signs of spring

Posted on March 15, 2008 by Shanda

Rich is taking us out to the Crackerbarrel for breakfast–he’s awesome–it’s just what I needed. . .a morning out. . .away from the endless work that I do love, yet get tired of! Before we head out for the morning, I wanted to share a few photos that I took yesterday, we had a gorgeous mild day. (Today it is raining).

First day of digging. Caleb was SO industrious. They all were.

Bare feet

First day of rocking on the porch, reading a magazine. Country Living and Better Homes and Gardens BOTH arrived in the mail yesterday!

Dirty shoes

Just noticed. . . .flowers coming up!

My little garden helper!

Last night I went out for about an hour and a half by myself. Came home with these classy rubber boots.

I wanted to wear them to breakfast. But Rich wasn’t crazy about the idea.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

I know I owe one of you an email, I promise I will write when I get back.

“Walk with the King today, and be a blessing!” (from Robert Cook’s radio show, Dad used to say this to us kids sometimes)

Posted on March 14, 2008 by Shanda

“There is just so much to laugh and cry about” . . .just read this “Anne” quote in a comment that was left in my last post.

Isn’t that the truth, especially for overly sentimental folk, like me? (can anyone relate?)

This morning I am aching for my home. . not this one, this one is wonderful. . but, I’m talking about home–mom and dad and family back home in NY. I wish I could *snap* my fingers and transport myself and everyone else to Mom and Dad’s on a Sunday afternoon. I loved those days, of coming home from church all together and bursting through the door to be greeted by the warm smell of Sunday dinner. My mom was so good at making a big Sunday dinner—chicken or a roast with all the fixings.

We would all get changed and then Dad would turn on football. The sound of the football games is still so soothing to me. *sniff, sniff*

AHHHHHH, What am I doing to myself????

I talked to my mom last night on the phone for a while. . telling her all the little stories from my days here at home, she laughs so hard when she hears what the kids have been doing and saying. We talked for 40 minutes. Tomorrow Mom and Dad leave to go to South Carolina for a vacation. They will be back on the 22nd and we will all be at their place for Easter dinner, Lord willing. I can’t wait.

(By the way, honking geese just flew overhead.)

I made pancakes for the children this morning. “Yay!!!!” Part of the pleasure of pancakes is pouring some of our 1 gallon of pure maple syrup (from Costco) into these dear little Homer Laughlin China Co. pitchers. They are much easier to handle that the big jug. . .and I always warm the syrup. It’s not good to pour icy cold syrup on a steaming hot, perfect pancake.

Aren’t they so sweet? I like the taller one better, because of the dark-ish pastel color to the flowers. I picked these up for next to nothing at an antique store. They are made by the same company that makes Fiestaware.

When I came back into the kitchen after snapping the photo, I found Caleb had parked his trains under the pancake griddle. They were all happy and toasty warm. (Except Diesel, he’s always grumpy.)

I find these guys all over the place, parked in “tunnels” of all sorts.

I was so blessed by this Scripture passage yesterday:

“It is of the Lord’s mercies

that we are not consumed,

because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning:

great is Thy faithfulness.

The Lord is my portion, saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in Him.

The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him,

to the soul that seeketh Him.

It is good that a man should both hope

and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:22-26

These are overwhelmingly beautiful and comforting words, aren’t they? There is so much to think about here–God’s mercy, God’s compassion, God’s faithfulness, are all abundantly given to us. God is more generous than we can imagine! And I am encouraged, to wait for Him, and to seek Him. The whole idea of seeking. . .I almost feel as if my seeking soul is like a magnet being pulled to Him. . .I can’t resist Him. . .and, there is that word, HOPE again! (word of the year)

“And the Lord shall guide thee continually,

and satisfy thy soul in droughts,

and make fat thy bones:

and thou shalt be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water,

whose waters fail not.” Is. 58:11

Guess what?

The long pond is free of ice! The ice has all melted, as of this morning. I looked out the window, and rushed outside to take a picture. . . .

The other, smaller pond still looks like this. All ice, except for the ring around the outside.

