Friday Funny- Happy Easter!

Today is Good Friday. I went to an incredible service at my church at noon. I'm always amazed at how every year the team retells The Easter Story in a fresh new way. So I will be celebrating His Resurrection this weekend. 


And I'll also be celebrating something else, much less significant, but I'm happy to see Sunday coming all the same. I gave up sugar for Lent. Not that big of a deal, in the scheme of things. It's a tough craving for me, for sure. The idea is that every time you feel the craving, you focus your mind and heart on the true meaning of Easter. Let's just say, I've been pretty focused on Easter these last 47 days. So thinking about this, I give you a visual of what my house will look like about 30 minutes after I wake on Sunday....

Yours, wishing you the happiest of Easters!

Melissa

PS- Thank you to Margie Wheeler who posted this cartoon this morning. So needed this laugh!

Getting Ready for Easter

Earlier this week I sat down and thought about my week. It's a big week for us at the B House because we celebrate Easter. It has become an annual tradition to have it here because we have a larger backyard for all of the activities.

After attending church and celebrating, the entire family (all 20 of us) will have dinner here and then an egg hunt for the little ones, a scavenger hunt for the HS and College crowd and then a massive Silly String War for everyone- grandmas and grandpas included!

I am proud to say that almost all of shopping is complete and today is my cleaning day- instead of the usual wait until the day before and panic completely because I have VERY. Little. Done. My goal this year is to get as much enjoyment out of the family celebration as I can. The kids are growing up and I want to enjoy all of them- my nieces, nephews, my own little bears, even the neighbor kids who might come over.

We also celebrate all of the Spring Birthdays, so of course, in addition to a TON of Easter treats, there will be cake and ice cream. Love me some homemade cake! I did, however, want to share a recipe for a new treat coming to the table. In the spirit of the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, I give you:

Peanut Butter Rice Krispie Treats

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup creamy peanut butter

6 cups Rice Krispies

6 oz. semi-sweet choc chips

6 oz. butterscotch chips

Grease a 9x13 baking pan. combine sugar and corn syrup (really, aren't they the same thing???) in a large saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat-STIRRING CONSTANTLY.As soon as it boils, stir in the peanut butter and then the rice krispies. Press into the pan.

Melt the chips and spread over the top of the krispies in the pan. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

No, Karen, this is not part of the Weight Watchers plan (which by the way, folks, KAREN LOOKS FABULOUS!!!!!!) But the part of the WW plan that you will love is this: after indulging a little bit in the treats, SEND THE REST HOME WITH YOUR GUESTS. That way, temptation is eliminated and you have had your fun for the day. Brilliant, I say. Simply brilliant.

Yours, hoping you enjoy your Easter Holiday,

Melissa

PS.- if anyone is looking for the Easter Story Cookie Recipe, I have it. This makes a divinity like cookie, but you make it with your kids and each step of the recipe relates back to Scripture and the Easter Story. You can e-mail me at melissa@karmelpublishing and I will be happy to pass it on to you. It's another one of our Easter Traditions that we love.

Friday Funny!

So Wednesday at noon I picked up Z2 from school.  She was in a happy, bubbly mood. The normal things ensue. After questions about her day, she proudly hands me a treasure. "Mommy," she says excitedly, "Hannah gave this to me and I saved it for you!" and she plops a chocolate Easter Egg into my hand. "I KNOW they're your favorite." 

I love chocolate Easter Eggs. Even though that piece of chocolate was probably more than a month or two old, I unwrapped its shiny, blue foil, grateful for my unexpected fix. I popped it into my mouth and let it begin to melt. Yum. What a sweet thing for my little girl to do for me!

About fifteen seconds later, she's talking and mentions in a BTW kind of tone,"Oh, that's not the egg that Hannah gave me. Silly me! I found yours on the floor."

UGH!

Happy Friday,

Melissa

I DO Believe, I DO Believe

When do kids stop believing in the Easter Bunny? And for that matter, Santa Clause? My boys are 8 years old and honestly believe that a magic bunny travels the world delivering plastic, multi-colored eggs with candy inside of them. Now, I somewhat understand the Santa Clause thing, but the Easter Bunny? Surely they can think through this using some form of reality, can't they?

Okay, let me explain. I was raised in a Jewish household, so Easter was no big deal for us. Actually, I take that back. Every year, on the Monday AFTER Easter, my dad would go to the drug store and buy us Easter baskets. Because, of course, they were half off! So yes, I suppose we did like Easter, but we never learned about any magic bunny.

Just like Santa Clause. I never grew up thinking some round, jolly man made it all the way around the world in just one night to deliver presents to all the boys and girls. I just knew that on Chanukah, I got presents for 8 nights in a row, and that was magic enough for me!

I must admit, though, that I LOVE perpetuating the Santa Clause myth for my kids. I have so much fun doing it, and I know that one day they will tell me that Santa doesn't exist. I DREAD that day!

But what is it like for the kids? Is it some horrible realization that their parents have been lying to them all their lives? That there really is no magic in the world? No Santa Clause? No Easter Bunny? Or by the time they learn of the truth, is it no big deal to them? Surely, somebody at school will tell them this terrible truth soon. After all, they will be in 3rd grade next year. And many of their friends have older siblings.

And speaking of older siblings, how is that my kids have none, yet know ALL of the cuss words already? How can 8 year old boys know this? I didn't learn any bad words until about 5th grade. I can't stand it that their precious little ears and mouths can hear, and worse, say, these words.

But I digress...

As long as my kids believe, I will go right along believing with them. And I will try to cushion the blow when they learn the truth. And I will tell them that there is still magic in the world, you just have to look for it a little harder. I see it every time I look into their eyes!

Karen