Be gentle with my cookies

Our life has been a little crazy lately. 
Let me catch you up.
Last weekend my best friend's daughter got married.  I feel really old when I say, I feel like she was just a baby. 
I was put in charge of making the favors for the guests. 
Otherwise known as 200 large sugar cookies.
That didn't sound bad until I realized I was flying and could either take 200 cookies on the plane or make them in one day there, not in my kitchen. 
After making test batches I decided I had to do the majority of them here.  I was very relieved that I had when I got to my sisters and the only mixer was 40ish years old and "on it's last leg".  I suggested we stop and buy a cheap one, she thought it could make it.  And if by "make it" you mean not be powerful enough for the dough and dust my white icing with ashes, then yes, it made it.

I found the largest carry on in the house

I was very careful with them.  They had a special security search.  I offered up a cookie if she would be gentle....

and all but three arrived safely

 

not enough time with the friend

 

Too much time with the mother in law

Jennifer went with me (thank goodness) and sent the above message to her friend who apparently has the same type of mother in law...

 

But the night  wasn't about any one but the sweet bride!  She's dancing with her dad here.

It was a beautiful wedding!

It was a sweet night!

 

 

Throwing the biggest change into our life right now is that Mike lost his job a couple of weeks ago.

A job he has hated every day of.

So, as much as we are worried and concerned, he feels some relief.

He is happier and more relaxed than I've seen him in years.

He is spending more time with us than he has in years.

He is doing things around the house and as I started to do the dishes tonight he said words I've never heard before "I can do that".  I'm still a little confused by that but I've never been happier with him!

 

We promised Katie we would find a way to stay put for at least one more year till she graduates.  I never thought I would agree to not try to go back to Dallas but for now, it's what's best. 

 

So as hard as the waiting and praying for a job is, we are enjoying some time together. 

I know that it was what was best for him. 

My prayer is that he gets a job fast  that he loves. 

I know God is in control of this.  I know there is a reason for this.  I have to remind myself everyday that I need to leave it to Him and not worry.  Actually, I have to remind myself of that many times a day. 

 

Writing this all down, I see that I needed to make those cookies.  I always bake when I'm stressed.  I needed that day away and time with friends. 

I'm baking for a fundraiser this weekend.  After that, let me know what type of baked goods you need.  Just don't say heart shaped sugar cookies.

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Junior Prom fun

Have I told you what great girls I have? 
Well, let me brag on the oldest for a minute.
Tonight is her Jr. Prom.
She has been so low maintenance about it.  That is not usually how I think of her.
You hear all about the hair appointments, make up counter visits, nails and pedicures, and expensive dresses but my sweet girl wanted none of that.

She chose a very simple, affordable dress.
When I told her she needed different shoes she didn't want any.  She had black heels "that would be fine".
Nails?  "NO"
Hair?  "I'll do it".
She went with her best friend.  There is a guy who has a crush on her but she didn't want to go with him... "I'm not sure he loves Jesus".
I offered to send them somewhere nice for dinner.  "No, we're going to McAlister's"...

 

there were a lot of girls in that room

(notice the sister's look...)

 

 

there was a lot of looking at other peoples pictures on their phones

 

 

sporting the Chaco tan in those heels

 

sweet friends! 

 

I'm ok with this whole Jr. thing but I'm thinking next year I might not be ok...

 

 

 

I want a nanny goat

 

We all need friends that get excited about things with us.  This sweet friend is truely the only person I know that would text me this and know I would be so jealous excited for her.

Oh, I wish we lived by each other.  You know you would be jealous of our goat cheese.

Food fun with a friend

One of my good friends came over so we could make some good gifts.
It was wonderful. 
A Sunday afternoon in PJ pants cooking with a friend, can you think of a better day?

 

We had a little supervision

We made a wonderful Caramel Sauce (plus we added 3 tbsp of Bourbon to the recipe). 

 I may pour a jar over dinner tonight.  I also made some Merlot Jelly. 

 

I also made a couple of jars of "Cookies for Santa" gifts

 

I'm having a Cookie party next weekend and I made some cookies that may not make it to the party.  I combined two recipes I found and they are soooo good.

Cranberry White Chocolate Oat Cookies

1/2 cup Butter, softened
3/4 cup White Sugar
3/4 cup Brown Sugar
1 Egg
1 tsp Vanilla
1 1/2 cup Flour
1 tps Baking powder
1/2 tsp Salt
1 cup Oats
1 cup dried Cranberries
1 cup White Chocolate chips
1/2 cup sliced Almonds
zest of one Orange

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Cream butter and sugar.  Add both sugars and mix till fluffy.  Add the egg and vanilla and mix well.  Mix in flour, baking powder, salt and oats and mix till just combined.  Mix in cranberries, chocolate chips, almonds and orange zest.  Drop spoon sized scoops of dough onto the lined cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes. 

