Parenting is Hard Sometimes

I got a call from my ex-husband today. I knew it wasn't good when he asked if I had a minute to talk, because he doesn't like to talk. It could have been worse, but it was about grades and getting something from the school counselor and teacher. We had a pretty long discussion about what is going on with one of the kids because we don't see eye to eye on this situation. We were both very respectful and nothing ever got out of hand in any way. So I'm very thankful for that, it is usually a fear of mine when situations arise with "the other side". I don't do well with confrontations at all and don't like them in the least. If you ask Scott, he would tell you different, though.

Anyway, I'm very torn now in what needs to be done in this circumstance. I would very much appreciate prayers for clarity. It could be one of those instances that either way we go, it's going to be a hard lesson learned and that either decision is not a bad one. But maybe not. I'm really struggling with taking my child out of an honors class that they are not passing. Actually it's 2 honors classes. Here's my dilemma...if they are taken out of the class when they aren't putting 100% of their efforts into it, what are we teaching them? If we leave them in the classes and try to force them to put 100% effort into it, what are we gaining? Are they going to pass if this effort is put into it? I feel like pulling them out of the class is just putting a band-aid on the issue and we are just going to be facing the same thing again in another "hard" class, or even just another hard situation. Are we teaching them to bail when it gets tough. About 90% of me says yes to that last question. So if that's the answer, how do I change what I'm doing as a parent to teach them this value and to help the situation? I told my ex-husband that I don't believe that we are doing everything would could be doing as parents to help in this. That this situation needs consistency and efforts on our part. He believes that if we continue with "forcing" the situation that we are just going to cause our child to be frustrated and resentful towards school and that outcome would be worse.

I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm grateful that my ex didn't just sign on the dotted line and make a big decision for the both of us. I guess my next step is to call the school counselor tomorrow and make an appointment to discuss it with her. Keep it in your prayers and I'll keep you posted on what decision we make.

Until next time...

THIS IS FOR ALL YOU CHEFS OUT THERE

My grandmother was a wonderful cook and I can remember eating all the time when I went to her house. She loved to cook and those are some of my greatest memories of her...in the kitchen. My grandfather loved to cook and eat as well, so when I think of them, my thoughts turn to all the wonderful things I ate in the little white house with a porch swing in a little town in North Texas. We have tried to duplicate many of her recipes but they just don't taste the same. One in particular is her Red Velvet Cake. It was delicious and I haven't tasted one like hers since the last one she made. Another one that many people loved of hers was an apple cake that she got the recipe from her mother-in-law (no written recipe was ever found). My uncle really loved it. So I went searching the web this year before Christmas in hopes of finding a recipe that sounded like this layered apple cake that she made. I've searched in the past, but never found one. But this search was successful and they had a recipe for Apple Stack Cake on allrecipes.com. So I proceeded to make one for my uncle for Christmas. I knew almost immediately that it wasn't going to turn out just like hers. But I think the recipe is probably very close. Basically you have 6 layers of cake that are more like giant thin cookies. Then you have your apple mix that you put in between each layer and on top. My first problem was that there was not enough apple mix to cover the entire cake and make it moist like it should be. The other thing I didn't do is put it in the fridge for days like she apparently did. My aunt and uncle also said they thought she used some kind of liquor on hers as well to make it more moist, rum or wine. Well, I'm not sure exactly how to make this more like my grandmothers so I thought I would ask for suggestions from those of you who love to cook and are better at it than me (hint, hint Chef Michele). Another thing I did to the recipe was use fresh apples instead of dried and I don't think I used enough, only 3. But dried fruit is SO expensive and I tried to be more frugal. Anyway, see what you think and if you have any ideas I would love to hear them so I can make this cake again for my uncle and hopefully it will taste more like Grandma's and less like Angie's.


APPLE STACK CAKE
2 cups white sugar
1 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons baking powder
6 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 pounds dried apples, cooked and mashed
1 3/4 cups packed brown sugar
4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground allspice

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease and flour six 8-inch pans. In a large bowl mix together white sugar, shortening, eggs, soda, baking powder, flour, salt, buttermilk, and vanilla. Divide batter into 6 equal parts. Press into prepared pans.
Bake at 425 degrees F for ten minutes.

To Make Filling: To the cooked and mashed apples, add the brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, and mix. Layer 1 cake, spread filling between layer on top and sides. Do this with each of the 6 layers. Let stand at least 12 hours before cutting.

2008 IS OFF TO A GREAT START

Wow, how time flies when you're having fun!! Or is it just because I'm old and have 4 kids? Either way, it's flying by...I can remember the first New Years Eve that Scott and I spent together in 1999. I was sick with the flu and we watched the ball drop in NY on T.V. while dozing on my couch. That certainly doesn't seem like 8 years ago. Usually we don't do much for New Years Eve, but this year we had some friends over.

The kids played and we talked and ate and watched some guy jump a football field on a motorcycle. Then at 12:00 we went out in the front yard and let the kids set off a bunch of noise makers/poppers. I'm sure my neighbors were loving us at that point. Usually we hear guns going off, but didn't hear any this year over our noise. Anyway, it was fun. The kids all think we should do it every year and make it a tradition to just have a open door on NYE and have whoever wants to come on over! I think I like that idea...my aunt and uncle have gone to the same house for NYE for over 40 years. They started it years ago when their children were small and it has continued on. That sounds really nice to me.

Other notes...Scott is doing fabulous on
his diet competition with his brother and sister. I have worked out with him a couple of times and it felt really good. We have been getting along wonderfully and we haven't killed the kids over the Christmas holiday. They've been great. I am ready for our routine to come back, though and have my computer back and my quite time. But it really has been nice sleeping in and being lazy and all that fun stuff that comes with the holidays!

Higgins is working out really well. The kids love him and he is growing on Scott. He really does have an adorable personality. We had some issues with house training when he first got here, but he seems to have adjusted well. He is dying to play with Tipsy, but she wants nothing to do with him. But she does tolerate him and if she gets tired of his playfulness, she goes and lies in her kennel.

I see lots of positive things happening in 2008, I just feel it in my heart! But like every other year, it will be gone before we know what happened. So go ahead and mark your calendar, the Lessards are having a party on December 31, 2008. And bring a dish to share or game to play!

Happy New Year to you all!