The best oatmeal cookies!

The recipe I've been using would leave my cookies really fluffy and sort of dry. Not good. So I went on a search for chewy oatmeal cookies. Tried the first one I found and it was perfect. I'm in love! I made another double batch last night. Everyone's addicted. So I thought I'd share with you...

2 1/4 C Flour (I use bread flour...cause that's all I had :) )
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Salt
1 C Shortening (I use Butter Flavored Crisco)
1 1/4 C Brown Sugar, Packed
1/2 C Granulated Sugar
2 Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 tsp Water
1 1/2 C Oats
2 C Raisins

Stir flour, baking soda, and salt in bowl. Cream shortening with sugars until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, vanilla and water. Slowing stir in flour mixture. Stir in oats and raisins. Drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookies sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 12 mins.
Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

So my son is in love with tunnels. Everything is about tunnels. And a tunnel, according to Colton, is anything that goes over his head. A blanket, mom's legs, a chair, his train tent...anything! He loves to put the blankets over his head and latley that's the only way he'll fall asleep...in his tunnel. Crazy to me cause I HATE having anything over my head! The only problem is he can't seem to get the blankets over his head the way he wants. So he will either come ask us to "tunnel" him or flip out and throw things! Yes, he's 2 1/2!! So all day I spend putting a blanket over him so he can play in the tunnel...or putting his chocolate milk (which is really just white milk...shhhh!) in the tunnel with him! Today he decided it would be great to put sissy in the tunnel with him. She thought it was a blast too...of course Colton could be spitting on her and she'd think it was grand...as long as he's paying attention to her she doesn't mind!

Speaking of sissy...how do babies know when mom's about to eat? What is it? Both my kids were like this. I'll lay her down for a nap, take a shower and then start to make a sandwich and she cries. Never fails! I eat with her in my arms...and she's trying to grab at whatever I'm eating. Crazy thing!!

We've been placing bets when she'll crawl. Colton crawled at 6 months...right after he started sitting on his own. She hates to be on her tummy though. She will sit and try and reach for a toy and topple over, ending up on her tummy and scream and holler for me to come help her! I say another month, Andrew says 2 weeks. We'll see!

I think Colton is afraid of Elly when she cries. The slightest whimper and he will run and hide. Seriously. It's very strange! He will hide under the table or chair or just run into his room. Even if she's not crying because of something he did...which is what I thought was happening at first. And she thinks it's hilarious when he cries! I made him try a bite of a carrot last night and he was crying and she was just cracking up at him. Then he got all upset and yelled at her to "stop funny me" translation...stop laughing at me. LOL

I need to wrap this up because Colton wants to watch a "Colton movie". He's in love with the web camera! We will talk to my mom on MSN and she has her web cam on and we have ours on. So it's just like talking on the phone but you can see each other and it's free. He's ask to talk to Nana first and she's usually at work so then he wants to watch himself! Silly boy!

I have just a couple photos to share. I ended up not doing the 2nd take of Christmas photos today. Too lazy to drag everything out again!! But I got a couple snapshots of the kids.

Enjoy your evening!!!

We have teeth!!

Yep, my little girl has her first two teeth!! I've been trying to get a photo of them but no luck yet. So far she hasn't bitten me while eating...fingers crossed it stays that way! I was talking about it at my last La Leche League meeting and they helped ease my fears a little. Especially the women with 2+ year old children still breastfeeding.

Another fun milestone for Ellyana. She had her first bites of solid foods! Banana!! I was very reluctant to start solids with her. I wanted to stay her only source of nutrients for a little longer. But she was showing a lot of the signs....lunging at my food while I ate....sitting up alone....TEETH....chewing motions....so we decided to give it a try. So loves them! Next we are trying Sweet Potato. Here are some photos of her second time eating...

Oh and these are from the other night. Super cute!!

I took some Christmas photos of the kids today but I'm not very happy with them so I think I'll do another session later this week.

We went to Gymboree on Tuesday. I have a Leader Applicant meeting for La Leche League Friday so we went Tue instead. It was Family Gym day. So there were lots of little kids and some bigger ones too. Colton had a blast. He was very OCD that day though. Some one had taken the little foamy shapes and mixed them up. Colton was very angry. He got them and matched the shapes and colors back up and then guarded them for a good 5 mins! LOL And then, a boy had the oddasity to use the basket balls for something OTHER than basketball!! LOL He grabbed the ball out of the kids hand and put it in the hoop! I had many talks with him that day about not taking things out of people's hands. But he's learning and it's good to keep him interacting with other kids. This will be our last month there for a while though. With the weather getting worse I don't want to have to risk it.

