Snickers

Gramma and Nolan have a heart to heart.

My Blue-Eyed Boy!

The boys told me I could go downstairs.  They would stay up in my room.  It ddn't happen!

Chica Chica, 1 2 3!  It's a literary great.  You can tell by their faces.  Andrew took his nap with his hat on.

The boys are so helpful.  Nathan is draining the kefir from Gramma's curds.  When my children asked if they could help, I used to answer, "Only if you have to."  They would pause a second to figure out if that meant yes or no and then responded, "I have to."  I don't remember when that stopped.  I don't remmeber them doing that past twelve.

Andrew is drilling the light fixture.  His engineering potential is showing.  Of course he uses the same drill to dry my hair.  He didn't learn that from me.  I'm afraid of what my hair would look like if I took a hair dryer to it.  I think I would do better with a real drill.

The men and boys started dinner without me, since I was occupied talking to a student.  By the time I entered the kitchen, no one was talking.  It was like a build up of static electricity.  You're afraid to touch anything or anyone; for fear of setting off the spark.  When I asked what was up, I was told the boys weren't eating.  Trying to allow them some autonomy, I asked Andrew, would you like a bite of chicken or pasta?  He replied with the cutest pout on his face, "I want dessert."  Grampa, realizing it's beter to keep your sense of humor, cut one of his bites of pasta in half and asked if he could try it.  He turned his head with a firm, "NO."  Terry cut the half in half and asked again... "NO."  Then the quarter in half... still "NO."  Meanwhile, Nathan recognized a golden opportunity. "I'll have a bite of chicken," followed by the cutest smile you can imagine.  And then, "I'll have a bite of pasta."  He had heard the word dessert and wasn't going to take any chances.  At this point, no one had mentioned whether Gramma even had any dessert.  I think the holidays have lead to Great Expectations.  Andrew figures the best is saved for last.  It just so happened I had a piece of Snicker's Cake (a cake my father made for our birthdays).  My mind raced ahead to a nightmare scene of Nathan eating his dessert in front of Andrew.  Good thing Gramma had some healthy alternative "growing foods" for Andrew to choose from to avoid that horror show.

Nolan likes to be swaddled, but when they do, he tries really hard to pull his arms out.  It's like he's testing whether they did it properly.

Doesn't he look like a baby doll?

No, I don't want to leave Gramma.

Lynch Family Snickers Cake Recipe

1 pkg. German chocolate cake mix

1 15 1/2 oz. jar Dulce caramel sauce

1 cup chocolate chips 

Make cake according to package directions.  Pour half the batter into a 13"X9" greased and floured glass cake pan.  Bake 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove from oven and top with chocolate chips, caramel sauce and rest of batter.  Lower oven to 250 degrees and bake an additional 20 minutes.  Raise oven to 350 degrees and bake and additional 10-15 minutes.  Cool and frost with chocolate frosting later.

You could add chopped pecans with the chocolate chips, but Dad never did.