01.04.09
Posted in food at 4:46 pm by Valerie
3/4 c brown sugar 3/4 c. white sugar
8 Tbs. margarine 1/2 c. shortening
2 tsp. vanilla 1 egg
1 tsp. salt 1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
3 c. rolled oats 1 c. flour
1 c. raisins 1 c. chopped walnuts (optional, but yummy)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cream first 4 ingredients well. Add egg and vanilla. Beat well. In separate bowl, stir together all remaining dry ingredients. Add to creamed mixture slowly, mixing at lowest speed. Mixture will be dense. Roll into balls the size of walnuts. Bake 8-10 minutes. Let cool on pan 1 minute before removing.
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01.03.09
Posted in life at 4:56 pm by Valerie
The holidays are past, with both sets of parents visiting and showering us with love. Brian’s parents came sans their old pup, Rusty, which meant we were free to go enjoy a trip into Indy for the kids’ upcoming birthdays. We had a great time at the children’s museum and the kids still talk about the things they got to see and do there. Thanks guys!
Believe it or not, Toby will be 4 and Ellie 3. Yikes! I’m thinking we’ll do a joint party either tomorrow or Monday night.
We rang in the new year with all three children puking….
Other thoughts:
- I am anxiously awaiting the email that will tell me the third book in the Twilight series is waiting for me…This is the first time in YEARS I have been desperate for a book to arrive. Yes, count me among the many teens who have felt this way.
- I need to lose about 30 pounds. Enough said.
- I found ‘the’ oatmeal cookie recipe over the Christmas baking season. (see item #2)
- We repainted 6 of the rooms in our house and I’m diggin’ the final results. My mom was right that the kitchen alone seems warmer with it’s new blue hue. (Too much Seuss?)
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Posted in general at 4:42 pm by Valerie
Anyone else read this and have a comment? I’m not too far into it yet.
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Posted in life at 4:40 pm by Valerie
Quentins by Maeve Binchy
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
I Heard that Song Before by Mary Higgins Clark
Edward’s Eyes by Patricia Maclachlan
Messenger by Lois Lowery
The Invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures by Brian Selznick
The Perfect Man: A Novel by Naeem Murr
Mary Modern by Camille DeAngelis
Strangers by Dean Koontz
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini *
How to Meet Cute Boys: a novel by Deanna Kizis
The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks
Ship Fever: stories by Andrea Barrett
The Stand by Stephen King
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel
The Valley of Horses by Jean Auel
The Mammoth Hunters by Jean Auel
The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by Betty Birney
The Name of this Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
Leaving Whiskey Bend by Dorothy Garlock
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
Listening for Lions by Gloria Whelan
New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
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12.14.08
Posted in children at 4:35 pm by Valerie
This morning, after one child had to be called and reminded that it was this morning, we had our annual children’s Christmas play at church. It was short, but enough for my bunch of kids. I was pleased with their overall performance (which included both of my boys). I realized afterward that part of being in charge of it means I can’t stare at my own child, snapping 47 pictures of him singing Away in a Manger. I suppose I could have delegated the photography to someone else, but of the things I had to get done this morning, it wasn’t on my mind. Maybe someone else will send me one of the boys in costume, mumbling the verses to Angels We Have Heard on High.
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11.08.08
Posted in children, life at 2:24 pm by Valerie
I know that I have been remiss in posting updates here. So many things have been going on…visits from family and friends, my sister got engaged!, and a great many church things fill our weeks.
But, somehow, the kids managed to walk around uptown on Halloween as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo (or, once he got a beaded necklace as a prize uptown, a 1963 hippie) and a fairy princess.
We’ve been doing kindergarten at home this year with Caleb–and between appointments, visits, my working outside the home 2 days a week and the scheduled activities of church it’s been tough. I see why working families must be so scheduled about it. Caleb is great about most of it, though we’ve broken into a few tears when things get difficult. Perhaps it his need to do things right the first time.
We’re doing well. I love this season for baking and crockpot soups. Warm bread, warm blankets and long walks without too much sweat.
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10.20.08
Posted in thoughts at 4:24 pm by Valerie
i like boys with strong convictions
always seriously joking
and rambunctiously soft-spoken
-kimya dawson
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10.19.08
Posted in children at 2:06 pm by Valerie
Ellie said: "The baby has a coat blanket."
We would have called it a sweater vest.
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10.07.08
Posted in humor at 6:55 pm by Valerie
1960.
Not too shabby.
Or, maybe 1970 is better. especially for Brian.
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09.27.08
Posted in food at 4:57 pm by Valerie
I just ran across a new word on another blog: food porn.
Here’s an example:
Any thoughts?
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