Cookie Recipes

I have been told that I am one of the few people my friends know that still make cookies for Christmas. It is fun to make cookies with my children and it is a learning experience for them. So here are some of the recipes I used to make cookies this year:

Cowboy Cookies (I got this one at a cookie exchange for the Girl Scout leaders)

Beat 1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup Crisco
Add 2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups oatmeal
small pack of chocolate chips

Spoonfuls onto cookie sheet
Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes (maybe less)

Chocolate Chip Cookies (I have had this recipe for so long I don't even know where it came from any longer)

1 cup butter, melted 1 tsp baking soda
3/4 cup brown sugar 2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar 6 oz chocolate chips
2 eggs 1 cup nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt

Beat melted butter until homogenized. Add brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla and blend well. Add salt, baking soda, flour and mix well until blended. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Drop dough by teaspoon full onto cookie sheet lined with brown paper. Bake in 350 degrees oven for approximately 9 minutes.


Sugar Cookies (I got this one from my mom)

3 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup shortening
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs

Sift dry ingredients together. Add shortening. Mix with a fork. Add unbeaten eggs and vanilla. Roll out very thin on floured board and cut with cookie cutters. Decorate tops if desired with colored sugar or nonpareils. Bake in a moderate oven of 375 degrees F for 8 minutes. May ice with colored icing, if desired.

No Bake Cookies (I got this from my friend Nancy Morgan)
1/4 stick butter (2 Tbsp)
2 cup sugar (1 cup white and 1 cup brown)
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup milk (I use Soy milk)
Bring the above ingredients to a boil, stirring constantly, turn off and let cool one minute, then remove from heat. Add 1 cup Peanut Butter and 2 1/2 cups oatmeal. Drop by spoonfuls onto wax paper and let cool. Add oatmeal to the heated ingredients first and then the peanut butter.

Neiman Marcus Cookies (I got this from an email. My mother made them for my wedding reception and I made changes that I liked. The changes will be in italics.)

2 cups butter
4 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups sugar
2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp salt
4 eggs
5 cups blended oatmeal - I don't blend it
3 cups chopped nuts (optional)
24 oz chocolate chips
1 8 oz Hershey bar - grated
(I use a mixture of Dark Chocolate Chips, White Chocolate Chips, Butterscotch chips, Milk Chocolate chips, and peanut butter chips in place of the grated Hershey bar and the straight chocolate chips)

Measure oatmeal and blend in a blender until it is a fine powder. Cream the butter and sugars. Add eggs and vanilla. Mix together flour, oatmeal, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Add this to the wet mixture slowly. Add chocolate chips and Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place two inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes on 375 degrees F. This recipe can be halved.

Peanut Butter Cookies (This is another recipe I got from my mom)
1 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
dash of salt

Mix together 3 cups flour, 2 tsp baking soda and salt and set aside. Thoroughly mix first four ingredients. Add eggs and mix thoroughly. Stir in peanut butter. Add remaining ingredients a little at a time. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for about 10 minutes.

I also make Buckeyes (those are the peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate) and brownies for Christmas. Then I give these to people as an additional part of their present. These cookies do not take a lot of time, but they mean a lot to the people who get them.

Enjoy.

Photo updates

My in-laws, husband and children. The whole clan, minus one (my youngest sister-in-law)
My brother-in-law. It looks like he is trying to take a photo, but he is actually looking at photos of his daugher. This is his first year without her. His ex-wife had her for this Christmas, he is supposed to have her next year.
My nephew loves his cousins (my girls). He plays with them nonstop when they get together. When I was their age, my older male cousins would hide from us and refuse to be around us.
My youngest sister, and her dog with my girls. My daughters love their aunts, uncles, cousins, but it seems like they never get to see them.
This is the hat that I finished for my neice. She likes the color purple and I really like this pattern. It is from Wendy Knits book. It is a very simple hat and fits my daughter's head perfectly and since my neice is only 6 weeks older than my daughter, it should fit her well also.
This is the photo of my girls with Santa. The girls couldn't wait to get at him and my youngest even sat on his lap this year. Last year, she wouldn't even get close.

Santa, Christmas and Family

It has been a busy 4 days. Let me say, Happy Birthday, Margaret. My friend, who is also like a sister to me has her birthday today.

Now onto business. My DH and I took our DDs to see Santa. We put a wreath on my husband's family plot at the cemetary and then went to another cemetary to find my family's stones and make sure they were okay.

