It’s done. Put another quarter to bed. Monday I took my first final. On Tuesday, I had two more, back to back- at noon and 2 p.m. Really back to back. Monday was a snap- I got an easy A in that class. The other two were harder- as in my first final was handwritten essays, 20 subjects, we could chose 10 and write a two-paragraph essay on each. The next final was two essays analyzing two poems. Wasn’t sure how that one went, but when grades posted, I got the highest marks. College finals score so far: 6-0. Booyah!
My kids have been sadly neglected while I plow through the end of these courses- and so has the Christmas spirit in our house. I’m really hoping now and that I can just melt until January and I’ll find myself interested in the domestic, charming side of the holidays. A party or two to attend would be awesome too.
Fakey Fakerson this year looks like a rainbow threw up on him. And I just don’t care. I haven’t even moved the catastrophic ornament arrangement the kids came up with- and that’s just fine. The kids haven’t noticed there is nothing under the tree yet, so I’m not going to call attention to it.
Mom FAIL. Yet again. The tooth fairy utterly collapsed last night as soon as the monkeys were in bed- and she didn’t wake until Bean’s face was an inch from hers in the pre-dawn light screaming that the TOOTH FAIRY FORGOT HIM!!! Aw crap… I seriously suck at some mama stuff- and quickly improved that maybe the tooth was so tiny she couldn’t find it and we’ll try again tonight. Is it a fairy-foul to take money from Abby’s piggy bank to pay Bean for his tooth? Yeah, I know… sigh. Off to the ATM.
We had a marvelous visit with Auntie Heather over the weekend- the kids loved on her something fierce, and she helped me a lot in giving me study time. She even fixed dinner one night- it was surreal to have another adult around for a few days- I’m so maladjusted I felt like a deer in the headlights… you want to do what? Help?? What’s that??! She’s getting married this spring, and moving to Ohio. Since I’m not allowed in the state of Ohio[1], I’m glad they’re getting married in California, because I really don’t plan on missing this wedding.
Got to have lunch with and celebrate the birthday of a wonderful friend. I introduced her to Mo and mine’s favorite restaurant- coconut prawns and blackened flank with blue cheese salad… yum! It was awesome to have a few hours with no kids, and uninterrupted girl talk. This is the same friend who dropped her entire life on 24 hours notice and flew to Houston with me last fall for the trade-show. I know the best people in the world. Seriously.
Bean has been wicked hard lately. It may or may not be tied to the X showing only part of the time for his supervised visitation. Nothing more fun to an autistic kid that having the routine thrown, and top that off with the cherry of disappointment, and it’s time to throw chairs (or piano benches) at the mom. We’re all fine, I just wish I had more control over the situation. Ether show up when you’re supposed to, or please just go away for good…
I’m starting to like running. I know… the end must be near. But I find myself craving that feeling in my legs and chest. Shhhhh don’t tell anyone!
My baby brother may be coming to our house for Christmas, and I am trying not to be too overjoyed at the idea. I adore my brothers, and it’s been waaaay too long since this one and I have had any time together. He may bring along his new sweetheart and her son- which for Christmas, the more the merrier. I love having people over.
A friend gave me a bouquet of white tulips yesterday, and the spilling-over bowl of them on my kitchen table makes me unreasonably happy. Love tulips. Reminds me I need to pick up some paperwhites for Christmas… most heavenly flower ever.
Christmas baking is just no fun when you’re celiac. Think I’ll put up a triple batch of my Pecan Toffee. Do you have the recipe? You need it. Here:
Pecan English Toffee
- 1 pound real butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
- Chop nuts to whatever consistency you find pleasing. Spread nuts out in a single layer on a jelly-roll pan (any baking sheet with a lip) and toast nuts in a 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes, just until fragrant. Set aside.
- In a thick-bottomed, large pot (it will burn otherwise) bring butter, sugar and water to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Do not stop stirring! Once mixture is at a rolling boil, set timer and boil for exactly 7 minutes, stirring the whole time. The color will change to an amber shade around minutes 5-6. Keep stirring.
- When timer beeps, carefully carry your scalding hot pot of liquid lava to your pan of toasted pecans, and pour the goodness over your nuts. Be super careful- sugar burns suck.
- It will self-level. After about 10 minutes, sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of the toffee, wait 10 more minutes, then use an off-set spatula to spread the melted chips evenly over the top of the toffee. Let cool overnight.
- This is NOT a good recipe to make with kids. I always do it after they are in bed at night- seriously, boiling sugar = bad thing for kids.
- The next morning, the toffee-fairy will have come, and your kids can help you break it into bite-sized pieces. That’s it. Have fun!
[1] I’m kidding people- it’s an inside joke. I have no felonies that disallow my travel to all 50 states. 😉
Dandelion Mama 
Sure you can claim innocence, that’s the true mark of a felon.
I LOVED the tooth fairy story, only because I can relate all too well. I once had to call a neighbor for tooth fairy money because I had no money in the house. Not even any coins. And yes, I have taken money from the kids stash so “the tooth fairy” wouldn’t disappoint. (I replaced the money and they never knew 😉
I’m so impressed with your goal-setting and execution skillz re: the college education. I can only imagine how hard it must be, and wish I had more support to offer than this lame: Attagirl! Glad to hear about the good grades. I had my lone final today, and I think I did fine and got the A. I also mailed the first of several Christmas projects today and I think I am getting a stress-related cold sore. Your successfully completed quarter boggles my mind.
