Projects, projects

Is a life without cookie dough worth living?

I've decided it's not. Also? I will never make another chocolate chip cookie recipe again. These are to die for.

Carolynn's Chocolate Chip Cookies (via: whole else? Martha!)
2 cups + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 cup unsalted butter
1 cup + 2 tablespoons firmly packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated/white sugar
1 large whole egg
1 large egg yolk
1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips (I use ghirardelli)
1 cup toasted walnuts (optional)
Directions:
1) In a large bowl, wish together flour, salt and baking soda. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat (Tip: to avoid the hassle of using the stove and a saucepan, I melt the butter in the microwave). Add both sugars to the melted butter and whisk until combined. Transfer the mixture to a medium bowl and let it cool to room temperature.
2) Whisk egg, egg yolk and vanilla into the butter mixture. Fold in flour mixture until just combined. Fold in chips and walnuts (if you are using nuts). Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate until firm (about 30 minutes).
3) Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Using 2 large spoons, place golf-ball size mounds of dough 3 inches apart on baking sheets. Bake until cookies are golden brown and the tops no longer look wet (12-14 minutes). Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack.

The Big Boy Cousins

Jackson, Cannon, Sam, Alex

Alex thinks the world of these boys. I'm so glad he is 4 and is smiling innocently and happily in this photo. Wanna place a bet on how long it will be until he is the one with his finger up his nose?

Baby of mine

Historically this little boy has taken at least a 3 hour nap everyday. This week: he refused, 3 days in a row. Which means that he has been ready for bed by 5 pm each night, and our whole schedule is out of whack, as is my sanity, which can be directly linked to my afternoon break from this child. He needs the rest, I need the break, big brother is at school, it's been a beautiful thing. Cut to today: we are back on track. Down by 1pm. I shouldn't hear from him until at least 4pm. Does he look too big to be in a crib? That whole big boy bed thing? Not happening until he climbs out...which he has yet to try. I love this boy. Sleep well baby.

Arizona Anniversary

Today marks the one year anniversary of our arrival in Arizona, and really, the start of a whole new phase of our lives. After many many many years of school, we became non-students for the first time in our marriage. While it's no secret that I came to Arizona "kicking and screaming," we've had a great year and I just want to state this for the record: I like it here. There are good things about Arizona. I came across this article the other day where the author is sharing her experience of having married young. I was just 20, Alan was 22, when we fell irreversibly and hopelessly in love. It has occurred to me on many occasions that neither of us had any idea what we were doing when we made a commitment to each other forever, because hello! We were 5 years old! but I am so glad that we did.

This quote from the article pretty much states exactly how I feel:

"In a way, Rob and I grew up together. We helped make each other — for better or worse. Getting married wasn't about settling down or having stability; it was about joining forces for an adventure neither of us could have alone. It was like standing at the edge of a cliff with rushing water beneath us. We were happy, terrified — and against all expectations, we jumped. But we were holding hands, and even if we were falling fast, we were together. Are together." -Elissa Schappell

I wouldn't trade our adventure for anything. (Even if it means spending the rest of my life Arizona.)

The boy loves any treat

Just snacking on a smore after hours and hours of swimming at Nana and Papa's.

Alan's Epiphany

After a long Sunday that included 3 hours of church and a lot of crying/whining/fighting/general discontent from the younger half of our family, Alan looked at me and asked if I ever felt the way he was feeling right then. I looked at him and assured him that on a regular basis I feel that way. His response, in a most serious tone, "Thank for you for not beating our children."

First day of Pre-K!

And what a day it was. It was mommy shedding the tears today, not Alex. I didn't think I would feel so sad and alone as I walked away from the school without my little man....but I did. His program is through the local school district and he will attend 5 days a week for about 3 hours each day. We celebrated the successful day with a warm batch of chocolate chip cookies, Alex's favorite.

A few from our cloudy Sunday morning

Oh this boy. How I just adore him. I'm trying to learn photoshop... can you tell? Tonight during our family prayer I was helping Will out (since he was becoming distracted by what was in his nose) and I tried to prompt him to continue his prayer with a, "Please help us make.... (the usual family fill-in-the-sentence would be "good choices") but Will busted out with a "...get good presents." I am just grateful the child will pray. He makes us laugh every single day.

Aunt Debbie?

"Hello Aunt Debbie? Heeelllllloooooo! Goodbye." Will had this conversation with you this morning sister.... a few times. Enough times that we had time to pull out the camera and get a picture of it! He loves his auntie!

The Blog

So I'm pretty sure I talked a couple of you into creating a blog by telling you why I keep ours up. And the reason is because I la-la-la-love the idea of having a place to record what's been going on with our family, the everyday events and the funny comments the kids make etc., and when I found out that you could have a blog printed into a book (like a textbook and in color!!) I was hooked. There are, of course, other good reasons for our blog: it is the best way to stay in touch with long-lost friends who are far away, and even more important for me, it's a way to keep my mom and dad involved in our life, since they are off in far-away lands.
So. I've had a few of you ask me recently what company I have used to print our blog, and the fact of the matter is that I haven't had it printed yet. I'm planning to do it on a yearly basis, starting at the end of this year. But I wanted to put up the info. that I have looked at, since ya'll have been asking. Let me know if you know of a better option then the ones below!
http;//Blogprinting.com- the don't do blogger blogs right now but supposedly will be doing them soon.
http://www.lulu.com/
http://blogger.sharedbook.com/
http://groups.google.com/group/blogger-help-howdoi/ (use this if you want to print the blog yourself)

The trains are back...

Shortly after Alex's birthday I had the brilliant idea to pack up the trains. I was sick of them, and oh so sick of listening to Alex obsess about them. He had tons of new toys for distractions, and it seemed like the perfect time. So one night I boxed up all train paraphernalia in our house and hid it at the top of my closet. Next day, boy did not even ask where they were. Day after, not even a word about the trains. I was so excited! I had conquered Thomas! Weeks went by and I really thought I was home-free: we could now be a train-free household. And we were, until I undid it all. While in Utah, someone mentioned the train obsession, and I gleefully told them how, "I made the trains disappear." Right after I made that comment, I glanced at Alex and he was staring at me, totally staring. His eyes were asking "How could you??" Oh, the shame. And so the questions began. The closer we got to coming home the more he was asking where I had "Disappeared the trains" to. I knew the game was over, the jig was up, I had to fold. So when we got home Alan gives Alex this big speech about praying for the things we really need, and how Heavenly Father will help us with all of the problems we have. All of a sudden the 4-year-old who refuses to pray is now praying his little heart out that his trains will reappear. And guess what? They did. Photo of his little hand the first night he was reunited with his beloved friends. I hope I didn't cause him years of therapy where he will be discussing his awful mother who stole his toys. I really do feel so guilty.