Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

I discovered these from Melissa at Once a Month Mom and quickly starred them in Google Reader (would have shared but GR went stupid on us and doesn't allow that anymore. Whatevs.). I thought they sounded excellent and different because they weren't the typical crunchy gingerbread cookies, but soft and chewy instead. Yum. When I signed up to bring cookies to Logan's school program last week, I knew immediately that I wanted to try these. Bonus that I only had to buy one ingredient--ground cloves. I had the rest. They are super easy to make and even though it says to chill dough overnight, it doesn't seem to be necessary. The first time I made them I chilled it overnight and they were great. I made them again last night (because I am an awesome sister and made them for my brother to take to his work party) but didn't have time to chill overnight so I just put it in the fridge for about an hour or so and they came out great as well. I will definitely be making these again and I hope to keep some for myself this time.


Chewy Molasses Spice Cookies

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cups butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses (original, not blackstrap)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• additional granulated sugar for rolling cookies

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Add egg and beat well.  Add molasses, mix well.  Combine flour, baking soda, salt and spices; add to creamed mixture and mix well.  Chill dough overnight.  Shape into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar.  Place two inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes or until edges begin to brown.  Allow cookies to cool for two minutes before removing to a wire rack.

Freezing Directions:

Allow to cool completely, then transfer cookies to gallon freezer bags or freezer safe containers.

Servings: 3 dozen cookies

Buddy Breakfast

Buddy the Elf came back to visit, but this year he showed up with Logan's favorite breakfast treats, white donuts and chocolate milk straight from the North Pole.

He made a little mess with the chocolate milk and there was powdered sugar scattered about. When I was cleaning it up, Logan told me not to be mean to Buddy, that it was an accident. I guess I didn't know I was being mean...Buddy also left platters covered in powdered sugar in the kitchen from when he was finding all the Christmas table decor. Logan says he made the donuts here last night--how did we not hear this racket??

Mid-bite he realized where Buddy was. I love that I caught this look!

Silly Buddy!

Donut lips!

After breakfast, we went to his room to get dressed for school and realized Buddy left a gift for him under his tree.

Woohoo! A new hot wheel! Hot off the presses at the North Pole.

Buddy also left a note this year, telling Logan to be kind to others and try not to be greedy, even though it is hard this time of year. We have really been working on that and several of the activities on our Advent calendar have to do with doing something/making something/buying something for others. Hopefully Buddy's note will help him remember as well.

Christmas Pinterest Craft Weekend

Last weekend was our Christmas Pinterest Craft Weekend, we had one back in the fall as well for fall crafts. We went to my aunt's house on the lake in Corsicana. It was great weather for sitting on her screened in porch and eating yummy Pinterest food. We made so many crafts and so much food, it was unreal. It helps when the other girls are way craftier than I am and have a TON of supplies. I am not kidding when I say we could have easily had our own craft store, and we basically did. I would not have been able to make all these things without everyone's creative help and supplies, but it also helped that there were no kids (except one very good baby girl) or husbands to distract us. Here is what I made:

Candy Cane Felt Wreath

 I love felt wreaths. This was originally supposed to be my sister's but she was nice enough to let me make one for myself. This will hang on my front door.

Peppermint Wreath

 This took quite a bit of time and ALOT of peppermints. And hot glue. We learned that you really have to glue them on well or they will keep falling off. I sprayed it multiple times with polyurethane spray so I am hoping it will keep for more than a year. This will hang inside for sure. 

Pocket Advent Calendar

 This took the longest by far, but is soooo worth it. Each pocket was individually embellished and we made tags with different activities for each day of December on the front and Bible verses telling the Christmas story on the back. I can't wait to put it out after Thanksgiving. 

Fruit of the Spirit Painting

When I saw these paintings on Pinterest, I knew I wanted to attempt to make them. I am not an artist and it was a group effort to get started but it was easy after that. I thought they were so cute and very fitting for gifts for Logan's MDO teachers since it's the school's theme for the year. I kept one for myself as well. I am even getting a couple of requests to make them for others.

"Believe" Garland

 This was a quick project, although my sister's turned out cuter but she is also way more crafty than me. I had bought these envelopes to use for my advent calendar but they ended up being too small so we re-purposed them for a garland to hang on the mantle by stringing it with jute.

