A Girl, A Dog, and a Cookie

I just know my faithful blog readers are starved for yummy recipes, so I'm doing back-to-back food posts. Your taste buds will thank me, I'm sure.

You know you're dying for some more decadent cookie recipes. So Maggie and I decided to oblige today and whip up a batch of these delicious treats. This is a variation on an old favorite--the ubiquitous chocolate chip cookie. However, these are even better because they have oatmeal in them. So they are more substantial and are really chewy and good.

Back in 1987, a friend brought these to a cookie swap I attended. She called them "Dad's Favorite Oatmeal Cookies." We think you're gonna love them.

Time out to lick the beaters!

"Come on, Bella. Let's go play while we wait....."

"Why does it have to take sooooo long??"

"Yay!! They're ready, Bella!!!!!"

"Oh, good dog! Here's a bite for you!"

Dad's Favorite Oatmeal Cookies

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beating well. Stir oatmeal into creamed mixture. Sift flour, soda, and salt together. Add to mixture, stirring well. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake at 375 degrees for 7 minutes or until golden brown. Yield: 6 dozen cookies.

Enjoy a beautiful week! 

Love,

Laura Lee

Blueberry-Banana Bread

So I've had these blueberries just chillin' in the fridge for like two months now. Back in July, my friend Jessica brought me a HUGE bag of them--fresh picked from her bushes. I've been using them in muffins and pancakes for weeks. I can NOT believe how well they have kept all this time.

A couple days ago, I saw this recipe for Blueberry Banana Bread and thought it might be a great way to use some more of them.

Oh, Wow! Was this good! I couldn't keep myself out of this stuff, and neither could anyone else in the family, including Bella. I made two loaves last time and plan to make about six the next time. You gotta try it!

Blueberry-Banana Bread

1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. mashed ripe bananas
1 c. frozen blueberries (or fresh)
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. quick cooking oats
1/2 c. nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 325°F degrees.Grease and flour 2 loaf pans. Cream together butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Add mashed bananas.Measure flour, reserving 2 tablespoons of flour to coat blueberries.Stir baking soda and salt into flour, mixing well. Stir in oats. Fold into banana mixture. Stir in vanilla.Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons flour over blueberries, then fold into batter. Stir in nuts.Transfer batter to loaf pans. Bake about 50 minutes.

"I think I'll just nap till it's ready...."

First Day of Kindergarten!

Today was Maggie's first day of kindergarten! She had fun coloring, cutting, and pasting while she learned about the first day of creation. For the next two weeks, we'll be talking about the creation story. After that, we'll spend a week on each letter of the alphabet, learning its sound and doing fun activities that revolve around a topic starting with each letter.

For instance, the first week, we'll be doing S-S-Sun. After that, it will be M-M-Moon, A-A-Apple, D-D Dinosaur, etc.

I love this curriculum: My Father's World Kindergarten. I used it with Holly several years ago. We had such fun that year and I've been looking forward to starting it with Maggie.


Holly is such a good little teacher's helper. "Cut on the dotty lines, Maggie, not on the black lines...like this...." I think she secretly wants to do kindergarten again!


I hope you've also had a delightful Monday!

Love,
Laura Lee

We Made a Wish and You Came True!

September 2, 1990
Oh, baby! She was a keeper!

Labor Day Weekend 1990 was one we fondly remember. After two healthy little boys, we absolutely couldn't believe our new baby was a precious little girl. We cried tears of joy!

At the time, it seemed as if the years stretched out farther than our hearts and minds could imagine--a long, beautiful, winding road with no end in sight. Little could we fathom how quickly these years would pass, like sand slipping through our fingers. Abby, you've been everything we hoped a daughter would be--happy, healthy, and oh, so sweet.


You prayed for a sister...

...and God answered...

...three times over! Thank you for so willingly sharing your princess status in our home. You are a princess, Abby. Always remember that you are a daughter of The King.

God bless you as you follow His call on your life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, baby girl!
Thank you for 18 wonderful years.
May this be your best year yet!

Love,
Mom and Dad