Friday, June 24, 2011

Good Friends

Every now and then you make good friends. We're blessed to have some really great ones. Our dear friends Chris and JP have children of similar ages, similar parenting styles, and enjoy spending a low-key weekend hanging out together. Last weekend they hosted our family for outside fun and grilling out. We had a blast! Thanks for a great evening, we love you guys!

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Father's Day

I am beyond grateful for the Father that I have. I am thankful for the Father-in-law I have. I am in awe and wonder of the father my children have. Our house runs smoothly and we have fun all because of Matthew. I am thankful for the playfulness and rough-housing he provides (after a day with only me all day, they welcome this from him). I don't always like playing the "bad cop" but I am so glad that they have a soft place to land in him. The children adore him as do I. Happy Father's Day Love!
Tons!












Wednesday, June 15, 2011

that's the way the cookie crumbles

 I forget. A lot. Dentist appointments, preschool functions, things at the store, most of what Matt tells me, and almost everything I learned in math class. Rarely do I forget recipes I love but this time I did. You see, I have a great recipe from America's Test Kitchen for thick and chewy chocolate chip cookies. They look like this (I use mini chips)...
here is the recipe:
Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Makes about 24 cookies
Ingredients
2 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
12 tbsp/1½ sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 cup packed light brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cup semisweet chocolate chips (just dump the whole bag)

Adjust the oven racks to the upper- and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking soda, and salt together in a medium bowl.In a large bowl, beat the melted butter and sugars together with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth, 1 or 2 minutes. Beat in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down the bowl and beater as needed.

Reduce the mixer speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until combined, about 30 seconds. Mix in the chips until incorporated. Working with 2 tablespoons of dough at a time, roll the dough into balls and lay them on the prepared baking sheets, spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until the edges are set and beginning to brown but the centers are still soft and puffy, 8-10 minutes.

While at Target the other day, I tossed a couple of bags of chocolate chips into my cart (they kept the butter company) and decided to make cookies...and I just used the recipe on the back of the bag. I forgot that I had another recipe I loved. Look what happened! Plain, crispy, dry and disappointing cookies. 

I might still miss the occasional dentist appointment, forget the dates Matt tells me, and fail to wish you a Happy Birthday (I am terrible about forgetting birthdays. I hate that about myself), but I can tell you one thing, I won't be forgetting about my beloved cookie recipe.

an interesting fact about cookies...no matter how good or how bad a recipe and the results are, they all last two days in this house. No matter how "bad" a cookie is, a "bad" cookie still trumps "no" cookie...

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

so many reasons

There are so many reasons that I love the pool. This morning, the kids fought over where to sit, what spoons to use, what cereal to eat, whose day it was the pick the breakfast time show, what dolls to play with, who was allowed to play, someone was hitting someone so someone else pushed them back, etc. As soon as my coffee was finished, I packed a lunch and uttered the magic words that change my children from angry warriors to loving siblings, "let's get your swimsuits on". Those five little words are mood altering. I thickly apply sunscreen (to them mind you), grab our flip flops and towels, and we walk down to the pool. Very rarely is it crowded, we often see friends there, and for three or four magical hours my biggest complaint from them is that I didn't bring enough food (I'm learning that kids eat about three times as much food at the pool as they do at home).  I love that we are away from the television. I love that my kids enjoy each other's company. I love that we are outdoors. I am not going to lie, I like getting a little color on my pale skin. I love that when we get home, we have a snack and a nap. I love how soundly the kids sleep at night. I love that we have no where else to be all summer. Meet us at the pool!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

summer

there is very little that could be better than fresh air, sunshine, cool pool water, friends, and a snack outside...we love summer




Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Growth and Graduation

Caroline graduated from preschool last week (almost two weeks ago really). I cannot believe that this phase of her life is already over. It is terribly bittersweet but I cannot make time stand still. Matt took the day off and we were able to attend the ceremony as a family. I was a little worried at the beginning of the morning because we had left bunny in the car and this was the effect it had on Caroline...
 I dropped her off at her classroom door and went to get seated in the hall where they would proceed in (to the graduation theme song, thank for very much....tears? me?). I was not sure how she would react to all of the people or if she would preform when it was time for the kids to sing and dance. 
she was smiles as they walked in...

 she found us and waved...
 ...and my girl sang and danced! What a year of growth we've had! From crying and clinging every day at drop off to singing and dancing at graduation
 After the ceremony, the teachers had a reception in the classroom for the families. The kids had caps on and recieved their diplomas. It was wonderful, bittersweet morning. 
Kindergarten, ready or not, here we come ("we" meaning "me"...my girl is ready!)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Memorial Day

We had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend...we went to visit both sets of parents. It was great to spend some time with our family, enjoy the fresh air, cook out, and let the kids play. My grandmother's birthday falls over Memorial Day weekend, so we started our weekend off with a girl's day. We had lunch, got a mani-pedi, walked around the downtown shoppes, had coffee and a dessert, and then met up with the guys and kids for dinner...fun!