A story in pictures... Baking Cookies

Once upon a time, Don and Kevin were having a lazy afternoon after cooking their wives brunch (for Mother's Day). All of a sudden, Don gets an idea.

So, I wonder what would happen if I take this raw cookie dough I'm eating, and cooked it right on the spoon?

Here's the lighter I just used to light the candle... let's find out.

WAIT!!! Let me go get my camera! (that was me!)

This is gonna be fun!

This might actually work!

That's hilarious! It looks like you're freebasing cookie dough (you know, from seeing it in movies)!

Yo, yo, yo, YO!

Hey, Kristin, aren't we funny??? Kristin??? Are you READING??? *crickets chirping*

It's actually cooking, but I think it needs to be flipped over.

Here... I'll use this fork handle to flip it over.

I think it's almost ready.

See it smoking? It's almost cooked through.

I'm going to try it now... I'm ready!

I hope it's good!

Oh. Oh, dude. You totally should have tried this!

That was PERFECT!!!

And the cookie eater lived happily ever after.

THE END.

You say it's your birthday? Well, it's her birthday, too! And hers!

So, today is both my sisters' birthdays! But they're not twins! They are six years apart. And one of them is 30 today! And the other one is either 6 years older, or 6 years younger. And our brother is the only still in his 20's. I'll let you figure that one out! ;)

So, I thought I'd throw a few pictures of my sisters in here. You can go to Elissa's blog here or Christy's blog here to wish them a Happy Birthday! Love you both!

*The sisters a few summers ago*

*At Christy's Master's Degree graduation last year*

*Christy at my cousin's bridal shower with her homemade veil*

*Elissa and Christy*

*Elissa swordfighting with Bub at Christmas... she looks a little scared, doesn't she?*

*Beautiful Elissa*

*Beautiful Christy (and Little Buddy)*

Sentimental Saturdays - Part 1

I've decided to start something new. Because, you know, I'm GREAT at starting stuff... But let's just admit right now that this will soon go the way of the Thankful Thursdays that I no longer do have taken a little break from.

So, my idea is to post some pictures from the past. Because nothing makes me more sentimental than looking at how far things have changed from THEN til NOW. And I'll be honest... I don't own a scanner, so it may be hit-or-miss (well, I guess if we're going to be REALLY honest, we'd all admit that it would be hit-or-miss whether I had a scanner or NOT!).

I'm not sure of the exact date of these, but I think Sis was 3 and Bub was 2, which would put this at 6 years ago. Don got his MBA, and the kids (well, at least Sis) was THRILLED to be in pictures with someone so important! :)

Check out the chubby cheeks. And Bub's blankie (a constant companion!). And Sis's long, long hair. *sniff* And my cute graduate!

What sorts of things make you sentimental?

You say tomato, I say tomahto

Yesterday at lunch, some co-workers and I did an informal, fun personality analysis of ourselves. It was funny to see how different (in writing) we were from each other, and how we had similarities that we never noticed before.

I've talked with friends before about how we can be so different, yet get along so well... For example, a LOT of my friends REALLY love to scrapbook. I'd rather poke my eyes out with a fork, personally. I can't imagine spending an entire day (much less an entire weekend, as some of them love to do) cutting things out and gluing. But I enjoy looking at the final product. Maybe that's a bond we have, then. They like to do... I like to see.

Last weekend when I was shopping with Kristin, we both lay some items on the counter so we could shop a little more. When we returned to the counter, I couldn't help laughing.

Here's Kristin's pile:


And here's mine:


Here they are side-by-side. Note that we are similar enough to buy 2 of the same items for our boys, yet look at the differences.

Do you think you have more SIMILARITIES or more DIFFERENCES than your close friends? How about your family?

Nature Hike

Yesterday, I went on the spring field trip with Bub. We went on a nature-ish field trip, where we went on a hike, "got" to get creatures out of the pond with a net to look at in a microscope, do a craft, and then do some "field day" sort of games.

I, being one who prides myself on taking pictures, FORGOT MY CAMERA. So, all these lovely photos are from my camera on my phone. High quality??? Nope.

