Easter

I'm a little late posting these.  Pregnancy had definitely slowed me down on many fronts, not the least of which is blogging.  Lilah also had a tough weekend due to a cold and a low grade fever.  She was moodier and more irritable than even me on my most hormonal of days.  Still, we managed to make the most of the highlights, which of course involved hunting for eggs and spending time with friends and family.

Lilah's take on Easter eggs.  In her world, more is more when it comes to decorating.

Chocolate has a way of bringing people together, don't you find?

I hope your Easter was as chocolate-filled as ours!



Mars Krispie Squares

Our favourite dessert recipes around here are quick, easy, toddler-friendly, and deliciously sweet.  This one, shared with me by a coworker, fits the bill perfectly.  We've added our own flair, of course.

Mars Krispie Squares, Lilah Style

1.  Put on a cute apron - looking adorable in the kitchen makes the food taste better.

2.  Melt 1/2 a cup of butter with 4 Mars Bars over low heat, stirring frequently until melted and smooth.

3.  Mix together with 2 cups of Rice Krispies.

4.  Pack mixture flat into a square(ish) pan.

5.  Lick the spoon.  Yum!

6.  Cool in fridge, about 2 hours, or overnight, if your mom says it's time for bed before the pan has cooled.

7.  Melt a package (minus a few handfuls here or there) of milk chocolate chips in the microwave, about a minute on high, removing at the 30 second mark to stir.

8.  Pour melted chocoloate on top of squares, smoothing with a spatula.

9.  Put pan back in the fridge and allow to cool for at least an hour before cutting.

10.  High five!

Wordless Wednesday: Dream Big

Of Pagan Rituals and Sugar Highs

Beware those old Pagan traditions...

Lilah has the good fortune to participate in not one, not two, but thee days' worth of celebrations, including a ride on the miniature train at Stanely Park, multiple egg hunts, and Easter Sunday dinner at her grandparents' house.















One of Lilah's pals getting cozy
with the bunny




All this revelry, while loads of fun, does come with a few adverse side effects for the young toddler:

1. Easter Bunny and chick mascots can be intriguing, and many toddlers enjoy shaking their hands, hugging them, and pulling their tales.  But for a shy girl like Lilah, caution and a small dose of fear will win out over curiosity.  After warily approaching the mascots, she balked and came running to hide behind my legs, and I really can't say that I blame her.

2.  Those miniature foil-covered eggs can be tricky for little toddler fingers, resulting in extreme frustration, since well-intentioned offers of "Mama help?" are often fiercely rejected.  Foil may or may not have been consumed by said toddler.  Only time and the diaper contents will tell.



 3.  In order to partake of these rituals, you must be willing to put your pride aside and parade about with a serious case of Chocolate Face:

4. The sugar high that follows all of this chocolate consumption may result in poor judgement and the inability to properly operate the toddler equivalent of heavy machinery:

Hope your Easter long weekend was as fun and fulfilling as ours was! 

Now off I go to do an extra load of chocolate-stained laundry.  Some of it is even Lilah's.

Dear Chocolate

Dear Chocolate,

I'm sorry to do this to you, since you've been there for me through thick and thin (mostly thick), but I have to be honest. It's just not working anymore.

You promise to make me feel better if I take you back but it's always short-lived. And then I come crashing down from the high into the waiting arms of guilt and disgust. We just keep repeating this pattern over and over. It's time to stop the insanity!

We can still be friends, but we'll only be able to see each other on special occasions. Like Christmas. And Easter. And Hallowe'en, Thanksgiving, Valentine's Day, and Lilah's Birthday. Okay, maybe April Fool's Day, Secretaries' Day... oh, and Chocolate Day(s), of course! And maybe the occasional quickie. But the point is, no more daily rendez-vous. No more sneaking around after the baby's gone to bed. You'll be seeing a whole lot less of me.

When you catch a glimpse of me in line at the grocery store, don't call out to me. Don't try to get my attention. I will ignore you. Trust me, this will be better for both of us. Oh, and tell your friends, Cookies, Ice Cream, and Cake that I won't be giving into their temptations either. You hear me?

I'm sorry, Chocolate, we've had a good run. You were an important part of my life, and I'll always look back on our times together with fond memories. But now it's over.

Love,

Me