Now These Suckers Are Good

Nanaimo Bars From the kitchen of Marta Smith, my wonderful sister-in-law.

The Nanaimo bar is a dessert of Canadian origin popular across North America. A type of chocolate no-bake square, it receives its name from the city of Nanaimo, British Columbia. It consists of a crumb-based layer, topped by a layer of light custard or vanilla butter icing, which is covered in chocolate. Many varieties are possible by using different types of crumb, flavours of custard or icing (e.g. mint, peanut butter), and types of chocolate. Two popular variations on the traditional Nanaimo bar involve mint flavoured custard or mocha flavoured custard.
In my opinion, these are best served as a dessert alone, without any other sweet treat. I love to sneak one before breakfast; there is nothing better than a sweet chocolaty treat hitting your pallet early in the morning!


Ingredients

For base, blend in mixer:
3/4 c. butter, softened
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa powder
1 1/2 t. vanilla
2 eggs
Combine in separate bowl and then add to chocolate mixture:
3 c. Graham cracker crumbs
1 1/2 c. shredded coconut
3.4 c. chopped walnuts
Mix until dry ingredients are well coated. Press firmly into ungreased 9x13 pan. Set aside.

For filling, cream:
1/3 c. butter
Add:
1 98g box vanilla instant pudding
3 c. powdered sugar
1/3 c. milk
Beat until resembling frosting. Spread evenly over base & chill in freezer until filling layer is nice and firm.

Heat in microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth:
3 T. milk
1 c. semisweet chocolate chips
Spread quickly over top of filling. Chill in freezer until all layers are quite firm, but not frozen solid, about 30 minutes. Cut into rectangles or squares. Place in plastic container and freeze at least 1 hour before serving. To serve, let sit at room temperature for 3-5 minutes, still frozen but soft enough to bite.
Makes 4 dozen bars.

1000 Hills and A Bad Fall

Um, yeah, so I was vacuuming out our SUV yesterday, the girls playing in the back seat as I remove the mats from the vehicle and Kira has her worst tumble yet. I was only steps away from her and saw her fall from the back seat onto the pavement of our driveway. I freaked out, called the doctor's office, they asked me if she lost consciousness or was vomiting, she wasn't, so they said to just keep an eye on her. She proceeded to want to fall asleep as I was talking to the nurse, so I asked about that and it didn't seem to worry her that she was drowsy. It was her nap time, so I let her sleep as instructed. She woke up a few hours later the same Kira that we know and love, smiling, laughing and wanting to eat. She has a good scrape and some bruising. Somehow she still is the cutest thing in the world.


Two friends and I went to 1000 Hills State Park today to play at the jungle gym by the lake and play in the water a bit. The day could not have been more beautiful. There wasn't a cloud in the sky; a rich blue as far as the eye can see, tree branches bulging with the greenest of leaves and waves on the lake that remind me of happy times I spent on the lakes of Michigan as a child, from which I have some of my happiest memories. We got out of our car and approached the jungle gym and my breath was taken from me as I looked at the scenery. My heart was filled with joy, which I desperately needed after yesterday. The beauties of nature truly bring joy to my most inner soul and I know somehow that only my Heavenly Father could have created something so magnificent.

After Kira's nap yesterday, she woke, I went up to get her out of her crib and she smiled at me and began to tell me something in her own little language. I changed her stinky pants and looked at her fresh scrapes and bruises and just began to cry, hard. The guilt overtook me. How could I have let her fall? How did it happen? I felt like the worst of mothers. She was OK, probably forgot about the entire thing by then, but that wasn't the point. I feel inadequate sometimes, like I have priorities that take away from caring for my own children. Why did the car mats take my attention away from my baby who could have fallen? Who cares about them, Kira is more important. OK. Accidents happen, but I feel like this was God's way of opening up my eyes; Him telling me to be more careful and to not worry so much about things being clean or keeping up with emails. My girls are what are my top priority, everything else can wait.

I was more appreciative of the lake today because of that experience yesterday. Sometimes tears are healthy. For me, crying yesterday made me come back down to earth, back to my family, away from the things that stress me out and consume my days with garbage. Every time I pick up my baby I feel like I love her a little more, like I want to protect her and make her the happiest child in the world. I looked at Adalin in the bathtub this evening and felt such love for her; I don't always feel that because I get distracted.

Adam is taking his Medical School Board Exam 2 weeks from this morning. I have really been struggling the past week. I am burnt out. I want him back. If we knew what medical school would have required of us before we started, we wouldn't have done it. It's hard. And you know, it will be worth it in the end in a lot of ways. Just after 2 years of Adam being himself only 3-4 weeks out of the year, I am done with it. There is constantly studying for him to do, every time we do something as a family together, the fun always ends with him saying, "Well, I better get back " (to study, again.) It has left me not feeling all that fond of his tests. It is so hard for us all to balance our lives so that they feel somewhat normal. We are supportive of each other though, take it one day (or test) at a time, and somehow do find balance occasionally.

