Sunny side up eggs for dessert!

For our Easter dinner dessert, Emma and I made sunny side up eggs. It is a fun idea that my mother shared with me. When I told Emma we were making eggs for dessert she thought it was the strangest thing but she didn't argue - she just wanted to help!

Here is what we did:

• We made a loaf of poundcake and put a slice on each plate.
• Then we put dollops of whipped cream on the poundcake slices.
• Lastly we placed canned peach halves on top of the poundcake and whipped cream.

Voila - there is your sunny side up egg!

Easter is so much fun when there are little kids around! Coloring eggs, having an Easter egg hunt and finding their Easter baskets is absolutely thrilling to a four year old and a two year old. Because the kids get so excited, so do the adults!

Now that the kids are napping it's time for Mamma to get her workout in - I have to try and burn off all those chocolate eggs...

HAPPY EASTER!

Emma's Party!

Emma had a wonderful time at her little birthday party last weekend. The party was very small but it didn't matter one little bit to Emma. Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Eileen came to help us celebrate the big day and Emma was thrilled. Homemade pizzas had been requested by the birthday girl - pepperoni pizza to be exact - so of course that is what Mamma made for lunch. (There was also a shrimp and veggie pizza and a cheeseless pizza for Grandpa) Later, for dessert there was a Hello Kitty birthday cake and yummy chocolate covered pretzel sticks that Emma had helped me make earlier in the week. The only other request Emma made was that she wanted a pinata. (I think this is becoming a tradition at our birthday celebrations) This year's pinata was a butterfly and it was filled with the obligatory candy that only Henry really wanted. Emma just liked to pull the ribbons and get showered with candy, she didn't really want to eat any of it...go figure! After the pinata was emptied and a little playing was done, it was time for gifts. Some favorites were a gumball machine (Emma is obsessed with gum!), princess books, a family for her doll house and a tiara-making kit. There was one gift that was too big to wrap so I simply covered it with a blanket. Emma had been eyeing the blanket all day but assured me that she hadn't peeked. She was so excited to see what was under there. When she finallly pulled the blanket off and found the beautiful baby doll carriage Mormor and Morfar had sent, she burst into tears! Apparently, Emma had been sure it would be the "big girl bicycle" she has been asking for the last couple of months. She was so disappointed! (Sorry Mormor and Morfar - she loves the baby carriage now) Luckily there was also a card from Mamma and Daddy explaining that Emma would have to come with us to pick out just the right bike.

By this time, Emma was unfortunately not feeling well. We ended up having to take her to the emergency room at Children's Hospital. Luckily her counts were so good that we didn't have to stay over night.

What a roller coaster day! All in all, I would have to say it was a good one. Emma had such a good time at her party!

Today's pet peeve

I find it very irritating when I order a Caesar salad and the server asks me what kind of dressing I would like on it...there really shouldn't be a choice, right?

Emma is four years old today!

Dear Emma,

How can I ever explain to you how I feel about you? You are my sunshine and my inspiration. You are the bravest person I know. You have faced so much in your young life and yet every day your eyes sparkle with excitement and joy. You make me want to be a better mother. You deserve everything good. You are so eager to help and do what is right. You get upset when you do something wrong. You say that big sisters are supposed to help their little brothers - and you do! You make up silly songs so Henry will laugh. You make sure Henry has a snack or a drink if you have one. When we go to the hospital you ask me questions to understand what will happen and then you handle whatever comes with grace beyond your years. You smile when the nurse draws your blood because she got it on the first try. When you get stickers for being a good girl you always take at least one for Henry too. You make me so happy when you snuggle in my lap and say "I love you Mamma". I am the luckiest mother in the world because you are my daughter. We can get through anything together and we will certainly get through the next two years until you are CURED!

Jag älskar dig min lilla flicka!

Mamma

Snug as bugs

I wish I could be this comfortable when we go for walks around town...but then I wouldn't get much exercise, would I?

It is such a process for us to get out the door in the first place. We need jackets, hats and gloves. We need water bottles for Emma and Henry...'cause you know how thirsty all that lounging comfortably can make you! We need two pairs of kids shoes underneath the stroller just in case they want to get out from their cocoons. We need wallet, cell phone, garage opener and wipes in the little pouch on the stroller. We need plenty of bags for Molly so she can take care of business while we are out. Oh, and I have to have my camera with me - you never know what interesting things we might see. Then, just as I think we are ready to go, Emma notices that I am wearing sunglasses so of course she needs her Hello Kitty sunglasses. I run upstairs to try and locate said sunglasses and while I am at it, I better find Henry's too - he wants whatever Emma wants these days.

We are finally off!

No-bake baking with Emma

Emma and I have so much fun baking together. Emma has always loved to help me in the kitchen, though until recently, her helping usually meant that everything took at least twice as long and that the clean up was a monumentous task. Now Emma is actually honest-to-goodness helpful! One of our favorite things to "no-bake bake" are these chocolate balls. They are a staple in any Swedish home with children so why not in ours as well? Emma rolled the balls in the sugar all by herself - she's very patient when she wants to be. Don't you think she did a fabulous job?

1 stick of butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 tbsp vanilla sugar (or a couple of drops of vanilla extract)

2-3 tbsp cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups oatmeal

2-3 tbsp cold coffee (optional)

Pearl sugar (a Swedish phenomenon that can be found in some American grocery stores) or coconut

Cream butter, sugar and vanilla. Mix in cocoa powder. Add oatmeal and coffee, if desired. Stir until well blended. Shape mixture into little balls and roll them in pearl sugar or coconut. Let stand in refrigerator until firm.

ENJOY!