Best Cookie EVER

I decided to make my favorite cookie this afternoon No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal. Oh yeah, it's business time. This cookie has taken me years to master. I have no idea why it's such a tricky recipe, but nonetheless, here it is for those of you who have never sunk your teeth into one of these bad boys:

1 stick of real butter

2 c. sugar

1/8 tsp. salt

4 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa

1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

2 1/2 c. quick oats

*In a medium saucepan, mix butter, sugar, salt, cocoa and milk. Heat to full boil and cook for precisely 2 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter and oats. Stir well and drop by the spoonfull onto waxed paper or aluminum foil.

Gain about 1 lb. per cookie and eat about 6 (with a ginormous glass of milk) in each sitting. They are totally worth every calorie!

Girls, Girls, Girls

Karson's friend Camille came over to play last Tuesday. We went to my sister's house in Louisville for the weekend and stayed through Monday. Since Karson had round-the-clock entertainment each day, I knew Tuesday would be a tough adjustment for her. Fortunately, Camille came to the rescue. They had a blast dressing up and playing in the pool. Thank heavens for little girls and girlfriends!

First Week of School

Karson picked out a supergirl shirt to wear on her first day of school which was last Tuesday. Isaac was ready to go too but forgot to wear pants which reminds me of those dreams that we all have where we attend school naked or in our skimmies. He's not the least bit embarassed.

We love Ms. Laura who DOES NOT give homework, but Karson likes to pretend that she has homework to do.

Isaac felt right at home in Ms. Windy's class. I'm sure he will LOVE school next year--look out!

Karson and Isaac decided to bike to school on Thursday. It only took about 3 hours from Plano, not bad a ride in the early morning Scottsville Road rush--HAH!

LYLAS to my fellow Bloggers

Since reading Jill R. and Karen C.'s s post about friends being such a blessing, I feel like I need to give a "shout-out" to my fellow blogging peeps:

Melanie S.: I can't say enough sweet things about you. You have been a friend of mine for years. I have many, many memories including a month-long trek and 13 flight layovers in Central America. You are certainly a rock and have endured a lot the past few years. I love you girl!
Larie V.: aka Martha Stewart. We go WAY back to elementary school, dated the same guy (I believe at the same time) in high school, and attempted to make my wedding cake for the "big" day. From your air bluegrass band, to our spa treatments with egg goop on our faces, we'll be BFF's until the day we die =).
Lisa M., Jill R., Heather G. and Terri C.: I've only known you all a few years and feel lucky having you as friends. I know we don't see each other much, but I always enjoy the times we spend together.
Sarah O.: What can I say, I adore you! You and Josh are those AWESOME friends that always bring bright spots into my day. You are lovely inside and out, and I am SO GLAD that you all have made your way back home.
Karen C.: You send the nicest notes at just the right times in my life. I wish you were still in BG b/c I feel like our friendship developed right before you left. Funny how things like that happen.
Dana G.: I have some great memories with you. I've seen your toddlers grow up into wonderful children. You are always willing to lend a hand and share a laugh. Thanks for being so special to our family!
Kim H.: I know you through mutual children Ann Chaney and Chapman who think the world of you and I can see why. I can tell how great at motherhood you are based on your wonderful posts. I'm looking forward to getting to know you even better.
Carrie P.: You have such a nice family. I've enjoyed reading about your fun life on your blog. I'm looking forward to some playdates in the near future.
Melissa M.: I've known you my entire life but have really only known you recently. It's nice having you as a neighbor, and I've enjoyed our playdates.
Melissa D.: ditto on the above. I have connected with you in so many ways even though we are polar opposites =). Thank you for helping me learn to "seize life and the moment" more.
Valerie J.: You could be everybody's best friend. I love your take on life and motherhood. You are a true blessing in the lives of so many including mine.

Happy 32nd Sis

Paul and Shannon at Thunder Over Louisville.

Evan and Elizabeth, the twin 3 year olds that occupy Shannon's time these days.

My sister Shannon celebrates her 32nd birthday today. We've shared a lot of laughs and tears through the years. As a child, she gave me the famous "older sister" hair cut. All you younger siblings know what cut I'm talking about. She sprinkled the hair around my bedroom in hopes that no one would notice my bangs had shrunk to a whoppin' centimeter. We broke my parents bed jumping on it one day and hid the broken pieces underneath their dresser. In the middle of the night, CRASH, BANG, BOOM my parents bed fell to the floor. During their exam, they noticed the missing pieces. We explained in our most innocent voices that those missing pieces could be under the dresser. Shannon could seriously do anything. She is and has always been an all-star athlete (started water skiing at 4), fearless (did back flips off of our roof onto the trampoline), honest, shorter than me =), mistaken for the younger sister (hee-hee), lovely inside and out, and one of my heroes. I love you sis and am blessed having you in my life!

SWAMP Things

Let it slide, let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine until you feel it all around you

and I don’t mind if it’s me you need to turn to

we’ll get by, it’s the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made in these small hours

these little wonders, these twists & turns of fate

Time falls away, in these small hours, these small hours still remain.

All of my regret will wash away some how but I can not forget the way I feel right now.

~Rob Thomas Lyrics~

Power Potty Training

Matt and I have been (what I like to call) "Power Potty Training" Isaac the past week. We're getting a bit STIR-CRAZY staying in the house. I feel like Isaac is a bomb waiting to explode when we're out in public. We've had success and failure, but I guess that's to be expected. I'm proud of him and hope that our(s) and his efforts will be WELL worth it soon.