October 20, 2008 | Mama Smith

oh glorious zicam

My mom swears by it, but it wasn’t until this recent illness that I became a believer myself. The beauty and cunning of Zicam to locate and decimate those evil cold/flu germs in my body was simply amazing. Well, I’m sure the Echinacea drops, the Immunity Support vitamins and the Stress-B vitamins did their fair share of work, but I still secretly believe it was the Zicam that really stomped those germs. That and Matthew’s killer husbanding skills, who single-handedly parented the boys this weekend while I slept and rested my trashed body.

So yes, it is Monday and I am feeling a ton better. Thank you Zicam. Thank you Matthew. Thank you readers for sending your kind words.

Yesterday, as I started feeling better I was craving some good ol’ comfort food. So I made that macaroni & cheese which would have been to DIE FOR... if I hadn’t scalded the milk, causing the entire batch to tasty like soggy fire logs. Thankfully, the pumpkin scones made up for it and were super easy to make. Not cutting in cold butter, just a quick 10 minute prep, then they’re in the oven and ready to devour 15 minutes later. These are from my former mentor and friend, Liz. She’s an insane chef.

Pumpkin Scones

Preheat oven to 400, then mix the following (dry ingredients first, then add wet):

1 1/4 c. quick oats
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. of both white and brown sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
dash of nutmeg and ginger
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 c. pumpkin
1/4 c. applesauce
1/4 c. milk
1 Tbsp melted butter
1 egg
1/3 c. chopped crystallized ginger
1/4 c. chopped walnuts

Form however you like your scones (I’m to lazy to shape the circle and cut into triangles) then put on a cookie sheet. Bake 12-18 minutes depending on your oven. Enjoy! You can only do pumpkin goods for so long in this season.

The boys are glad to have their mom back, as much as they enjoyed being spoiled by their dad. And mom was glad to have her boys back. Sometimes all it takes is a short break.

It’s been fun to see the boys enjoying each more as Levi starts talking and is now able to communicate with his brother. We’ll often hear them in their rooms before waking up in the morning, Levi saying “Here Bighton. Here you go” offering him toys or books. We’ll also hear, “NO Bighton, that’s MINE!” and after ripping whatever object out of Brighton’s hands causing bloodcurtling screams, “What happen Bighton? What happen?” At least he’s a considerate bully.

More than anything, I think having an older brother has turned him into a parrot. Whether it’s “Heeeey mama, what doin?”, “Ready mama? Ready to go?” or this morning as he was downing his bowl of oatmeal, exclaiming “Mmm YUMMY, this DELICIOUS”. Definitely one of his brother’s phrases. It’s adorable and sad at the same time seeing our little baby turn into a toddler.