Chocolate Trifle with a Christmas Twist

We are having a great Christmas season. It is so fun to be in California having a non-white Christmas. It's especially fun being with almost all of our family and the plentiful food and gifts.

Sam is especially pleased with his Nosecracker ornament from Oma.


I had fun this year coming up with a new Christmas dessert recipe.




Christmas Chocolate Trifle

1. Make brownies according to package directions.  Mix Junior Mints into brownie batter.  Cook in a 9x13 pan. After the brownies cool, cut them into 1/2 - 1 inch cubes.


2. While brownies are baking, make your pudding mixture.

• In a heavy pan, mix together 2 cups sugar, 2/3 cups flour, and 1/2 tsp salt.
• In a separate bowl, mix together 4 cups milk and 6 egg yolks (yolks only).
• Add milk/egg mixture to sugar/flour mixture.
• Add 4 squares unsweetened baking chocolate.
• Cook over medium heat stirring constantly. When mixture begins to boil, continue cooking and stirring for 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat and add 1/2 stick of butter and 2 tsp. vanilla
• Cover with plastic wrap so that plastic is touching the top of the pudding so it will not form a skin. Cool in refrigerator.
• Once the pudding is cooled, lighten it with 2 cups of heavy whipping cream that is whipped but unsweetened. Lighten by gently folding the whipped cream into the pudding mixture in 3 stages until color is uniform.

3. Whip another 2 cups of heavy whipping cream. Sweeten with about 1/3 cup of powdered sugar and a drizzle of vanilla.

4. Set aside 12 candy canes (keep them wrapped so the colors don't run after the trifle is assembled). Unwrap another few candy canes and pound them to dust with a mallet or rolling pin (or pulverize them in a food processor). You don't want any big chunks of hard candy, so really pound the heck out of it.


5. Now you are ready to layer. In the bottom of your trifle bowl, put a layer of brownie pieces. Arrange the 12 whole candy canes around the sides of the bowl. Then layer about an inch of pudding mixture, spreading it carefully to the sides of the bowl. Sprinkle on a layer of finely crushed candy cane, getting it all the way to the sides of the bowl so it adds a red and white layer. Next, add a layer of sweetened whipped cream.


6. Repeat the layers. End by decorating the top with chocolate shavings or a dusting of cocoa powder and a sprinkling of coarsely crushed candy cane (slightly bigger chunks are okay here).

7. Voila. You have a beautiful and yummy chocolate mint Christmas dessert.


Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat . . .

Name That Sam

Sam is always good for a laugh.

This picture made me laugh so hard,
I think it deserves a title.
Any suggestions?

My Little Men

I got Sam new church clothes a few weeks ago. They're so cute: herringbone pants, striped oxford shirt, and a sweater vest. I had him try them on, and I said, "You look like a little man." He answered very proudly, "Yeah, I like a dad."

I took him downstairs to Steve's office to show off what a little man we have. Sam told Steve, "I a Dad. Dat my friend, Mommy," like he was introducing me. I *love, love, love* that I'm his friend. That officially makes him my new favorite child. Now, when he thinks he's looking sharp, he tells me that his name is Steve, and he calls me Susan.

Speaking of little men . . .

Matt has grown 1 and 1/2 inches since Halloween! He's only about half an inch shorter than me now. This is happening too fast! Please make it stop!!

And just because it's one of my favorite Sam faces, here's Bucky Beaver.

If You Have 7 Minutes . . .

Copy and paste this to your blog and bold the ones that you HAVE done.

1. Started your own blog (of course)
2. Slept under the stars (hiking in the Tetons with my dad at 13 years old and my first newlywed summer)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii (when I was pregnant with Matthew)
5. Watched a meteor shower (from my back porch swing)
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland (I got a concussion there)
8. Climbed a mountain (the Tetons and to the Y)

can't say which kid for fear of potential vengeful behavior

9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo (Silent Night in the 4th grade Christmas play - that was way, way back before separation of church and state)
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch (hand-tinting black and white photos)

15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning (maybe the worst night of my life)
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables (tomatoes, tomatoes, and tomatoes)
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train (Bergen to Oslo)

