the Steelers.   Seth had been wearing his Roethlisberger jersey all weekend! )
That's about it for an update on the Varnell clan.  Matt keeps on with his job hunt and we just keep praying for a light at the end of this tunnel.
Have a lovely weekend, all!


Katie, Zac and his "Tom Brady" snowman



Ally, "Tom Brady", Katie (with Madi in the background)

Master of Disaster Pt.II

Sigh...it wasn't even 8 a.m. and he found a new way to occupy his time.