Look Who's 2!!

Summer Fun and Big Wheels

I gotta get one of these! 

Relaxin' on the porch!

I gotta get one of these too!  Love the cushion chairs!

Kum-By-Yah!

Elmo Cupcakes and Sprinkle Cake

I Have and I Have Almost

• I have married a man who is 6 years older than me.
• I have given birth to 2 girls naturally: one 10 lbs. 2 oz. the other 9 lbs. 4 oz.
• I have allergies.
• I have almost left the house without a bra on....on accident.
• I have gotten 1 speeding ticket in my life. (Knock on wood.)
• I have a degree in Psychology.
• I have a tendency to laugh at my own jokes.
• I have acquired a snorting sound when I laugh.
• I have shrunk a lot of Chris' clothes in the dryer.
• I have slowly learned how to cook.
• I have opened food while at the grocery store for my kids to eat while I quickly get my list done.
• I have almost went to the "free cookie" counter twice while shopping.  (for my kids, of course!)
• I have almost learned how to argue without calling names.
• I have been to Belize.
• I have come to love Tivo!
• I have a love for Culvers.
• I have come to appreciate the library.
• I have found a band-aid in my french fries from McDonalds.  (We received a small settlement in that deal.)
• I have biffed it in front of the entire student body @ Jefferson High School @ a pepfest in my cheerleading uniform.
• I have come to love Charlie and Lola.
• I have big feet.
• I have worn my slippers grocery shopping....on accident.
• I have an IPhone.
• I have starting painting my nails this past year.
• I have almost finished Laney's baby scrapbook.  She's four now.
• I have an obsession with socks.
• I have run after my 2 year old in the mall, grocery store, target, the street, church, pretty much everywhere.  I am THAT mom.
• I have developed a love for coffee.
• I have almost been able to take it black.
• I have wonderful parents and in-laws.
• I have a minivan and love it.
• I have finished my kids meals on a regular basis.

Vacation to Lake Geneva.....and no not for Jr. High Camp!

Staying at the Minister's Cabin was truly a blessing!

Biking, park playing, and swimming were all daily activities.

Laney's first time down the waterslide all by herself.

Greta sitting pretty in the water.

You would think feeding the ducks would be fun and relaxing....not for me.  I was definitely about to have an anxiety attack for how close they were getting to us and my feet.  Then Greta proceeds to grab a duckling in her hands pretty much choking it to death till we get it out of her claws. Poor duck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A cute little house at the duck pond!

And.... game of Candyland and some popcorn to wrap up the evening.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

I have been looking for a good Oatmeal Raisin Cookie recipe for a while and my mother came across this one.  I figure many of you may not have time to experiment with different recipes so take this and use it! It is Dole's Recipe. You will be pleased!

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-3/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1 package (8 oz.) DOLE^® Seedless Raisins

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in medium bowl; set aside.
2. Beat together butter and sugars in large bowl until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until blended. Beat in flour mixture until just blended. Stir in oats and raisins.
3. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheets, 2 inches apart.
4. Bake at 375^øF ., 6-7 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Home

A day in the Book household can be quite entertaining.  Having more estrogen in the home than testosterone makes for guaranteed tears each and every day.  I can be pretty emotional and just found out from my husband and mother I can be quite dramatic as well…so now I actually see what I may look like once in awhile.

Chris bought a beautiful yet trendy pink shirt the other day and all 3 girls were throwing compliments his way about it.  The comment that followed was how he needed a motorcycle……..someday.

Southland

As some of you know we are brand new parents of a church plant called Southland City Church. We are an intergenerational church that is targeting people in their 20's and 30's. Last year this vision fell on Chris and Justin to plant and since last Fall has become a reality. January 2010 was the beginning of our core group meetings in the local coffee shop and now meeting in Mount Olivet's Youth and Family Centre. God has blessed us with 85-100 people each week and generous people who give of their time, talents, and treasure.
The journey has been a rollercoaster of emotions so far and I am expecting more adventures are to come. God has taught Chris and I so much already and are excited for everything else He has in store. I am realizing this is a time in my life that I need to record and take note of. I just feel God is going to work in our lives as well as those who are a part of Southland.

We are praying for a new meeting place this Fall and believe God will provide.

Grape lady falls!

I realize YouTube has been around for awhile but I don't usually "surf" it to find funny videos...I basically let them come to me through friends. This one I just couldn't get enough of! I was laughing so hard I was crying.






Does anyone else find themselves laughing when people trip and fall? I am sad to say I crack up everytime.