As you may have guessed, I’m in no big hurry to start school this morning. Yesterday we got started so early that we were done before lunch. Consequently, we had about 9 hours of free time until Daddy came home (at 8). Not good. Too challenging for me to keep the children busy doing constructive things.

Right now Jacob, Ethan, and Grace are outside and David is sitting here with me. I guess I better go get them dressed. . .time with just the 2 little ones is rare so I want to take advantage of it. Maybe we’ll pick up their room and do some reading.

Attached is a link to the book
that I’ve been singing (yup, singing) to the children all week, several times a day. They LOVE it. It’s a library book.

Posted on March 12, 2008 by Shanda

I thought I was putting the kids to bed early but I just discovered that one of them (I’m sure it was David) set the livingroom clock back one hour at some point today. I put them to bed, all happy-like because it was early in the evening, came in my room, shut the door, and realized that it’s 8pm right now and not 7pm. (!!!!!)

I. Am. Tired. very. tired.

Caleb is upstairs crying. . . . . .hold on a sec. . . . .

Okay, I’m back. Rich isn’t home. He had to go straight to church after work for a deacon’s meeting. So, here I am holding down the fort. It’s been a very nice day, actually. We did our homeschooling and other than that my major personal accomplishment was mopping (down on my hands and knees) the kitchen floor. I did it this morning while the children were doing a word search about China. I overheard this conversation:

Grace, thoughtfully: “I wouldn’t want to live in China. . . . .unless I was the first one born and I was a boy.”

Jacob, excitedly: “Then you would be ME!”

Ethan, to Grace, questioningly: “Would you really want to be a boy?”

Grace, matter of factly: “If I was in China. If I was here, I would want to be a girl. It depends on where I am.”

Me (couldn’t resist) –from under the table, scrubbing: “What if you were under your bed?”

ALL: Loud and long laughter. “Ha Ha Ha!!”

Jacob, knowingly: “She would want to be a kitten!”

We all agreed with that.

The weather was crazy today. We had sun. We had rain. We had clouds. We had snow. At one point Jacob said, “It’s coming down in TORRENTS out there!!” And I had that feeling of warmth that I get now and then as a Mother. A surprised sort of pride, this time it came from hearing that word come from my 11 year old. He’s a smart one, that boy of mine.

Grace’s claim to fame today was that she accidently used my expensive bath oil as shampoo (she was using my big tub). I was too tired to make her go try again, so she’s looking rather greasy. I guess her hair will be nice and soft when she washes it tomorrow. Poor girl, I love her to bits, but when I tucked her in tonight, I was so appalled by her room that I told her not to come down for breakfast until it was clean. “If you don’t work, you don’t eat”.

Something relatively exciting happened today. The long pond is half thawed and Jacob, Ethan, and David went outside and caught tadpoles for the first time since fall. Of course they just had to bring them to Mommy so I could take a picture.

Come on now, aren’t you excited for me? For the children? For boys everywhere?

By the way, did you know, I can’t even sit on the couch and eat a bowl of soup without my little ones climbing all over me??? It’s so lovely to be loved. We watched the end of Anne of Green Gables this evening and David climbed on my lap after Matthew died. Wanting to know “why?” and “Did he go to heaven?” I took the opportunity to tell him that everyone who loves Jesus and has asked Him to forgive their sins and be their Savior will go to Heaven. I said, “Mommy is going to heaven someday!” “Why?” “Because I love Jesus so much, and I asked Him to forgive my bad sins, and He did, He saved me.” David is not saved yet, and that is okay, but I still pray and talk to him about it, in a natural (not pushy) way, whenever the Holy Spirit moves in him or me. I love to hear the questions about heaven from him, it assures me that he is thinking about it all. So, he sat quietly processing the thought in my lap until I said, “Um. David? How can I eat my soup with one arm?” And off he went, after Mommy kissed him a few times on the face.

Jacob was a goof ball while watching Anne. I think the sentiment was a bit much for him.

I love that movie. Guess what? This was the first time I watched it and thought that Anne and Diana looked so young, like kids, does that mean I’m getting older?? Hmmmmm. . . . . .

I ate 2 pieces of that cake today and I’m about to have another.

