Quiet Day

Today we had a quiet day.  It was lovely.  I also got some great news.  Our Cub Scout Pack will be planting trees this Saturday with this organization.

Heifer International

I have been looking, since November, for an organization that will allow the Cub Scout Pack to do a "conservation project".  I've emailed all kinds of international organizations including, the UN, the EU, and USAID.  No one has even responded to me other than Heifer.  Heifer is my favorite organization anyway.  I just think it is terrible in a country where we are way behind in conservation efforts that no one, other than Heifer, would grab an outstretched hand.  So many things are like this in Albania.  It makes me sad.

I'm really enjoying



It is right up my alley of what I'm trying to obtain as far as parenting.

My sister recommended this book.


  I'm thinking about reading next, but I might need to read a novel first - for fun.


I also have a secret.  Stay tuned to learn what it might be.

The Happy Prince

My dear mother gave me these two books from her collection.
    

She knew I was a fan of William Bennett and that I'm a fan of teaching my children virtues.  It is also difficult to get stories in English in this country.  I have been reading to my children out of these books almost every night for several months.  We still haven't read every story.  Tonight we read a REALLY awesome story that I had never heard.  Perhaps you will enjoy it too.

The Happy Prince

Today I Got A Round "TOIT"

Super Jack's birthday wish was that he could have two birthdays.  Ever since his birthday he keeps telling everyone, "I'm going to have two birthdays."  He has been waiting and waiting for his second birthday.  Last night I mustered up my energy to make him a birthday cake in his favorite color - PINK!

Does he look happy or what?

I also mustered up enough will to let Sweets decorate her "girl scout" T-shirt.

She did a GREAT job!

I've decided that when I think I'm craving sweets it is usually just that I'm hungry and sweets are fast and easy.  I've got to do a better job preparing food before I get too hungry.  Not that I've eaten any sweets, but I think I wouldn't even think about them.

Sock Treats

I got to out with my husband tonight!  It was wonderful.  However, I forgot to take my camera because I was too excited about my hot date. 

I can show you one thing that has made my day a little brighter.

Shark Socks

I wore these all day.  You see I love sharks.  When I was in college I studied them quite a bit.  Now whenever my family sees anything sharky they buy it for me.  My dear sister, Christina, sent these to me a few years ago.  They are so fun to wear because no one can tell I'm wearing shark socks, but I know I'm wearing them fins and all.

See what socks you can find here - Shark Bite 3 Dimensional Trouser Socks by Foot Traffic

Back to Normal

Things are getting back to normal after a week of illness.

Ah Sweets!  Reading Stories.  She is such a good
Storyteller

Super Jack listening intently with his cowboy hat!

It warms my heart to see Bumbles' smile again!
Can you see his 3 teeth? 
He's got three more coming.

I almost didn't write my blog tonight.  When these pictures popped up I just had to share them with you.

I had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich today!  I know that doesn't seem that exciting to Americans, but we haven't had peanut butter in the house for a month now.  I miss it so.  I got tired of waiting for the store to stock it so I made it myself.

Homemade Peanut Butter

Can you tell which is sugaric and
which is non-sugaric jam?

Put it together and what have you got? YUM!

My upstairs neighbor told me yesterday that they have translated this book into Albanian



I told her they had one for children and teenagers too.  She said she'd heard about them, but they weren't translated yet.  She really wanted to read the one for children.  She has 3 little girls.  I was looking for a book to read and decided to download




to my


  (I LOVE MY E-READER. I READ SO MUCH MORE NOW, INCLUDING MY SCRIPTURES)

when I realized that the co-author is Ross Campbell!  Ross Campbell?  I love him.  He wrote




which I LOVE!  It is actually one of the books I read to become a Le Leche League Leader.  I just saw that he also wrote


  and (this one he also co-authored with Gary Chapman)

I'm just saying . . . if you're looking for something to read.  This stuff is GREAT!

Questions from a Non-Sugaric

My friend sent me this.  He tried to post it on this blog, but it didn't work.  I'll post it for him

 

 

 

"Hi Angela... you probably know by now that I’m not eating any sugar too and the thing is that instead of dropping some weight I’m gaining weight and Andi said that you might have something to say about that too? 

The 1-million Lek question is “ did the sugar keep my weight under control or what?”