Bergen, Norway

21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort (the snow was to my waist that year)
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping (hmmmm . . . turtles in Sugar Creek, Ashly?)
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (in elementary school)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset

Mexican sunrise

31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors (Sweden)
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing (Steve's hobby that monkey Anna excels at)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance (from Disneyland with a concussion)
47. Had your portrait painted (awesome New York street artist)
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling (Hawaii and Mexico)
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater (to Jungle Book with the Blatters over 30 years ago)
55. Been in a movie/commercial
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business (Shepherd's Cradle)
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies (Samoas are the best)
62. Gone whale watching (Cabo)

Whale watching in Cabo

63. Got flowers for no reason (Steve loves me)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma (as often as I can)
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check (that was embarrassing)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy (porcelain doll and geisha doll)
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial (awesome vacation with Carol)
71. Eaten Caviar (only on sushi)
72. Pieced a quilt (many times)
73. Stood in Times Square (one of my favorite places)
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone (my nose - twice)
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person (first newlywed summer)
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (my first car, little red Toyota Tercel)

83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper (wedding announcement)
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox (shared it with nearly my entire kindergarten class)
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club (reading Digging to America for next month)
93. Lost a loved one (sister Sarah, sister-in-law Susie, and grandparents)
94. Had a baby (6 times!)
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone (still have the same number we started with over 10 years ago)
99. Been stung by a bee (at least I'm not allergic)

That was a fun memory sparker, Katy. And it reminded me of all the things I still want to do someday!

Night Terrors

Over the past month, Sarah has woken up 3 different times because of night terrors. About.com says, "When you hear how most experts describe night terrors, it is easy to see why parents find them distressing. Children who have night terrors are usually described as 'bolting upright' with their eyes wide open, with a look of fear and panic, and letting out a 'blood curdling scream'. These kids will usually also be sweating, breathing fast and have a rapid heart rate (autonomic signs). And although it will seem like they are awake, during a night terror, children will appear confused, will not be consolable and won't recognize you." Night terrors can be caused by over-tiredness or stress, and usually the child doesn't remember them in the morning.

The first time, she woke up screaming and sweating and babbling something about the house only being halfway done and wanting to be a zoo keeper. It was a little funny and a little frightening, but once we figured out what was going on, we could deal with it much better.

The second time, she was screaming about having to clean her room by herself. Are you sensing a pattern here?

Last night, she woke up screaming again. Steve took care of her and doesn't know what it was about, so this morning, I asked her. Confused, she answered, "Nightmare? I had a good dream last night." No help there.

At least two of the three times, she, apparently, had nightmares about chores! So I've started wondering . . . . Am I stressing her out by making her clean her room? Is picking up her toys and clothes too difficult? Am I really that tough of a taskmaster, that she would have choremares?!?

I hope she outgrows it soon. Anyone who has known Sarah for a while knows how loud and ear-piercing her scream can be. It's quite an unnerving sound at 2 in the morning. At least she doesn't remember it.

For Grandma . . .

. . . and just because she's so darn cute, I can hardly stand it.

about a month old

She's usually such a happy, good-natured baby,
but not on picture day.

She cried her eyes out almost the entire time.

We managed to get a few good shots when she paused
in her screaming to breathe.

Leah's first day at church (6 weeks old). I think the lovely pink chairs in the mother's lounge could use a good cleaning.

so happy with a full tummy

Grandma, I promise we'll see you soon.

Good Manners = Respect

As all mothers know, a two-year-old's favorite word is usually a loud whiny "NO!" Very annoying.

I've worked hard with Sam to get him to say no politely and in a nice voice. It seems to have taken.

I ask him if he wants some salad
He says politely while violently shaking his head, "No thank you."

I say, "Sam, it's bed time."
He says, in his sad (but still nice) voice, "No thank you."

"Sam, it's shower time."
"No thank you."

As he runs away from me, "Sam, come back!"
Still running, "No thank you."

"Sam quit holding yourself and go use the potty."
"No thank you."

"Do you need to go on time-out!"
"No thank you."

"Pick your trash up off the floor, please."
"No thank you."

"Are you going to throw up?"
"No thank you."