Lunch time has been good the past few days. Today I didn’t call anyone to the table until it was set, with paper plates and plastic cups. . .tuna sandwiches, pickles, and olives. Then I sat with Caleb in my lap and called down the others. With me sitting right there with them, they knew they could not go crazy. LOL They all got a nice piece of cake for dessert.

Caleb got cleaned up nice for Mommy today. I think he has such a sweet smile. The lip to teeth ratio is perfect!

I stood here and folded laundry for a while. . .look at the nice clean floor! I was all over every inch, just a scrubbin’ away! And, yes the clothes are STILL on the table. I have run out of energy.

Here is picture of Caleb and Mommy (to update the one from yesterday)

Either he’s bigger or I’m smaller.

Here is a picture of my goofy yet ever-loveable bunch of children. I had just said, “Okay!!! Everyone give me their most HANDSOME SMILE!!”

And this is what I get:

Care to guess who’s the ham in this group?

Okay. That’s enough for today.

Time for cake and bed and watching tv. I’ll try not to get too many crumbs in the bedding. And hopefully my handsome man will be home soon!

Fall Harvest Cake

Posted on March 11, 2008 by Shanda

Well, I’m sitting here, passing time away at the computer while waiting for my handsome, hard working man to get home. The kids are watching a silly Dr. Seuss video, that one with the abdominal stars.

Just thought I would share a few old photos. These were taken when my family lived in our previous house and are some of the very first pictures taken with my very first digital camera! We were there for about 4 years (I think). Both David and Caleb were born when we lived at this house.

This is a picture of me with darling cutey face Caleb on my shoulders. I love this picture, I just wish we could see his little baby feet.

Here is me in my old kitchen, busily making a meal for my family. That door behind me would constantly open and shut all spring and summer long. I loved all the traffic of my friends and family coming in and out. Most of the time they would find me right here, in the kitchen.

This one is so cute! It was taken on a hot summer day. Baby Caleb is sitting in the kiddie pool while all the rest of us are sitting in lawn chairs around him, eating popcycles. Look at little David’s short legs. They don’t reach the water! How sad.

I hope you enjoyed these never-before-seen pictures! And now, for a cake recipe.

I have this cake in the oven, right now, baking nicely in a fiesta 9 by 13.

Fall Harvest Cake (can be made at any time of year)

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 t. cinnamon
2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. ground ginger
1 cup oil
1/2 t. vanilla
4 eggs

Mix all these together. Then add 2 cups of flour, 1/2 cup at a time.

Then, blend in a 15 oz can of pumpkin.

Then, fold in 1 apple (peeled and chopped) and

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Pour into a bundt pan (I used a 9 by 13) grease and flour it first, of course. Bake at 350 for about 70 minutes for bundt pan and about 40 min. for 9 by 13. Cool 20 minutes in the pan; remove and complete cooling on wire rack. Frost when cool.

Do you want the frosting recipe?? Do you?? Okay here it is:

The Frosting

2 t. vanilla
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 oz. package of softened cream cheese
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Blend first 3 ingredients, then add just enough sugar for a nice, spreading consistency.

Rich is home now. I’m going to go serve him Dinner with a Smile and then go to the grocery store. I’m out of butter and laundry detergent. . . . . . .

But wait! There’s more!

My cake is done now and I asked Rich to take a picture of me holding my cake. This was his first attempt, which I am sharing because I didn’t know he took it at this angle until I checked my camera to see how the pictures turned out. Needless to say, I laughed and laughed and then hit him.

Here is the 2nd attempt. I have Rich’s huge sweatshirt on because I was cold. I’ve been kind of silly lately. And it’s NOT from coffee. I’m just happy that it is spring.

Now, I better get to the store. I’ll frost the cake later and have a wonderful before bed treat. I figure it’s pretty healthy, with all that pumpkin in it!

crazy lunch

Posted on March 10, 2008 by Shanda

We just had A Crazy Lunch. In order to have A Crazy Lunch, you need 5 children (give or take) and only one mommy. Let the children talk as much as they want, and allow them to request whatever they want. Fulfill all demands. Allow one of them to go ahead and place bits of hot dog on their brother’s head. Allow your two year old to yell for “more soup”, selfishly, while he watches you give his big brother some. Listen to the laughing and loud talking while you run back and forth to the sink, the stove, and the fridge. If possible, have Crazy Lunch on the day after daylight savings time, when you get the sensation that you lost an hour somewhere, and you can’t seem to catch up.

