I didn’t realize how exhausting baking every day (well, nearly every day) December 2010 was until I didn’t do it this year.
I just pulled down “the baking box” for its location in the pantry. For the past 12 months, bits and pieces of it have been used. But what I found – coconut, cocoa, icing, icing tips, sprinkles – remained until I just dumped much of it in the trash.
We did bake this year, don’t get me wrong. And I can’t wait to try out my new cake pop maker …

Wow. If you’re a parent like me, the house looks like a tornado came through, there are dirty dishes everywhere, and dozens of new clothes and a few toys are to be put away. You know what? I’m on vacation. They kids can play with their new toys, stay in PJs all day and eat the leftovers in the kitchen. We’ll clean up tomorrow. Or not.
I hope you and yours have a very joyous post-Christmas week and a happy New Year!

Sometimes, life catches up with you.
That’s been very true the last few weeks. So this is me, apologizing, for being silent on the blog.
Do you blog? Do you find you have dozens of ideas about what to write, but sometimes fail to get them down? Or do you start to write and then think, “Why would anyone care about this?”
Or do you actually write it, only to have your computer eat it?
Maybe it’s just blog burnout?
I think I’ve had a bit of all of that the last few weeks, not …

Monday night when we arrived home, I pulled out a 9′ inflatable, holiday polar bear – to put up in my living room. Last year we didn’t put it up – I was afraid my then-infant would be smothered by it.
Now she’s the one smothering it! She’s in love, completely! We bought the polar bear several years ago after Christmas. My son loved it. My now-6-year-old, not so much. In fact, it freaked her out so much that we had to take it down.
All this we do for fun in …

I feel like I’ve lived in the “Twilight Zone” for the past week.Eight days ago, my youngest was sick with a cold, pink eye and the tummy bug. Before Thanksgiving, four of five members of my family were sick. We cancelled plans to host Thanksgiving, but at the last minute I was able to go to my parents with the family members who were healthiest. (We have much to be thankful for, as I wrote about in my column last week.)
I worked that night, covering Black Friday shopping (on Thursday) …

My daughter suddenly burst into tears this morning on the drive to school, “What if I’m on the naughty list?”
At first, I had no idea what had prompted that. Then I remembered: I pulled the “Santa card” out last night.
I somewhat remember saying to the kids, “You better not complain about homework. Santa might be watching.”
Yup. I’m guilty.
But since we’re on the topic, I received an e-mail about a new website with mobile apps that all revolve around the big guy in the red suit. I’ve taken a peek at …

Ok, so that’s not entirely true. We had a very eventful Christmas Eve. But in previous years, I’ve had some story to report after Christmas Eve Mass: my daughter falling into the fountain, the kids singing during the homily or shouting “Where’s Baby Jesus?!?” during the children’s presentation.
Nothing happened this year.
The kids were angels. They watched and listened. My daughter sang “Away in the Manager” with the choir at the appropriate time. We even got a nice picture of the grandkids with grandparents (a tradition) in front of the tree.
Then …

My daughter and I wrapped up our holiday baking over the weekend with a gingerbread house. I’ll say “baking” loosely since we didn’t actually bake the house. We just decorated it. We giggled and smiled as we picked out the candies, watched the frosting drip down like snow on the roof and snuck a few pieces of sweets in our mouths.
It goes without saying that we didn’t meet our goal to bake every night. We didn’t even come close. But we did enjoy the times we broke out the “baking …

This morning, dozens of parents and children filled the lobby at one of Maricopa County’s courthouses.
Boys were dressed in ties and sweaters. Girls donned their best sparkly dresses and shoes.
Families and friends awaited their turn to enter the small room with the judge.
It was adoption day for at least half a dozen families.
The Lonkar family of Gilbert arrived a few minutes before their scheduled appointment. They were joined by aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins and many friends.
It was my first experience at a hearing to finalize an adoption. I knew from …

During a college speech class, I once presented a talk on my history of cooking disasters. It wasn’t hard. Earlier that year I started a small fire in the dorm kitchen. It resulted in more than 150 coeds evacuating right as many were getting ready for a Friday night out.
So it comes as no surprise that I would have at least ONE dish not turn out while attempting to do more holiday baking than I’ve done in years.
After making fudge from a kit, I broke out my great grandmother’s butter …