grumpy kids, tears and cookies

Today has been a wonderful day so far.  Dave had the older kids out all morning while the baby slept.  So I’ve got lots of work done around the house.  I plan to get the END of my Christmas shopping done this afternoon, and then hang out with the 3 kids solo while Dave had a music practice tonight.  I am hoping they all behave for tonight.  Yesterday was a bit of a disaster.

All 3 of my kids woke up in “moods.”  Janna was bursting into tears every 30 seconds over EVERYTHING and anything.  Jesse was whiney and defiant, and Robyn was overtired and could not settle to sleep.  I had to tackle groceries with the 3 of them like this, and I felt like bursting into tears by the end of it.  I was relieved to get everyone settled in for nap time, and fell into bed exhausted and desperate for 20 minutes of sleep.  Well, Jesse had other plans. He was being VERY loud and kept leaving his room and coming into my room to tell me something or claim he needed to use the washroom, or that he needed a certain toy, etc.  Simply put, was annoying me TO BITS!   To the point I decided that kids are rotten and that baby 3 is the final one!   I put him back in his room, gave him one final scold and then closed his door and decided to just get up and do some work because the whole “trying to sleep” thing was really depressing me.   I sat down to check my FB and email before tackling a to-do list, and erupted into uncontrollable tears upon discovering the tragic shootings in Connecticut that morning.   I just cried for a while. 

Then, I felt super thankful for my kids, and thankful Jesse was not sleeping.  I ran up to his room and just hugged the little guy for a bit- who was pretty confused.  I took him out of his “quiet/nap time” an hour early and we made some Christmas cookies together while the girls slept.   I felt silly for the complaints and frustrations I’d been simmering over all morning.  My kids are healthy and alive and well.  

Now, I wish I could say that the rest of the afternoon went amazingly.   However- Jesse was still being a punk, Janna and Robyn woke up both in tears and unsettled, and I was still tired, sore and experiencing vicious headaches.  BUT!  My perspective and attitude towards my struggles were severely improved.  I kept wanting to blog something significant in regards to the shooting all day, but it’s too sad and too big for me.   And I’m not even really affected directly by any of this.  I can’t imagine what this town and these families are going through.   I really have no words.

On a way less important and much happier note, my cookies with Jesse turned out amazingly.  When I first got married, I decided to tackle Christmas baking and do a bunch of gluten free things.  However when only 3 of the 8 varieties turned out yummy (according to me- Dave loved it all).  I decided it wasn’t worth the time and money and effort.  I don’t really like baking, and then to have yucky creations as the end result.  very frustrating.   However- recently we’ve been getting lots of sweets from other people and there are always delicious things at parties and events.  The majority of time, Dave hasn’t been able to eat any of it, and I feel sorry for him!  Lol.  well, the other day y mom in law sent me a link to a gluten-free blog by Mrs. Spinner, and she had a picture of her little spread of GF treats (with recipes included) that were SO SO pretty.  The look of having such a yummy and colorful assortment of baked goods, drew me in.  So!  having no clue if her stuff was even good or not, I wrote up a HUGE ingredient list to tackle all 6 varities of cookies and squares. I have completed 3 of the 6 so far- and they have all been delightful! Yay- success.  

Jesse and I tackled a classic ginger/molasses cookie yesterday,and they were JUST as good as a REALLY good normal cookie.  I don’t think I could even taste a difference.  Just that little amount of crunch on the outside- but TOTALLY soft and perfect in the middle.  Best gluten free cookie I think I have ever tasted.  Here is Jesse very proud of our creations.

This Mrs. Spinner lady is awesome!  I think I will have to try more of her baking recipes in the future.  Well, my kids are due home any minute, and so I should prepare for them!   They always burst through the door like they haven’t seen me in a week- and I know this won’t last for too long- so I try and play it up.  Thanks for reading! I’m out.