How do they do it?

I’m not sure how it all works scientifically, but these 5 ingredients all come together into some seriously tasty cookies.  And super easy too!  I saw these on this blog this morning and made a mental note to try them sometime.  Then I heard that a friend was sick and I decided to make some soup for her.  I always feel like when I bring dinner I should bring dessert and voila – it was like a message from heaven or something.  I was meant to make these cookies today.  You probably are too. 

5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

by Leslie Sarna

• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ cup milk chocolate chips
  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix all ingredients except chocolate chips. When blended, mix in the chocolate chips. Using your fingers, form 1 1/2 inch balls (dough will be very wet and sticky- I used my 2 tsp. cookie scoop) and place onto an un-greased parchment lined cookie sheet. You don't want to make them too big because they do spread. Bake for 8-9 minutes. Let the cookies sit on the cookies sheet for about 30 seconds to 1 minute before letting cool on a wire rack. Makes around 2 dozen small cookies

Nauvoo

We braved the July heat and headed back down to Nauvoo for a little family time with Mike’s family this last month.  We rented a big house (with a big air conditioner), which was perfect for all of us.   We were right on the river – we had an amazing view: Since we have already been to Nauvoo we didn’t feel a lot of pressure to go out in the heat to see everything, which was nice.  We went to the pageant and played some of the games before it started.  Carter and Samantha won the tug of war (although I’m pretty sure it was with a little assistance from the ref). I somehow got suckered into pulling them around in the cart.  It’s always something with these kids – “I want to ride in the stroller!”  “I want to ride in the handcart!”  They wouldn’t have made very good pioneers. We also hit up the temple, but mostly, we just hung out in the cold cold house (thanks Jim!) and visited with family.  The kids had a blast with their cousins (other than the incident where Carter and Samantha snuck into their room and rifled through all of their belongings – luckily they are forgiving). 

Have you tried to get 10 kids to look at the camera and look happy?  I think they were happy.  Except maybe the babies.  It was naptime. On the way out of town, we caught a quick oxen ride.  We came close to having an awesome adventure when one of the oxen was bitten by the biggest horsefly I have ever seen.  But those cute old missionaries know what they are doing and kept everything under control.   If you are thinking about going to Nauvoo, I would recommend not going in July. Or any other summer month for that matter.  It is insanely hot and humid.  Seriously.  The pageant is nice, but it has to be on YouTube somewhere.  Go in the winter.  You will probably miss out on the shaved ice stand next to Duck’s Market (my own personal highlight), but I think it’s worth the sacrifice. 

Because you only have 2 hands.

And it’s so much easier to carry things in your mouth!  Ben has taken to crawling around with one of these stacking cups in his mouth.  The best part is that he knows he is being funny.    

Down by the Bay

Ok, it was down by the lake. Whatever.  Down by the bay sounds better.

Mike and I rarely go downtown.  I hate driving down there and Mike just hates leaving the house with 3 kids.  However, I can usually lure him out with promises of cheap, yummy food.  So I bought some coupons off Groupon.com for The Philly Way – this place is supposed to have amazing Phillies.  We thought they were just ok, but it got us downtown so we thought we would take a little stroll down the lake front.   And since I am still working on my photography skills, I documented it all for your viewing pleasure.  Or you can just skip to the next post.  It’s your call. 

Just showing some love:   Everyone knows that Milwaukee is famous for the cracks in the roads and sidewalks, but in the grass too? For some reason, the kids think that clover and dandelions are my all-time favorite flowers.  I’ll take them for now, but once they get jobs, I’m expecting more.  And well, sometimes this happens.  We’re not sure why, it just happens.  A lot.And we’re ok again.  I think this picture pretty much sums up Ben’s feelings about life lately - “seriously?” And there we go again…And we’re good again. I know I’m biased, but dang, he’s cute.  Come on over to the Brew City and you too can enjoy a walk down the lake front.  I make no guarantees on the number of meltdowns or cracks witnessed. 

Just because I can

Make up posts about nothing but my kids, that is.   We went to the park a while back and I got some cute shots. 

This is Ben’s signature face.  All my kids have had one.  Carter would open his eyes really wide and flex his neck.  Samantha’s was more of a dirty look, because that’s just the kind of baby she was.  Ben crinkles up his nose and breathes really fast and hard through it.  He has the greatest laugh, and I love how easily it comes.  He is such a happy baby! I love this girl’s blue eyes.  She got them from her Grandma Jayme and I can’t get enough of them. I don’t know what it is about this kid, but he has a really hard time just smiling naturally for the camera.  Such a spaz.  A cute spaz though. 

Farm Day – Take 2

Since the kids loved the petting farm sooo much, when our ward had a playgroup at a local farm, we packed up a picnic and headed on over. Sammy played nice for the camera, but here you see how it really went: Carter is talking to the lamb, and Samantha is wondering how she got stuck with a dirty lamb on her lap. I just had to post this as a reminder to myself that occasionally they do get along really well. Don’t they just look good on a tractor? I know Samantha is just wondering where the convertible is.

Getting Closer…

To my dream of being a cattle rancher in Montana.  Ok, make that owning a cattle ranch.  I’m not sure how much of the ranching I actually want to do.  Anyways, right before school got out for the summer we got to join Carter and his class on their field trip to the petting farm.  It was pretty great.  For the kids at least.  They didn’t let me ride the ponies. 

   Now was Samantha smiling because of the pony ride? Or was it the cute boy that she was making eyes at?  Seriously?  It starts already? Carter was constantly reassuring his pony.  I don’t think he even noticed the cute girl.  That’s my boy.  Holding a chicken is pretty great… But it’s even better when you cornered and caught the chicken yourself!  I love the absolute look of pride on his face.  This is Carter’s BFF from the bus, Keesa.  She reminds me a lot of Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter.  This was the one picture that she wasn’t doing a strange dance in.  Samantha had fun, but was less than impressed by the hands-on aspect.  I don’t think she would share my ranching dreams.   The nice lady coerced her into milking the cow with lots of help.  Carter on the other hand, got right in there and showed that cow who was boss.  He’s totally going to be my right-hand ranch man. 

What happened?

My babies are growing up so fast!  I love seeing them grow and learn, but at the same time I kind of just want to keep them little forever. 

This little boy:   Is now in all day kindergarten and packs a lunch. 

This little girl: Went to school for the first time yesterday.  And climbed on the bus this morning without a second thought.  And this little one?   Well he stood up today by himself and was pretty dang proud of himself.  Before I know it they will all be leaving for college and I will have no one to get excited about glorious morning muffins and movie nights anymore.  And I’m totally tearing up as I write this.  I need another baby.  Just one more, I promise.