"Dough-NOT Grow Up!"

I am really jumping topics every day week on this blog.  SMH.  Haha.  I am hopping from vacations, to business trips, to birthday gifts, and back to vacations. There is just never a dull moment. I think it keeps things interesting (you know, just incase a certain topic doesn't interest my readers).  We'll make the next two months like a soap opera or a sequel.  

My Daughter's First Love!

The other night, Lilah was waiting for Darren to tuck her in to bed and she said, "Daddy will you....?" I don't recall the name of her specific request, but it's a private, fun thing that the two of them do on the floor together.  Darren said, "No, it's time for bed!" He walked back into our bathroom to spit out his toothpaste and that's when Lilah began saying the following...

"I don't love you anymore because you won't...!" AND "That's not very nice of you daddy!!!" AND "We never have time together anymore!!!" Boy was she laying it on THICK.  She knows exactly what to say to twist and turn daddy's heart into knots.

At first Darren's response was, "Oh... you don't love me anymore? Oooooo-kay, well maybe you can find a new daddy."  I very politely told him that that comedy fretting might go over well with his sons, but that Lilah was NOT hoping for that type of response. Little girls aren't looking for comedy, but rather, tender love.  I guess that struck a nerve, so Darren immediately said, "I'm just teasing you Bow-skeez.  Daddy will take you on a special date this weekend... just YOU and I!" 

And so the countdown began.  I believe that was Monday night, so Lilah had an entire 5 days before the "date night" arrived. I was unsure of where Darren would take her, but as the days grew closer and closer, a suggestion was made to me, by my friend Lisa, and I relayed the suggestion over to Darren just incase he liked the idea AND he did. It really was a great idea. Lisa said, "Ohhh, you know where Darren should take Lilah?... to "The Candy Store"."  This was a PERFECT idea for so many reasons:

The Candy Store

1. WHAT KID doesn't like candy?
2. The candy store must be new because we had never been.
3.  Lilah and I had plans to attend the "Wizard Of Oz" play, downtown, that same night so, having candy to eat, during the show, would be a perfect way to keep her still, until the sugar started getting deeply digested into her system of course.  LOL!

Lilah got all dressed up for her Daddy and off they headed to "The Candy Store".  Our entire family was actually headed downtown for dinner, but daddy and Bow-skeez left before us, so they could have their date FIRST.

Being the snoop that I am and being I have to capture EVERYTHING, the boys and I quickly hopped into the van and began traveling at a higher rate of speed to catch up to them.  We parked in the garage, just two cars down from them, and jetted onto the downtown streets, in search for the daddy-daughter duo. Luckily, we spotted them. I brought along my long lens and was able to capture the "sweet" moments of these two walking to "The Candy Store".

I just LOVE that she brought along her "baby"! With kindergarten around the corner, I wonder how long she will hold on to it.  

Below: I almost got CAUGHT or so I thought. I could have sworn Liley saw me, but she didn't.  OR... maybe she heard her brothers saying, "No fair!!! Why does Lilah get to go to the candy store and we don't!" Oh and for the record, I would never normally intrude on their date, but we were meeting these two downtown for dinner, so I felt justified. :)

Lilah chose to wear her fancy, sparkle shoes, for daddy, and for "Dorothy" (later that night), but her feet began hurting her, so I guess she asked her daddy to carry her.

 Off they go....

 Closer and closer to the candy store, but farther and farther away from us!

The boys and I ran into the Farmer's Market and a few other shops.  We picked daddy up a surprise and we greeted him with it after meeting back up with them!! Of course, as we joined back up, Lilah showed her brother's the gigantic bag of candy, filled to the brim, and boy were they J-E-A-L-O-U-S!!!! 

The special car ride and the trip to the candy store was definitely enough quality time for this age. Darren offered to take Liley to the Wizard of Oz Play, but honestly, I was really excited to go (so although he was willing, I am sure he was thrilled to NOT have to sit through that). When Darren and Lilah were through at "The Candy Store", we reunited with them and walked downtown, in search of an agreeable place to eat.  We happened to pass the candy store, so the boys asked if they could just peak in there. I was quite curious myself.  

Can I just say that these photos DO NOT even light a candle to the BEAUTY of this store and the magnitude of the candy selection.  We have been to "It's Sugar" in Myrtle Beach (which is GIGANTIC) and this store, BY FAR, beats the quality of that store. They hand candy from every decade of life, current candy, unique candy, funny candy, nostalgic candy, and LARGE candy.  This is going to be our new REPORT CARD reward outing for Straight A's.

We decided to eat at "Thelma's Chicken and Waffles." I really wanted to try Benny Marconi's Pizza, but the kids had eaten pizza the night before.  At dinner, Lilah told us all about her sweet conversations, in the car, with daddy and how they sang some of their favorite songs together AND "reaaalllllly loud".

I know this is a memory that is deeply implanted in not only Lilah's head, but also in Lilah's heart. Darren, thank you for giving her this special time with you.  You are her first love!

  

The relationship an earthy father has with his daughter, will determine her relationship with her Heavenly Father.  Therefore, fathers treat her like she's a daughter of the King.

Cake Pops

A few weeks back I was in the mood to make cake pops. I had never made them before, but they looked like so much fun. I was at Target and spotted a cake pop book, on sale, for 30% off, so I couldn't resist buying it. The process of making cake pops is SIMPLE, a little time consuming, but simple. There are a ton of steps, but a 5 year old could make them, IF they have a bit of patience. Enjoy viewing the details, in these photos, of how to make cake pops as well as the final results. I used a LEMON cake mix and LEMON frosting, but you can choose any flavor cake mix/frosting your little heart desires. I am on a 30 day detox from dessert (currently on day 13) so I couldn't taste test them, but I got many great reviews. One "taster" asked me to make them for their family and they would pay me. LOL! Another said, "Your cake pops are better than Starbucks'!" That's always a great feeling. I hope to try another flavor soon and get a little more detailed. However, the next time I make them, it HAS to be when I can taste them.

My New Favorite Friend Helps Me Curb My Sweet Tooth

Check it out. Only 0.5 grams of saturated fat, 1 carb, less than 1 gram of sugar, and only 15 calories per 2 tablespoons.

Jax saw me squirt a tablespoon in my mouth and he wanted some. He didn't finish his dinner, so I said "no!". Here, he's being caught going for it anyway. This is the classic picture of the boy who's hand is caught in the cookie jar :)

When he couldn't reach it... he got his scuttlebug to get it. STINKER.

Jax tries hard to get some in his mouth. Good thing the whip cream sprayer is practically child proofed.

Lilah

Jaxon

And Tyson love the whipped cream toooo!!!!

Here's the ERROR in this fat-free, sugar-free, low-calorie sweet... you'd THINK it was healthy, but it's NOT. WHAT? I was devastated to find out from the nutritionist god (my brother) that it's okay to use this to curb your sweet tooth as long as the type of whip cream you use doesn't contain any kind of sugar poison aka fructose corn syrup. This can DID! I had no idea something so close to air would be bad for you. My brother is supposed to give me a recipe to his homemade whip cream that is healthy to gobble up. I'll be sure to pass it along when he does.