The Garola version of Christina Tosi's Compost Cookies

I first saw this recipe on Live with Regis and Kelly a few years ago. I liked the premise as I am not a recipe planner, but rather a deal with what I've got kind of meal maker. We of course put our own Garola spin on it.

To see the original recipe click here,
http://regisandkelly.go.com/recipe-finder.html?_cat=chef&_val=Christina%20Tosi

Our version goes like this.

Mommy makes up some generic cookie dough mix without adding any flavor.

Meanwhile, Cade and Cora both have individual bowls and mix up whatever they think might be good in a cookie and is found in our cabinets. It usually turns out much better if we have some sort of yummy chocolaty candy included, but this particular day... we didn't!

This time around Cade choose a mixture of pretzels, goldfish crackers, chocolate teddy grahams sprinkles and cinnamon. Yummy, huh?

Cora's mixture was peanut butter, grape jelly, teddy grahams, and pink sprinkles!

We then divide the dough in half, mix with the kiddos mixtures, refrigerate for a couple of hours,
form balls, put on cookie sheets, and cook!


Yummy and fun! It's surprising that they actually taste pretty good!

Rob and Cade liked Cade's mixture better this time and the girls preferred Cora's! :)

Spring Break "Staycation" Wrap Up

Last week Cade and Rob had spring break, sorta. Rob still had baseball and Cora still had preschool so we tried to have fun at home! I think we were successful! See what you think!

lots of artwork...(can you guess which 2 Disney Princesses these are?)

preschool Easter Egg hunt!

a quick, midweek surgical procedure, ear tubes for baby Clara

baking

lots of backyard picnics and romps through the marsh looking for creatures

a beach trip with friends!!!

Then we headed up to visit grandparents in Atlanta Friday and Saturday and went to the Zoo Atlanta where we forgot the camera. Then back home before Easter Sunday!!! Who said you can't have fun if you don't go on vacation for spring break????

happy easter!

Celebrating a risen Savior!!!

The Grivances of a Third Child (Part I)

Welcome to the newest section of our blog! The part where you hear how terribly difficult it can be to be a third child (my third child anyway)!

Dinner preparation at our house is a nightmare, especially in the springtime! Rob isn't home until 7 or later so the parent kid ratio is 1:3 and unless the one is an octopus, it's never pretty. Cade is grumbling about homework, Cora is stringing out every piece of clothing from her bedroom all over the house, and Clara is hanging on my leg as I cook crying because she's hungry. So lately I've started dinner, popped things in to cook or started them boiling, put the kids in the tub/shower, scrubbed Clara down and taken her out, then let the other two wash themselves and get dressed. It works OK, at least they are busy doing something constructive. Clara often plays on the bathroom floor with the toys while the other two finish their baths. She's distracted.

Last week, it backfired! I got dinner started. I loaded them all 3 in the tub together to be really quick! I washed Clara, pulled her out, and put her in her Pjs, then left her to roam the house. I went back to the kitchen to check the food. After only a few minutes ear piercing screams came from the bathroom! Cade and Cora are hysterical! I run in there to find Clara, in full pj's head first into a full bathtub of water! Lucky for us, Cade's mad water skills paid off and he pulled her out!

poor clara

3 out of 3

That is the number of days this week that we have been to some sort of doctor's office. no. joke! I was at a birthday party last weekend with Cade and Cora (Clara was home sick!) and some mom's were sitting around talking about how they NEVER have to take their kids to the doctor except for well visits! Several of them all began to nod in agreement and talk about how once when little Johnny was 2 he had a cold and nothing since. This was a conversation I quickly dismissed myself from without a word. I instead joined the conversation on online shopping, something else I don't do much, but I could relate to that much more than NEVER taking kids to the doctor. I honestly thought when Cora was done with treatment our doctor visits would cease or at least come less frequently. W-R-O-N-G!!! This fall/winter/spring has been rough on my gang and I'm not sure why. I'm totally freaked out by germs of every kind! After school I put each of them through a 3 step germ removal process. When other children enter our house, I am the crazy mom that sends them straight to the bathroom to wash their hands. We don't even drive past Chuck E. Cheese!! We eat relatively healthy and don't eat any fast food, so why are my children weird germ magnets??? My theory is because there are 3 of them and they just pass things around their little sibling triangle and things manifest differently on one than another. Within the past month we've had a ruptured ear drum, triple stomach bug (Part 1- the throwing up version), a UTI, herpangina (and just so you don't think I'm making that up- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herpangina), an undiagnosed itchy scalp disorder, triple stomach bug (Part 2- the "we won't talk about it" version), an MRI that revealed major cartilage loss in the knee (this was me and yes, it means I'm old!) and a major head trauma today on the school playground! This is my life!!! Jealous, anyone?

But remember, I'm not complaining, only informing you. If it doesn't require chemotherapy I won't complain about it. I'm just telling you that I should be a professional take-kid-to-the-doctors-office lady. I know all the waiting room tricks and doctor lingo! Is there a market for that?

Lemonade anyone?

Last Sunday we had a very fun lemonade stand with our favorite down the street neighbors. This go round the kiddos made a few bucks for themselves and next go round we're going to do it for an even better cause... CURING CHILDHOOD CANCER! Visit http://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/national-lemonade-days-2011 to register your own local lemonade stand during one of their lemonade days and you can host a stand and donate the proceeds as well!

Clara's celebrity look alike

Clara's hair has a mind of it's own these days; Especially after a bath! It's kinky & curly. Check her out below with her celebrity look alike!

Animal Baby

We're a little worried about baby Clara (not really). She can't say very many words at all and even when she does they're inconsistent. She's got mama, dada, and eat, so the important things are covered. All she can do consistently is make animal noises. As I think I've mentioned by now, her favorite sibling is Leia. We're convinced she thinks she's part dog already. She can "pant" on command every time. The girl has yet to meet an animal she doesn't like. She's obsessed! We walk outside, she points to the birds. A duck nipped her finger at the lake last week, but she still cries for them when we drive past. When we walk Cora in to preschool everyday we have to stop at a fenced in backyard next to the school and visit her newest animal friends...