I have a recipe for Monster Cookies that was given to me eight years ago when I was a state FFA officer. I remember loving the cookies, but for some reason never found the time to bake them. Well, Wednesday that all changed and let me tell you they were just as delicious as I remember! There is something about M&M's in a cookie that give them an extra awesomeness score. (I know that isn't even a word) Here is the recipe if you need to try it out.
LaGrande Monster Cookies
3 eggs
1 C Brown Sugar
3/4 tsp. Vanilla
1 C Sugar
2 tsp. Baking Soda
1 cube butter
1 1/2 C Peanut Butter
4 1/2 C Oatmeal
1/2 C chocolate chips (I put a little bit more than this in)
1/2 C m&m's (same thing, a few more never hurts)
1/8 C Chopped Nuts.
Mix and use cookie or ice cream scoop to place on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350* Then enjoy! Did you notice there isn't any flour in them?
Not only did we have awesome cookies this week, but also got Natalie to eat from a squeezable fruit pouch. The first time I tried this we were waiting to board a flight to Utah. She let everything run out of her mouth onto me. Needless to say it was a huge mess and not something I was excited to attempt again. However, the convenience of them kept nagging at me as the months have passed. We are working really hard on getting her to eat more solid foods and this is hardest when we are out on the go. I knew these fruit pouches could be the solution, if only.....Luckily, yesterday was a success!
Justin is giving a presentation tomorrow for the Association of Oregon Loggers. He has put in a lot of hours on preparing this. My thoughts and positive thinking vibes will be with him as we go throughout our day. He has done an amazing job with launching this new product for his company and this year is going to be the biggest year for it yet.
Natalie and I are looking forward to tomorrow. We are helping out with a scavenger hunt for a young lady we go to church with. Then I think we are going to head over to the pool and do some swimming. We will anxiously await Justin's arrival at our door in the late afternoon. Lastly, we get to end our day with the anticipation of church in the morning and maybe a movie (well just for mom and dad, Nat will get to go to sleep). I don't know what could be better than that? Have a great weekend!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Friday, January 17, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
10 Months Old
You like how her expression is the same in all three of those?
So these pictures pretty much sum up this little lady at 10 months old.
She is a mover and LOVES to unload things. As you can see from the pictures she already unloaded several books and cds from their proper place, and now she decided to help me with the laundry.
The first pictures are from us looking at the Ipad.
She LOVES this as well! If you are looking at it she puts down whatever she is doing and bee lines it for your lap. If you don't pick her up right away she huffs and laughs to get you to look at her and then she gives a big grin to be picked up. I am in for it when she can find it on her own.
She is starting to eat more variety of solid foods.
Every time she eats something that previously she detested I do a little happy dance in my head.
She still takes a bottle about three times a day, once in the morning, mid- day and right before bed. I have got to start weaning her from that mid-day one.
She claps, waves and can say "Hi." She has started making the sounds of "mamama" and "dadada", but does not yet associate them with Justin or I.
She has gotten much better at drinking from a sippy cup.
She is getting close to standing independent of anything and I think she will be walking soon.
She loves going to story time and when Justin gets home from work.
She is still pretty much up to letting anyone hold her. One of Justin's good friends has a beard and she is fascinated by that. They are good buddies.
Her hair is getting longer, but doing anything with it is about ridiculous.
She throws her head back if I try to touch it.
I can't believe she is this old already and I am grateful I get to be home with her each day to watch her change and grow.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Garbage Can Triumph
I started teaching a workout class for some ladies in our ward last week. This morning marked the third day of instruction and Natalie and I made our way to the church for set up.
Natalie has been really great the last couple of times, mostly just sitting and playing with toys that other kids have brought. This morning she was still great, but chose to be a little more mobile.
At one point during the workout, when I wasn't watching
she had made her way to the small garbage can in the corner.
she had made her way to the small garbage can in the corner.
I didn't catch a glance of her until the garbage can was tipped over and
she was happily chewing on something with her mouth.
She was in the the process of reaching for another fistful of the contents that were strewn about her when I saw what was going on.
she was happily chewing on something with her mouth.
She was in the the process of reaching for another fistful of the contents that were strewn about her when I saw what was going on.
I quickly ran over and stopped her fun as I removed a bubble gum wrapper from her mouth.
She was disappointed that I had caught her, but still quite pleased with how far
she had gotten in the garbage can.
She really is very good at entertaining herself during the class, next time
I will remember to put the garbage can up on a chair.
This moving thing adds another level to mothering.
I love my girl and she is ten months old now! I really should get the ten month post done.
Happy Monday everyone.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Consistent Quiet
I have thoroughly enjoyed the last few days of quiet and simple structure. I didn't even realize I was missing them, until they came. The month of December through us off our schedule and did not leave much time to just be us.