Peppermint Wreath II

I did not make this one, but luckily got to take it home with me. I like it better than the one I made, but this one was made with the spherical peppermints and Brittaney took a lot of time with it, individually placing each peppermint. It is VERY heavy but SO cute.

 

Everyone's Loot

This is a picture of everything everyone made, although there were some more peppermint wreaths and pumpkin pictures that didn't make it in the shot.

It was such a fun weekend. We had a blast and laughed hard, stayed up late, and ate way too much. Can't wait til our next one, probably in late January or early February.

PT4--10.16.11 {Menu Plan Edition}

I have been majorly slacking in the grocery shopping/menu planning/coupon cutting department lately. Bad SAHM, bad. Today I finally made it through my stack of coupons that have been haunting me since early September and attempted to make a grocery list and menu plan. Most of the meals are from Pinterest (surpise, surprise). I am excited to try some new things and finally make some soups (!!!) since it is supposed to really cool off this week. Yay! I don't like to say what day we'll actually have what meal because some days certain things just don't sound good. I'd rather make a list of things I can make and then pick and choose every day. And I only picked 5 meals because we'll have leftovers a couple of nights.

Source: pearls-handcuffs-happyhour.blogspot.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Crockpot Potato Soup
I love potato soup. I am a little worried since there aren't any potato chunks like I like and only hashbrown potatoes, but it's getting good reviews so I'll give it a shot.

Source: ruhlman.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Cheesy Hamburger Pasta
This looks really yummy as well. I love just plain mac & cheese with hamburger meat, but this looks way better.

Source: foodwishes.blogspot.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Chicken Parmesan Bake
I had regular old OAMM chicken parm on my menu but thought this would be a nice change of pace. And a little less work.

Source: recipe.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Bean-and-Beef Enchilada Casserole
I have had this recipe in my binder forever but never actually made it. It looks good, easy, and relatively cheap.

The last meal is not on Pinterest. I looked and there are versions of White Chicken Chili on there, but not the same. I got this recipe from one of the secretaries at my old school and I love it. It is so freaking good. I can't wait to make it...this one will probably be made Tuesday or Wednesday when the cold weather comes in. Is it sad that we (in Texas) get excited for cold weather when the high is in the upper 60's?? Is that really considered cold? Well, when the lows are in the 40's, I think it counts. Even if that low does happen in the middle of the night.

White Chicken Chili
1 bag Pictsweet Seasoning Blend (in frozen veggie section)
1 rotisserie chicken, pulled off bone and chopped
1 lb. andouille sausage (or smoked sausage), diced
1 can Hatch green enchilada sauce (Wal-Mart has this)
1 can chopped green chiles (hot or mild)
1 can Rotel tomatoes
1 can corn
2 cans cannellini beans
1 1/2 qts. chicken broth

Saute seasoning blend in some olive oil. Put everything else in the soup pot and bring to a boil. Simmer for about an hour.

Okay, so now it is written down. Which means now I actually have to go to the store. Ugh. I do love cooking and baking, it's the shopping and prep work beforehand that I don't enjoy.

Logan's 1st Soccer Game

Logan started his first season of soccer this past weekend and I am SO glad that this league waited until October to start the season. The weather is so much nicer and it finally feels good to be outside.

His team is made up of kids from ages 3-6, so there's a wide range of skills (or lack thereof) out on the field. It really is hilarious to watch the kids run around on the field, both coaches running with them, and the referee blowing the whistle and having to remind the kids to freeze when they hear it. The ball gets kicked out of bounds ALOT so there's a lot of whistle blowing and discussion of who has had a turn to throw the ball back in already. Not many goals were scored and one was scored in the wrong goal (by our team). It really was just a big cluster of kids running around chasing one ball and not really knowing what to do with it when they got it. Logan stayed with the group but was always bringing up the rear, not really in the middle of the group, just kind of running up and down the field, following the cluster of kids and staying out of the action. He did just enough to pass as participating, I think. He looked good on the field, but he just didn't do much. I am sure he will get better as the season goes on. He had a blast and didn't get upset when he didn't get the ball (like he did with t-ball).

And now, here's a ton of pictures (and this is only about half of what I took and my dad took some with his camera as well...can you tell Logan is the only child in my family???).

Getting ready to go to his first game with the Tornadoes!

