Babies

I became a great aunt about two years ago when my nephew Adam and his beautiful wife Ella had their son Thomas.  I was so proud and happy.  I was also in denial that the next generation would be having the babies from here on out.  With only one great nephew I could brush it off and refuse to admit that my baby days were over forever.  Then my niece Stephanie and her sweet husband had their daughter Tinely.  My denial was slowly becoming a reality.  Today the deal was sealed.  My niece Natalie and her dear husband Jorge had their son Sam.  I was 16 years old when Natalie was born, she was my very first niece now she has made my great aunt status not easy to dismiss.  I love babies. I love to hold them, smell them, kiss them, talk to them, and simply enjoy them.  I will accept my reality and let the next generation do what I cannot....have them!

Cookies

Today revolved around cookie baking.  I'm working on a 40 dozen order of sugar cookie valentine hearts with sprinkles.  Here's how it went down.  I woke up around 7am and realized I needed flour, sugar, butter, eggs, and cream of tarter.  I throw on some warm clothes, pull on my snowboots, brush my teeth, and bravely head out to the store.  Getting out of the driveway... not easy, driving on the road... no visability, walking across the parking lot... bitter cold, getting the ingredients at one store...impossible.  Decision time, do I go home without the cream of tarter or do I go to Wal-Mart.  The cookies cannot be made without it,  I have no option.  At this point I'm a nervous Nelly, I don't like driving in the snow much less a blizzard.  I purchase two cream of tarters and start the journey home, thinking the whole time what a stupid girl I am.  Who goes out into a blizzard for cookie ingredients...um that would be me.  The baking started around 9:30 am. I had to give myself time to simmer down and drink my coffee.   Production came in at 9 dozen, 1 dozen less than my goal, with zero burned (that is a miracle).  I definately suprised myself today, going on a polar expedition is so not me.  Would I do it again...only if I needed the ingredients.