2 a.m. friends

One of my oldest and best friends came to visit this weekend on a spur of the moment trip.  Her niece found out and wanted to come (she and Katie are the same age and have been besties since the baby bed) but Gabbie couldn't get off work till 7 p.m. so she waited on her and they got in about 2 a.m....Oh, and getting here about 2 a.m. is very usual for them for some reason...There aren't many people I would wait up on but they are worth the wait!
What makes her a better aunt than me is that Gabbie also had to be back to work at 11 on Sunday morning so they left at 5 this morning...
So, needless to say, we didn't waste much time sleeping this weekend.

We enjoyed time talking and visiting, eating of course

looking for some fun where we could find it

 and then did a little jelly making which we love but the girls thought that made us the biggest losers ever!

Those girls did make us proud though when they asked to make a recipe from pintrest!

all the girls managed to get along.  Most of the time.

We are so blessed with good friends!

love that beautiful girl!

and the baby of the group.

so sweet!

fun fun fun!

OK friends, who's visiting next?  I'll wait up for you...

Summer

I love summer days with no plans. 
This is why I work in a school and not in the blood and guts nursing I still miss.  A little. 
Days with no plans. 
Days with not much accomplished.
Don't tell Mike.  I've assured him I am very busy everyday.
I have had some very productive days.  Today just wasn't one of them.

Speaking of Mike...
Last night, I told Mike and the girls I was going to the gym.  I went.  I walked.  I came home.  Later, Mike came in and asked me if I wanted to go to the gym with him... I explained I had just gotten home.  He never knew I was gone.  I wish I could be that clueless to what is going on around here. 

Next week I'm going to church camp as a counselor for Middle school girls. 
Go ahead and start praying for me now please.
and my middle schooler isn't getting to go because of her summer acting gigs...
So, I am just hoping Mike remembers he has her here and where he dropped her off last...
It should be interesting.

Today I had two of my favorite girl friends over for lunch.

It was wonderful girl time.

One of the things I made today is a favorite of mine from the Dove's Nest Restaurant outside of Dallas...

Cheddar Almond Bacon Spread

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup toasted sliced almonds
12 slices of bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup mayo
dashes of Tabasco

Mix all ingredients.  Serve as a spread on sandwiches or as a dip. 

Dinner, not in a basket?

Our evenings have been taken over by Pinocchio.
 Dress rehearsals and last night was opening night for "Child number 5"...

that is her in the center back

 her two besties came to watch

one of my friends came with her kids... Katie is their favorite babysitter...

It has been fun. Kellie is really enjoying the show and is glad she did it!  I'm sure it will be worth every penny of that $30ish dollars they are paying her!

So the last few nights dinner has been eaten at the play... I should get a freq. drink discount from Sonic...

Last night was burgers, stuffed peppers and banana pudding

Stuffed mini peppers

6-8 mini bell peppers, cut in half, seeds removed
3 ears fresh corn cut off the cob
6 oz goat cheese
2 green onions finely chopped
season salt and pepper to taste

Mix corn, goat cheese and chopped chives till blended

fill cleaned peppers with corn mixture

Bake at 375 approx. 20 minutes, till bubbly and peppers soft.  I think these would be even better cooked on the grill.

Tonight I was the bad parent and just dropped her off.  Seeing it three nights in a row this week was all could take!

So, tonight we ate dinner at home!  I tried a new shredded beef recipe tonight and you need to make this!  I mean it.  It was that good!

Shredded Beef for Taco's

1 sm. Beef Roast

2 pk. Sazon seasoning packets

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp cumin

3 cloves garlic

1 lg onion chopped

1 Chili in Adobo chopped

1 1/2 cup beef broth

Rub Sazon seasoning on roast.  Sear roast on each side in hot skillet, approx. 5 min. on each side till browned.  Move roast to crock pot.  Using beef broth de-glaze pan.  Add chili powder and cumin.

Pour over roast.  Add Chili in Adobo, onion and garlic.  Cover and cook on Med. 6-8 hours. 

Shred.

Serve on tortillas and top with your choice of toppings, cilantro, feta or cotija cheese, chopped tomatoes, etc.

It got great review from the picky husband and the family I took dinner to...

On another tragic note.  Pepper the hamster passed away.  I discovered it this morning...  Mike "took care" of things before Kellie even got up.  She wanted us to get him back out of the dumpster so she could have a "funeral, light candles, say a few words...." 
That didn't happen. 
I have been surprisingly sad about the rodent death....
You see every morning during the school year when I go to wake Kellie up, I would open his cage, he would come running, let me pet him and then I'd give him a little hamster treat.
Katie has decided that since summer started and I had not been doing that as often, that he must have died from sadness...
Thanks for the guilt Katie.
I haven't heard yet if a new hamster is in my weekend plan....

Friends with hats

When we went to Dallas a couple of months ago Katie had to have this hat.  She had a vision of pictures in the hat.  I couldn't say no to it because I had the vision of these pictures, I just hadn't planned hats...

I had vision of the bike and this field, the hats were a good touch.  I am planning on a picture of the girls and I like this for Father's day for Mike...I'm just waiting on Jennifer to come take it.  She needs some bike pic's too...

they brought the best guy friend as well...

Love this one...

 

Take time to frolic with your friends this summer!