How far are you running these days? It’s weird how it sneaks up on you, huh. One day you think it’s torture, the next day you are itching to get on the treadmill. THEN you start having even more sadistic thoughts like, ‘Well, let’s see, can I do this faster?’ and soon you’re doing crazy stuff like pushing the buttons on that tread mill even higher, running faster, breathing harder, running longer, and THEN YOU SIGN UP FOR A 5K and you realize you are well and truly hooked.
Let me know when you run your first race 😉
Congrats on the good grades, by the way. You’re the bomb.
Yeah H, I’m not up for a 5K yet- my goal is to make a mile without wanting to puke. 😉 But still… I’m liking it more than I ever expected to…
MD- thanks- and congrats on your A!
Liz, I’m totally robbing piggy banks tonight…
Jendoop- I admit nothing! 😉
The Tooth Fairy really suchs at our house too. After 3 boys and constant disappointment, my daughter has discovered that she is special. The Tooth Fairy is so busy that she comes to our house during the day! Sometimes she comes during supper (while Mom is in the bathroom), sometimes she comes while the kids are outside playing. But it’s always within about an hour of her losing her tooth. My daughter loves it and she isn’t forgotten. It is the best solution I have ever had!
Oh, and props to you on your grades! You are an amazing woman!
Congrats on getting your finals done, and doing so great on them. Finals are next week for me, I have 5 to do, 3 days with just one each and then one day with 2 back to back. But I’m looking forward to having this semester behind me too. Only the monday following my last final my next class starts. BSU is offering a intersession class, meaning a class during the break. So it’s a 15 wk class smashed into 3 wks, I may be insane, but I’ll get it out of the way.
Oh and the way I solved the forgetful tooth fairy problem in our house, I just buy it out right from them now. The tooth fairy only ever left them $1, I however buy it for $1.25 and the kids like getting more money. Yes, I killed off the tooth fairy for my own selfish reasons, now if I could only get rid of the easter bunny and santa.
I really can’t tell you how many times the tooth fairy has forgotten to show up at our house. Yes, that many and I have robbed the piggy banks too often to count also. I keep a mental tally of how much I owe the piggy until I have paid in full!
Your toffee looks and sounds amazing! I may even have to clean my kitchen tonight so that I have space to make your recipe tomorrow.
Congrats on your good grades! You are being blessed for your hard work and sacrifice!
Mmmmm, that toffee looks so good that I’m practically licking my screen here. Congrats on the end of the semester – I hope you have a few moments to yourself over the Christmas break – and a wonderful time with your family.
Always impressive, even with the fail. We all have to fail at something, you know.
Thanks for such a wonderful weekend! It was so great to spend time with everyone. Love you lots! xo
HAHAHAHA. Oh dear. I can remember, when I was a kid, my mother confessed to me one day that she had snitched some money from my piggy bank to pay for…something. I can’t remember. She just needed cash, and my piggy bank was closer than the ATM (I’m second oldest of five…so going out was kind of a production!) I asked her a few questions about WHICH piggy bank…WHAT color…and then it came out that, oops! She’d snitched my tithing. Heh. I still remember her laughing and mad at herself at the same time. “I stole my kid’s tithing! I’m going to hell!”
As long as you don’t snitch tithing, I think the tooth fairy is just fine. haha
Congrats on a tremendous finish to the school quarter! You are phenomenal.
You are also human. My kids really don’t expect the tooth fairy to ever show up on time any more… At least we seem to be in good company with this particular parenting fail!
My kids did most of our decorating, too, and I haven’t rearranged a single ornament. Wow. It has only taken me 2 decades to figure that one out…
Sorry Bean’s had it rough lately. I wonder if it’s the season, as well as the issues with the X. My kids have been ornery and fighting more than usual, and I am exasperated beyond measure. I’m blaming the cold and the excitement of the season and school pressure with the ACT test/end of the semester looming. It can’t be another parenting fail on my part…
Is it sad that I didn’t even know that such a thing as pecan toffee existed? Yes, it is sad. Thank you for rescuing me from a toffee-less existence.
We fired our tooth fairy a long time ago. The tiny winged slacker never could show up on the right nights. Now whenever my kids lose a tooth, they hand it to me and say, “Can I just have my dollar now, please?”
The tooth fairy has a faulty tooth-radar. Sometimes she doesn’t make it so the kids know to put it on their dresser instead of under their pillow – it glows brighter for her to see – and hope she tries again.
I start finals week next week . Stressed. So far 2 A’s and 2 B’s but I want all A’s. I have to rock the finals to pull that off.
Pecan toffee. Mmmm. A party next weekend when I can breathe would be nice, too.
The toffee looks yummy. I love making caramels every year. This year, though, I have a new baby and he doesn’t like it when I have dairy. 😦 I’m taking consolation in macaroons — coconut, egg whites, a little salt, a little vanilla, and real maple syrup. I’m also doing candied nuts, crispy nuts, and plain naturally processed dates (nature’s candy!). The only thing I will make that I can’t eat is gingerbread cookies. The kids love to cut out cookies, so I have to do something with butter.
Ah, tooth fairy adventures. Good times.
I ended up with fluffy, white junk. What the? Got any tips?
You know Becky, that had never ever happened to me before, but last night it did. I was making a double batch, and it totally broke- meaning the sugar and butter separated and it was a fluffy mess. A quick google search told me it was either a humidity issue (cooking sugar is always fraught with risk) or it was too thin a pan and a hot spot make it break. That’s what I’m leaning towards, as I usually use my enameled cast-iron for candy making, but I can’t find it since the move to Little House.
That is some yummy lookin toffee!