Christmas Fun

Untitled Project

Gluten Free Goodies

Baby, it's cold outside. Not much to do on a cold Saturday in Ohio other than bake. Jules Gluten Free Flour is sponsoring a cookie swap on Facebook and I have my eyes on the prize, a shiny new Kitchenaid mixer. So today my family and I were testing out flavor combinations. Our favorite so far is a gluten free peppermint mocha cookie.

After a very long day of baking it's time to kick back and relax with a delicious homemade gluten free pizza and some Christmas specials with my favorite boys. Here's proof that gluten free cooking can be delicious.

Belsnickel Comes For a Visit

When I think of the Christmas Season I often think of my grandparents. My brother and I spent so much time with them as children that most of my childhood memories are filled with little anecdotes from one of them. One of my fondest recollections is hearing the stories about Belsnickel (Nicholas in Furs), a legend created by the Pennsylvania Dutch. According to my grandfather, on December 5th, children would leave their shoes out for Belsnickel. If you had been good, Belsnickel would leave candies and/or nuts, but if you were naughty, Belsnickel would leave a switch or coal. The switch was meant as a warning to behave or else. Fortunately we never received a switch.

What I remember most though was not the candy that we received but the ornate knit Sinterklaas shoes that belonged to my grandparents. They would leave them out both on December 5th and on Christmas Eve. They were red and white and sat out on the rectangular wooden coffee table in my grandparents living room. To me, the sight of them signified the beginning of the Christmas Season. As a tribute to my grandparents, my husband and I have continued this tradition with our own children. So tonight before bed, two little boys will place their shoes beside the fireplace eagerly awaiting the arrival of Belsnickel.

Framily

Framily- A slang term used to describe those people in your life who are more than just friends. While they are of no blood relation, they have come to feel like family. Filling voids that time, distance and circumstance have created.

I come from a very small family with loved ones scattered about. We often go months to years without seeing one another. While it is difficult not to have family around I consider myself extremely lucky. My life is filled with many amazing people whom I would consider framily.

They are my closest confidants. To whom I turn when I need comfort, advice, an ear to bend or a shoulder to cry on. They are surrogate mothers to my children who understand and appreciate my boys needs and wants just like they would their own child. They are cheerleaders when I lack motivation and ministers when I need prayers. Much of who I am today is because of the many roles that they have played in my life.

As we enter into this holiday season I find myself reflecting on all that I have. A beautiful life with two amazing kids and a loving husband. Wonderful friends and a larger than life framily that I am so incredibly grateful for.

Life After Gluten

On a warm day in May I decided to give up gluten with the hope that the new diet I was about to embark on would cure what ailed me. At the time I thought that what ailed me was just arthritis. We had just endured a long, rough winter and a very cold, and rainy spring. I had suffered day after day with deep, agonizing arthritic pain and the cold, damp air only seemed to make it worse. I had read that living a gluten free lifestyle could help with inflammation. I was willing to try anything just so I didn't have to experience that type of pain again.

So on Friday, May 13th, 2011, I quit gluten cold turkey. Within days I could already feel a change in my body, but it was not anything like I had expected. I still was having pain and inflammation in my hands, mostly because of all the rain. What I noticed the most was how great my stomach felt. I began to wonder how long my stomach had been hurting and at what point did I begin to view that type of pain as normal or acceptable? Over time, I would also discover that my once or twice a week migraines would vanish as well. You mean it's o.k. not to have a headache or a stomach ache all the time? Why didn't someone tell me.

The past 6 months have definitely been a journey. A journey my eldest son has been on for over 4 1/2 years now, but one that we are now on together. What began as an experimental diet has now become a way of life. In May I didn't think I could make it a week without bread, crackers, or cookies. Now I can't imagine a life with migraines, a bloated, painful stomach or gluten. It's funny how your mindset changes as you age. Things you once thought were important or you couldn't live without are quickly replaced by choices and possessions that are more practical and meaningful.

Along the way I've met so many wonderful people with similar stories. We've learned what products are good and the ones that should never be marked for human consumption. I've re-discovered my love of baking. It's slightly more challenging without gluten but totally achievable. A great big "Thank You" to Silvana Nardone (Cooking for Isaiah) & Jules Sheppard (Jules Gluten Free) for their recipes, guidance and inspiration. Gluten free cooking wouldn't be nearly as delicious without you.

Last Day Of School

My boys had such a wonderful last day of school filled with love, laughter, amazing teachers and great friends. How wonderful to have my boys in the same school for at least one year.

So long, farewell, Auf wiedersehen, good night

I have so many mixed emotions running through me as we continue to pack up the preschool. I am elated that all of the supplies, furniture and money are going to worthy causes where caring individuals will continue to do great things. I am confident that many will benefit from our closing and that gives me great solace.

I am grateful to the school for so many things: a job that I loved, a sense of purpose and most important wonderful friendships . This year I had the amazing honor and privilege to co-teach 18 amazing kids with a great friend. Honestly, it was probably the best job I've ever had. As a stay at home mom for more than 8 years I was beginning to feel restless and unimportant. The co-op gave me such an amazing sense of purpose and focus and for that I will be eternally grateful.

