A little bit of normal

Our family has a quirky little tradition that started because my youngest sister Tessa would always beg my mom to make doughnuts, partially due to a wonderful children's book called Homer Price by Robert McCloskey and the inspiring picture of doughnuts filling a room.  To satisfy my sister's desire for doughnuts filling our kitchen, my mom conceded to making doughnuts at home by scratch once a year.  President's Day was chosen because my mom was a teacher and she always would be guaranteed to have the day off school.  Homemade doughnuts are not a quick or easy or clean thing to make and requires most of the day to accomplish (plus about 2 whole containers of vegetable oil for frying!)

The tradition has continued for 20 plus years and we now have our kids participating and looking forward to it. 

Funny thing....we are not very successful.  Every year we diligently and enthusiastically (some more than others in the family) try new dough recipes, cutters, batter dispensers, oil temperature and toppings for the doughnuts.  They are never very tasty.  And then there was the infamous "doughnut that resembled the anatomy of a human heart". 

The adults of the family slowly realized that we actually preferred the taste of bought doughnuts, so for the last two years, much to the kids dismay, have purchased the doughnuts to be consummed on our Doughnut Day. 

Last week, the kids made it clear that they wanted us to try again to make doughnuts this year.  Armed with new enthusiasm, we picked a recipe and planned the day.  My sister Tessa, who now lives and works in Paris, France was even going to make the same recipe and skype to us on the day. 

Then, last Wednesday our lives changed.  Emma was so hoping to make it to Doughnut Day, and thankfully, she did just that.  Together as a family, we gathered today at my mom's house, my sister Bethany whipped up the recipe-which by the way was hands down the BEST doughnuts we've made to date-thanks to my favorite recipe blog:  www.thepioneerwoman.com, the cousins played inside and outside, Emma helped cut out doughnuts, and we melded together, took naps, laughed, and played as a family, gathering our strength and resolve for the future. 

My girl and me in our matching jammies

Cousin Lily

Lily's second Doughnut Day and still not sure about it

Benjamin-Emma's little brother who is turning 8 years old tomorrow

Happy Birthday Ben!

Laughing with crazy cousin Carter

The results

As my dad says, "Not Bad!"

Lily and Emma Kait

Thankful for a little bit of "normal" because of our very abnormal family tradition.