Be warned, though, that Crazy Lunch usually ends in a catastrophe. I can’t tell you what will happen at YOUR house, but at mine, it ended when David lurched himself across Ethan to grab some fruit, spilling Ethan’s freshly-filled bowl of soup all over the place. That was the end of our Crazy Lunch. David was removed from table with A Loudly Spoken Sentence, and had to finish his food in another room, while still wearing the yucky soup-soaked sweater.

After the Crazy Lunch was over, all talking and laughing was forcibly ceased and all requests for any further item was denied. Children were removed from room as soon as they were done with lunch, and put in bed with math work.

Tomorrow’s lunch will be MUCH more controlled. Only a fool would allow another Crazy Lunch any time soon. If you feel like “Rules at Mealtime” is only what “mean mother’s do”, you are wrong. Don’t be tempted to make crazy meals a regular occurrence. It is a trick of the devil, to make you INSANE and your children SLOBS! The children need to learn manners, or the mom will be embarrassed and turn red when out in pubic.

*******************

I fully intended to blog earlier, but as my above little story hinted, I was behind all morning because we all slept until 7:30-8:00 which is an hour later than usual.

David had speech therapy this morning and it went well, and he had to work hard. She has finally noticed that David sucks in air when making the “s” sound in the middle or end of a word and so today begins what will no-doubt be a long process of re-training him to make his “s” sound like everyone else in the world. He also needs to learn to buzz the “s” in “is”. Would you pray for him in this area? Please? And pray for me, I really need to be working with him everyday at home in a serious way, and I just haven’t been doing it. I correct him during normal family life, but he needs more than that.

This weekend was nice. On Friday night Rich took us out for pizza and we had a great time as a family, laughing and talking together.

On Saturday we went to Barnes and Noble and I picked out a book for each of the children. As a homeschooler, I get a 20% discount on our books. Caleb ripped open a “Percy” train and we had to buy that, too. He can’t have it, though, because I don’t want him doing that again.

We went to church on Sunday. I stayed home with David on Sunday night, I was so very tired and Rich told me to stay home and rest.

Pictures:

These were taken on Friday. I had begun to empty the dishwasher but was interrupted before I could do the silverware. When I went back to the kitchen, I found Caleb working at it! This was his very first time helping Mommy in the kitchen. What a cutie-pie, of course I had to get some pictures of him.

His feet crack me up.

He had to stretch, but I think he did a real good job!

This was the big accomplishment on Saturday. I took the DVD’s out of their cases and put them in a fabric, zippered cd-holder. It holds 25 movies and saves SO much space! I’m really happy with this, even though the kids had a panic attack when they saw all the cases in the garbage. They thought I threw away their movies.

These are photos of David and me at the stream, in one of our Favorite Thinking Spots. The evergreens are a delight to me, especially when they are bright with sunshine.

The snow has melted, and the ponds are slowly melting from the outside in.

Here is the “long” pond. (not really that long, but longer than the other one)

This is David’s bean experiment, all his idea. He found a package of seeds out on the porch and wanted to plant some. So we did, about a week or so ago.

The boys are still constantly playing with legos.

But Grace would rather read.

Okay, I must get back to the work I love best! Motherhood!

And, guess what? David told me yesterday that I should be a baker when I grow up! That will have to be a future option. LOL

Have a great day, all!

life with Caleb

Posted on March 8, 2008 by Shanda

food for thought

Posted on March 7, 2008 by Shanda

“Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they simply are!

Think of the sea,

the air,

the sun,

the stars and the moon—all these things are, and what a ministration they exert.

So often we mar God’s designed influence through us by our self-conscious effort to be consistent and useful.

Jesus says there is only one way to develop spiritually, and that is by concentration on God. ‘Do not worry about being of use to others; believe on Me’—pay attention to the Source, and out of you will flow rivers of living water. We cannot get at the springs of our natural life by common sense, and Jesus is teaching that growth in spiritual life does not depend on our watching it, but on concentration on our Father in heaven. Our heavenly Father knows the circumstances we are in, and if we keep concentrated on Him we will grow spiritually as the lilies.