On Thursday, I made 4 batches of cookies: Peanut Butter, Cowboy, Chocolate Chip, and Oatmeal. These were added to the presents to share. My brother-in-law's were opened by everyone else and eaten before he even had a chance at them. Poor guy. He is really sweet.

On Friday, Christmas day, we went to my mother, my friend (that I call mother) and my mother-in-law. Poor lady thought I was upset with her. Not sure why I would even consider such a thing. When we told her where we were and what we were doing she understood our lateness. But we helped her out as soon as we arrived and supper was served as usual.

My other brother-in-law came into town. It is so good to see him again. He is looking good. He got the chance to visit with his neices and he is going to a football game on Sunday. He should have a good time. We shared photos.

My DDs all got Children's Dictionaries. My middle DD even started using hers to look up words.

I made many dishcloths to be given as gifts. I even gave one to my brother-in-law who is in visiting. He had not received one before and so he was saying that as a blanket it was small. My husband let him know that he would be envied because I have a hard time keeping any for myself since every time I get one finished they fly right out the door.

I also finished my neice's hat. Now I only have to finish her penguin, her blanket, her scarf and her clown. She needs lots of knitted love. We don't get to see her very much and she is so sweet. I may have to teach her how to knit. For now, I will continue to teach the neighbor's children and my children. I am in the process of teaching my youngest DD to tie her own shoes. She accomplished it once, but then stopped.

The girls are so intrigued with their gifts, it was hard to get them to do anything else, yesterday. We should be up for resting today after church. We will have to see what the day brings. Have a happy Christmas season (I was reminded that the season does not end until Three Kings Day) and a good Sunday.

Krohn Conservatory and GingerBread Houses

On Monday, the Preschool classes at the school my DD3 attends made "Ginger Bread Houses." This is a yearly event for the classes and the children have a lot of fun. Today, they had pajama day and ate popcorn and toaster pastries and watched a Christmas movie. The children love this and it starts their holiday off with a lot of fun.

On Sunday, we took the children to the Krohn to see all the beautiful plants that they put together for the people. Just gorgeous. I just love poinsettias, but due to cats and children, I know that I won't have any in my house for some time to come. But I can always go to the Krohn and look at them there. Enjoy.

So much to do, so little time

So much has been happening. My DH and I took our DDs to the Horse and Carriage Parade in Lebanon, Ohio. It was wonderful. So many horses and carriages and people really get into the event. My favorite was the Grinch and Cindy Lou Who and the Rein Horse. It was a great day, but sad also. It seems that there had been a fire in one of the barns, many horses perished as well as two men. Very sad. Pray for the families affected.

Then Saint Nicholas visited our girls. He brought them books (they love to read) and a few cars and a Fur Real Friend baby. DD3 is still carrying hers with her. DD1 sleeps with hers. DD2 takes hers, puts it down and walks away and then we go back to get it.

Sick children have been keeping us busy. We spend a lot of time visiting the doctor, just to get a note. Our school district is so strict on how many days a child can miss, but don't want them when they are ill. My children have been so busy fighting me on getting ready, that they have missed their buses and then I have to drive them to school. The oldest and the middle and youngest all start at the same time and are about 7 miles apart school wise. Makes for an interesting commute.

Basketball practices have started. Each girl is on a team and the younger two will play against each other for one game. It will be a lot of fun to watch them play. My older two practice at Urbancrest Baptist Church and my youngest practices at Praise and Worship. This keeps me busy during the week.

While at DD3's practice, I taught a 4 year old girl how to knit. She loved it so much. I finished the item and then gave it to her mom (she is a neighbor and church member). Her mom had even taken a photo of us working on it together. She said she is going to save it in her memory book.

I have been very busy making gifts, but I still have such a long way to go. My family and friends are a true blessing and I am very glad to have them. I just wish I had more time. I feel like I am constantly busy and no down time.

My Girl Scout Troop worked on a Service Project collecting food for the Lebanon Food Pantry. They didn't collect a lot, but the troop is small and young and the day of the collection was very snowy. So I am not worried. They did the service project and they had a good time.

My DH and I took the girls to the Krohn Conservatory. They have an awesome display for Christmas and the girls were able to see a really wonderful Creche. It had live animals and life size display. They had a good time.

