Cookie of the Month: Paprenjaci

For the month of November, the kids made Paprenjaci, which are Croatian black pepper cookies. They are served on Croatia Airlines, where Justin once sampled them and immediately fell in love. I agree that they are tasty.

Typically, both Justin and I are on hand if Henry is going to help bake, but since Justin is working so much, I was on my own. Thanks to Henry's over-exuberance with the mixing, rolling, and cookie cutting, these cookies might taste a bit like frustration . . . my frustration. Fortunately, frustration tastes good.

 The Naked Chef!

 Come on, you would be frustrated, too.

 Note the spill from out more advanced baker.

 Over-exuberant surface flouring.

 Refusing to give up the roller.

 Cookie cutter craziness!

 Rolling out cookies for sixth time thanks to Henry ruining five of every ten we cut.

Frankenstorm

Hurricane Sandy certainly did a number on New York, but we here in Bay Ridge were safe and sound. Though the winds howled and trees fell, we never lost power or experienced even a bit of flooding. The kids and I have pitched in to the relief effort by donating money, jackets, toiletries, socks and underwear, and PB& J sandwiches. If you are interested in helping out, you can donate money to the Mayor's fund, Brooklyn Foundation, or Staten Island Recovers. 

The main effect Hurricane Sandy has had on our life is that Justin is now working 15-hours a day, seven days a week. When Justin is gone, I enter some zen-mothering state, where I have endless patience and come up with lots of projects. 

So, the kids have been decorating cupcakes, 

Bliss!

painting T-shirts,

playing with play dough,

styling each other's hair,

dressing up for Halloween as Alice in Wonderland and the Cheshire Cat,

Henry's costume is an inside out sweat suit that I drew on with washable marker. Classy!

posing with Batman (aka neighbor Khalil),

Little Red Riding Hood (bestie Emma),

and two foxes (Fritz and Felix) and a monkey (Hannah)

My friend Joy designed and made the fox costumes. I am impressed.

showing of their stripes, 

preparing to go out in a snow storm, 

hating the snow storm, 

loving the snow storm,

enjoying the snow the next morning,

Henry kept yelling, "No, no." He meant snow.

and building a snowman.

Long weekend, abbreviated

Just over a week ago, we headed to Maryland to attend the wedding of our dear friend Keyvan and his bride Rachel. As Justin needed to arrive early for the rehearsal, I drove the kids down by myself. This was the first distance car ride I have taken the kids on, and it went smoothly. I drive so rarely, that Elizabeth felt compelled to be a back seat driver, and a very encouraging one at that. She said things like, "Just turn around like  Daddy, Mama. That's right! Good job! You got it!" We made one stop on our way at the Lehigh Valley Mall, where Henry found a tractor to drive.

 The wedding itself was in Thurmont, MD, and was lovely.We unfortunately had to leave partway through the reception due to Elizabeth running a high fever (the kids were with my mom).

 We then spent a night and a morning with Jay and Linda, but have no pictures as most of that time was spent with Elizabeth feeling crummy on the sofa, and Justin and I taking turns working. Due to Sandy's impending arrival, we had to beat a swift retreat to NY. Fortunately, we were able to squeeze in a visit with Barbara and Bill at the College Park Aviation Museum . . .

 There was a haunted house that day.

 and celebrate Elizabeth's fourth birthday at Chevy's.

It was a quick weekend, but lots of fun.