In line to do some practice kicks

Nice kick!

Standing with some teammates as Coach Amanda talks with the referee.

Getting into the game. He's number 2.

See? He brings up the rear. His other teammates aren't even in the shot, they're so far ahead. Bless his heart, he thinks he's fast. He's like his daddy that way. :-)

Water Break!

Waiting to be called back into the game.

Lining up to high five the other team.

Good game, good game, good game!

Logan's favorite part of any team sport--snack time!

Happy boy!

The Tornadoes (or Radioactive Watermelons per the hideous shirt color) won 2-1, although they really weren't supposed to be keeping score. The other team only have a point because our team scored in their goal on accident. I think I laughed the entire game. Soccer typically isn't entertaining to watch, but it's pretty funny at this age!

Fall Pinterest Craft Weekend

A couple of weekends ago, 5 friends and I got together and had a Fall craft weekend, no kids, no husbands. It was an absolute blast. All of our crafts (and food) came from Pinterest, the most addicting site in the world. Here are the things I made:

Candy Corn Wreath

This took some patience but once I got going, it went much faster than I originally thought it would. I really thought I would be gluing candy corn the entire weekend, but it probably only took about an hour. But just so you know, don't attempt this with anything but hot glue. Tacky craft glue WILL NOT work. Lesson learned. I love it. I also sprayed it with polyurethane gloss spray, so hopefully it will last more than one year.

Pom-Pom Wreath

Whatever time I saved with the candy corn wreath was spent on this dang pom-pom wreath. Five of us were making them so we needed ALOT of pom-poms. We underestimated the amount we would need and I think we went through at least 15 skeins of yarn for all 6 wreaths and I still think mine could use some more in certain spots. We made pom-poms ALL.FREAKING.WEEKEND. It was alot of tedious wrapping and cutting, but we did it while talking or watching TV so it wasn't horrible. I love how it turned out thought and I love that it will work for the entire fall season.

Googly Eye Frames

These were quick and easy. We all made one and I stole my sister's. Right now they are empty in the middle, but I plan on printing out some Halloween words ('Boo', 'Eek', etc.) and putting them in the frames. Of course, my printer is out of commission at this point, but I'll get it done somehow.

Button Pumpkin

Several of us made these as well and they all came out different. This was a bit time-consuming for me, but I am also very perfectionist and I didn't like the same colors touching too much or too much white space. It went much faster for the other girls. Now I need to find a frame to put it in...

I had so much fun at our Fall craft weekend. It was nice to get away from the house, enjoy excellent food and hilarious company, and not have to entertain/take care of a 4-year-old and a husband. I need to get away more often. We already have a Christmas craft weekend planned and a ton of ideas 'pinned.' Now I have to narrow down what I am going to do so I can buy the supplies. I can't wait!

PT5--9.29.11

It's been a while. We've been busy, I'm still fighting a sickness of some sort, and Pinterest has not been cooperating consistently.

Source: petitelefant.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Let me just say OUCH. I don't know how this lady said it was virtually pain-free. Maybe I let mine dry too much? I don't know but I do know that I do not need to get threaded anytime soon. I ended up having to wash a lot of it off because it was just too painful to keep peeling. Next time (if there is a next time), I will just use it on my nose.

Source: budandleo.blogspot.com via Whitney on Pinterest

I would like to try this. My face has been breaking out like crazy lately and I do not know why. I hardly ever get a pimple, much less break out, so this has been ridiculous.

Source: creative-culinary.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Let me just say YUM. Maybe this would help me deal with my breakouts better. :-)

Source: tumblr.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Yep, this just about describes me perfectly.

Source: howdoesshe.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Yes, I know I've already used this on a previous PT5, but I am making it this weekend...I'll post a pic and let you know just how much of a PITA it really is.

Struggling

Today I am struggling. Some days are better than others. Some days I only think about wanting a 2nd child a couple times throughout the day, other days I can't seem to think about anything else...as if everything I read, watch, see, or do causes me to obsess over the huge void I feel in my life. Pretty much everyone I know has more than 1 child, if that's what they wanted, or at least if they only have 1, their child is still much younger than Logan or they're at least expecting. Some people are okay with one child, and that is great for them. I am not one of them. I am sad for Logan that he doesn't have a playmate other than me. I read other people's blogs, facebook updates, etc., and see pictures or cute stories about them playing together and I ache. I ache for Logan to have that connection and I ache to complete my family. I know that I can go back to the doctor and attempt fertility treatments again and *possibly* solve the problem. I know this. Believe me, I have this battle with myself just about every day. To treat or not to treat?

