Oatmeal-Nut Cookie

These are Dave's favorite cookies. He said "If I could only have five foods for the rest of my life it would be these cookies, Lime Tostitos, JackLinks Pepper Beef Jerky, Diet Mt. Dew and Lava Flows". He has asked me for these cookies for a long time now so since I am in a baking mood I made them.

These cookies are relatively healthy, supper yummy and easy to make.


Oatmeal-Nut Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs
3 cups old-fashioned oats, uncooked
1 1/2 cup walnuts (or whatever nuts you like)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Line cookie sheet with parchmant paper. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking soda and salt.
2. In a large bowl, with mixer at medium speed, beat sugars and butter until creamy. Beat in vanilla, then eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. At low speed, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until blended, occasionally scraping the bowl. Stir in walnuts.
3. Drop dough by heaping tablespoons, 2 inches apart. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and ENJOY.

"Darn" Salad Dressing

We really like eating salads, especially during the summer. Its an easy way of getting lots of yummy veggies all in one meal and it also helps me loose that baby weight ( I have WAYS to go).

The name of this salad dressing came from my mother-in-law. She was getting so tired of making it that one day she said, "Damn Salad Dressing" as she was making it. It was really funny since she is not one to talk that way. Anyway, we really like this dressing and it makes salads so YUMMY! Hope you like it too.


"Darn" Salad Dressing:

In a jar mix:

1/2 cup Olive Oil
3 Tbsp Lemon juice
1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
10 drops Tabasco sauce

I generally make double the recipe and add a lot more pepper than it calls for. Its very easy and really good. I also like to "spice up" my salad by adding fresh basil.

Sun Valley 2008

For the last three years we have been going to Sun Valley Idaho with Dave's family. It has been a treat and something all the grandkids look forward too. Dave's parents, Al and Karen, Dave's brother Bob and his family (Amy, Max, Jake and Ryan), Dave's sisters Carmen, who lives in London, Karalee and her family (Sean, Nicholas and Alex), Sarah and her family (Dave, Megan and Maddison) and of course US, were all able to go. It was really a fantastic time up there. First we kicked off the festivities with the Spudman. It was an exciting time (even though I was unable to physically be there to watch them cross the finish line). When the Spudman was all one we headed up to Sun Valley were "we" rent two condos and just hang out.


Some of the fun things we did year:


* Went to Red Fish Lake (above). It was BEAUTIFUL (the weather that day not so much). Its shallow for quite a ways and the kids loved to "explore" and try to catch some fish with the nets Aunt Amy purchased. Uncle Bob brought his "duckie" so a few of them rode on that. It was just beautiful.

* The pool, of course. Most of the kids love the water and have a great time playing together. The three older cousins, Max, Meggie and Jake, are all really good swimmers so they had some "relay" races with Uncle Dave P. and Uncle Sean. Dave P. showed us his "cork screw" swim style... you have to see it to understand.

* Played games, which is always fun. I enjoy playing card games with them, even though I hardly ever win. However, it is always fun to beat Al (which I did, once) since he plays all the time.

* Wii was a new adventure for us this year up there and we all had a great time playing Wii Sports, especially Dave T. Dave also took his Xbox so several of them had a great time playing Call of Duty late into the night.

* We are a lot of yummy food. Aunt Sarah puts the menu together and cook for everybody. I helped just a little and I have a great time hanging out with her.


* Watching the kids all play so nicely together is always one of the best parts of the trip for me. Family ties them together. They all rode their bikes all over the condos and had a great time. A few of them went ice skating (never again for my kids, its a ripoff), it was fun to watch them.


* The last day we all take family pictures by one of the many ponds. Its a great opportunity and helps us remember how our families are all growing.

It really was a great time. Can't wait to do it next year! Thanks to Al and Karen for a great time!!!!


These are some cute pictures of Leah at Red Fish Lake. The water was pretty cold but she didn't care. She loved it!


Mylo looking so cute at the "beach". He played in the sand almost the whole time there, only to look up a few times to say "cheeeese".


(I know I went a little crazy with the collages... hope you like them anyway)

Tagged...

3 Joys: my family, reaching/completing my goals, laying on the beach

3 fears: earthquakes, loosing a child, THE DARK!

3 goals: be a good mom that has patience and teaches my kids all that is good, run a marathon, finish the B of M.

3 obsessions: I'm a little embarrassed to admit this but... reality T.V., blogging, not staying home (my mother-in-law said I am not a stay at home mom, because I am always going out... totally true!)

3 random facts: I was a certified nail technician in FL, I love hair and I want to go to beauty school, I LOVE LOVE to dance to spanish music like merengue and salsa.

3 tags: Adriel, Melissa, Wendy

Spudman 2008

Dave and a few of his family members (Carmen, Karalee, Sean, Sarah and Dave P.) did the Spudman Triathlon on July 26. After much training they were all able to complete it. I am so proud of all of them. Dave trained a lot and although I was unable to be at the finish line I am impressed with this great accomplishment. You can read more about Dave's experience on LionsEastingBananas.com.


Sarah, Karalee and Carmen (holding her award). WAY TO GO LADIES!!!

Dave's sister, Carmen, got "Most Inspirational" award. She was in the run part of the race when someone came up to her and told her she was the most inspirational. How cool is that? I was "inspired" by her and by all. I hope to join them next year. Way to go to all of them!!! (I wish I had a picture of all of them together...)

Happy B-day to ME!!!!

We have been out of town, with Dave's family, for the last week. It was a great trip, a detailed post soon to come. We arrived home last night and I was greeted by a SUPER clean house, Thank you Tomat for that awesome awesome gift. Also I was greeted with this fun sign on my drive way. (I couldn't see it until this morning).



What a great idea, Thanks Tiff!

The truth is that we didn't do anything exciting for my b-day... we just drove home for like 10 hours! We stopped several times for potty breaks, a LOOOONG lunch, feeding Milli and best of all a tour of the New Twin Falls Temple. The kids got to go in and that was really neat.

10 Things we love about our MOM!

Happy B-day to our MOM, Lau! Hope you had a great day.

10 Things Dave loves about Lau:

1. I love the way you look at me.
2. I love your Oatmeal Cookies.
3. I love how you make the kids look so cute.
4. I love the way you try to include everyone.
5. I love your beautiful eyes, smile and hair.
6. I love your delicious meals... most of the time.
7. I love your skinny chicken legs.
8. I love you for helping us make time to spend together as a family.
9. I love that you get excited to see me come home.
10. I love you for allowing me to have time for me and my friends.

10 Things Leah loves about mom:

1. I love it when you talk to your friends.
2. I love it when you laugh.
3. I love it when you "be so nice".
4. I love it when you act funny.
5. I love it when you let me do my make-up.
6. I love it when you let me eat sprinkles.
7. I love it when we go on walks.
8. I love it when we watch fireworks.
9. I love it when you help ME make banana bread.
10. I love it when you let me have friends over.

10 Things Mylo loves about mom:

1. I love your brown eyes, cause they are just like mine.
2. I love it when you read to me.
3. I love it when you make me look cool.
4. I love it when you blow kisses to me.
5. I love it when you give me juice.
6. I love you because you give me hugs and kisses.
7. I love it when you let me have bubble baths.
8. I love it when we make cookies together.
9. I love it when you take me to the park.
10. I love it when you give a mo hawk.

10 Things Milli loves about mom:

1. I love mommy's
2. M
3. I
4. L
5. K
6. and
7. L
8. O
9. V
10. E