My DD2 is upset that I did not attend her school party, but I explained that her younger sister would have to attend and she said that she didn't want me. My DD1 was a little upset that I had not attended her school party, but I explained to her that her sisters would have had to attend and she said she was glad I hadn't come also. My DD3 had her gingerbread making on Monday. She made a cute house. Then when we were home, she ate all the candies off of it.

Last day of school is today. It is going to a be a long 2 weeks of no school. I will have to come up with some interesting ways to keep the children busy until school starts again. McDonald's will only work for so long. The space is smaller and more confined than it used to be so not as many children can play as before. Going to other places have to be economical.

When I get the photos downloaded I'll put up the photos from the Krohn. Such a lovely place. I will also put up some of the photos from the Gingerbread making. The moms that I am friends with and I just put our cameras out and take photos and then send them to each other. We have a good time.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

St. Nicholas Day and The Horse and Carriage Parade

St. Nicholas day is just around the corner. I am so excited for this day to come. My girls don't really get excited about it, but my oldest girl said she wants to sleep near the fish tank. I asked her why and she says she has to protect it from St. Nick. I said why, she says because he might take it back since they hadn't been very good this year.

Also, Lebanon, Ohio is having their Annual Horse Carriage Parade on Saturday. Keeping fingers crossed that the girls stay healthy. We have yet to see it live.

For those who have little children go to www.northpole.com, your children can write a letter to Santa and play games and read stories and color pages. Very nice set up.

Have a good weekend all.

Wish me luck. I will have 2 extra children in my house tomorrow.

My Daughter, the Comedienne

My middle girl can come up with some one liners that will stop you in your tracks. Back in July, we went to visit family. The area is known for the Amish who live there and certain areas are more aromatic than others. While driving through one of these areas, my husband commented on the smell. My daughter says, "Somebody hit a skunk." We told her that no one had hit a skunk that was the smell of horses. She replies, "Somebody hit a horse?" After we stopped laughing we explained that the horses manure was the cause of the smell.

Another time, she asked us, "Where are we?" When we told her we were in Massillon, she replied with, "It's cold in Massillon." Her sister (my other comedienne) says, "No, that is the air conditioner."

Then recently, while driving to the Art Museum, we were explaining relationships to her again. When I said her Daddy's brother, she quips, "You have a brother?"

Then again, during a temper tantrum, caused by her not getting her way, she says to me, "I want my Daddy and you won't let me have him!" I explained to her once again, her Daddy is at work and that she could have him when he got home.

Then later during the same temper tantrum. I explained that Aladdin would be over when she finally finished eating her supper. She says, "I want to watch Aladdin." Her sister quips, "Eat faster!"

As they get older, I am certain it will be memorable. I have to keep a list of the things they say. They won't believe me when they get older.

Birthdays, Illness, Projects and Christmas

We have been so very busy. We celebrated my youngest daughter's birthday (2 days before mine) and then my birthday, followed by Thanksgiving. During all of this, my children stayed ill or they became ill. This is par for the course. We spent many days traveling down to Kentucky. We went down on Friday (the 20th) to celebrate my daughter's birthday with my family (primarily my parents and brother and one sister and one niece). We went down to the Cincinnati Art Museum for her birthday (the 21st is my brother-in-law's birthday) and she wanted to spend some time at the Museum and my sister-in-law and nephew came with us. They made dragon masks, heard stories about dragons and then we went to a late lunch early supper at Ruby Tuesday's. This has become the thing to do with the girls. They love to celebrate with their aunt and have lunch or supper at Ruby Tuesday's. Then we went over to my mother and father-in-law's house to celebrate with them and my other brother-in-law. We purchased and ice cream cake from Dairy Queen on the way over. The girls just love their grandparents and they love to visit with them. Then Sunday, my oldest daughter started vomiting. So we just stayed home and watched TV, while my husband and younger girls went to a park to play. Then Monday, I started the Thanksgiving cooking. I cooked 2 turkey breasts for Thanksgiving. Monday and Tuesday the girls went to school and were off for the rest of the week. Tuesday, was my birthday and my husband didn't make a cake for me, but he promised to make it up to me. Wednesday, we took girls to the dentist, got more medicine called in for the older two girls since they were still coughing and couldn't get them into the doctor on Wednesday. Then we went back to Kentucky to celebrate my birthday with my family. Thursday (Thanksgiving), we got the house ready for the visit from my in-laws. My mother, father and brother-in-law came to our house for Thanksgiving and we had a nice visit. I really enjoy visiting with them. I have also started working on family trees for my daughters. I am working on it through ancestry.com. I like how it is working out. I think it will be beneficial to get all this information now while my in-laws are around to provide the information on their side. It seems that my mother-in-law can trace her family back to the Revolutionary War. My side is not that far. But I have a tree that my cousin had worked on and when she passed away they wanted a family member to take it with them (my cousin was a Sister of Notre Dame). So I am going to try and put that information as much as possible on the tree and I have been asking other family members to help with information also. We will see what comes of that.