But 5 years ago, I was newly pregnant...a surprise, unexpected pregnancy, but a very much welcome one. One that did not require medication, constant analyzing, or ridiculous fertility treatment expenses. I know more about my body now than I ever knew before, which is not necessarily a good thing. Are my problems new? Or did I have these issues prior to becoming pregnant with Logan and just got lucky? What if I am not meant to get pregnant again? If Logan came about by surprise, then maybe that's just how it's supposed to be. Do I want to tempt fate by medically formulating a pregnancy? Is it necessary or am I just being impatient? Everyone tells me it's His timing, not mine. But how long am I supposed to wait? At this point, even if I do get pregnant relatively soon, Logan will be heading off to Kindergarten and it will be like having an only child again (at least during school hours) and their age difference wouldn't allow to them to be able to really play together for at least a couple years.

I worry about what Logan is missing out on by not having a sibling. I had a brother and a sister, we were each about 2 years apart. I am the middle child. Sure, as kids and teenagers, we didn't love each other, but we were always there for each other. A playmate, a companion, or someone to pick on at least. Someone to play with at the park if there weren't any other kids, someone to make mud pies with in the backyard, or someone to dress up in silly clothes (my brother was a great sport...Heather and I had a blast dressing him in girls' clothes).

So, yes, I desperately want another child, but it's not just for me. I want Logan to have a sibling. I want to at least be pregnant, if not have a newborn, by the time he goes off to Kindergarten next year. So, I guess that's my timeline. I don't know at what point I will go back to the fertility doctor, but I am guessing it will be sooner than later. I don't know how much longer I can stand feeling this way. Sorry for the long post, I just had to get this off my chest. Any advice/suggestions/personal stories are always welcome, as they typically help me remember I am not alone in this journey.

A Day in the Life

I saw this idea over at Baby Rabies and thought it would be fun and also remind me to enjoy the little things. You're supposed to take a picture every hour, not posed or planned, just snap a pic of what you're doing. I think I was supposed to set an alarm to remind me to take a picture at the same time every hour, but I didn't. But I think I did pretty good. Actually I took a lot more than 1 every hour. I like to think I am pretty good about documenting the big things in our life and Logan's milestones, etc., but this challenge made me appreciate our every day life, boring and mundane as it may be. Although today was actually busier than normal, and it wasn't at all planned that way...it happened very last minute when my sister decided to come join us for the day.

Friday, September 16, 2011

8:32 am
Every morning he crawls into my bed and announces "It's sunny outside. Let's go eat bressast." And rubs my "cold arm."

9:29 am
Playing his new Jewel Train game that I downloaded *for free* thanks to a surprise email from Leapfrog. :)

10:49 am
For the first time in forever, it wasn't balls hot outside, so my sister and I took him to Kidzville in Colleyville.

11:24 am
Playing in the sandbox...he came home with sand in every crevice.

12:34 pm
Lunch at Taco Bueno. He was attacking Aunt Hewwer with nacho cheese kisses.

1:12 pm
Headed to Wal-Mart for craft supplies for his Who's Who school project. And stuff for Nutella Puppy Chow.

3:00 pm
Finally back home after stalking the people who were looking at our house. It's on the market, so it's legit...just getting annoying when we have to stay out of the house.

3:54 pm
Nutella puppy chow time...along with some Magic School Bus

5:09 pm
Hiding under the blanket with Aunt Hewwer. There was lots of giggling. He's not a great hider. :)

6:16 pm
Mom of the Year dinner consisting of his leftover nachos from lunch in front of more Magic School Bus.

7:26 pm
Bathtime. "Can you see me Mommy?"

8:23 pm
Daddy's home. Wrestle time. This was just before he hit his mouth on Daddy's head and did even more damage to his already-gray tooth. That tooth has a death wish.

10:00 pm
Pinterest time. Yes, I am looking at Angry Birds pins. Logan wants to be the Bomb.

10:54 pm
Sweet sleeping baby boy.