The people who influence us most are not those who buttonhole us and talk to us, but those who live their lives like the stars in heaven and the lilies in the field, perfectly simply and uneffectedly. Those are the lives that mold us.

If you want to be of use to God, get rightly related to Jesus Christ and He will make you of use unconsciously every minute you live.”

~Oswald Chambers

“Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which if you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.” (Matthew 6:25-29)

“Your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:32b, 33)

(I should not worry about my spiritual life or my neighbor’s spiritual life, either! God knows our soul needs and knows the way He will lead us. He will supply our spiritual food and drink as well as our body’s food and drink. If I seek first His kingdom and righteousness, all of our soul needs will be supplied!)

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20, 21

Consider the graceful fern in the woods, with the sunlight shining on it

Consider the flowers by the lake, so beautiful and lovely. They simply are.

Consider the bright flower in a field, with a butterfly resting upon it. Our Father made these things!

For His glory!

And that is why He made you and I.

For His glory!

Just be yourself. In Christ. Rest in Him. Trust in Him.

muddy boots

Posted on March 6, 2008 by Shanda

Jacob, Ethan, and Grace have been outside almost all day. They even ate lunch out there. I’m looking out the window right now and I see Grace and Jacob riding their bikes back from the dam and Ethan running with their bag of picnic food. The picnic is over, apparently. It’s a springlike day with bright sunshine.

I went out for a little bit with David and Caleb. I have struggles when I take them out; keeping track of David is tough, he goes all over the place, and at 5 years old, is still not able to be sensible when it comes to danger. His biggest fault is disappearing back into the house without me seeing him go. Very Irritating indeed. Caleb needs constant help, so I am usually holding his hand and yelling to David to either wait up or catch up.

Today we looked at the stream for a while. By the way, when I was growing up we called it a “creek” –pronounced “crick”. Does anyone else pronounce it that way? I live in a different area now, and no one, that I know of, says “crick” so we say “stream” to be on the safe side. After we watched the water for a while (and Grace surprised me by asking if she could go swimming in it!!!!) we decided to go for a walk to the dam. David brought along a ball and bat.

Not too far into the walk, Caleb got ahead of me and walked into some mud. Ethan tried to help him, got his feet stuck, dropped Caleb, and lost his shoes. Caleb was so mad. He was covered from the backside down with black icy cold mud. I had all the kids around me and we all wondered what to do? I ended up running back to the house to get a new pair of pants for him, socks, and a pair of Grace’s old boots. Ethan had to come as well, to get some dry boots on. I think his sneakers are still in the black mud.

Here I am, changing Caleb’s pants, socks, and shoes. Jacob took the picture.

These are the moments (I’ve had lots and lots like this) that have made me a “for the most part” patient mommy.

He did a good job at holding onto his sticks during the wardrobe change. LOL

It took me a while to get the boots on his feet! Isn’t he cute?

Eventually we got him all set (his dirty pants and shoes are still in the woods, oops) and arrived at the dam.

The boys played some ball.

I joined in.

And Grace aired out her wet boots and curled up in the sunshine. She was listening to the birds.

Now that I’m back inside (and the 4 older kids are jumping on the trampoline) I am going to continue with laundry and cleaning. I also wanted to write a few letters. Caleb is watching a Thomas video and looking sleepier and sleepier. Rich is coming home early so that he can take me to the DMV to renew my driver’s license. I still intend to teach the kids school, too. I’ve been so busy lately, it’s no wonder I’m usually sound asleep by 9:30. Last night I fell asleep on the couch before 9. Busy days full of all kinds of adventure!

Today is special because it feels like spring. We’ve been pretty much stuck in the house and it felt good to get outside. Makes me look forward to when warm weather comes to stay.

I just checked on the little one and he was doing this:

Naptime!

Happy Birthday

Posted on March 5, 2008 by Shanda

10 years ago I gave birth to my 2nd son

Yep! Ethan is 10 years old today.

I’m having a hard time processing that number.

I have two children in double digits now.