On our normal days Natalie and I try to get out in the mornings with various activities such as story time, play group, or the new workout class I began teaching this week. Our afternoons are filled with nap time, story book reading and lots of pulling things off the shelf while we play. I will let you guess which one of us is pulling things off the shelf.
Justin has also been home every night this week some where around the five o'clock hour. This rarely happens, but has brought another pleasant stable element. Natalie gets so excited when he walks in the door. I guess opposites in life make you appreciate both sides. December is fun and exciting but January is great in a very different way.
One more plus to this week, my two favorite shows are back on! I hardly ever watch television, except for "The Biggest Loser" and "Downton Abby". I can't wait to see who is able to loose the most weight and how Mary will carry on with the death of Matthew. I just hate the fact that Matthew is gone.
One funny story to end on. I made a pan of brownies on Monday to fulfill a craving I have had for a while. Tuesday afternoon I cut up a little more than half of the pan and bagged them up to put in the freezer so that we didn't eat a whole pan of brownies this week. Tuesday evening Justin went to get a brownie out of the pan and saw that the majority of them were gone. He asked me with great concern in his voice, "Did you eat all of these brownies?" Before I had a chance to respond, "Are you doing ok?"
I got a kick out of his sincere concern that his wife ate her feelings. Glad I have an observant husband.
Happy first full week of January. There are only three of them left!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
On our normal days Natalie and I try to get out in the mornings with various activities such as story time, play group, or the new workout class I began teaching this week. Our afternoons are filled with nap time, story book reading and lots of pulling things off the shelf while we play. I will let you guess which one of us is pulling things off the shelf.
Justin has also been home every night this week some where around the five o'clock hour. This rarely happens, but has brought another pleasant stable element. Natalie gets so excited when he walks in the door. I guess opposites in life make you appreciate both sides. December is fun and exciting but January is great in a very different way.
One more plus to this week, my two favorite shows are back on! I hardly ever watch television, except for "The Biggest Loser" and "Downton Abby". I can't wait to see who is able to loose the most weight and how Mary will carry on with the death of Matthew. I just hate the fact that Matthew is gone.
One funny story to end on. I made a pan of brownies on Monday to fulfill a craving I have had for a while. Tuesday afternoon I cut up a little more than half of the pan and bagged them up to put in the freezer so that we didn't eat a whole pan of brownies this week. Tuesday evening Justin went to get a brownie out of the pan and saw that the majority of them were gone. He asked me with great concern in his voice, "Did you eat all of these brownies?" Before I had a chance to respond, "Are you doing ok?"
I got a kick out of his sincere concern that his wife ate her feelings. Glad I have an observant husband.
Happy first full week of January. There are only three of them left!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning
What our Christmas Eve looked like before putting Natalie to bed
You like the shake weight Justin won at a white elephant gift exchange?
He is excited to get super toned arms with it.
Justin was reading a John Deere 'Johnny Popper' story to us.
It was a gift from my parents for Natalie and Justin.
He then read from the Bible the story about the first Christmas.
After Natalie went to sleep we watched "It's a Wonderful Life." I had not seen it in quite a long time and thoroughly enjoyed it. I do believe life really is wonderful! Especially at Christmas time.
Lastly,
Santa made it!
Christmas Morning
Natalie enjoyed ripping the paper.....
and some chocolates, and then she headed off to do her job for the day of unloading the DVD's
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Nine Months in December
 |
| These pictures were supposed to go with her nine month post, but were still on the camera when I found time to do it. I feel like they capture several of the faces she commonly makes these days. It is definitely getting harder to get her to hold still for my slow old camera to snap the picture. |
Trick or Treat
No this is not a trick, and some of you may find it a treat. I know these are a bit late, but needed to include them for family history purposes. I think this may be a new tradition because we have done it the last two years. Dinner and carving pumpkins in October, with our good friends Garrett and Nicole.
Three little pumpkins right in a row....
Pretty sure at this point she tried to eat it.
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Three little pumpkins right in a row....
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Hymns in the Morning
We had church at 9 a.m. today, and let me tell you, I appreciated it more than I ever have before.
Natalie was a very happy girl.
Last year when church ran right through her nap time, we had some tough church meetings.
It was also relief to look at the clock at noon and be headed home.
We had some wonderful meetings today and how grateful I am to be able to live in a country where we have freedom of religion.
Yesterday we went and looked at a a house.
It was old,rather large, and the floors were uneven.
The rest of the homes we planned to go look at on Monday all have offers on them already.
This home searching thing can be a bit discouraging in a rising market with not a huge budget to work with anyways.
It is definitely going to be a test of my patience.
We got blizzards after we were done, which made it all worth it.
Did you know that there is a blizzard of the month club at Dairy Queen?
