#359

This morning was hard. P had a horrible night. She and I were awake after 2 am because she was upset. I think she had a bad dream and some gunk in her chest, which combined to give her a fear of going back to sleep. Do we cuddled on the couch for a couple hours. And when I thought it was safe, I put her back in her bed with extra good night-sweet dreams kisses. Then I fell into my bed and a sweet comatose sleep. For what felt like five minutes. 

The girls were up before 7. And even though she had less than 9 hours of consecutive sleep (she usually gets close to 12) P was in a great mood and as chipper as could be. Me, not so much. So I turned on 'the dragon movie' and let Hiccup and Toothless entertain my daughters while I relaxed. 

This evening I began baking. And tomorrow I will cook a killer Thanksgiving meal and bake some more. But first, let me share a little backstory. 

Christmas 2007, Jacob had just gotten home from a deployment. Really, he had been home for a little over 24 hours. And I wanted to make him a pecan pie, because e loves them. And, you might have heard, I like to bake. So I got a recipe and made my first pecan pie. 

It was horrible. I think that was the first and only time I have screwed up so bad that I threw out something I had baked. I felt like a total failure- for the completely ruined pie, and for looking like a fool in front of my husband whom I had not seen in 15 months. Bad, bad memory. 

This evening, I made pecan pie bars. My first step back into the pecan pie ring since that first fail. I was nervous. I almost didn't make them. One doesn't easily forget that kind of screw up.

But, my friends, my house smells amazing. The bars are cooling on the counter. And they look pretty. Tomorrow will be the true test, when they are cut and tasted. But tonight I will go to sleep feeling like I conquered that damn pie. 

Which is a great way to feel on the eve of a holiday for thanks.