Ethan’s personality is pure sweetness. He’s so sweet I worry about him. LOL

This morning, I gave him a long hug and his hands pat pat patted my back the whole time.

We gave him a huge “lego police station” set and he’s been at work putting it together for several hours.

I did drag him away for a few photos, however.

Ethan was born at 6:48pm

He was 6 pounds and 7 oz, 19 inches long

His first 10 years went by so fast. I suppose his next 10 years will, too.

I’m just along for the ride, and I like it. I enjoy watching Ethan grow.

Ethan’s Special Mashed Potatoes

5 pounds pototoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup sour cream
2 pkgs (3 oz each) cream cheese, softened
3 T. butter
1 tsp salt
1 tsp onion salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Boil potatoes 20-25 minutes, until very tender, drain.
In large mixing bowl, mash potatoes. Add sour cream, cream cheese,
butter, salt, onion salt, and pepper; beat until fluffy.

Transfer to a greased 2 quart baking dish. Dot with butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until heated through.
Yield: 8 servings

Edit (more pictures)

Well, I took E to the store to pick out junk food. Then, we came home and invited friends over. It was quite a fun day. We even all went outside. It’s almost 8pm now, and I just put the kids to bed full of cookies, candy, soda, chips, ice cream, and cake. Oh yeah, they had dinner, too. Rich wasn’t here for the candles, which is so sad, but he was here for breakfast. He has a meeting tonight after church and will be home later. He wants Ethan to wait up for him so they can spend time together. So, after I get done here, I will be going to the livingroom to hang out with my new 10 year old.

If you go back to last year’s post you will see the same group of kids. Fun to see how much they grow in a year. Grace is WILD here, and Caleb is pant-less.

Without my husband at cake time, I had to delegate jobs to the kids. Jacob was in charge of candles.

When I looked at the pictures after we were all done with cake, I noticed that Ethan ended up with 11 candles instead of 10. The perfectionist in me feels uncomfortable with that. LOL

11 candles!

Time for pj’s and tv with Ethan. Good night all!

snacktime

Posted on March 3, 2008 by Shanda

Once upon a time, last Friday afternoon, Mama bear’s tummy started to growl. She was hungry for a snack. In fact, to be perfectly honest, she was having a craving for chocolate.

She wanted chocolate cake with creamy frosting. But when she checked the cupboards, she found none.

(none)

She thought about making her own cake but she had no energy.

(none at all)

Then she decided to have some Ben and Jerry’s New York Super Fudge Chunk ice cream. But when she checked the freezer, she found none.

(none)

Then she dreamed of Godiva chocolates. But that was only a dream.

(a day dream)

She looked and she looked and finally she found something that might possibly satisfy her craving. It was Nutella. Every good Mama bear buys her cubs animal crackers, so she got those out, too. Then she got a knife.

Her five bear cubs of various sizes were busy in the other room, playing games, so Mama bear sat cross legged on the couch, turned on the news, and ate animal cracker after animal cracker, all spread thick with creamy, chocolaty Nutella.

Soon Mama bear was beginning to feel full. But she recklessly kept on eating anyway. Then, along came her baby bear cub. He wanted his Mama to share and so she did, happily. She started making baby bear his own crackers w/Nutella. Baby bear had some organizational skills and so he lined them all up like this:

Mama bear decided to eat one of Baby bear’s crackers. But this made Baby bear very mad.

Not only did he take it back, he also made himself a new one.

Mama bear was starting to feel very silly from all that sugar. So she decided to do some decorating.

She decided to start with Baby bear’s itty bitty nose.

And then, she decorated Baby bear’s favorite choo-choo, the dirty ink-faced James.

Mama bear’s tummy was round and full when she finally got up and brushed the crumbs off her shirt. She twirled the tops back on the cookie jar and the Nutella and looked at the clock.

Hopefully her chocolate fix and silly mood would last through the next few hours, until Big Papa bear came home. Although she was a bear, she tried hard not to act like one. It was very difficult to keep herself from growling at times.

Chocolate seemed to help with attitude and endurance problems and so Mama bear got back to work, feeling much better after her snack. She was a Very Busy Mama, but no mama should ever too busy for chocolate.

The End