Anyway I’m holding you accountable for inspiring me to give up sugar and gain weight, only joking…
I’m only trying to figure out how is that possible and thought you might know something about it…
take care

 

Marion the Magnificent Mormon Meat Man"

 

Okay he didn't sign it like that, but I love that title.

 

Dear Marion,

 

All I can tell you is that you are probably eating more of something else.  I have had that same problem.  Let me give you an example.  Today the LDS missionaries were coming over to my house.  I wanted to do something nice for them.  I decided that I'd make my "Denise Call Chocolate Chip Cookies".

 

B.D. chopped up the chocolate

 

Super Jack helped me stir and Sweets ate lots of cookie dough.  My mouth was watering, but I resisted eating the cookie dough.  However, I ate a bowl of muesli and almonds and pasta and a banana and. . . . you get my point.

 

I sent almost all the cookies home with my neighbor and the missionaries.  I did leave a few for the kids.  They didn't eat them all.  This one was just tempting me so I took a picture so it could tempt you too.

 

In short Marion we both have to find some way to "celebrate" or "reward" ourselves without overeating.  Whether it is sugar or something else.  There is more to eating healthy than just not eating sugar.  I'm going to try (starting next week) to be sure to eat 3 fruits and 4 veggies every day.  This I know really helps me feel full and makes it harder to over eat.  Do you want to join me on this new challenge?

 

 

Denise Call Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 1/2 cups oats

chocolate chips to taste

 

Cream butter and both sugars together. Add eggs and vanilla.  In separate bowl combine flour through salt.  Mix well.  Add oats and chocolate chips.  Bake at 350 degrees fro 10 minutes!  Enjoy!

Cravings

Yesterday my husband drove all over town looking for these.

Pistachios

And these

Mafishe

He didn't find either.  It was so interesting to me to see him having cravings.  It seemed to me that he never had cravings.  Perhaps, my cravings always satisfied his cravings before he could have any.  He always seemed so much stronger than me when it came to food.  Yesterday, I looked stronger than him. ;-)

Bumbles was feeling better today so we ran some errands.  It was so nice to be out and we got so much done - including buying Daddy mafishe and pistachios.  Super Jack and Andi fight over the pistachios.  I finally figured out what they are called in Shqip (Albanian) - Stika.  I think it is a great word!

A Glimpse

A glimpse of love

They are listening to a book on .

A glimpse of a grown man

A glimpse of my kitchen curtains and my
sewing machine.

A glimpse of how my room usually looks.
Also you can see my new curtains and my new rug
The crib is suffering from a mold infestation :-(

I'm almost done with my green linen curtains.  Then I just have to wait for a package from my mom with some kind of magical fabric in it to finish the look.  Also, I can't work on my secret project until she sends me an embroidery foot for my machine.  Now we are all excited for my mom's package.

I promised I'd tell you about this book.



I LOVED IT!  It is a memoir.  My husband and I are huge fans of true stories.  This woman left her life in Manhattan to marry a farmer.  They lived together for almost a year before they got married which made me almost not read the book.  I loved reading about how this woman just did all these things she had never done before like milk a cow, raise bees, feed pigs, slaughter animals, and cook black pudding.  She was so adventurous and brave.  She was very nervous about getting married, but she did and I love what she decided about it (you'll have to read it to find out).  I also LOVE "farmer love".  I tried to talk my husband into it, but he wouldn't go for it.  It also made me realize that being a mother of four is almost as much work as farming. 

I know I haven't said much about food lately (sick kids, my mom's visit and huge curtain project are to blame).  I went to a Cub Scout pack meeting on Saturday.  They served cake.  I was handed a piece about 3 times.  I turned it down.  Everyone was asking me if I was on a diet.  I explained that I've sworn off sugar.  They didn't seem too impressed.  However, there was one lady who gave me a lecture about how it is really hard not to eat sugar.  She claimed she had tried it and it was really hard.  What makes people think that they are the expert on something?  I've been doing this for almost 2 months - don't you think I'd know how hard it is by then?

It isn't super hard not to eat sugar when it is around.  The harder part is that I'm still trying to find a way to replace it with food.  I wish I could just not need food to fix whatever makes me want to pig out.

I also haven't been doing my diet, but when my curtains are done and the kids are all well - back on the wagon.