Aaron's new favorite

I made some Soft Oatmeal Cookies the other day for the kids after school snack. They each ate a few and were done with them. I put them in a Ziploc bag and set them on the counter. Aaron worked late that night we were all asleep when he came home. Then next morning he was eating one with his yogurt. He said, "why didn't you tell me these cookies were so good? In the bag they looked all hard and crusty, but they are deceiving!" Out of 4 dozen cookies there are only 3 left. I think I need to hide them from myself so he can have some before bed tonight.

here's the recipe.

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup butter softened (2 cubes)

1 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 large vanilla pudding

3 cups oatmeal

1 cup chocolate chips (optional)

Heat oven to 350. Beat together butter and sugars until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add vanilla pudding, flour, cinnamon, soda, and salt. Then stir in oatmeal and chocolate chips. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

I didn't put in any chocolate chips (not my favorite kind of cookie). So just plain chewy oatmeal for mine, they really were so yummy!

Isaac's Big Win

Here are the promised pictures of Isaac's Awards Ceremony

(yes, he's in shorts and a t-shirt. He won't wear pants or long sleeves unless physically playing in the snow. What kind of mother does he have?)

I also found this great desk and chair at an estate sale last week. I'm not a garage/estate sale shopper, but this happened to be up the street so I thought I would see if they had any bargains. So this desk/chair combo was priced at $250...not a bargain. I walked away. The next day I saw a sign saying everything was 1/2 off. So I went back...$125. I offered them $100. Now Isaac has a place for all his medals, trophies, fish tank, and other very "important stuff". Not to mention a great place for him to do his homework. No excuses now!

Quilting BUG

I've got it. I started that quilt a few days ago and I just finished. I love it! It's bright and spring-like and it was so fun to machine quilt on my very own machine.

Look close...can you see all the stippling?

Proud Mama

Friday was the Awards Ceremony at school for Caite and Isaac. I dragged the 3 little ones (Halle, Aiden, and Madden) to the school at 8:45 to watch Caite receive an abundance of awards. She received certificates for: A Honor Roll (getting all a's), citizenship, and perfect attendance. Then her teacher handed out special awards for the highest scores Spelling, Math, Writing, and Reading. She received the Reading award and Writing award. I think she (and her mama) had perm-a-smile. I her thirst for learning.

Morgan (the BFF) and Caite with all their awards.

Isaac's Award Ceremony was an hour later. By the time we were done with Caite's, all three kids were crying and trying to run around the school. So reluctantly, I packed them up and missed Isaac's big day. But he received: A-B Honor Roll, perfect attendance, citizenship, and a special Science award for having the highest Science grade. I got a call from our friend Laura Beth telling me that Isaac won an aquarium. What?? Apparently all the 4th grade teachers put the names of their kid with the highest science grade in a drawing. The winner went home with an aquarium. LUCKY ISAAC WINS AGAIN! I will post pictures as soon as I get them from Laura Beth.

They don't have the awards ceremony for Hayden in Kindergarten. But just to brag about him a bit, he's in the highest reading group in his class, he had perfect attendance, and his teacher tells me he's the sweetest, kindest, smiliest kid ever. We are proud of him also.

Quilting

Earlier in the month I was invited to join a Virtual Quilting Bee called 12Squared. There are 12 of us and each month we make one square for the designated recipient. So when I am the recipient I will make one block and receive 11 others. I will post the pattern or tutorial on the 12Squared blog so the others will know what type of block I want. SOOOO FUN!

This month is Liz's month. She wanted to do a classic pinwheel design. So we all got to work. The first one I did in blues, but didn't really like the fabric. So I made a second one in green. Love the fabric, but I love the contrast of the blues. She got both. She can choose which one to put in. You will have to go to the blog to see my blocks. I didn't take pictures before I gave them away.

My month is March. In searching for ideas of what type of blocks I want, I came across this pattern at Moda Bake Shop. I thought it was really fun. I pulled together a bunch of fabric I had just bought and went to work. I still have another 3 blocks to hook on, but I ran out of white fabric. So the top will have to wait until this weekend to get finished.

I also found the pattern I want to use for my month, but that will be a surprise.

Things I've learned about piecing together quilts (with my limited experience)
*quilting is expensive (until I get enough good scraps saved up)
*I have to be more exact. I'm not a perfectionist, but I'm going to have to learn to be if I keep this up.
*Ironing down all the seams is A LOT of work, (is it really that necessary?)
*Sewing is fun and relaxing to me.
*I love creating things.

A Rare Occasion

We only get snow here in Maumelle a few times a year. So yesterday afternoon when it started the kids were thrilled! They started planning their "snow day" before snow had even accumulated. They have learned that if there are any type of snow flurries in the sky or even the possibility of having them, then school will be cancelled and everything will be shut down. Being from Utah, Colorado, and having lived in Michigan, we chuckled at the snow paranoia. But after being here for a few years we understand the lack of removal equipment and snow driving experience. So here's to snow days with only 4 inches of snow...a lot of snow for these parts!

Isaac heading out for the day. We will probably not see him until sun down. That's the way he rolls. The Schiederer's front yard makes the perfect sledding-tubing- rolling hill.
Halle loved getting in on the action!

While the girls sledded the boys just played and played.

Hayden stared asking to make snow angles yesterday before there was even a skiff of snow.

He was thrilled this morning to finally get out and make one.

Because it doesn't snow that much, we don't own a real snow shovel. While the kids were playing I decided to shovel the drive way using a kid shovel. It took forever and my back hurt from bending over so far, but it worked and the driveway is clear. Look at those snow banks. You may laugh, but I'm telling ya, it's a lot of snow for here!
the trusty shovel standing about 3.5 feet tall.

Jesus Wants Me for a Sunbeam...

...to shine for Him each day. In every way try to please Him. At home, at school, at play.

A new year brings a new Church class for Halle. She is no longer in the nursery, but in Primary with the BIG kids. The transition was rough on her. I heard "HOLD ME. HOLD ME, the entire time I tried to conduct. So I ended up with her on my hip while I did my job. When it was time to go to her class with her new teachers, all was well, she went right in. Thank goodness. So here's our BIG SUNBEAM!
and here's another Sunbeam I came across the other day. Can you see the resemblance? Yep, I thinks she's my child.

(Amy age 4)