In the movie Blast From the Past, Adam learns from his mother that "good manners are just a way of showing other people we have respect for them." It would appear that Sam has lots of respect for me . . . or am I missing something?

SHHH . . . Don't Wake the Baby

One of my favorite times of day is BEDTIME. I love to crawl into my soft, cozy bed with a book that I read until I fall asleep.

Since Leah is still in our bedroom, though, I haven't been able to read at night, and I MISS IT. I used to have a decent booklight, but it has disappeared along with everything else of interest to a 2 year old that is not nailed down.

The other night, I scrounged around until I found a flashlight and took it to bed with me so I could read without waking up the little angel. I was feeling a little guilty about staying up reading so late, but it was pure heaven.

Until . . .

. . . a big, hairy spider crawled down the sheets right over my arm. Have you ever had to freak out quietly so as not to wake the baby? It's not easy.

Forget sleeping when the baby sleeps. I may never go to bed without my flashlight again!

Tag 8

Check me out - new posts two days in a row. Shocking, I know. But I didn't want to have to re-write my "8 things that happened yesterday" when Sam provided me with such a good and nasty one.

8 favorite TV Shows
1. So You Think You Can Dance
2. American Idol
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Pushing Daisies
5. Samantha Who?
6. The Office
7. Ace of Cakes
8. Lost


8 favorite Restaurants
1. Andre's in Las Vegas
2. Bombay House
3. Mandarin in Bountiful
4. California Pizza Kitchen
5. Chipotle
6. Thai Chili Gardens
7. Cafe Rio, but only during off hours
8. Sonic - they have the BEST ice


8 things that happened yesterday
1. Sam pooed in his pants, and "it" fell down into the leg. The only way I knew it was there was because his pants thunked when I dropped them on the floor.
2. Matt got grounded for a week, probation for a month. (He better watch those grades!)
3. Poor Leah smelled exactly like Matt used to smell - mmmm, sulfur
4. Sam learned that if he wants Pellegrino, he has to ask for "Fire Water"
5. Sarah had a night terror - something about the house only being halfway clean and wanting to be a zoo keeper (I know I shouldn't laugh, she was seriously traumatized, but I can't help it)
6. Anna made shortbread in our cute new shortbread pans.
7. Sarah puked - made it to the toilet and didn't scream even once. Way to go, Sarah!!! (I'll have to do a post on the history of Sarah's puking.)
8. I fined each kid 3 pieces of candy - SCORE! (thank you for your wise parenting advice, Celia)


8 things to look forward to
1. getting some muscle strength back in my stomach and back
2. going to California for Christmas
3. summer vacation and, thus, no more homework
4. warm weather
5. planting my garden
6. Sam being really and truly potty trained
7. no debt
8. being able to wear a good bra again


8 Things I Love about Fall
1. Thanksgiving
2. the colors, especially on the mountains with their gray stone peaks
3. soup (my new favorite is chicken tortilla soup)
4. Halloween
5. holiday baking
6. my heating pad
7. my slippers
8. my flannel nightgown


8 things in my wish list (this was surprisingly hard - I guess I'm fairly content)
1. a new car
2. a housekeeper along the lines of Alice
3. a trip to Europe with just my husband - no kids
4. a trip with just my mom and sisters - it has to be at least a week to qualify
5. a Kindle (it'll save me money, right?!)
6. steady, as in non-seasonal, income
7. lasting health for my family, especially through this winter with a new baby in the house
8. a stable economy


8 people I tag

Anyone who wants to play, but especially Anna, Matt, Sarah and Kate because my kids (and niece) are awesome and I love to hear what they have to say.

How to Break a Bad Habit

Sam likes to climb up onto the bathroom counter top. Then he can't get down by himself, so I find myself being called to his rescue several times a day. Last week, this is what happened when he climbed onto the upstairs counter top while I was working in the basement.

It would seem that I didn't hear him calling me, so he finally gave up and took a nap. (Do I win mother of the year?) Poor Sam. He was not a happy boy when he woke up, but he hasn't climbed up since. How's that for effective aversion training?

Does anyone have any suggestions for a gate that he can't yank down or climb over?