D is for Dad

I swear the alphabetical orderliness of these blog titles is not on purpose - it really just happened this way by coincidence!

Last night Morgan came home with a book from school in her homework folder - "D is for Dad". We sat on the couch and she proceeded to read the entire book!

I had to share and memorialize her first "whole book". She did need some assistance sounding out a few words - sleeping and shopping for example, but she got most of them herself and was able to read through without any help the second time. 

It is simply amazing how much she is learning in this small time period! 

C is for Christmas and COOKIES!

So... I thought as an early Christmas gift I would give to you one of our favorite cookie recipes... These cookies - well, these cookies are just down right amazingly good - every time, without fail!

I am torn between when they are best, right after cooking or the next day (both have their benefits).  I often make a half batch because the full recipe makes quite a few. Anyhow - on to the cookies:

3/4 C Butter 
1/2 C Peanut Butter (I just kind of eyeball - because, a little extra can never hurt)
1 C Sugar
1/2 C Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

1 tsp Vanilla

1 t Baking Powder
1/2 t Baking Soda
1 1/4 C Flour
2 C Oats

Chocolate Chips (however many / little you like - I use about half a bag of semi-sweet)
M&Ms (same here - I use about 1 individual pkg of m&ms)

Cream together sugars and butters. Add eggs and Vanilla. Beat. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix.

I tend to mix the oats in first and then the rest of the dry - no particular reason.

Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes.

And there you have it - super amazingly good ultra-yummy (current favorite in our home) cookies.

Happy Baking and Merry Holidays!!

Frosty the Snowkin

Meet our new friend Frosty....

It seems to be our new tradition to repurpose something from a past holiday for Christmas. Last year our wreath, this year take three favorite halloween pumpkins, a little paint and 

Ta Da...

Frosty the Snowkin!

SNOW!!!!

Tons and tons of snow!!!!  We woke up this morning to at least a half foot of snow and thus Morgan's first cancelled school snow day was born. We made the journey to grandma's house so that I could still go to work but after that drive it was clear I was not going to make it easily into the office - so I threw in the towel / called out uncle / admitted defeat and chose to stay home rather than make the trek.

Morgan spent most of her morning in the snow - trading off between making snow angels and hiking in the snow to giving her new skis a try. (she was given ski boots and skis and has been very eager to try them on snow). I took her out to the driveway and she practiced waking and turning in her skis and was also able to go down a small hill.  She LOVES her skis and was quite proud of herself and her first try - as was I!

The driving may be terrible, but the snow day was anything but. :-)

The Thrifty Side of Rich

Our conversation that took place last night around bath time... began after a conversation about smooth away pads (yes, product advertising works again and she thinks these are the definite answer to body hair issues).  Anyhow.... 

M: Mama, when I'm older I'm gonna be rich and then I'll buy you stuff - k?

Me: ok... 

M: What would you like me to buy you?

Me: ummmm... how about a car (a really nice car).

M: hmmm - They are too expensive, pick something else.

Me: (really having to think about it) ok, how about a vacation? 

M: How much is a vacation? 

Me: like $2,000.00 

M: EYES BIG!  - How much?? 

Me: $2,000.00 (and that's being thrifty kid - ha ha)

M: No, that's too much mama - how about a vacation to California - how much would that be?

Me: I guess around $200.00.

M: Ok - you can have a vacation to California and I'll drive you there in my car. 

Well, I guess our lessons in being thrifty are working!!  Here's me signing off from the passenger side of my daughter's nice car - ha ha ha!

Thanksgiving....

Thanksgiving weekend leaves us first and foremost amazingly thankful for FOUR DAYS OFF!!! There is nothing better than many days off in a row - although they always seem to go by way too quickly. 

This is the first year Morgan was not with me for Thanksgiving day and it was tough - it's always hard to be in the spirit 100% when she's missing from a holiday... Luckily she was back the very next day. We packed in the car and headed up the hill to go to great grandmas house - however, the weather and a car accident or accident(s) had other plans for us. About 5 miles away from Truckee we ended up at a dead stop - I think we moved about 100 feet in a total of a hour and a half.  She was such a good girl the entire time - she sat patiently in the car, watching a movie (yes, we were stopped long enough for her to watch a WHOLE movie), drawing, etc... 

By the time we were able to start moving the storm that was promised on the weather forecast had arrived and it seemed the savvier decision to turn back toward home. She was disappointed to not be going (and even asked if we could try again when we got home because the weather looked better).  Instead we dug into Thanksgiving leftovers, played Candyland, and watched Up - all while she was wrapped in her snuggie that Grandma surprised her with that afternoon. 

The rest of the weekend shared the same relaxed spirit - she helped Grandma decorate on Saturday, we went to see Planet 51, and managed to reap the benefit of Thanksgiving weekend shopping specials. Our trip to the movie theatre also allowed her a photo opp. with the Chipmunks cardboard cut outs. :-) I did not have my camera - but she reminded me that my phone had a camera too!

Today gave us time for some much needed home and room organization - pajamas served as our outfits. We have not had a pajama day in soooooo long - it was definitely overdue.  And now... back to work and school and of course, preparation for Christmas - only 26 days left!

 

(as a side note - California Highway Patrol could really really really improve their "customer service" and perhaps let people know why they are going no where for hours and when they might be able to move off a mountain side....  I'm not bitter or anything - ha ha ha)

School Pictures Are In!

Kindergarten (Fall 2009) School and Class Pictures