Yeh, I know, I just made your day.
If you sign up for the club you get a buy one get one free coupon every month or something.
I still need to sign up for it.
We are looking forward to the first full week in January.
I will be busily preparing a Gospel Doctrine lesson for church next week.
No big deal, it is just ward conference. Yikes! Wish me luck!
Friday, January 3, 2014
Positive People are Happy People.... Goals for 2014
I have never loved New Year's quite like I do this year. I truly felt inspired as I read many people's facebook posts New Year's Eve and Day. I love the fact that so many people do truly want to become better people.
I have always been a goal oriented person and try to set out things for myself to accomplish. Last year though, it was a little hard to do this with having a new baby. My goal was to keep my baby and myself alive and try to maintain a bit of order in things, mostly because I had no idea what to expect. This year, I feel like I have a little bit of vision on what things I would like to improve on.
Looking back over the years, I love to see how my goals have changed. This year they are different than ever before. I gained my inspiration for personal change from a fellow blogger who sets forth a word as her resolution each year. She uses this word to guide her daily living and more actively incorporate it into her life.
My word to guide my goals for 2014 is actually two words, Being Positive..... or any that go with it such as happy, uplifting, higher, joy, contentment, rejoice, etc.
I want to be a more positive person in all the situations I face in life so that others, especially my family can enjoy their lives. I am slowly realizing the truth of the saying, "When momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I want to take my role and responsibility of controlling the atmosphere of the home seriously. I will make a conscious effort to be in control of my emotions and words in hopes of steering them to a positive directions, rather than wallowing in the negative.
Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Goals for year that fall under these words of working to be positive and happy are
1. More focus in my prayers, scripture study and preparing for my Sunday School lesson.
2. Run a 10k and a 5k
3. Serve one person a day
4. Be more consistent in sticking with my envelope budget system. (You can read more about that here)
5. Take 30 minutes a day to read about or practice about topics I am interested in.
Some include:
5,000 Year Leap (Book about Government I am reading)
Health & Nutrition
Essential Oils
Writing
Parenting
Cooking/Baking
(To fulfill this one today I made bread by hand. This is my first time doing it and I learned a lot in preparing to do so. It was a relief that it turned out great, and actually better than when I make it with my mixer. Maybe it will be my new practice?)
So far my word and goals for this year are off to a great start. New Years day I was tired and there was much to do, but I worked very hard mentally to keep myself happy, calm and upbeat. Where as normally I would have snapped and said some unkind things because everything didn't happen exactly how I had planned. In return for my efforts we had a a great day of looking at homes and spending time together as a family. No one went to bed unhappy that night.
Here we go 2014!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
I have always been a goal oriented person and try to set out things for myself to accomplish. Last year though, it was a little hard to do this with having a new baby. My goal was to keep my baby and myself alive and try to maintain a bit of order in things, mostly because I had no idea what to expect. This year, I feel like I have a little bit of vision on what things I would like to improve on.
Looking back over the years, I love to see how my goals have changed. This year they are different than ever before. I gained my inspiration for personal change from a fellow blogger who sets forth a word as her resolution each year. She uses this word to guide her daily living and more actively incorporate it into her life.
My word to guide my goals for 2014 is actually two words, Being Positive..... or any that go with it such as happy, uplifting, higher, joy, contentment, rejoice, etc.
I want to be a more positive person in all the situations I face in life so that others, especially my family can enjoy their lives. I am slowly realizing the truth of the saying, "When momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I want to take my role and responsibility of controlling the atmosphere of the home seriously. I will make a conscious effort to be in control of my emotions and words in hopes of steering them to a positive directions, rather than wallowing in the negative.
Psalms 118:24 "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."
Goals for year that fall under these words of working to be positive and happy are
1. More focus in my prayers, scripture study and preparing for my Sunday School lesson.
2. Run a 10k and a 5k
3. Serve one person a day
4. Be more consistent in sticking with my envelope budget system. (You can read more about that here)
5. Take 30 minutes a day to read about or practice about topics I am interested in.
Some include:
5,000 Year Leap (Book about Government I am reading)
Health & Nutrition
Essential Oils
Writing
Parenting
Cooking/Baking
(To fulfill this one today I made bread by hand. This is my first time doing it and I learned a lot in preparing to do so. It was a relief that it turned out great, and actually better than when I make it with my mixer. Maybe it will be my new practice?)
So far my word and goals for this year are off to a great start. New Years day I was tired and there was much to do, but I worked very hard mentally to keep myself happy, calm and upbeat. Where as normally I would have snapped and said some unkind things because everything didn't happen exactly how I had planned. In return for my efforts we had a a great day of looking at homes and spending time together as a family. No one went to bed unhappy that night.
Here we go 2014!
Justin and Ruth Blazzard
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