The tiredness crept in after I hosted book club at my house last night, which means that there was extra cooking and cleaning going on around here yesterday. Having people come over is a great incentive to do the jobs that you normally skip over, like washing crusty couch cushions. My children use those cushions as their personal napkin. What I'm saying is, do you want to come visit?
We like to keep book club simple in December, so we read The Little Match Girl and had a children's book exchange. Everyone brings one of their favorite children's books, and we do a dirty santa type of swap.
Some of the books that people brought: A Pirate's Night Before Christmas; Merry Christmas, Strega Nona; Rechenka's Eggs; The Alabama Night Before Christmas; Gingerbread Friends; The Frog and Toad; If You Give a Mouse a Cookie; All Fall Down; and Scaredy Squirrel. I couldn't remember the titles of a few other good ones, but if you're looking for more Christmas books, check some of these out. I won The Alabama Night Before Christmas, which I was overly excited about because it includes Birmingham's own pant-less Vulcan statue in the book, but I was also ruthlessly trying to steal (it's part of the game!) A Pirate's Night Before Christmas. We're lovers of pirates and pirate voices around here.
Also good news, party leftovers for lunch.
Spinach artichoke dip sandwich.
Cranberry delight, always better the second day.
I couldn't find a recipe for this. It's just one that I have memorized from making it through the years with my mom. One day I might write it down, but to give you an idea, you use fresh cranberries, homemade graham cracker crust, and freshly whipped cream topping.
Now for the traction aid winners. I took the first six from this random number sequence.
Monica from What's Next?
Jenni
Jade from Runner Girl Revisited
Luise from Weez Runs
Please email me at yomommaruns (at) gmail.com with your shipping info so I can get it to you before the holidays.
While I was getting this post ready, I saw the news about the shooting at the elementary school in Connecticut. I'm in complete shock and sadness right now. Just the idea that someone would consider doing something like this to innocent children is unimaginable to me. Innocent children. In general, I have a lot of faith in humanity and believe that most people are trying to be honest and do the right thing. So when I hear about something like this, it's almost impossible to comprehend. What events lead to someone even considering killing children? And to kill them in mass? It's disgusting and disturbing. I'll be praying for the families in CT and for people everywhere. And especially for those people who suffer from mental illness which had to have been a factor in this tragedy. Please join me in this.
Congratulations to all the winners!
ReplyDeleteThat's heartbreaking about what happened in CT.
Congrats to all the winners...that cranberry delight looks delish!
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the winners, those traction aids are awesome. I love mine!
ReplyDeleteSo sad about the shooting, unimaginable.
ReplyDeleteOn a lighter note, hosting bookclub is fun but extra work - your cranberry delight looks delicious.
I understand the crusty cushions and yes I would come visit you!!! I have those same cushions - so trendy!
ReplyDeleteI cannot even begin processing the school shooting. Too many images, too much sadness. FB exploded yesterday with people hoping the shooter would rot in hell. Thank you for bringing attention to mental illness. We need to begin being proactive - why are we so reactive???
Especially as a teacher, it's probably even harder for you to comprehend. It still seems that there is an idea out there that mental illness is made up or exaggerated. It's real, and I've seen great success with treatment in my own family. Obviously everyone is different, but there is hope in treatment.
DeleteOh. Em. Gee. I won!! Thank you thank you, I will email you right NOW!
ReplyDeleteI can't process this one either. I always say everything happens for a reason but this doesn't have any goodness to it. I am not only praying for the families and friends involved but for me to not lose faith when something so terrible happens.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of mental illness and clinical depression, I really feel the hope lies in acceptance and it being seen as a real illness and not a weakness. I know when I was in the initial stages of depression I was too embarrassed to admit it or seek help. But I had to for my daughter. After a few months of treatment getting me back on track, and now better recognition of how I can prevent getting so saddened, I am doing so much better.
Yes, I agree that it's so important to accept it as an illness!
DeleteI'm so excited I won!
ReplyDeleteThat cranberry delight and spinach artichoke dip sandwich look amazing!
I'm so heartbroken about the shootings. I can't even begin to imagine the pain.
Congrats to all the winners! Kind of glad I didn't win since I live in the 'Ham and really have no need for them. If I did win I would've let you pick someone else who would truly get better use of them.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the news yesterday I wanted to go get my kid immediately and just hug her forever. Unimaginable is all I can say.
I cried all the way through the carpool line that day. Just seeing the teachers and kids made it hit home again. A hug for our kids is never wasted!
DeleteCongrats to all the winners! Kind of glad I didn't win since I live in the 'Ham and really have no need for them. If I did win I would've let you pick someone else who would truly get better use of them.
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing the news yesterday I wanted to go get my kid immediately and just hug her forever. Unimaginable is all I can say.
Your cranberry dessert looks incredible. And I'm with you- it's incomprehensible. I can hardly let myself think about what those parents are going through. Praying along with you!
ReplyDeleteAnd here I thought my kids were the only ones that use the couch as a napkin!
ReplyDeletePrayers to all those families and the entire community, so tragic.