Christmas is coming. I usually have my Christmas cards signed and addressed ready to mail by the end of October. I then mail them a day or two before Thanksgiving so that they arrive at their intended address by Friday or Saturday after Thanksgiving. I even did this after I had my youngest. I had to finish writing them and addressing them after her birth, while in the hospital. I put up my Christmas tree (it is just a light tree) in the living room. My girls are getting so excited for the holidays and I want them to enjoy them. We will start Christmas cookie baking soon. A little here, a little there. They will be included as Christmas gifts. I have finished a few more dish cloths and I am working on my youngest niece's hat. I really need to get that finished for her.

Hope everyone has a good week leading up to St. Nicholas's Day. We will put up stockings on this date and the girls will get gifts from St. Nick. Time to feed the children, wash some bed clothes and clothing and put away laundry from yesterday (it wasn't dry when I fell asleep last night).

Sick Kids and Finished Project

Well, it is official for the third time in 6 weeks, my middle girl is ill again. She will see her doctor and find that very good. My youngest is also, not acting herself and she will be seen also. The middle girl is very unhappy, she does not get to go to school and she is throwing a massive temper tantrum because of this. But if she is sick she should not be exposing anyone else. My youngest, is happy about missing school, because she gets to play with her toys.

I did finish another project. I have a sister, a friend, a sister-in-law and a mother-in-law who like the dish cloths that I have made for them. I finished a plain dishcloth, with varigated colored cotton yarn. It is very simple: Cast on 46 and then knit every row until it is the size you want it to be.

The one that I cast on last night is Cast on 40, Row 1 & 2: Knit 2 rows, Row 3 & 4: Knit 2, *p1, k1 repeat from * until the last two stitches and then knit 2. Repeat these four rows until size you want. This would work well for a scarf.

I'll post photos later. Right now I have to get the girls together to get to doctor.

Have a good day.

The First Weekend of November

On the first weekend of November, we took our girls to see their Grandparents. While we were down in Kentucky, we got together with my friend Elaine and she let the girl's ride a horse and her friend Harland who owned the farm where the horses were kept, let the girls check out the donkeys. My girls had a blast riding a horse, feeding horses, watering horses and brushing them and putting them in their stalls for the night. Then when the bats came out they were jumping for joy. It is so much fun to spend a day like we did.

It is November, Already!!!

It seems that the time has just flown by. I have been so busy. First, we had to make costumes for my children. My youngest daughter is the only one who was allowed to wear a costume to school for her "Halloween Party." My older two daughters were not allowed to wear costumes and it was called a "Harvest Party." But they still want to wear their costumes in some fashion to school. So to get around the rules, we buy real clothes and the accessories get to stay home. For instance, my youngest was a fairy princess. We bought her a fancy party dress (it twirls), wings, a tiara and a wand. She was so happy and she looked adorable. My middle girl decided to be Jack Hanna again. So we shop in the boys clothes to find khaki pants and a khaki shirt, then we go through the toys and find animals that she can carry with her. My oldest wanted to be a witch, so we bought a purple outfit, a matching purple hat, a broom and gave her a cauldron. We didn't go trick-or-treating, we went to a friend's house for a party and they were so excited to be there. They had a blast, my nephew came along, because he wanted to go somewhere and do something for Halloween and we had an activity.

I finally brought the little black cat in from the outside. Halloween is a dangerous time for cats, especially black colored cats. She was very uncertain her first days in the house, and we would take her out to the garage whenever we would leave. We were keeping her away from the boys (the indoor cats) until she was examined by the vet and determined to be healthy. She is now officially in the house forever and for good and the vet we choose to treat her is so truly awesome. She did really well. I was worried because of all the times I had been clawed when husband and children got too close to me when I was carrying her. Every day she and the boys work out their differences, but it is getting better.

