Pancakes make my day

After a pretty busy day at work I really appreciate not having to think.  Really about anything, but especially about dinner.  I think it's because I have been organizing, planning and picking up messes all day that having to do it at home puts me over the edge.  Today was especially emotionally draining after receiving some not so great news on our time of waiting, so coming home to dinner ready to be made was wonderful.

I had to get over the fact that I hate Valentine's and appreciate the incredibly thoughtful, kind and selfless act Munchkie's Daddy did by making me dinner tonight.  Not only was it dinner, but it was breakfast for dinner, my absolute favorite kind of meal, and his absolute least favorite meal.  Now that is a complete selfless act.  I can even somewhat appreciate the V-day sprinkles in and on the pancakes.

I think that it what Valentine's Day is truly about.  Not all that ridiculous sappy love crap that is thrown in your face everywhere, but the selfless and unconditional acts of love.  Completely putting yourself aside to do something for someone else, even if you don't like it.  That is what love is about.  Not about how many flowers, how expensive the chocolates or how fancy the dinner, but unconditional love expressed through something simple and sacrificial. Whether it be your mom as I appreciated for so many years, a beloved pet, or your romantic interest, unconditional love is the ultimate gift to receive.

My least favorite holiday

I hate Valentine's Day.  Hate it.  Again, I hate it.  I always have.  I know that Munchkie's Daddy doesn't understand, but 22 years of being single and alone isn't completely negated with 7 years of being with someone.  My wonderful mom would always give me Valentine's care packages and send me fun things while I was single.  And even after I was with Munchkie's Daddy.  These cookies are what I think of when I think about Valentine's Day.  My mom would send them to me every year.

Ginger Valentine's Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup shortening
1 cup molasses (I actually didn't have any so I used 1/2 cup dark brown sugar and 1/2 cup maple syrup)
2 eggs
4 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ginger
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Raw (or coarse) sugar
Dove chocolates

1. Cream together the sugar and shortening.
2. Add molasses and unbeaten eggs.
3. Mix well.
4. Sift together the dry ingredients and stir in.
5. Roll into 1 inch balls.
6. Dip the balls in a bowl of raw sugar until coated.
7. Place balls on greased cookie sheet about 3 inches apart.
8. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.
9. When you take out of the oven press a chocolate into cookie while still warm.
10. **Dough keeps indefinitely in the refrigerator**

And now I am going to bed because I am exhausted.

So young and naive,  if only we had an inkling of what our life would be like.

Triple Skinny Vanilla Latte Please

You think you are tired when you're a teenager and can sleep in until 4pm.  You think you are tired when you pull all nighters, close to all nighters or wake up at ridiculous hours for nursing clinical in college.  You think you are tired when you are pregnant, wake up every two seconds to pee and can never get comfortable enough to sleep. But nothing, and I mean nothing compares to the exhaustion of motherhood and working outside the home.

I don't know how I'm going to make it to bedtime tonight (and I mean Munchkie's bedtime, not a normal adult's bedtime).  It may not be possible.

Today was Munchkie's Daddy's first day on the new job. I worked the last two nights.  Our new babysitter just flew in from Brazil yesterday afternoon.  So what does all this mean?  It means that I don't sleep.  Two nights in a row at work are exhausting enough, but add to that a week of not sleeping well and then trying to stay up today with Munchkie and let's just say I'm barely functioning.

I think that God invented Starbucks for working-outside-the-home moms.  Seriously.  I have tried multiple times to give up this addiction to caffeine that mostly consists of skinny vanilla lattes and it never lasts very long.  All it takes is one night of work and one day of staying up and bring on the caffeine.

With my SVL I can sit on the couch, pretend to take a moment for myself and sip a little piece of heaven. While the fourth member of our family, Elmo, entertains Munchkie. 

   

*Sigh*

Ok, now let's tackle this mess, sort through toys, create a grocery list for several weeks of frozen meals, figure out dinner, feed the fam, grocery shop, make weekend plans, and prep the kitchen for a day of freezer meal preparation.

I can do all things through Christ who invented Skinny Vanilla Lattes that give me strength.