Me, I am just trying to stay busy for these last 2 weeks. It is always the home stretch that is the hardest for me. It seems that the last 20 minutes of every road trip we take, the kids automatically decide to cry and complain. You sense the end is near and you grow impatient. I am just being impatient. But it will be OK. Here are some pics from this morning.

Our Pool Debut

One thing I will definitely miss about the 'Ville: The FREE wading pools! We went twice on Memorial Day, once before Adalin's nap, just her and I, and then after her nap with Kira. I LOVE the water and so do my kids. We will be at the pool, soaking up the sun A LOT this summer! If I can get it to work, there is some video footage of them playin' in the water on the home video blog. Enjoy!

Lids

Adalin went pee today and forgot to lift up the toilet seat lid. I probably don't have to tell you that there was pee everywhere, on her legs, and clothing (which was actually her bathing suit that she insisted on wearing all day). You would think she would have noticed... I think she learned her lesson and won't ever forget to put up the lid again. :)

We Found a House!

We are moving to Grand Blanc, MI in a few weeks and found a great house to rent. Yes, to rent. I am OK with that. I thought after buying a house that I would never go back, but I am actually very excited to have great landlords and call them when something goes wrong. I am completely at peace with renting and with renting this particular house. We can't wait!

Adam and I love fixing up houses, painting, yard work, etc., which we will definitely still do plenty of. We will have full painting rights! From the pics, you will notice that the colors aren't really my style, but that isn't a problem. I will paint most of the house a neutral tan, leave the red wall in the living room and use some of a sea-foam green color that my mom gave me 2 brand new gallons of in the bathrooms or something.

It has 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a full finished basement, built 6 years ago, attached 2 car garage, hardwood flooring. With a little work, this place will be shnazy! The landlords are planning on putting new carpet down upstairs within a few months too. Click here for pics.

A Fun Day

The Adair County Ambulance District had free pony rides along with opportunities for us to sit in a helicopter, ambulance and tire truck. It was so fun, especially now that Adam's finals are finally over and he could go too! Enjoy the pics.

New Merchandise at HyVee

HyVee, the grocery store here in town, has these little kids' carts. Adalin LOVES pushing them around the store, usually running into a few things along the way and sneaking bags of chips or candy in it as she walks down the aisle. She gets mad at me if I put food items in my big cart, because she wants to have them in hers.

I somehow convinced Adam to come with me last night to HyVee to get dog food and we came up with this brilliant idea! Isn't it cute? If they sold Kiras at the store, I wonder how much they would cost? I couldn't put a price tag on either of these sweethearts.

Isis Sandwich Anyone?

Isis curled up in between my pillows yesterday evening. I thought it was funny. I don't know exactly how she did it. I guess if there is a will, there's a way!

Leisure World Bowling

Adam's class is split up into societies, or groups, and his society had free bowling last week, so we took advantage. Adalin had a wonderful time! She (we) threw all gutter balls, except once she knocked down 8 pins! Maybe next time we will play bumper ball instead. :) We stood behind her, both of our legs spread, and helped her roll/throw the ball down the lane. She had a ton of fun and is looking very forward to going bowling with Grandma and Grandpa during their next visit.

I love Adalin's smile here.

Deep concentration...

Way too excited!

Man's Best Friend?

There really isn't any excuse to put up with dogs. I love them and despise them at the same time. Don't get me wrong, lately they have been much better. Last summer/fall Yukon had some major chewing issues. He chewed my duvet and cover, a bottle of oil-based eye makeup remover on my new couch, two ink pens on my new couch, a box of expensive heart worm medication, an entire case of our friend's DVDs along with our entire CD case full of CDs, our Peter Pan movie, multiple rugs and towels, a few pairs of shoes, a few books, a leg of a table and I am sure I am missing a few things.
Why did we keep him? Why did we keep Isis when she peed in the house everyday for 9 months after we got her? I don't know; can't explain it. It's weird. I can usually put a dollar amount on the things they ruin but I can't measure what they truly give back to my family. I really love having pets. I am attached to them. My kids are never going to be terrified of dogs and will learn when they are young how to be patient with animals and truly appreciate them. I love sharing them with my friends who don't have pets and showing them off to people who are dog-lovers. All that they put me through on a day-to-day basis, which is a lot (it seems like I can never keep my floors clean for more than a day or two), a fly on the wall would call me a complete idiot for even letting them in the house or for getting them in the first place. I can't put my finger on it, but they are part of our little family and we somehow love them, despite the work they create for us. It's rewarding.