This closing however is bitter sweet. Like many parents, I have poured my heart and soul into a school that I wholeheartedly believed in; first as a board member and then as a teacher. I have watched countless children benefit from a small preschool experience where their parents play an active roll in shaping their education. I know my own kids are where they are today because of it. They are bright, confident, socially engaged children ready to take on the world and all that it has to offer. While I would love to take all of the credit, I thank the Co-Op for giving my kids such a positive attitude about learning. I just wish that others would have seen how special our school was and all that it had to offer. Finally, I will miss seeing the faces of so many wonderful friends on a daily basis. It's been a great run and I will miss you all dearly.

Gluten Free Pizza

It's day number three of the Gluten Free diet and I've never felt better. I'm still amazed that I wasn't even aware of how badly I felt until I stopped eating it. I guess you just start coping when you feel awful on a daily basis. Your brain shuts down and your body just keeps on trucking along. Just thankful that my brain finally awakened and I gave this gluten free thing a try. Now I just need to discover how to make gluten free recipes that taste great too.

I've never been a big fan of gluten free baking because it usually tastes gummy and very dense. However, Alex and I have been devouring the zucchini bread I made last night. It was incredibly light and delicious. Gluten Free pizza was on the menu tonight. Thanks to the fine folks at Udi's I had a delicious (yes, delicious) gluten free pizza and didn't experience the horrendous stomach ache that usually follows.

http://udisglutenfree.com/products/6//udis_gluten_free_pizza_crust?jadid=7463590293&jk=udi's%20pizza%20crust&js=1&jmt=1_e_&jp=&jkId=8a8ae4cc2df1be9a012df22e0f970362&jt=1&jsid=22255&&gclid=CMrHzKWL66gCFUa8KgodPwduIA

Gluten Detox

What's that, you're not supposed to have a stomach ache every day. Your stomach shouldn't look like you are expecting your third child. Seriously?

It's day 2 of my gluten cleanse and I am already feeling so much better. Tons of research out there to suggest that a gluten free diet is so much better for your health and various ailments and yet still the majority of dietitians and doctors tout a high fiber, multi-grain diet. Time for this momma to stop listening to the experts and start literally listening to her gut.

School is almost out for the year so that means it's time for a little summer experimentation with total gluten free cooking. I'm totally up for the challenge and looking to recapture my health.

Today's recipe comes courtesy of gluten free goddess.

glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com/2010/08/zucchini-bread.html

Best Feeling In The World

Today was a rough day for many reasons but mostly because of the anxiety surrounding a walkathon that I am in charge of. The stress of spearheading this type of event as well as a Third Grade Dinner (all in a two week period) is finally taking a toll on my mental health. Yet just when I felt like I couldn't take any more I stepped inside a classroom and had one of the best feel good conversations I've ever had. On the verge of a nervous breakdown, I stopped to talk to one of Alex's former teachers about the logistics of the walk and the impending rain. After we got all of the shop talk out of the way she paused for a moment and began to tell me what a terrific son I have and what a wonderful experience it has been to teach him. She said that all the teachers want to know where he is and what he is doing in 10 years because they know he will go very far in life. While the kind words meant a lot I think it was the way her face lit up when she spoke about Alex that touched my heart the most.

Picture Imperfect

Some families send out Photo Cards at Christmas. With the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and baking I figure picture taking is just one more task on my lengthy to do list that I could do without. Every year I justify to myself and others that I don't bother sending photo cards at Christmas because it's just too stressful. Why not save myself the hassle and send cards out on one of my favorite holidays, St. Patrick's Day. What I fail to remember is just how stressful the St. Patrick's Day photo sessions can be. The kids are tired of being cooped up all winter and can't sit still long enough to take a quick photo. The session usually ends with my husband and I yelling at the kids and proclaiming "well, that one is good enough, I just can't take it any more". Here are some of the photos that didn't make the cut.

Broken

My heart aches right now over the loss of a seven-year old girl in our school district whom I've never met before. It aches for my friends who have children in the same school, as I'm sure each day will bring more questions than answers. I can't imagine trying to explain to my own children the how or the why of something so tragic and yet they will have to endure this countless times over the coming days and weeks.

My heart breaks for the teacher who will have to stare at an empty chair in her classroom for the rest of the year and can only imagine what could have been. I grieve for the little girl's fellow classmates who are too young to comprehend the finality of death and will undoubtedly keep asking when she will return.

I am sad for my favorite school nurse who has mothered my own children in the past when they were sick like they were her own. I can only imagine the sick feeling she has inside as she contemplates what else she could have done last Thursday when she sent the child home sick. To which we all would reply "nothing".

But most of all my heart aches for her parents whom I can only imagine feel broken right now. For the love of a child is the most powerful kind of love you will ever experience. It is unconditional, everlasting and pure. Once you have it you can't imagine your life without it.

" I have a dream today"

Today I took the time to make sure my kids knew why they had the day off from school. To make certain that they didn't think it was a teacher work day or snow day but the celebration of the life and legacy of a great American.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that even at a young age they both were very well informed about Martin Luther King Jr. I read them a story about his life and we shared one of my favorite quotes "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase". Only fourteen words but such a powerful message.