National Homemade Cookie Day

Did you know that Oct. 1st is National Homemade Cookie Day? I didn't either until I saw it on two different sites so of course I need to go make some NOW and so do you. Share them with your neighbors. Is there any better cookie than chocolate chip? Even with all the variations, I'd never spit one out. I also love peanut butter cookies with chocolate chips in them. I got my chocolate chip cookie recipe 35 years ago and it's still my favorite even though I've tried many. Amy has perfected it but we usually get only half of the cookies it says because we eat the dough. The peanut butter recipe was perfected by my daughter Colett. She added the chocolate chips to it once and it's been a favorite ever since. I am still looking for the perfect oatmeal raisin cookie so if you have it...fork it over please! I like mine chewy and moist, not puffy or dry. The Hero's sandwich shop in Billings, MT had a great one but of course it no longer exists and the Perkins Restaurant in Billings makes a great one, but again, we don't have that restaurant here. I make a mean ginger snap and sugar cookie and maybe some day I'll add those recipes too. But for today, let the chips will fly.

Joan's Chocolate Chippers ... makes 2 dozen...bake at 375 for 8 minutes or until barely browned

my oven takes longer

Mix together:

1 c. shortening ( I like to use 1/2 c. Crisco and 1/2 c. real butter... no margarine... and only use Crisco. I have tried other shortenings and it's just not the same. If you use all butter, they will flatten out too much)

2 eggs

2 t. vanilla

1 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar (packed)

Add:
1/2 t. soda

1 1/2 t. salt (it may sound like a lot but for the flavor you need this much)

2 c. flour

2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips .... Nestles or Ghirardelli... no store brands here either and even Hershey's doesn't taste the same in this recipe)

1 c. chopped pecans if desired (which I do and my daughters don't)

Stir until mixed and bake on greased cookie sheet. Eat while they are hot, even if it they your mouth. Nobody waits until they cool.

Peanut Butter Cookies 375 degrees for about 11 minutes but watch and don't over bake

Mix together:

1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. peanut butter

1/4 c. shortening

1/4 c. softened butter

1 egg

Add:

1 1/4 c. flour

3/4 t. baking soda

1/2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

Stir in chocolate chips if desired

Mix together and bake on cookie sheet ( I spray with PAM first)

Now as you know, if you break them apart before you eat them, the calories fall out so enjoy!

Quirks

Here is my answer to Amy's "tag" about the quirks that I may have. She says to list 6. I guess we all have our little idiosyncrasies but these are the things that YOU have come up with for me.

1. Wayne said he couldn't think of any quirks that I have. He has lived with me for 39 years so he thinks everything is just normal around here. He said if I do have any it changes from day to day and he doesn't notice. I'll post this before he changes his mind.

2. Margaret reminded me that I don't like my food to touch on my plate. She will take potatoes, corn, chicken and anything else and just mix them together in a big blob and eat it. I really don't want my food to touch. I have heard the " it all goes to the same place" routine, but I don't taste it in my stomach. I don't like my eggs to touch my pancakes and syrup and I certainly can't eat dessert off of a plate that had meat and veggies on it. I have been that way since I was a kid. Now does that make me quirky or just a person of good tastes?

3. Amy reminded me that I don't like my washer and dryer because they don't match. That is true. I like things to match and for things to hang evenly. I have a light switch that is crooked. Wayne took the plate off and tried to fix it, but the builders cut the sheet rock crooked and installed the outlet box crooked so it couldn't be fixed. I look at it every day and it bugs me greatly. It's not quite as crooked at the picture, but almost. When I arrange things on the wall or place baskets on a shelf, I use a ruler to make sure they are exactly the same distance apart.

Does that make me quirky or just normal? Everyone is like that right?

4. Colett reminded me that I have this aversion to the bandleader on the Conan O'Brien show. His name is Max Weinberg and for some reason I don't even want to look at him. Every time he comes on I turn the channel. I hope when Conan takes over for Jay Leno he doesn't bring him along. He is also the drummer for Bruce Springsteen. I don't know why I don't like him except I think he is a perv. One time when my son-in-law Wes was visiting, he messed with my computer so that when I turned it on the following morning the wall paper was covered with his picture. EWWWW! Now does that make me quirky or just discriminating? I can't even post his picture.

5. Kaye Collins mentioned that I decorate for every holiday and that is true. Wayne built a loft in the garage to hold all my stuff. I feel bad that there is nothing to decorate for in January, June, and August. I take every normal thing down and put up my holiday decorations. I do it for Valentine's Day, a few things for St. Patty's Day, Memorial Day, Easter, 4th of July, Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Halloween and Christmas really get me excited. Does that make me quirky or am I just full of holiday spirit? Oh, I decorated my dog Fozzie last year too.

6. I HATE looking for things so I have an organization system for my home. I hang my clothes organized in colors. All blues in one section, all reds in one, etc. Also, all my crafts supplies are in plastic bins and have labels, my magazines and craft books are in those wonderful IKEA holders (red... my favorite color) and all my spices are organized in alphabetical order. I have a computer file with the contents of my freezer and food storage shelves, and when I take away or add to them I can go in and modify the file. I always know what I have. My house is usually pretty tidy too but I'm not obsessive about it and it doesn't bother me if your home is not tidy or organized. Does that make me quirky or just organized?

Tag, You're It

Amy did a tag and the rules were to "list 6 quirks about yourself." Everyone else can probably name mine better than I can. I never considered myself very quirky but you may see me as just the opposite, so instead of me naming them, I am going to ask you to name my quirks. I may just get to know myself a little better. Maybe one of my quirks is that I don't know I'm quirky. Hmmmmm, please make comments and then I will list them as a tag from 1-6. Now it is your turn....yes you.... you quirky little bugger.

How Did You Do?

So how did you do? Notice that Toby's and Lissie's eyes are very much like Kee's. Joey's eyes are very much like Shon's. (The shape is the same.) Emerson's are almost identical to Wes', and my daughters have my eyes only in different colors. Colett's kids have their Mom's eyes and Alex's eyes are really blue although it doesn't look like it in the picture. All the Shon Ostler family members have blue eyes, all the Yarro family members have brown eyes, all the Holme's family members have brown eyes and Margaret and I are the only ones with green eyes. My parents both have big eyes and that gene seems to have been passed on to the kids and grandkids. Wayne's eyes are just like his Mom's. Grandpa Howard had gray/blue eyes and my Mom's are blue so Shon must have gotten their eyes. Neither Matt nor Wayne passed on their eye shape genes to anyone. I love looking at everyone's eyes. It's the first thing I notice when I talk to someone.

Kee

Millie

Amy

Joey

Wes

Toby

Shon

Isabelle

Colett

Wayne

Nick

Joan

Matt

Lissie

Emerson

Margaret

Alex

Happy Birthday Matt

Matt turned 43!!

Let me say right up front that I'm not old enough to be this man's mother-in-law, but since I married and had children young, and since this man stole my daughter right out from under me AND robbed the cradle, that is what I am.

Having said all that, I am also proud to be his mother-in-law. I think he is one of the finest men I know. Wayne always says that if he hadn't asked for Colett's hand in marriage, he would have asked him to take her off our hands anyway. That is all in jest as Colett was a model child and when she picked a husband, she picked the perfect man for her. He is kind, easy going, hard working, and has high ideals for this world that we all live in. He has worked for a few years now as the head of a company that manufactures an item that looks like a thumb drive for your computer. It can scan your computer and find any porn that is on it. That is just the beginning. Cops can scan confiscated computers to find downloaded child porn to help in convictions without seeing disturbing images because the software blurs what you don't want to see. Social workers, wives, concerned parents, etc. now have another tool to help them in the fight against this worldly evil. Check out his link.

SurfRecon - We Do the Dirty Work

Matt is a good father who coaches his son's soccer and football teams and allows the girls to dance in front of the TV screen (nude only in Colett's case) and buy really girly stuff whenever there is a need and the need arises quite often. Happy Birthday Matt....we love you.

Busy Week

I posted three items this morning. Don't stop reading at the first one. We have had a busy week around here. We had Emerson's birthday, Matt and Colett's triathlon, and Grandparent's Day.

Can It Really Be That Emerson Is One??

Can you believe the complete joy on this little face? Is it all for me? Happy birthday little man you are such a happy and sweet baby. We love you tons.

Wes says to not teach him that fire is fun....that coming from his fireman father.

Emerson spilled some cake under his leg as he was eating so he just lifted up his leg while he ate the rest. Can you believe those tummy muscles? Try sitting like this for 30 seconds.

Here you go little guy, you can have your cake and eat it too.

I get it all? I can do it by myself?

Yep, that was a good birthday cake.

Isn't it fun to see the happiness on this little face? Wow, presents and paper!

Grandpa Wayne and Emerson check out all the decorations.

Emerson has a thing for lights and tires. He has the lights overhead and my garden cart turned upside down so he can spin the tires. He is having one heck of a birthday.

Colett's not feeling well and she is tired but who could miss this event?

Uncle Matt #1 chowing down. They can eat all they want after their big triathlon day.

The food is on as Wayne and Colett sample it all.

Daddy Wes and Emerson just visiting the folks.

It was quite a party with decorated tables, lots of food and overhead lights. Here is Amy the party planner, with her new sassy haircut. Emerson's Aunt Haley, Grandma Roxanne and Uncle Matt#2 in the back.

The oldest and youngest at the party....Emerson and his Great Grandma Rose

The Training Paid Off

Colett, Matt and my cousin Vallerie and her husband Shawn McLeod and a few of their friends decided to do a triathon last Saturday at Yuba Lake near Levan, UT. We had Nick, Isabelle and Millie spend the night with us so Matt and Colett could leave the night before and get a motel. That way they wouldn't have to get up as early. They had been training for several months and had gotten to the point that they were psyched and ready. Two days before the race Colett got quite ill with a cold and sore throat and she just plain felt crappy. She went to the Doc, got an inhaler, a Z pack and then Matt gave her a blessing. She was well enough to compete but it was very hard on her. They all made it to the finish line, however, and through tears we watched as they were all able to accomplish their goal. If I remember correctly, the race consisted of a 1/2 mile swim, followed by a 12 mile bike ride, followed by a 3 mile run.

Apparently the swim is the hardest because people kick you in the head and arms, the waves beat you back, you can get disoriented and have to fight off going into panic mode, knowing that you have to swim or sink.

Colett wants to do it again just so she can compete it when she is not ill. Matt said he would

train with her but won't do it again. Val hated the swimming part but may do a biathlon if she competes again. We were proud of them all them. The kids got a kick out of watching their parents go to the finish line. Nick was so sweet and told his Mom that he was proud and that he loved them.

The gathering place and Yuba Lake in the background.

Tools for the second phase of the triathlon.

Friend Stephanie came through a little ahead of the Yarro's and McLeod's and cheered them on

I think that's them.

It is...here they come!

Headed to the finish line

The Yarro team made it.

Colett catches her breath as Matt looks for his head. (The sun was so bright I couldn't see what photo I was taking. The light reflected off the lens and I just had to guess. Sorry Matt.)

Colett cools down

Colett, Val and Shawn load up on water and a few carbs to get back to normal.

Grandparents Day

It was Grandparents Day at Millie's preschool and I was invited to go and be with my little 4 year old granddaughter. I was given a pencil can and a picture of myself that Millie had drawn.

It was fun to see where she spends her days 3 times a week. We were given mini-muffins and the awful fake orange juice that little kids like. We took pictures and then walked around the neighborhood and looked for bugs....her special friends. Rolie Polie's are her favorite.

When you first walk into the preschool there is a sign that says "welcome to my little monkeys" and Miss Misty has vines and a monkey hanging from the ceiling.

This lady was meant to be a preschool teacher. She is all smiles, hugs and

full of fun. She is Miss Misty, and Millie loves her.

Millie and her classmates get ready to sing "We love you Grandparents"

We said hello to her friends and their grandparents who then took our picture.

Joan and Millie have refreshments, then it's time to go.

I love being a Grandma!!