“Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake.”
- Francis Bacon

Friday, February 13, 2009

Little Grands, Little Hands, Big on Love, my Valentine's Day plans...


Tomorrow evening I will be spending the night with three, young and handsome little men...my grandsons Joe (11), Ben (8) and Josh (4). Their mom and dad, my son and his wife, will have the evening to themselves to spend some quality time together for Valentine's Day and I will have some special time with three young men who have become the center of my life from the moment each of them made his entrance into this big world of ours.

Usually we just watch a movie, eat popcorn, giggle, play games, put together a few puzzles, play with the cats and dogs and fall into bed exhausted. Well, the exhausted part is me...but don't tell. However, if a holiday is involved, or just around the corner, their Mimi puts a little more effort into the sleep-over. So, with that in mind, I thought I'd share with you moms and grandmas our agenda for the evening and next morning.

Today I'll be baking some Grandma's Oatmeal Cookies (recipe at end of this blog) because after all, you just must have cookies and milk when you are at Mimi's house, you just must! The cookies are quick, easy and always please little eaters as well as the big one's, too! These cookies keep very well, that is, if you have them for any length of time, which has never happened to me.

After the boys arrive and have settled down, we will dine on sloppy Joes, chips, applesauce garnished with little, red cinnamon hearts and strawberry milkshakes. After our delightful meal dotted with a few giggles and laughs, we will clean off the kitchen table, making room for the craft supplies we will need for the evening.

We'll be making a bouquet of paper roses to give to mommy. I found the directions at Grandparents.com. I love that place for finding fun things to make when I'm in a pinch for ideas or even when I'm not in a pinch! The crafts are always easy for little hands to manage and the supplies for most items are inexpensive and can be found in most variety stores. The easy directions for our roses are included here just in case you don't feel like traveling the web and want to stay home "at the blog" tonight!

In the morning we'll munch on cinnamon rolls fresh from the oven with a side of strawberry milk to wash them down. Our breakfast will tide my handsome gentlemen over until Sunday brunch at home. The boys will dress in their Sunday clothes packed by Mom so they will be all set for Dad to pick them up on the way to church services.

I will make beds, toss a little laundry into the washer, clean the kitchen and leave for church. On the way I'll reflect on all of my blessings and consider myself to be one of the happiest and luckiest Mimi's in all the world.

Grandma's Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
This is a great recipe for a classic oatmeal raisin cookie. Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and thoroughly studded with plump, juicy raisins. These are cookies that won't disappoint.
1 stick butter
1 cup + 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 teaspoons milk
2 cups oatmeal
1 1/2 cups raisins
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350º.
In your KitchenAid or a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar. In a small bowl, combine the egg, vanilla and milk, whisk together until smooth. Add the combined wet ingredients to the creamed butter and sugar. Mix together until well incorporated.
In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients. Using a spatula, fold together until evenly distributed. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the combined creamed and wet ingredients. Mix until evenly combined.
Shape dough into balls, about 2 tablespoons each. Place dough balls about 2 inches apart on greased or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let stand for 2 minutes. Place cookies on wire racks to cool.
Tissue Paper Roses (easy for little hands to make)

Materials:
  • Package of red tissue paper
  • Other red paper, fabric or plastic (optional)
  • Straight, thin sticks or dowels (for the stems)
  • Scissors
  • Clear tape
  • Vase
Instructions:
  1. Cut the tissue paper, or other paper, fabric or plastic into long strips, between 2 and 3 inches wide, and 12 to 18 inches long.
  2. Put the strips into piles of three or four.
  3. Take one pile and loosely roll it up as you would a roll of string.
  4. When the pile is rolled, take a stick or dowel, and place it about an inch inside one end of the rolled paper.
  5. Pinch the end with the stick together (a combination of pinching, folding, and twisting works well).
  6. Take a piece of clear tape (about 3 inches long) and wrap it very tightly around the pinched end. This should be tight enough to hold both the paper and stick in place.
  7. The other end of the paper roll most likely has a cone shape, where the center is longer than the outside layers. Take your scissors and cut the paper straight across, so all the layers are even.
  8. "Fluff” your rose a bit — if your pinching folded it to much, stick your finger inside the paper and wiggle it around, puffing it up a little.
  9. Put this rose in the vase, and repeat steps 1 through 8 until you have a full vase of roses.
  10. Cut your sticks or dowels different lengths to make a fuller looking arrangement. Also vary the tightness of your rolls. This will make slightly different-sized roses for a more natural look.
  11. Place the full vase on a table for the perfect Valentine’s Day decor.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mimi I just left you a long comment and it disappeared. Waaaahaaa
Have a great weekend with the grandkids and I thought they would be interested in seeing the video's I put up yesterday. It will warm their little hearts.
Have a lovely weekend.
Love Claudie
xxo

Terri Steffes said...

Ooo this sounds like a fun weekend. I am not a grandma or a young mom but I will file it away for when I can entertain my grandbabies!

imjacobsmom said...

it sounds like you have great Valentine's plans to me.
~ Robyn

Bonnie said...

Hi Mimi,

I just saw your comment on Timeless Things and was curious as to how you got those little hearts in your text. I am not the biggest computer wizard and thought they were so cute. Love all your pink!

Thanks, Bonnie

Schotzy said...

Wow, How wonderful time spent with your ittle men!I am saving this recipe for my grandma hope chest. Blessings! Carolyn

Prim Rose Hill ©2008-2020 said...

Hi Mimi! Can I come over and stay too? :) I love oatmeal-raisin cookies! I can remember making flowers like that when I was a kid too. Staying with my grandmother was the best times of my life. :) how blessed you are!
Hugs,
Sheri

Linda said...

my favorite cookies are oatmeal raison, I am going to try your recipe!! Your grandson time sounds so sweet. I have my little granddaughter with me a lot of the time and love the time we spend together too.

Linda