I have my Christmas cards written, addressed, photo inserted and ready to mail. That is the mess that she was standing in. I have some Christmas presents finished and ready to be given (sorry no hints given on this gift until after Christmas). I finished 2 prayer shawls (the Debbie Macomber website Triangular Prayer Shawl). I am excited about that! I have 3 more on needles, one is almost finished and the other two are just on needles. I have a hat on needles (I really need to finish that), a dish cloth that is almost finished, a rug (I only use the leftovers from the dishcloths, so that is going slowly).

So many, many birthdays!!!! First belated birthdays: my husband, my uncle Bob, my friend Marilyn, my friend Elaine, my friend's son: Phillip (he is 19!!!), my adopted "mom" Peggy, my dad and my cousin, Denise. For those that are coming: my brother-in-law Tim, my youngest daughter (she is going to be 5!!!), my cousin's daughter (same day as my daughter-17 hours apart), my other cousin's daughter (same day as me), my birthday, my friend Judy, and my uncle Bill. Happy Anniversary to my cousin Kathy and her husband Bob, my friend's mom and dad: Keith and Angela. To all those that I have forgotten to mention, I hopefully, did not forget to call you.

We are going to be so busy next weekend, celebrating my youngest daughter's birthday.

Christmas is coming and I have so many more gifts to make and so little time. Hopefully, this time of constant activity will quit so I can finish the presents. It has been so stressful. I need to get more birthday cards so I can get them out to those I haven't yet.

For those, who get Christmas cards from us, we are on track to have them delivered to you by the Day after Thanksgiving, just like always. Roll your eyes, grit your teeth and be prepared.

Next up, to what has taken some of my time: I am a Girl Scout leader for my older daughters Daisy Troop. They are so excited. My middle girl wants constant love and attention at the meetings and I have to keep reminding her that while I am her mom, at the meetings I am the leader and she cannot keep coming to me for kisses. My youngest comes to the meetings and tells everyone that she is a Daisy Girl Scout too. Hopefully, soon I will have their uniforms in time for the Lebanon Horse and Carriage parade on Dec 5th. They are so excited about everything they are doing and I am glad that they are enjoying this.

Have a great November.

Furnace Wars

Sometime ago, I read Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's writings. I don't remember if it was from her blog or one of her books. She told about how her family engages in the battle to see who can hold off turning on their furnace to keep the house warm. I have always turned on my furnace once in October to make sure that it is operational, so that when it gets really cold, it is working. I then refuse to turn it on until it is 60 degrees F in the house, then it is set for 65 to 67 degrees F. Then our true battle begins, because I will try to keep it at 65 and my husband tries to get it up to 68 or 70. Her battle is to be the last in her family to turn their furnace on.

Today, I walked in from dropping my DD#3 at school and it was cold inside too! It was 62! I finally broke down and turned on the furnace. Now begins the battle at keeping it at 65. I really wanted to get to November before turning the furnace on. I like those bills that say $43 or $44 for a month of hot water. Now the bill will go up to $150 or so.

I hope that everyone else is able to keep cool.

I'll write about getting the girls outfitted in coats and boats (they are predicting snow on the weekend)!

So much happening and so much yet to accomplish

It is already October 13! I find this hard to believe. My husband's birthday is coming up and right now I am dealing with a child who has strep throat. I had to beg a doctor for medicine to stop her coughing at night so that she could sleep and the doctor then does a strep test and finds this. Oh well, better now rather than later. I took my girls to Kings Island so that they could get in on some of the Halloween fun. We saw Mr. Cowpie (he is from California, Kentucky and takes care of animals that no one else wants). He is a very funny individual and caters like no ones business to children.

While we were at Kings Island, we ran across our cousins. They have one DD who is 2 months older than my oldest and their youngest DD is 17 hours younger than my youngest DD (I have one between and their youngest is DS). We throughly enjoy the family and try to get together, but we and they are so very busy that sometimes it seems even when we get together we are running different directions.

With October here, the candy hunt begins! I buy the candy and hide it and the children, search the house for it. Also, it is a birthday month. My neice had her fifth birthday. My sisters-in-law went to Maryland to celebrate her birthday with her and father and her mother (my ex-sister-in-law). Also celebrating birthdays this month are my cousins Chris, Shane, and Terri. My husband and cousin are on the same day and his aunt and uncle are celebrating 44 years of marriage. My uncle is celebrating close to Halloween. So to all those celebrating this month: Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary. Hope it is wonderful!

