This Holiday season came with it’s fair share of ups and downs. Holidays are tough with small kids. They understand the general idea of Santa and presents, but don’t understand that “No, we don’t get to open presents every time we wake up” and “No, just because we had a fancy breakfast on Christmas morning does not make that the new normal.” Also, if you have kids that normally nap in the middle of the day… THEY NEED THAT NAP STILL. 😊 Learned that the hard way.

But aside from all the difficulties of parenting during this crazy time of year, there is something magical that happens when you have kids during Christmas. The spark of joy in their faces as they play with their cousins, or open a new toy, is really something special. Hearing your kids yelling from their room (because they are still trapped in their cribs, thank you Lord) “is it Christmas day yet?!” is just one of my favorite things. All the hard work, time, and money put into everything is finally about to happen.

So, before I get into what this post is really about (FOOD) I just want to list off the things that I am grateful for this Holiday season:

1. A supportive spouse
2. Family that understands your needs, and not being afraid to ask for help
3. Unconditional love and forgiveness from God
4. The innocence of childhood
5. Wine/Sangria/Stout Beer/Secret Kitchen Eggnog/Secret Bailey’s in your coffee (DON’T JUDGE ME)
6. Sleep (when you can find it)
7. Delicious treats.

This recipe was created while I was playing around with an old one. I love a good quick bread and the idea came to me that I really wanted something light and tart, with a crispy sweet finish. When my daughter showed hesitance in trying it, I just told her the clear crispy “ice” topping was because Elsa helped me bake it.

What you’ll need:

• 1/3 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 large eggs
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk (I generally use 2% or whole milk for baking)
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 2 tablespoons grated lemon zest (optional)

GLAZE:

• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 cup sugar

Now what do you do:

1. Preheat oven for 350°
2. In a large bowl, beat the butter, sugar, lemon juice, and eggs.
3. In a second bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt;
4. Stir dry mix into egg mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.
5. Fold in the blueberries. You’ll want to coat them in flour before, so they don’t sink to the bottom while baking.
6. Transfer to a greased 8×4-in. loaf pan. Bake 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
7. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack.
8. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over warm bread.
9. Cool completely.

If you have made it to the end of this post and are still really confused by the title, it’s time for you to go see Frozen II. We did, with 3 kids under three..on Christmas Day. Are we crazy? Yes. Did they love it? Yes. Was I dancing in the aisle with a 3-month-old fussy baby strapped to me for half of the movie? Also, yes.

SHOUT OUT TO AUNT KELLY AND UNCLE JOHN FOR HELPING US WRANGLE THOSE KIDS IN THE THEATER. Memories made.