I only have one LO to share today. This photo is 2 years old but I love it. It reminds me of many good things. It was taken at my Grammy and Poppa's house before my Grammy passed away. I took it with my FILM Canon camera! Look how little he was *sniff*!

My friend Andrea posted this on her blog and I want to do it as well. I think it's important to remember the good/positive things in my life. And seeing them on "paper" makes it that much better!
So, here are 10 Things I'm Greatful For....
1. My children. I have been blessed with incredibly beautiful, healthy children.
2. My husband. He knows me better than anyone. He knows all the good and bad things about me and still loves me for me. He's my best friend and my soul mate!
3. MY good health. One of my biggest fears is not being able to care for my family.
4. My husband's mechanical abilities! I'll never have to take a vehicle to a shop as long as he's around!!
5. My family. Everyone from my mom who is always there when I need her, to my sister in law who keeps me laughing and sane, to my mother in law who has taught me to sew and given us a roof to live under. Everyone in our family has helped us so much and has a very special place in our hearts.
6. Chocolate. Because on some days (like today) you might think you might just rip your hair out and chocolate saves the day! Come on, you know what I'm talking about!!!
7. My camera. I love that thing! It helps me capture those precious (and hilarious) moments in my family's life that I never want to forget.
8. Ellyana's snuggles. She will wrap her little arms around me and squeeze...sometimes it does hurt...but it's so very sweet!!
9. Colton's sense of humor. He cracks me up all day long with the things he says.
10. The fact that my children never ever go hungry.

Have a wonderful evening!!!!!!

Morning!!

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. Our's was nice. Long but nice!! I swear, next year we are just having pizza though! Too much work for me! LOL

So I'll just start with some LOs...since that's the way I uploaded everything and I'm too lazy to rearrange!

This is a Advent Calendar

Colton loves to change the numbers everyday! He's so pumped up about Christmas and Santa!

This is for the Blog Challenge over at ES. We did a photo swap. This is Erin (snazzy)'s little guy. Isn't he cute?!

{Goofy Boy}

Man this was forever ago!!

{Snow Buddies}

{Beginning}
{Just Me}

{Shawna Mama}

{Bowl Head}

{Baby Girl}

{My Favorite Flower}

{Just Colton}

{Adventure}

{Colton's First Christmas}

{5 Months}

Things have been pretty busy around here! Elly's now 6 months old! She had her well baby check up and is 15 lbs even and 26 1/5" tall. She's already into size 6-9 month clothes. Her growth is so much different than Colton's! She's 2 lbs heavier than he was at this age. She outgrows clothes muuuch faster! Anyhow, she's healthy and perfect! (Like we didn't know that already!). Colton went with us (Daddy had to work) and he was so mad at the nurse for "hurting sissy!". He cried longer than Ellyana did!

Juli cleaned out her room for the kids and now it's a playroom/sewing room. Colton loves it! I'll have to take some photos and share them. It's much nicer for all of us too because now the toys aren't all over the house.

A few weeks ago Joe and Elissa (Andrew's dad and little sister) came down to see us for the day. It was a great visit. Colton and Elissa played so hard! He was pooped by the end of the day!!! Here are some photos from their visit...

The kids eating Cheetos

Sleepy Elly and Poppa Joe

Goodbye hugs

Father and Son Hugs from Auntie Elissa!

(right after this they kissed and Colton wipes his mouth ans says "GROSS!!" LOL)

A close up of Andrew...I just love this photo of him!!!

The kids and I the other day

Goofy Colton with rings on his face!!! He does this to himself all the time!

And sweet Elly!!!

Well I better go. Colton's asking for eggs and toast! Have a great weekend!

My Stand Up and Scrap Layouts!!

So I only did 5 out of the 6 LOs! LOL The 6th just did not inspire me and I didn't want to do a LO that my whole heart wasn't into, know what I mean? But I love the 5 that I did do! I'll share them with you and then I'm going to put them up in my galleries over the next few days.

I was #17069!

Week 1 {My Dream}

Journaling Reads

When I was a little girl and people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up I always said a mommy. I have been blessed with two of the most beautiful children and not to mention one amazing and loving husband. But one day, when I’m not needed as much from my family, I dream of opening my own photography business. I love taking photos. My poor kids always have a camera in their faces. Ahh...to be a professional photographer.....