On the cat front: My Houdini has decided that he absolutely hates the backyard cat, Lucky. This is what they are doing to each other: Houdini is the black and white (insde looking out) and Lucky is the black (outside looking in). Lucky has finally decided that I can be trusted. She will let me pet her (my husband has finally been accepted as well for petting) and pick her up. She comes when I call her name (if she under the porch, in the trees or really close by) and she sits on the back porch meowing for me to come out and she has started a campaign to gain entry to the house. Houdini has begun a campaign of terror. He charges the door and makes some horrid noises when the children get to close to him. We have told him numerous times that the only way he loses his happy home is if he hurts a child. He hasn't been listening, but Buster has been.

We took the children on a walk to show them where I had grown up and where their grandparents (my parents) had also grown up. Including a school that is no longer a school, a church that is no longer a church. Somehow that is depressing. But the girls were interested.

Now on to updates about projects: I finished a prayer shawl for one of the teachers. I had planned on finishing this for the teacher for Christmas last year, but due to multiple illnesses, it never happened. I finally finished it!!! I also finished another prayer shawl using some very thick yarn. It turned out very nicely, and colorfully. I have moved onto finishing a hat, a penguin, two clowns, a dishcloth, a rug and an afghan. I have so much to finish and so much more to make. But I am hopeful that I will get a lot finished.


Here are the links for the patterns: http://wicketstitch.net/index_files/Page2158.htm is the link for the butterfly in flight dishcloth. Thanks to (no longer a valid link) RaAnn for such beautiful work. I loved how it turned out and I am looking forward to finishing some more of your patterns. http://www.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=nnp&pageID=196 (no longer a valid link) is the link for the prayer shawl that I have made so much that I really don't need to see the pattern anymore. It is a very simple pattern and is a really nice gift. Now if you go to Debbie Macomber's site you will find a link for her Christmas Sweater for children and a link to a coloring contest for children under 10 years of age. Her grandchildren will act as judges (can't be more fair than that). http://www.debbiemacomber.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=knitting&pageID=2 (no longer a valid link) This is the link for Debbie Macomber and her knitting site. I love this site and I think this is one all knitters should look at, you never know what she'll put up next.

Have a good week. I'll write again soon.

Working at a 5K

My brother-in-law called and requested that I come and help him work a run. He was the starter and the timer. He needed more help. So I brought the girls with me and we helped him with his run. I bring my camera and take some photos for him also. Today's run was to say thanks to the military. They had booths for just about everything. The girls got to play on some blow ups and a play ground.

They had a lot of fun, once they were allowed to do something. My brother-in-law is very uncomfortable with the girls hugging him but he loves them and they love him. They also know him and can find him in a crowd. I can't say the same about my own brother. The girls don't know him and they are a little scared of him. They don't know him and so he is a stranger. I wish we could change this and have both families seen often, but it doesn't happen like that.

Enjoy some of photos from the run today.

Updates

So much has been happening. I finished so many things. I finished a dishcloth. The pattern is from RaAnn Clagg (I'll post a link later). It has a butterfly in flight on it. I think it turned out very nicely. Then I finished a prayer shawl for my middle girl's teacher. Her teacher is pregnant and having complications, so I worked very quickly to finish it. This pattern is from a Debbie Macomber book and is also available on her site. Then I woke up Wednesday morning at 4 a.m. to finish my youngest neice's afghan. I think it turned out quite nice (again I am prejuidiced). This is just simply a granny square and I kept going until it was the size that I wanted it to be. Perfect for a 5year old girl.

Sunday, my DH and I took the DDs to Sharon Woods (a Hamilton County Park) and let them play and walked them around and looked at the water and I naturally took photos. My DD#2 knows how to make a scene. She sat down and was just looking around and I snapped a really good photo of her. We like to look at water areas, especially water falls. So naturally I took some really (I think) good photos of the water falls.





Our church started something called the walk to Bethlehem in time for Jesus's birth. It is an exercise program where all participants walk a 1 mile or 20 minutes of exercise every day. You keep a record of this and turn it in on Sunday. The children and DH are also participating. We have walked a mile or more every day so far.

We also have been working on the no tv for 1 week. It has been nice in some respects. The children have to entertain themselves and I get to read more. I have also continue to work on a clown (for my neice), a blanket for my sister's boyfriend (they live together so I have put some pink into it), and another dishcloth was started. I am cotinuing to work on the prayer shawls (3 of them). Who knows what will be finished next.

Funny thing: my brother-in-law called my cell phone and asked me to come to his next run and be a timer. He didn't ask my DH (his brother), he asked me....wonder what is up?

Have a good weekend.