Cookie Chaos (Christmas Cookie Recipe)

When I bake with my kids, I usually share a picture of the finished product. Often color corrected and cropped to hide the mess that we made. Let's just take a minute to admire these adorable Pinterest perfect pictures of little ones in the kitchen.

Aww, how sweet.

Last week I wanted to include my children in my baking surprise for my husband. The boys were so excited to help me bake some of Papa's favorite Christmas cookies. I was full of energy and optimism! If I could of fast forwarded 6 minutes into the future moments on that day and see what it would actually entail  - I would of told my poor little naive self to just do it alone during nap time.

The Christmas cookie adventure started out fun enough. Cheery Christmas tunes in the background, both boys each with a spatula in hand, smiles on their faces.

However within minutes :

• They were having meltdowns over who had the bigger spatula
• 2 eggs were broken on the floor
• My recipe card got ripped in half
• My youngest was eating the lemon zest
• My oldest had fallen off of his stool.
• The oven was smoking because it hasn't been cleaned in..well..let's not go there.

The flour and vanilla sugar were everywhere. Every single surface was sticky with eggs and raspberry jam. It was then that I realized that THIS is the reality of baking with toddlers. Little fingers eating chunks of raw cookie dough, splattered jeans, and a batch of burnt cookies since Mama was too distracted breaking up a fighting match to remember to set the timer.

While I'm a little jealous of the pinterest perfect pictures of pudgy toddler fingers decorating sugar cookies and siblings enjoying each other's company (and I'm guilty of sometimes only sharing those pictures too) that just wasn't reality for us that day. These are how my pictures turned out. And since this day has past us - I can actually laugh about it now. It was crazy.

What are some of the struggles you face when you're baking with your kids? Please share! I'd love to know that I'm not alone.

In the end it was all good. We toughed it out and finished our cookies with pride. Hugs, kisses, and I'm sorry's were exchanged. Papa LOVED his cookies, and we moved onto a snack and some playdoh. Separately this time I might add. That's a whole other story.

German Christmas Cookie Recipe

400g flour

200g butter cubed

3 egg yolks

100g sugar

1pkg. Vanilla sugar

juice and rind from a lemon

50g ground hazelnuts

Raspberry jam

icing sugar

Mix all ingredients together and chill dough for two hours. Roll out dough and use cookie cutters of your choice. Bake about 8-10 minutes, cool on racks, and then spread jam on one side, cover with another and dust with icing sugar!

November 5th, 2015

November 5th, 2015 is a day that I will forever hold close. Day's like today are rare - and so I must take the time to treasure it. 

November 5th, 2015 started off like any old day - but then I quickly realized how unique it was. Today was a day of everything "Yes, Mama." With a smile I might add. It was a day of constant sharing. A day where the words ok, sure, and alright, were the continuous response after they were asked to do something. Turns were taken. Hugs were given. And bickering children were no where to be heard.

The four walls of our house could not contain us today. The hot sun was so glorious, beating down on us and keeping our bodies toasty warm. This November day felt like spring had sprung over again, and we enjoyed every second of it's beauty.

Today was worthy of being documented. I need to always remember grace-filled days like this. The joy of playing an actual full game of hide and seek with my children in the park. Capturing these moments of pure joy and happiness. Their laughter. The squealing little voices. It's music to me. Today felt like a reward after all of the challenging days. On November 5th, 2015 - nothing felt difficult. There was an abundance of energy and patience for this day. There was so much joy, love, laughter, and peace.

A day where I was all ears for the big stories from little people that needed to be heard. I could give them every ounce of my attention. That which I wish I could give to them everyday. I've been craving this calm interaction. To teach Landon how to skip rocks and to enjoy Jeremy's little hand holding tight onto my finger for a long while.

Lord, I thank you for days like today. For an entire day that I could fully enjoy and devote to these children you have given me. To be able not to focus on the overload of my household and to be completely at peace to just soak up all of these moments. I couldn't of asked for anything better. 

November 5th, 2015 - Thank you for the memories. I needed this day.

Oceans Apart

The mind is such a secret place. Our thoughts locked away for only us to configure. 

We had our fair share of goodbye's this summer. The hardest we've ever had. It seems that each year that passes becomes more difficult. The days we enjoy so much are the ones that fly by the quickest. Nothing lasts forever, but I wish this did. Some of you might understand where this post is going. It may affect you emotionally if you can relate, and others might not completely understand...but sympathize. To those of you who have one heart in two places - we understand your struggle. To those who are living a long distance from loved ones, we feel your pain. When Ben and I started our life together we had no idea about this long rough road ahead. We knew it would be tough, but we never knew how tough until the months actually started passing by. Here we are 6 years later, still trying to adjust to this reality and the constant goodbye's. 

  This everyday struggle of separation. Having an ocean between us and the ones we love so dearly. The things we wish we could have but can't. Not only what we're missing out on - but our children. Aunt's and Uncles that long to hold them tight. Enjoying the little things. 

Giggles and hearty laughs from tickle fights with Uncle Stephan and Aunt Claudia. 

Bedtime stories snuggled up with Uncle David. 

Hikes in the forest with Aunt Andrea. 

Breakfast fun with Opa, and yogurt dates with Oma. 

To visit Uncle Johannes and Aunt Judith on the weekend, and spend time with four sweet and spunky cousins we wish we could see on a regular basis. 

To think how wonderful it would be to all be together. No heartache from this distance between families. No more long goodbye hugs with tear filled eyes, not knowing when we'll be seeing each other again. Things we wish didn't have to be. 

