Stress and baking

I have been so busy lately! I think that December is the most stressful month of the year. I finished my microbiology class this week. Hopefully I did well, I am just glad it is over. It was the hardest class I have taken so far.



A couple of weeks ago I took Collin in for the developmental evaluation we have been waiting for all year. I was very surprised at how badly he did on the tests. He didn't want to do them and didn't focus. The next week I went back to the psychologist and she gave me the diagnosis. Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PPD-NOS) . It is on the autism spectrum, kind of an autism light. It encompasses the attention problems, the sensory problems, the communication problems and the social problems. It was where we thought he would fit but we are still not sure if it is due to the hearing loss he experienced or if there is more too it. Peter had a hearing test a few days ago and he failed it (he passed six months ago)! I am glad we caught it early so that he can get tubes right away rather than waiting like we did with Collin.



While I was taking my final Wednesday night Des took the boys to the mall. Apparently they were coming out of the elevator in Sears when Collin decided he didn't like the lady who was in the elevator with them and tried to race her out of the elevator and ran strait into a metal bar. He cut and scraped his face around his eye and was so upset he refused to let the paramedics look at him. We spent the evening in the emergency room. They glued his cuts closed and his eye is going to be fine, just a nasty shiner for the Christmas pictures!



I have been doing a little baking. I made a few different kinds of cookies earlier in the month and my biscotti turned out really well. So I decided to make lots more for my friends. It is really easy. Just mix the dough and make it into a log and cook it.


Then cut the log into slices and put it back in the oven to toast on each side.



Then I dipped them in chocolate and sprinkled with nuts. I like to dip them in my hot cocoa.



I got almost all of my biscotti delivered tonight. Now all I have to do is pack for our trip to my parents house tomorrow morning!!

Trees and Quilts

I had a busy weekend. I put up the Christmas tree and did a little decorating. We have a fake tree that Des bought in the after Christmas sales the year before last. He says we have to use it for two years to make it worthwhile. I hate fake trees because they are a pain to put together, they shed plastic needles and they don't smell like Christmas. Last year I got some fresh branches to put around the house to smell piney but it didn't work. They dried out in a few days. This year I am going to buy a really nice expensive candle to produce that Christmas smell (I am a little passive-aggressive). I am looking forward to next year's tree.






I also finished that baby quilt I was working on. It is a good thing too because Jennifer's baby will be here any day! She preferred the green and I thing it turned out really beautifully. I quilted leaves onto the green squares and I like the way it turned out. The green is actually a bit lighter in person. Now that this is done I can get started on my Christmas quilts!!

After we got back from our trip I had to do a lot of laundry. Collin and Peter kept themselves occupied with the baskets for a few short minutes.

I forgot to write about my trip to the dentist. Peter was happy to sit in the lobby and watch TV for most of my appointment but Collin was not. He preferred to sit on my belly throughout the entire visit. While Peter did really well but I don't think I would bring my kids again if I didn't have to.

More Thanksgiving

Here are some Thanksgiving leftovers. This is a video of Peter, Collin and Grandmama building sand castles. The boys get really, really excited each time a new tower is added. There is also a picture of the three littlest kids: Trevor Lizzie and Peter. That bucket of animals was a lifesaver. They played with it all day every day.

See how generous Peter is with his animals. He has gotten really possessive of his things lately. Especially his elephant. That he would not share.

Thanksgiving

Since we moved to California we always do thanksgiving with my family. Why? Because the British don't celebrate thanksgiving. This year my mom decided that we would all go to Mexico for Thanksgiving. Again. Granted, Mexico is fun and the beach is nice but it is a long way to go. Rocky Point is a full days drive (including the 2 hour wait at the border) from my house which is much closer to some very nice beaches. Des was especially disappointed to miss the Black Friday sales which he thinks are the best part of the holiday. But enough complaining. We had fun and it was nice to see everyone!

We stopped to get those frozen fruit bars whose name I cannot spell (you know, the ones that are actually made of chunks of fruit). Collin usually can't eat all of one and it makes a huge mess so we got him ice cream this time. Apparently it was cold!

My dad took Collin and Bonnema out in the boat. Collin was apparently silent the whole time. When they got back he told me that a big wave came in the boat and got them all wet. I think he really enjoyed it despite the bath.

The first time my family went to Rocky Point - many years ago before I moved out and they stopped camping and started renting beach houses - some people told us about this great little bakery. It is a little place that bakes rolls and pastries in a wood fired oven. Here we are with our bread.

This is my Uncle David playing the guitar. He is a great musician and he even made that guitar!

Here is Collin playing in the sand. Surprisingly he was really good this year and stayed close to the house. Last year he made it halfway to the water, at night, before we noticed he was gone. Fortunately Peter is terrified of the ocean so I didn't have to worry about him.

Here is Trevor! He is the cutest little chunk ever, and happy as well! Aren't I a lucky auntie?

Eventually we did get around to thanksgiving dinner but we forgot to take a picture of the actual meal. I guess we were too busy eating all that good food! Here is one table of happy full people!

At the Park

They boys and I had Veteran's Day off on Monday. We decided to go to the park to get a little energy out. It seems that many people had the same idea and the park was really busy. It has been so hot here lately. I know that it is California but I really don't think that it should be eight five degrees in November. I am sure those of you who have very cold weather might disagree but it just isn't right.

Here are some pictures from the playground. Notice Collin's new haircut. I finally found just the right moment and was able to cut it without a huge fight.

Later in the week we had one of Collin's friends over. Here they are playing quietly in the back yard.
And so the holiday season begins. I scheduled a dentist appointment for myself for Monday morning foolishly thinking that I would have a few free hours as my children would both be in school. Not so. Both my children are off for the whole week for thanksgiving. I called the dentist's office and told them that I needed to reschedule my appointment because I didn't have anyone to watch my kids. The woman said that I should keep my appointment and bring my kids. They watch kids in the lobby all the time. It would be fine, they watch kids all the time. But my kids are difficult, they run away! She says it will be fine. We shall see.

Chalk Monsters

I pulled out the sidewalk chalk so my boys could color outside and not make such a mess. This was the result.

New quilts

I finally finished the baby quilt I was working on!


I have an endless supply of quilting projects waiting to be started (or finished). It seems that I like buying fabric more than I like actually quilting. I have made a rule that I am not allowed to start a new project until the last (more urgent) one is finished. So, as soon as I finished this last baby quilt I got started on a new one:
So should I use a pink or green fabric with these flowers? I think life must be easier for those who use patterns. I usually just make it up as I go which is probably why I am so slow.