Attack of the Chocolate Chip Cookies

Dear Jeanette:

You were very sweet to share this wonderful cookie recipe with a bunch of 15-yr-olds. You must have known that not 15 years later one of those young women's self-esteem would take a very personal hit because of her choc-chip pancakes.

But, really, can you come clean up the mess now?

Sincerely,
Laura

P.S. No. I did not give that cookie to babes. I am still not sure exactly HOW she got it.

This Week At Our House

Dried pinapple, bananas,

apples, and the fruit

flies that accompany

the fruit still waiting

to be dried;
Lightning McQueen;
George;

Blanky;
Runny noses;
Sweatshirts and socks;
Soup;

Sewing project;
Movies;
Sickies.

Dear Gama

Thank you for letting me play with Lightning McQueen (all of them).




We've had a lot of fun so far.



I am sorry if he comes back looking a little less . . . new.

How I Spell Stress

Do you have something that you have to do (perhaps daily) that is stressful for you?
Here is how I spell stress:

D-I-N-N-E-R

I loathe dinner. Everything about it, really (aside from eating it). But, really, sometimes eating it isn't that great, either. Really. So I am trying to find ways that make this time of the day less stressful for me.

Any suggestions??

Girl's Night In

Crazy things happen when dad leaves:

TOYS

Remember this?



It was from a post on toys made at home- free.

We still believe in these types of toys. In fact, Heidi's new favorite toy is this very one.

I thought I would share this idea for those of you who have young, active toddlers who are about be couped-up inside all winter. This one is a goody:

Lately

LATELY. . .


. . . Remember those 5-gallon buckets of apples?? . . .




. . . I have been depleting my supply of the apples.

And the house has smelt DIVINE!

Conference Weekend

We watched conference this weekend. It was really good. At the beginning I found myself running to get a pen and paper. But then I found myself recording everything that Tots was saying . . . she is really funny lately!



"I so tired. I wanna go na-night."

"I so hungry. I want LUNCH!" (She yelled that last part at me as I was getting dinner on the table)

As she ate her doughnut: "Mmmmm. Cake." (who made doughnuts a breakfast food anyway!?). Then, as she licked the icing off the top: "Ice cream! Ice cream on my cake."

As I am about to scold her, "Mama, I love you."

Me: "Tots, do you want to sit on a chair" (that's me asking if she is ready for time out),

Tots: "Hmmm, No thanks."

In a commanding tone: "Babes! No pop balloon!"

When we called Chad at work: "Daddy, I cy." (cry)



She so cracks me up!



I think President Uchtdorf's talk was my favorite. I found myself composing a letter to my family at the end of it:

Dear family,

I love "T-I-M-E" you.



And then I spent a day canning. A whole day. I kid you not. And now my hands are stained brown and I have 4 more 5-gallon buckets to go. A whole day.

Fall

I love fall. Here are some thoughts that come to mind when fall comes around:

Pumpkins.

Pumpkin shakes.

Eggnog.

Yellow, red, and every color in between.

Alpine loop/Cascade Falls.

Masks, candy, and happy little faces.

Sweet goodies (like the kind you bake).

Candy Apples (Dipped in carmel- yum!).

Cute sweaters and scarves.

Corn mazes.

Hayrides!!

FAMILY!!!!!!!!!!!

Mommy-isms

When Chad and I got married, it was a high priority on both our lists that I stay home with the kids (whenever said "kids" started arriving, that is). I had done a lot in my life and so staying at home to raise our children and take-on care of the home-front was a new and exciting (and mysterious) thing for me. Since then I have found a few things I LOVE doing that really make some of the mundane things not so mundane. This is just a small list.

Wake up before the kids . . . I love my mornings because I am the only one awake. It gives me time with my own thoughts so I am ready to take on an energetic toddler and baby!

Good tunes make good moods. Kay. Not really. I am fully aware that I choose my mood. But it really helps. Especially if I wake up on the wrong side of the bed, get to my cranky toddler and moody baby, and wonder 'How on earth are we all going to survive today?!' But really, music makes even cleaning fun for me!

Gardening for the soul. Really. I love my garden. The bugs are bugging me less and less. And during the winter, this turns into baking. I love baking for my family. It is very fulfilling.

Playtime! I love just playing with the girls! It is actually very relaxing . . . much more so than, say, doing the books. Even just in the yard where tots can enjoy her water fun or dig in the dirt while babes and I are safely in the shade on the blanket.

Schedules,schedules,schedules. Just becuase my tot does so much better with a schedule. But I keep the schedule loose. I try to include some fun activities each week for my highly energetic tot. But we have a daily routine, too.

Clean-up!! Yup. Tots helps me clean her toys up. I really think that this time of her life will help her build good tidy habbits (and hopefully I can successfully hide my not-so-tidy habbits from her). We do this twice in the day. It keeps me sane to see the house clean (even if it is only for 15 minutes).

This doesn't mean that we are always on the ball. In fact there have been a few times that Chad got home and asked me where someone's shorts went. And even more often hair doesn't get done (or re-done). But if I made you nod your head at all and think of some of the things you enjoy doing with your day, please share!!