Bub is right in front of me... notice how EVERYONE is looking on the ground. We're looking for some kind of critters/leaves/anything that helps us mark stuff off our scavenger hunt list.


Like this lovely creature. I have NO idea what it is... but I know we were told not to touch it or it would sting us... that was enough information for me!

If only Bub's hair wasn't in his eyes, you could see his fascination with whatever they're looking at.

They're looking at some kind of leaves. Or critters. Or something. I was paying SUCH close attention, can't you tell?

Their class photo overlooking the river. Bub is in the front middle (all in rock-and-roll black).

Here's one of the "field day" games they were playing. Bub's class was against the other 2nd grade class with us. They were supposed to sit on each other's laps for as long as possible. THAT didn't last very long! Bub is about the 6th one from the left in the closest classroom line.

So, nature's not really my thing, and I was prepared to be completely bored. But I was pleasantly surprised on how fun the day actually was. And Bub LOVED that I came along. And really... isn't that all that really matters???

Happy Thursday!

I hit the mother-load!

I hope you all had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend! For the first time (probably) EVER, I didn't see my mother on Mother's Day this year because Don, the kids and I were out of town for the weekend with friends. And while I hated to not see MY mom, what a great weekend! It was filled with shopping, food, fun, and lots of laughter. What more could you ask for (except maybe a handbag... and I got that too!!!)?

Some highlights of the weekend:

• Did I already mention shopping? How about sales at an outlet mall?
• Too much coffee too late at night... HYPER!!!
• Watching the kids fish on the dock
• Staying in my pajamas until 2:00 pm on Mother's Day, WHILE the guys fixed us mamas an AWESOME brunch and served it to us on the screened-in porch overlooking the lake
• I don't believe I've mentioned SHOPPING yet. That was fun.
• Getting our friends as addicted to the game Rummikub as Don and I are becoming.
• Hearing about how fun the kids had swimming while the moms went... wait for it... SHOPPING.
• ICE CREAM.
• Don and I climbing in bed with Bub (he climbs in bed with us almost every morning), and waking him up like he usually does us. He loved it!
• Making the kids tell me Happy Mother's Day every time they talked to me. (I'd say "Happy" and they'd have to finish it)
• Oh. And guess what? I went shopping!

Bright Spots and Randomness

So, as you can tell from my last post, I was a mess for a while. Sick, hurt, sad, and mad... all rolled into one fever-blister-covered ball. LOVELY!!!

But now that I'm out of my drug medicine-induced fog, I would like to highlight some bright spots in the last few weeks.

• My family... they were all so sweet taking care of me. The kids, especially, cracked me up, even in my pain. Bub would rub my face (you know, to help my back), and Sis would not let me EVER walk by myself if she was around. She insisted that I keep my arm around her shoulders for support. And Don rocked.
• My family... the extended version, too! Everyone called, texted, emailed, FB-messaged... to make sure I was doing okay.
• Friends... see above.
• My Dad specifically... oh my goodness. That poor man!!! He got to take care of me on my MOST pitiful day, when I was a WRECK! The day I woke up with a high fever, then I had to go get an MRI. He's the one who took me to get my valium, took me to get my MRI, and was patiently waiting in the waiting room. That is, until the tech came and got him because I couldn't stop crying (claustrophobic much?). He literally stuck his head into the machine with me (it was an open MRI... and yes, I was still claustrophobic), and talked to me the entire time, so I wouldn't be scared. I guess the job of a parent is never over!
• The Michael W Smith/Stephen Curtis Chapman concert... my mom, sisters and I had had tickets for our "girls night out" for months, and I didn't let a little thing like a herniated disc stop me (just slow me down a bit). What a great night! You can see a picture from our night here.

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So, I'm doing much better now, so I'm going to quit focusing on "what ails me." But I didn't want to completely move on until I could point out these bright spots.

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Baseball practice started last night for Bub (and for Don, since he's coaching)... I'm so excited!

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I'm addicted to my fruit salad I made of cantaloupe, red grapes, and strawberries. YUM!!!

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We're going out of town for the weekend... and will be REALLY close to an outlet mall. Can't you just FEEL how the Coach Outlet and Mother's Day weekend seem to flow together so well???