Cold and Cookies

Anyone who knows me knows that I do not like cold weather.

At all.

When it gets cold I'm unmotivated to do anything other than bake cookies and eat them.

So, since we had our first real cold snap this week, that's exactly what my little baking beauty and I did!

Yummy pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!

I included the recipe for any other cold weather bakers out there.

No, even with the pumpkin, they are not good for you.

But they are so yummy it's worth it!

1 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

1 1/2 cup pumpkin

1 whole egg and 1 egg white

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups cholocate chips

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

powdered sugar

Sift sugar, four, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium mixing bowl.

Combine shortening, pumpkin, eggs, and vanilla in a smaller mixing bowl and then add them to the dry ingredients.

Blend well.

Add chocolate chips.

Blend well.

Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet and bake at 350 for 9-11 minutes. 

Lightly dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Be careful not to overbake.  The cookies will be moist and cake-like.


Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

How to Eat a Cupcake in 7 Easy Steps

First, take a deep breath

Don't forget to make a wish!

Always start with the icing

and then straight into the center of the cake part.

Make sure it all gets in there...we don't want to waste a cupcake.

The most important thing to remember when eating a cupcake?

ALWAYS have two!

3

Well, since I still haven't figured out how to stop time, we've had another birhday over here.

This handsome little man

 

 

 who is so funny

and curious

and always adventurous

and often times silly

and will forever be my sweet little baby boy

turned 3.

Yes, 3! 

 No, I cannot believe it either.

Do you know why...

this handsome little man is so excited?

It's his first day of preschool!

He's been waiting a loooooong time for this.

I think I might kind of like it too.  Once I get over the fact that my baby is starting preschool! (*sob*)

Goodbye

This is one of my favorite pictures from our last beach trip.

I just love the way my children are holding hands.

I love the way that they are gazing out ove the ocean.

I love all the hair in Melody's ponytail.

I was thinking about this picture today.  Mainly because, for me, Labor Day is sort of the day I feel we all say goodbye to summer.  I'm excited about the new school year the four (yes, I said four! I'm finally back in school!) of us are embarking on.  I'm excited about activities and events that are already cluttering our calendar this fall. But I love summer.  I love the lazy days.  I love the freedom.  I even love the heat.  I love the heat a lot.  And I will miss summmer.  This was a special summer for my children and I.  And think of this summer fondly.

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it!
Psalm 118:24 (NKJV)

A Last First and Sparkles

Tuesday was a big day for Melody. It was her last first day of preschool!  This year she is in the Zebra class and is very excited. 

The first first day of preschool... 

and now the last first day of preschool.

My little girl certainly has grown up.  And thankfully gotten more hair (although I do miss those little sprouts!)

 

Thank you all for your anniversary wishes. Alex and I went out and celebrated our 10 years by watching Captain America and...

doing a little jewlery shopping!!

My wonderful husband got me a new, beautiful wedding band in honor of our tenth.  The ring in the middle is my engagement ring and we had a diamond band placed on each side. Isn't it beautiful?!

Melody, of course, loves it as well.  I showed it to her and she asked to try it on and said, "Ooooh! It has so many sparkles and it fits just me!"

10

My husband and I have been married for 10 years today.  A decade.

I remember when we had our first anniversary and I felt like 1 year was a long time!  Hopefully, in 40 years, we will be celebrating somewhere remembering back to when we thought 10 years was a long time.

The first song on the slideshow (Songbird by Eva Cassidy) was our first dance at our wedding.  I just liked the second (Something that We Do by Clint Black). I actually almost picked Kelly Clarkson's My Life Would Suck Without You but realized my mother would flip if I paid tribute to my marriage with a song containing the word 'suck'.

This video encompasses the last 10 years of our lives together. It's a little long, but well, 10 years is a long time.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli