I was a bit surprised

I love Maple leaf cookies, especially in the fall. My grocer has Dare brand, very tasty. I had a package in my pantry that I bought last week and was having a pre-midnight snack of cookies and milk.


What surprised me? While I was closing up the bag I noticed the "best if used by date", 10/03/25. Yes, that would be 2025! I don't believe I would feel comfortable eating a 16 year old cookie! Thank goodness these babies won't even see December 3, 2009! I don't think I want to know when they were made do I? They are tasty though!

Project 365/332 2009 Ornaments

Every year since JD was a baby I have bought the kids a Hallmark Keepsake ornament. I always try to find one that represents something in the child's life for that year, sometime I have to get creative as I only buy Hallmark ornaments and they don't always have one that fits each child's year to a tee. This year's picks are as follows: JD- Tony Romo, because it was the only football related ornament this year (he does not like Tony Romo he tells me). MJ- the Barbie high heel. Her feet are now a size ladies 5 and every time we are near a shoe department she has to try on heels that she would break her neck in (we never buy them!) CJ- the Fisher Price school bus. She loves to watch the kids get on and off the bus and whenever we see one while we are out and about she yells out "Bus". (Now I could have easily went for an Amish buggy, horse or semi truck because she points them out with precision as well). Syd- the Chatter telephone, it was cute and age appropriate. They didn't have one that fit her better but it is okay because she will like it.

To see their entire collection visit here.

Our tree

We have our tree up and in a new location this year. The girls have taken the living room over with toys so I have put the tree up against the wall that separates the kitchen from the open living area. I really like it here. The tree is heavy with ornaments at the top and get fewer and fewer as they get closer to the girls reaching zone.

My first Etsy sale!

I just got my first Etsy sale!! I'm so excited!!! She bought the pendant on the right.

It is a bit ironic. It is a little known fact outside my close circle of loved ones; I don't love cats. I almost did not even list the cat pendants and they were my very first Etsy sale! The world works in mysterious ways.

Thank you Ms. L. Billington of Portland, Oregon for making my day.

Project 365/331 We left empty handed

Black Friday: Hubby was on a quest for the $19.99 Rigid 16 gallon wet/dry vac. We all hauled ourselves out of bed and drove to Midland, (I was in it for the veggie omelet after shopping). We never thought Home Depot would draw this kind of crowd so we didn't get out of bed too early. Just minutes before they opened Hubby was where the little white arrow is. Less then 2 minutes after getting in the door he walked back out empty handed. The lady that was 10th in line was not able to get a vac so Hubby had no hope of getting one. Unlike this guy who got just one too many and will gladly sell it for double the price:) Or these guys who seem to want to get rid of the ones they did get. This is a good reason to limit the amount you can buy of these great Black Friday door buster deals. I wonder if anybody will be willing to pay $50-$70 for something that was nationally advertised for $19.99? We did go to Ace and get the Shop Vac from their ad. Not the great deal the Rigid one was but it will get the job done.

We left empty handed

Project 365/330 We are very Thankful

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We celebrate every year with lunch at my mom's, dessert at Hubby's mom's and then I go back to my moms to put her tree up with my brother and his family. Mom's house is fairly small when you get 8 adults and 8 kids in there all wanting to get to the food things get very tight. Brent was trying to help the kids get their plates filled and the easiest way to get around the table was on the chairs. I had given Syd her plate (she was in her highchair on the floor at my moms feet). No sooner did I give her the full plate when she threw it off her tray and made a big mess (I think that is why Brent has the napkin thrust in my direction), thank goodness she did not have gravy on her plate. We got it cleaned up in time for the others to get to the table. The rest of the dinner went smoothly, there was no food flying until the pies and whipped cream were brought out. I still maintain it was all my brother's fault, I was just eating my whipped cream when he tried to stuff it up my nose the rest is just casualties of the ensuing quest to get him back. It is never a dull moment at our family meals:)

I'm very thankful for my family and the time we get to spend together means a lot to me.

We are very Thankful

Project 365/329 Full day

Wednesday I had a full day; Dentist visit, shopping and turkey stuffing. I got off to a late start in the morning and had to do a fast shop after the dentist filled a tooth and then hurried back home so Hubby could work from home without the girls distracting him. CJ woke from her nap a bit early and fell asleep in his lap while he worked. When the kids came home from school we went over to moms for turkey stuffing, I have been doing this for years (more than 20) and I still could not do this on my own. It is a little of this and a little of that until it looks right and taste right. It always turns out great but I don't think we make it exactly the same each year. Making stuffing with mom is one of my favorite parts of Thanksgiving. Maybe I should start writing the steps down so I can pass this on to my girls.

Full day

Project 365/328 Lunch with dear friends

Tuesday we had lunch with dear friends, Joan and Earle. We have not seen them for a long time and it was nice to catch up over lunch. CJ, who is normally very reserved when she firsts meets people, was very taken by them and loved playing with Joan. She and Joan really hit it off. Even Earle's beard didn't scare her. I guess it just goes to show that kids are a good judge of character because these are two of the nicest people someone could know.

Lunch with dear friends

Project 365/327 The time has come

Monday evening we hauled the Christmas decorations down from the attic. With Syd now mobile most of this stuff will not get put out and will have to be hauled out again. I can see we will have a half decorated tree again this year:)

The time has come

Project 365/326 Favorite toy of the moment

Sunday I arrive home in the late afternoon to an empty house for about 45 minutes, enough time to get all my stuff put mostly away before the kids could get in to it. Hubby took the kids to his niece's birthday party. When they got home and found me there, I got the best hugs and mommy we missed you's, I should go away more often! For most of the night I had a lap full of CJ and Syd. It is great to be missed.
Just before bed CJ was hiding her most favorite toys of the moment, My Little Ponies. She packs them and unpacks them carried them most everywhere and does not like it when Syd wants to play with them.

Favorite toy of the moment

Project 365/325 The Springs Retreat Camp crop

Saturday I left with my SIL and we cropped late into the night. We ate, laughed and talked and talked, oh and we scrapped of course. The best part it was really close to home! I love over night crops, I can leave my stuff out, go to sleep and it is still there waiting for me to get back to it when I wake up. I will be doing this one again. Thank you Lori for inviting me, you guys put on a great crop. Now the count down to Boyne begins, 152 day to go.

Crop 'til we drop

Here are a few more shots of from the crop.

Maria & Anna

My George in action

Maria & Lucy (Maria had knot in her pant strings and asked Lucy to get it out)

Project 365/324 House call

Friday night my favorite stylist and dear friend popped over to cut the kids hair for us. It was such a help. She works about 45 minutes away and when the kids are in school it is hard to get them there for regular trims. And they dislike it, when in desperation, I pop them into the local salon and they get trims by other stylists. Thanks Stacy we are all grateful.

House call

Project 365/323 Proud fort builders

Thursday night, while I (escaped) took MJ to Tweens and waiting in the car for an hour of peace and quiet, Hubby was home with the little girls and JD. While Daddy was busy, JD kept CJ occupied with fort making. They were so very proud of their handy work. (I did not like seeing the pink chair on the couch though, as least no one was sitting on it:)

Proud fort builders

Project 365/322 Yum!

Wednesday I went to the store to pick up milk and I spotted Candy Cane Hersey kisses and instantly thought of the Candy Corn kiss cookie recipe that I wanted to make. These are just yummy and look very festive. I ended up putting too much butter in and had to adjust the recipe to make it work for me. I even had "borrowed" a cup flour from the neighbor!

yum!

Here is the recipe for Candy Candy Kiss cookies

Preheat the oven to 375 ° F.

1 cup butter (rm temp)
1 cup Creamy Jiff peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 TBS milk
2 tsp Vanilla extract
3 ½ cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

*¼ cup sugar in a bowl to dip the rolled cookies
1 10 oz bag Hersey kisses


Cream butter and peanut butter together until light and fluffy, add sugars; beat until light and fluffy. Add eggs, milk and vanilla extract; beat well. Gradually add flour, baking soda and salt; stir until well mixed. Rolled into 1" balls and coat with sugar; place balls on an ungreased cookie sheet about 2" apart. Bake 8-10 minutes, as soon as you pull them out of the oven plop an unwrapped Kiss in the center. Let them cool on baking rack or wax paper.

Place cookies in an airtight container after the Kisses harden back up.

This made 57 cookies for me and I had just a few kisses left over from the bag (which my kids gobbled up)

Project 365/321 It feels good

Don't you just love the way you feel after you leave the hair salon? I absolutely do! My hair is light and swingy and I believe I walk with a bigger bounce just to feel it moving. I even went down and got my new driver license picture taken! (the last one was 10 yrs I think!) It won't look this great after I wash and style it myself so I try to bask in the glow I feel after I get my hair done.

It feels good

Project 365/320 Just what it looks like

Monday JD devised a game of human bowling of sorts. Empty diapers boxes (we have many) + a slippery sleeping bag + a baseball slide = Human Bowling. They all had fun with this one until bed time. Two days later I still had diaper boxes scattered around the living room.

Just what it looks like.

Meet my GEORGE

My wonderful, completely talented brother (who has been nicknamed George since childhood) has fulfilled one of many wants/needs (when it come to scrapbooking the difference is very minimal at best). I have been wanting something that would allow me to not have to have my head bent over my layouts and found F.R.E.D. but they have been out of stock for many many months now and I am a bit impatient at best. I asked my dear brother to make me something and BAM I got a GEORGE. Thank you, thank you! I will be putting to a test this weekend at my weekend crop.

If you are interested in having one of your very own just email me and I'll pass your interest along to my fabulous brother. Did I mention he is the greatest brother ever?

Project 365/319 Runnning to town

Boy, has our lives changed in the last year, never would I have thought I would say these words with there true meaning: "Hubby ran to town." In the past when I would say the words "Ran to town" I meant drive to town for a quick trip. Now when I say them it really means run. I realized the need to use the term in the proper manner the other day when I told CJ that we needed to "run to the grocery store". She was very upset when I buckled her in her car seat and and started the van. She wanted to "run" to the store! When I told her that I really didn't mean we were going to "run" she just look confused. So no more confusion, from here on out when I say run/ran it will really mean running!

Running to town

Project 365/318 The helper stage

Saturday I caught CJ in her helper mode. She is at that age when helping out is a joy! She is always willing to throw things away and put things back in the fridge or the sink. Her latest thing is replacing the garbage bag. The other day in the grocery store she was carry the gallon sized orange juice jug, it was half her size and I could see she was struggling but she carried it more than half way down the aisle before she set it down and said "too heavy, help". I think this is my favorite stage of toddlers

The Helper Stage

Project 365/317 Still sleepy

Friday Hubby worked from home (we all love that). CJ was soaked when she got up from her nap so we stripped her down and she did not what to get dressed so I didn't even try. I got busy doing things and Hubby told me to take a look. She was cuddled at his feet, head on his work bag and wrapped in her blanket. I asked her is she was cold and wanted to get dressed and she said no but we were getting around to go to the store and she was all for that. Since moving Hubby's "desk" behind the couch CJ has made that her little hiding space and when Hubby is at his computer usually CJ is at his feet playing quietly.

Still sleepy

Project 365/316 What Possess her?

Thursday I asked MJ to simply unload the dishwasher. She did complete that task but when I turned around she was cleaning out the pan cupboard! I don't know what possess an 11 year to scrub out a cupboard without being asked to. I'm not complaining at all but some days I wonder what gets into her.

What possess her?

Project 365/315 I don't know why

Wednesday after the girls woke up and were stripped of pjs neither wanted to get dressed. These two would prefer to be undressed most of the time. If Syd is getting changed CJ starts removing her clothes whether she needs to or not! I spend more time redressing them then folding laundry in a day.

I don't know why

Project 365/314 Since having the girls

Tuesday night I found Pepper sleeping on the couch. Everybody was asleep snuggled in their beds and here was Pepper. She always slept with Hubby and I under the cover snuggled up to one of us but since having the girls she has not slept with us. Maybe this her way of rebelling against the added of family members I'm not sure but we sure do miss her.

Added more to Esty Store

Just spent the weekend uploaded more pendants to my Esty store. Here is just a sampling of what I've added.

Project 365/313 Driving on a donut

Monday I got new tires on the van. As you can see I was in need of at least one. Friday Hubby came home form work and asked me what I ran over, my rear tire was completely flat. He pumped it up and the next morning it was flat again. We had his race and plans to visit with friends so getting tires over the weekend was out of the question. So we drove on the donut for 3 days. Anyways the girls and I spent a hectic 60 minute at the tire place, in a lounge with no door. No door means I was chasing the two through the store most all hour! CJ wanted to be at one end if the store and Syd the other! I really don't like car repair and maintenance with two toddlers.

Driving on a donut

Project 365/312 older sibling's influence

Sunday night JD "taught" CJ how to dive over the ottoman. They kept repeating this over and over. JD can clear the ottoman but of course CJ can only jump on and slither off. The older two seem to teach the girls a lot of thing I would rather they not know how to do just yet, but this is what I get for having kids spaced 11 years apart!

Older siblings influence

Project 365/311 Last race of the year

Saturday Hubby and his brother, Michael ran a 10k in Midland. Michael finished before him due to Hubby missing the turn around, the race was not the most organized event we have attended. So for the last race of the year Hubby ran an extra mile and finished with a time of about 58 minutes. He is a bit bummed with the results. We are still proud of him; He lost 49 lbs and started running just this year and has raced 1 5k, 3 10ks and 1 half Marathon all at the age of 40!

Last Race of the Year

Project 365/310 Race planning

Friday night Hubby was planning out his race for Saturday. He is running one last 10K for this year. Notice that I have moved his "desk", that was all part of the rearranging I did yesterday. I still need to tweak a few things but that will have to wait until next week.

Race planning

Project 365/309 Admiration

Thursday I spent much of the afternoon rearranging things. I was knee deep in stuff when the kids got off the bus and the dining room table was covered so MJ had to do her homework at the girls little table. CJ sat in admiration for MJ while she worked. An awe moment indeed!

Admiration

Project 365/308 Mixer is fixed

Wednesday I baked peanut butter cookie with my fixed mixer! My mom and step dad took a look at it and you would not believe how they fixed it.... They sprayed PAM where it looked like it was rubbing and it works like a dream! I do recall asking Hubby if it need to be oiled, I guess I was right after all. Thanks Mom & Rob. I guess I should bake something for you two....

Mixer is fixed

Project 365/307 Playing together

Tuesday the girls cleared out the toy cabinet and climbed in together. They were playing so well together that I hated to snap pictures and disturb them with the flash but I want to record this! I hope they can stay this close as they grow older.

Playing together

Project 365/306 Working after Work

Monday night Hubby came home, changed out of his work clothes and went back to work in the dining room. Some program had glitches that had to be fixed. The girls like it when he is home before they go to bed so it works for us. He be back at it again tomorrow morning.

Working after work.

Just open an Etsy shop!

I've opened an Etsy shop. My store name is Just1Life2Live. I'm selling glass tile pendants, I found beautiful graphics of butterflies that I'm excited about. Here is just a sample of what I have. I would love for you to visit.

Project 365/305 Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Sunday after MJ and Hubby got back from laying floor in the pole barn house (almost done with the floor) Hubby had time to watch the game. In our house we can't sit on the floor without having a dog and/or child in our lap so when dad got on the floor Syd and CJ were not far behind. They love to climb on your lap and cuddle or just bounce and attack depending on their moods. I caught Syd trying to put the glasses on CJ when she couldn't get them on she just started smacking her with them, a common occurrence in our house.

Lazy Sunday afternoon

Project 365/304 Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween! We had a great time Trick or Treating with the kids. CJ and Syd looked so darn cute in the warm costumes, they both walked most of the way. MJ was dressed as a vampire, a recycled costume from a few year ago. JD was himself mostly until we got to a door then he put on a mask. At thirteen I think he was too cool for a costume but wanted the candy. My rule: no costume, no candy. We argued over what was a costume right up until we left the house, a winter jacket with the hood up does not make a costume!

Happy Halloween

project 365/303 Love of reading

Late Friday night I found MJ doing one of her favorite things, reading. She reads more books than I can count and tells me the library does not have any new book for her to read constantly. I will never complain about having to keeping up with her need to read, we love school book orders!

Love of reading

Project 365/302 Happy Birthday Hubby

Thursday Hubby turned 40! We had nothing special planned for the day but the girls had a rough night and I'm sure this was not how he thought his morning would go! While I dealt with CJ in our bed he was left to deal with Syd. She had an upset stomach and had thrown up about 5 in the morning. She was very tired but refused to sleep in crib so Hubby slept with her in the couch, we all slept in until about 10 in the morning. Not the best way to start your 40th birthday. We did however get to go out for dinner, just the two of us. Thanks mom for watching our brood.

Here's to another 40! I love you!

Happy Birthday Hubby

Project 365/301 Imagination house

Wednesday night I heard CJ playing in her house, she was pretending to eat dinner. Her imagination amazes me all the time. Her favorite thing to do is pretend to take a shower in there, it is hoot to watch her, she even has sound effects! She sometimes lets Syd join in but in the end Syd is too young to play along and that frustrates CJ, so she kicks her out. Syd does not understand being kicked out and thinks it is game. It is very humorous the watch the two of them.

Imagination House