Well the season is here and Love is in the air….
Hearts are strung over our fireplace and plastic window stickies are stuck on our windows in no special order. They were stuck there by the very loving hands of my 5 boys. I love the season of Valentines because it gives you a reason to love others. To show them you love them. It gives you a reason to bust out the construction paper and cut hearts…… as many of them as you like and no one looks at you funny when you whip out the glitter either….I love that stuff!
Our season is starting off right.
Dani is back! Our Dani is back from her holiday vacation visiting her family in California and when Dani is with us things are just better. Our Dani is from Sweden and she lived with us for 2 years, first as our Aupair when I was working and then as a student. She is part of our family. She has watched our kids grow up over the past 4 years and we are so lucky that she chose us to be her American family.
i
We love her!
Ryan has been asking for cookies for the past 3 weeks. So I decided it was time and we busted out the mixer and made our famous Sugar Cookies, Valentines sugar cookies of course! We made them Gluten Free and oh they are yummy!!!!!
I love a good cookie. Frankly, I am not sure there is anything better then a cookie in my eyes. I love love love them. They make me happy.
They make others happy too and that makes me even happier. Anyone who really knows me knows that when you walk in my house if they are not made they soon will be. Cookies are a staple in our house. Are they good for you? No, no they are not good for you. This is was the first thing that came to mind when I contemplated a Gluten Free diet for my sons. They are part of our life. How in the world can I give them up? Ryans therapist told me that I needed to find other things to replace food. Food should be nourishment only. Easier said then done let me tell you.
What she did not understand is that these cookies were so intertwined in our lives. They are the way I remind my children and my friends that I love them. They are what I make when I am uneasy, nervous, happy and even sad. Really…when I say they can solve lifes problems I am not kidding! They can!
Well over the past year I have learned that there are other ways to remind your kids that you love them but in the back of my mind I am mad. I am mad that this act of kindness has been taken away from me. I have worked hard to replace it with an alternative that my sons Ryan and Colin as well as Grace can eat but their bodies can not handle having cookies, gluten free or not on a regular basis. This still bugs me…… but I have found a new way to make cookies more often. We just share them…..and this teaches my kids the art of kindness and I love that! So I guess we can always find a way around the problems we have if we just get creative!
So today that is what we did….we made our AWESOME gluten free sugar cookies and we shared them with our friends. We took them to the Blossom Boys because….. Well, they love my baking and my friends know that if you love my baking you often get my baking delivered to your door.
Then we took cookies to my son Liams friend Riley and his family. We took cookies to them because Riley is sick and battling a brain tumor right now. This kid is a rock star and handling this whole thing like a super hero (I think secretly he really is a super hero!) and we love him and and his family.
I guess what I am trying to say is that it is funny the acts of kindness that can brighten someones day. We all communicate differently. Mine is through my baking, my friends and family know that I care about them when they receive that baked good. Sometimes words are not easy…..but cookies sure are!
So on that note I am going to have my first give away! Here we go…… I want you to comment on the bottom with what you do to show your family and friends you love them. What is it?? I can’t wait to read them and one person will win a free camera band slipcover or sun bonnet. It is your choice.
I launched my facebook page…check it out 5 Boys + 1 Girl = 6. I am making sun bonnets for children and camera strap slipcovers. I hope to be able to raise money to help sponsor a child with Down Syndrome waiting to be adopted and for every camera strap or bonnet bought I will donate 5.00 to Reeses Rainbow. Reeces Rainbow check them out!!!
It is crazy that in this day and age in some countries children with Down Syndrome are put up for adoption and if they are not adopted they go to mental institutions. Yep! you read that right…..Mental Institutions where they will live the rest of their life. So wish me luck and inbox me if you are interested in any of the goods. I can ship any where for 4.00
Cutout Sugar Cookies
3 cups Gluten Free flour (regular flour)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
2 sticks butter (we use shortening for dairy free)
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla pure extract
Mix and chill then roll out on floured surface. Cut them out and bake 350 for 12-15 mins.
Frosting is 4 cups of powdered sugar a dash of vanilla and 1 teaspoon at a time of almond milk until you have a nice liquid consistency. If you end up too watery and more powdered sugar. Color what you like. We use natural food coloring. You can purchase it at Whole Foods or online.
So write those comments….how do you share the love! I can not wait to hear!……and please send prayers for Riley, he and his family so appreciate them all!
Enjoy your weekend!
