Don't get too excited - it's not any real vacationing, it just feels that way to me because Josh has been driving the kids back and forth to school all week. All week. There's definitely something to be said for having a husband who works for a school with vacation all chol hamoed and sending your kids to a school that does not have vacation over chol hamoed. 

If you're keeping count (and I am), that's three whole days where I did not have to sit in the car for hours each day. Instead, I'm sitting on my tush at home, in my pajamas and I am feeling guilt-free, my friends. I thought I'd feel a little guilty when I sat down to watch tv that first morning but no. A little scandalous maybe, but not guilty. 

The kids - well mainly the girls - were very worried about their Abba driving them to school. 

How will he know where we go in the morning?
How will Abba know how many hugs I get?
How will Abba know where to park? 
What if we're late and we miss going to the library in the morning and we have to go straight to class and Abba doesn't know where our classes are? 
What if Abba forgets everything you told him? 

Anxiety much, anyone? 

And let's not forget, this very same Abba used to work in this very same school, years ago. I think he remembers how to get there, where to park and how to get inside. Also, he's a grownup and has been doing this parenting thing for a while now. 

But, because I understand my childrens' anxiety - and not because I lack faith in my husband - I made Josh a list. It wasn't a list so much for Josh, but more for the girls so they'd feel confident even though their morning routine of me driving, parking, and parading them through the library each morning has been disrupted. 

Wanna see? 

The little one looked at the list and added her own extra rule to the end - the couple of rules on the back that applied to carpool pickup at the end of the day. 

Can you read it?
After the part of the list that covers carpool pickup instructions, she added, "Say how was your day! to four people". 

At least someone notices when I ask about their day while we are driving home! 

The funniest part though? 
The list actually did come in handy for a half a minute when they were stuck in traffic on the second morning and were late to school - and Josh really did have to look at number 9b on the list - the asterisked contingency plan on the second side of the page for when the library is already empty when you get to school and all the kids are already in class. 

I know. Whoever thought life would be so complicated. 
​
:)
Jen 

Wishing everyone a shana tova, a year filled with love and laughter, health and enough parnassa, and plain old happiness. 

And if you're hungry and looking for a super quick snack to power you through the rest of your cooking, try these guys. We named them Chocolate-Coconut-Oatmeal-Nutballs. Nutballs because it made my boys fall on the floor laughing, and the chocolate-coconut-oatmeal because those are the main ingredients. We're transparent like that. 

These took fourteen minutes to put together - but that's only because no one helped me. With helpers, I'd probably triple the time. And also, ten of those minutes are for soaking the dates. 

Put thirty dates in a bowl and cover them with boiling water. 
Set them aside and do something productive for ten minutes. 
When the ten minutes are up, drain the dates and throw in the food processor. 

If you're me, this will take a while because first you'll have to ask Josh to come help you find the food processor and then once you find it, you will have to remember how to use it. I forget. Every single time.

Here's a tip - put the blade in before you add the dates, otherwise you'll have to take all the dates out, put the blade in and then put the dates back in. A total waste of two minutes. 

Anyway, pulse the dates until they are all, um, pulsed. I forget what word we're looking for here but you want them to be mushed up. Add in 3/4 cup chocolate chips, 2 cups of instant oatmeal, and here's where the choices come in - you can add almond butter or cashew butter or peanut butter, really whatever you have.

Wanna see what I have?​

We used this. 
It's delicious. 
It's from Costco and worth every penny. 

They carried it in the Jacksonville Costco and then they stopped carrying it. 
And then the same thing happened in the East Hanover one in NJ. I was so happy to see it back on the shelves the last time I was there. I hope it doesn't go away again. 

Back to the recipe - 
Use 10 tablespoons of this deliciousness. Add it to the food processor and give it a whirl until all the ingredients come together in a ball. I add a teaspoon of water because it seemed the ingredients were having trouble coming together and making friends, but I think that's okay. Sometimes, social skills need to be taught. Also, I did have to scrape down the side of the bowl a few times but so yummy, so I didn't care. 

Once you're all done processing everything, use slightly wet hands and form small round balls. Place them on a parchment lined cookie sheet and once the cookie sheet in filled, place the pan in the fridge for 25 minutes (or the freezer for 10 minutes if you really need a snack right now). Once they have hardened, put all the nutballs (I have cackling boys standing next to me) in a bag and keep them in the fridge until you finish eating them. You can also store them in the freezer if you'd like. 

This recipe make about 40 nutballs. (Now my girls are laughing too and the boys might be about to pee in their pants.)

From my nutballs to yours, happy happy new year and shana tova! 
We'll see you on the other side!
Love, 
Jen