Some days are better than others since we try to keep our minds as occupied as we can. We're thankful we can use this blog as an outlet - and to express things that we're trying to achieve. Like finding joy in life despite this heartache. 

We've realized when we think of things that are worth embracing through the hard times - we shift our heart from a sense of emptiness into deep gratitude. This thought hasn't come to us overnight, and sometimes we lose sight of it, but it can uplift us during sorrowful times. Turning heartache into hope. 

We've been passing this thought back and forth constantly...and though it makes us embrace each other with tears, we know how lucky we really are. We're grateful we belong to such a family. One that is extremely supportive in any circumstance, loving, and makes endless efforts beyond measure. Each one of these amazing people endure the heartaches along with us. The expensive, long, exhausting flights, the skype calls with extremely poor reception, and having to make due with phone calls and pictures instead of having each other in person. 

This is one of the most difficult challenges for anyone to have to adjust to - and yet they never complain. 

 Each new day will have it's share of struggles for each of us - and though we're apart, we'll endure this battle together. 

We Miss you all. We Love you all. 

May can't come fast enough. 

S.D

A Short Time

It's only for a short time. The exhausting nights of a 3 year old's nightmares. Changing wet bed sheets in the early morning. A challenging strong willed one year old who never wants to leave your arms. 

It's only for a short time.

Infant screams from scrapes and face plants. Rosy cheeks from teething gums. The child spitting out the cough medicine. Screaming 1 hour car drives in traffic to Grandma and Grandpa's house. 

It's only for a short time.

A child whining, tugging on your ankles while your trying to cook dinner. Grapes squished onto the fabric couch. The overwhelming whirlwind of toys scattered around each room. Picky eater struggles and tears. 

It's only for a short time. 

The difficult and the darling. Some things we're happy that will soon pass - but others we wish we could hold onto longer before they slip away too quickly. 

Hearing each sweet little breath while I rock our little blonde boy to sleep in a slightly dark room. Bedtime stories snuggled in a little bed with his favorite trains sheet set. The sweet child whispering I love you in the night. 

It's only for a short time.

The way those little hands take yours. That little head resting still and content on your shoulder. 

The Joy. The purest joy. 

The unconditional love after countless timeouts. That smile they get when they've learned something exciting, and the laughter from discovering your child stuck in a laundry basket after a game of hide and seek. 

Over the past several months I've looked back at these exhausting days. Emotionally and physically. The days when you feel like your kids have been living in Time Out. When you can't figure out how those little lungs can actually produce that extreme level of intense ear piercing volume. When you're sitting there at the end of the night in a still house - and you wonder how you will be able to do it all again tomorrow. 

There is no doubt that this job is difficult. Insanely difficult. And although sometimes we don't always think of it in the busy days that are rushing passed us - these times will soon be nothing but a memory in time. I always thought it was so crazy to hear people say "embrace these times, for they will be gone before you know it." I would think about how I was looking forward to them being over. How I wouldn't miss the whining and sibling rivalries. How I wouldn't miss the sticky fingers touching every surface in the house. How I wouldn't miss having to change my clothes for the 3rd time that day because a child chucked his meal onto my lap. 

But I've been learning many lessons these past few months - and that is my children are a blessing to my/our life. We're blessed to have these children. I often think about those who desire to have a loud active household, or little sticky fingers to clean each day. The ones who wish they had these little blessings to raise. 

I'm reminding myself to make memories each day and to cherish each moment, even when the days may feel long and exhausting. Those moments that instantly etch a special impression into your mind. and soon they will be ones that you can only visit later with just a passing thought. Tomorrow I will try harder to have more patience. I will try harder to not care so much about the little things. I will hold these little ones tighter and always remember to thank the one who gave them to us. I know there will be hard times tomorrow, and the day after that, and the weeks after that, but let's remember to not be so hard on ourselves if we don't have or do everything "perfect". This job isn't an easy one. Let's ask for guidance in the difficult moments, and to embrace the precious ones. 

 It's only for a short time. 

Fresh Corn Salad

Hey Guys! Ok so let's just pretend I blog on a regular basis and my last post was not way back in APRIL! 

Are any of you out there still following us? I highly doubt it...but hey, I'll be the first to admit we're bad at this whole "blogging" thing. We fail. Big time.

Anyway, just wanted to jump on here real quick to share a super easy and delicious recipe with you. I've had so many people harrasing asking me for this recipe I figured I'd give it it's own special post. I made this yesterday and the bowl was scraped out clean! Perfect for any kind of pot luck, BBQ, or any event where people ask you to bring a little something along. 

The written recipe will be down below if anyone is interested in giving it a try! 

Happy Monday Everyone! Hopefully More more posts will be coming soon!

S

FRESH CORN, TOMATO AND ZUCCHINI SALAD


INGREDIENTS:

6 medium to large corn on the cob (shucked and rinsed)
3 small to medium zucchini, rinsed
1 pint pear or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup slivered fresh basil leaves
4 tablespoons white wine vinegar
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut corn off the cob by placing it upright in a deep bowl and cut down the sides of the cob with a sharp knife.

2. Dice zucchini into 1/2-inch pieces (leave skin on) and add to the bowl. Add tomatoes and basil.

3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, olive oil, honey and lime juice. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. Cover the salad with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour and up to 4 hours until ready to serve. Toss again before serving to re-distribute the dressing. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper just before serving.

TIPS:

*If the salad sits in the refrigerator overnight, it may gather additional liquid from the fresh vegetables. Just drain any additional liquid and enjoy the leftovers.