Today Happened Tomorrow and Yesterday is Yet to Come

What time is it? It is time to figure out how to get Mila to stop asking about the time!

PLEASE.

For months, Mila has been obsessed with time. She is ramping her crazy and now asks for the time at least 1359813759 times per day. Which is great because if there is one thing I need in my life, it's a constant reminder that time is passing by way too quickly. What time is it now? It is two minutes later than the last time Mila asked and didn't that two minutes pass by in a blink?

IT TOTALLY DID.

My favorite part about this whole obsession is that Mila has no concept of time. Everything that happened in the past happened "yesterday." We went to Chicago yesterday, Mila was born yesterday, we bought her a swimsuit with a white bow on it yesterday. Everything that has yet to happen will happen "tomorrow." Tomorrow Mila is going to go to kindergarten. Tomorrow she's going to drive a car. Tomorrow Mila will be 20 years old.

Which, now that I'm thinking about it, is EXACTLY how time works when you're an adult. Tomorrow comes at you so fast you can't keep your head on straight, yesterday just happened, and everything in between is just a blur.

While I ponder the fact that my 4-year old understands time better than I do, how do I get her to stop asking for the time? Seriously. I already tried giving her a watch and teaching her how to read it. She just made everyone confirm she was reading it correctly all day long. I need a new trick. Annnnnd ... go!

Making Friends

There are things in this life that you should just assume:

1. If there is a day when we don't have anything planned, we'll end up at the "Big Library" and wandering around Oakland. It's the easiest (and cheapest!) way to keep the girls happy.

2. f there is an animal anywhere in the vicinity, Mila will try to make friends with it.

3. If there is a bird anywhere in the vicinity, Alexis will declare it her mortal enemy and set out to destroy it.

If you add up 1 + 2 + 3, you get ZOMG.

The photo does not do justice to the moment because video is what I really needed. Without video, you are spared from the screaming coming from all directions. Alexis was screaming because GET AWAY FROM THE FLYING DEATH BOMB! Mila was screaming because I FOUND A NEW FRIEND! I was screaming because CAN'T YOU TWO JUST BE QUIET?

It was a lot.

So much.

But at least I have a photo of the moment two seconds after Mila casually walked up to a bird, said, "Hi, Birdie!" and then touched it before it casually strolled away from her. The bird didn't bother to fly away until all of the screaming started, so basically Mila ended up mad at Alexis for ruining her animal friend adventure. Alexis ended up mad because she was so grossed out by the act of making friends with the enemy.

And I just lost a few more of my marbles. If you happen to find them, please return them to Oakland. I'm sure we'll be there again soon.

Zucchini Gobs with Cream Cheese Frosting

There is exactly one week of summer break remaining, so SEE YA, INTERNET. I've got summering to do and stuff.

In the meantime, there's a whole bunch of zucchini sitting around my house, so I'm digging through the archives and pulling out some faves. Like this one I originally posted in 2013. Enjoy.

Zucchini Gobs with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe comes via Mindy Bakes because I refuse to invent the wheel when the wheel is already rolling around on the internet. I halved the recipe, but that was only because I didn't want to run to the store for another package of cream cheese. One had to do the trick.

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
3/4 cups light brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded zucchini (approximately 2 small zucchini)
1 cup chopped walnut pieces
1 cup raisins (I'm normally opposed to raisins when baking, but they definitely work here)

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

2. Place the flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Use a whisk to mix it all up.

3. In a separate bowl, stir to combine the eggs, brown sugar, and white sugar. Add the butter and vanilla.  Add the zucchini and stir some more.

4. Pour the eggs and such into the dry ingredients bowl and stir it all up.

5. If things are a little dry, add more zucchini. I know that seems weird, but it works.

6. Stir in the walnuts and raisins.

8. Line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. Drop the cookie dough by the heaping teaspoon onto the cookie sheet. I found that I couldn't possibly make these too small (meaning less cookie dough is better) and that they turned out more consistent and evenly sized if I smoothed the dough out a little bit with my finger.

9. Bake at 375 degrees for 11-13 minutes or until they are set and not shiny.

10. Allow to cool for a minute on the cookie sheet and then move them to a cooling rack. While they're cooling, make some cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8-oz package cream cheese
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

(Mindy also added some heavy cream. I skipped it.)

1. In a large mixing bowl, mix the cream cheese and butter together until thoroughly combined and a little fluffy.

2. Gradually add the powdered sugar.

3. Add the vanilla extract.

4. Mix until well combined and smooth.

5. Once the cookies are cool and your frosting is made, go about assembling everything. I used a disposable pastry bag for the frosting -- just cut the tip off, no need for a fancy decorating tip. Pipe 2-3 tablespoons of frosting onto the bottom of a cookie and then find another cookie that is approximately the same size. Smoosh the bottom of that second cookie onto the frosting so that you have a cookie sandwich.

6. Refrigerate these little guys for an hour or so to allow the frosting to "set."

7. You're done. They're a little fancy, and a lot awesome.