Credits::::

Background paper--Blog buds By Gina MillerFlower--Perfectly Pastel Cottage Breeze By Gina MillerBack Splash--Stand Up and Scrap Mega Kit By Susan Bartolini"One Day" alpha--Beaded Alpha By Kimberly GiarrusoString Closure--Stand Up and Scrap Mega by Heather RoselliDark grunge border--Zoo Crop Freebie By Lauren GrierWhite grunge border--Absolutely By Lauren Grier"Dream Big" stamp--Express Yourself By Shabby PrincessDistressed Stamp--Skippy DoDa By Lauren GrierHeart Cluster--Heart Freebie By Lauren GrierRed Bow--Grayson By Lauren Grier"Dream" Alpha--Punky Mom By Lauren GrierBubble Wrap Stamp--By Emily MerrittFont--Pea Gretchie

Week 2 {How Sweet it is}

Credits:::

Pink Paper-Express Yourself-Shabby PrincessStriped Paper-Curly Cutie-Melanie ColosimoGrunge Flower Paper-SUAS-Christina Renee3 Squares Papers-Skippy Do Da-Lauren Grier"Sweet" alpha-Punky Mom-Lauren GrierGrunge Border-Lauren GrierTied Ribbon Wrapper-Christina ReneeBlue Flower-Urban Buds-Christina ReneeShooting Stars-Christina ReneeScratchy Paint Alpha-Gina MillerAlpha-SUAS-Gina Marie Huff

Week 3 {What a Beautiful Mess}

Journaling at the top reads::

"Getting a photo of the 3 of us is impossible!"

Then by the photos...

"Over here guys"

"Ummm....Elly?"

"A good one of mom and Elly spits up!!"

"Is that you Colton?"

Credits::

Fonts are Pea Stacy Doodles Pea Steph Ra's Hand

Lauraskathi:: BG Paper, Bow, Tag, Heart Jeni Cantrell:: Flower Kay Miller:: Flower Swirl, Scalloped Border, Flower Doodle, Felt Flower Shabby Princess:: Button Flower, Jeweled Flower Lauren Grier:: Staple, "What a" alpha Stand Up And Scrap Mega Kit:: Jell Flower, Screw Flower, Blue Flower, Stamp, Felt Flower, Swirl Flourish, Loopy Flower

Week 4 {Seeing Red}

Journaling reads:

You are so cute when you are mad. I can't help but smile at you.

Credits:

Black Paper, Red paper for alphas, and border by Lauren GrierRibbon Fastener, Glitter Spots by Christina Renee'Circle by Gina Marie HuffCardboard Tag By Robin CarltonBubble Wrap Stamp By Emily Merritt

Week 5 {Innocence}Everything by Christina Renee Designs

Thanks for looking!!!

I hate it when I'm behind!

I have a ton of LOs and a couple photos! My internet has been acting up latley so it takes forever to do anything, that is if the darn thing doesn't freeze up. Which reminds me...I was supposed to call the ISP today...oops!

We had a fun Halloween. I had gotten Colton a bee costume and Rebecca sent me a flower one for Elly. Well Colton didn't want anything to do with his. I have no idea why!! So Halloween night I decided to just put his Tigger jammies on him and paint his face. He loved it!! And Ellyana was just so darn cute!! I loved her costume. Thank you again Rebecca!!!!!

Here are some photos of my cuties!

Nothing super exciting has been happening here. Andrew's still chugging along with his 4Runner. He's got to get 2 bolts and then he can put the motor in. So fingers crossed that it all goes well! We can't wait to get it out in the snow and play.

In scrapping news....Sat was Digital Scrapbooking Day. So there were tons of sales and games and all kinds of fun all over the digi world. I went to a couple chats and scrapped like crazy! It was really fun.

Since I can't remember what CTs I've told you about I'll just give you the whole list!! LOL How's that!!

So, Elemental Scraps, Rebecca Gold (veryscrappy.com), Angela Niehaus (digitalcandy.ca), Faith True (oneofakindscraps.com), Isabella Mancini (sophiassarducci.com), Ziggle Designs (digitalcandy.ca, gottapixel.com and scrapoutsidethebox.com)

Then my Guest spots!!

Nov is

Heather Manning and April Staker

Dec is

Chere Kaye and Micheline Martin

Jan is

Lauren Grier!

Woo Hoo!!! I love all of them and am super excited!!!

So, ready for some LOs? I'm going to give you the link to my gallery and you can check out the credits and leave some love if you'd like http://www.elementalscraps.com/photopost/showgallery.php/cat/500/ppuser/12

Phew! LOL Ok, I better go get some dinner going. Have a great week!