christmas cookies | white chocolate + dried cranberries

This morning after trimming our tree, the kids helped me make Christmas Cookies. They watched and begged for cookie dough while I mixed ingredients and said, "just a moment, please!" over and over again. Two years ago while we were in Alaska still, the young women thought they were being stealthy ding-dong-ditchers and left some delectable cookies on our stoop. I never got that mysterious recipe (no one knew where those particular cookies came from), but I've never forgotten how delicious they were. This year, thanks to the famous pinning website, I discovered a recipe that was oh-so-similar. I gave it a shot, altering just a couple things. The review I give this recipe is 5 out of 5 stars, and Mont, Mister Picky Pants, even ate them with the craisins. I couldn't believe how many he wanted, I was so pleased.

Word of advice: double it if you intend to share! These cookies I made in the pictures are very small; about an inch and a half in diameter. Bite size! Only made about 3 1/2 dozen of these small cookies.

Here is the recipe for all my sweet Instagramers who requested it. And for my own future reference: 

3/4 c salted butter, softened

3/4 c light brown sugar

1/4 c granulated sugar

1 extra large egg

2 t vanilla extract

2 c all-purpose flour

2 t cornstarch

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

3/4 c white chocolate chips

1/2 c dried cranberries (craisins)

•line an ungreased cookie sheet(s) with aluminum foil, set aside. 

•with a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and sugars together on medium speed until fluffy and light in color. Mix in egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides when needed. Then on a lower speed, mix in the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries. 

•preheat oven to 350ºF. Drop balls of dough onto cookie sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the bottom edges. Remove and let cool on the cookie sheet, then transfer to cooling rack. 

•wait until cookie sheets are cool before dropping the new cookie dough balls onto them, or drop them right before you're ready to put them in the oven. 

I don't often stray from my favorite cookies, but these are a home run, slam-dunk sort of cookie. My neighbor texted me twice saying she loved them, and Mont kept asking for more throughout the day - both are evidence enough for me to say these are a new favorite in this house! Now if only Mark were home to taste them too. I'm sure they won't last until Sunday. Oh well, guess I'll have to make more. 

A note about the plate in the pictures: 

This plate carried the very first batch of cookies I ever received from a neighbor, welcoming us to Frazier Street in Del Rio, TX. Her Grandmother used to paint plates, and this was one she never painted, but rather used to set her brushes on. To this day there are still smudges of old and forgotten colors, and I hope never to part with it. For me it signifies good values, kind women, sweet treats, and warm kitchens. It has been woven into my memories of military life, both stormy and sweet. Happy baking everyone, I dare you to make a neighbor smile with these sugary delights.

lets do one more

Take one: 

"Oh gosh. That can't go on Facebook! Cut it out! Who wants a chocolate kiss? 

First let's take a picture."

Take two: 

"Tha'll do pigs. Tha'll do." (I didn't really say that, but I bet my dad is smiling)

Today was one of those rare days I think to take a picture with the kids, so between Mont requesting to watch Monsters or eat candy, I seized my opportunity. 

Mom, the first pic is especially for you. Sorry.. :)

haste

                

A couple days after Emmy was born, I was feeling anxious about everything about to happen; the move, selling the house, moving a second time, etc, so I began to paint. What began was the turquoise sky and green grass, calming and relaxing. Today during the midday wind storm, Emmy napped and I brought down my brushes, filled a jar with water, sat down and took some deep breaths. Though this time I didn't continue with the same calm sky, I painted a feisty little honey bee. 

Both times however, this painting served as a relaxant for my nerves. Both times, the wet paint served me well. Today I let the bee do the hastening, while I curled up with my babies after nap time and just soaked them in with all the hugs and kisses they could handle. That's been happening a lot the last few days, and I throw a party over just about everything, just to rain even more Xs and Os all over my little two honey bees. 

eucalyptus sprig + peach

Just realized I never posted this on my blog. This is a painting I did in June for the Reeder Reunion. 

It was an 11 x 14 inch acrylic on canvas; bid on and won by Jacqueline Reeder who promises to "take care of it and look at it everyday." That made me smile!

Update** While cleaning out my emails while watching the news on this election night, I found what Mark had sent out to the Reeders. That made me smile too.. so for remembrance's sake:

Hello Reeders,

I just wanted to send out a picture of the painting that Jayci did.  I don't remember the exact dimensions but I do think it is a little wider than an 8x10.  Jayci won't talk about her talent much but I personally think that this is one of the finest paintings that she has done. Perfect for a kitchen and a little reminder of Peach Days and those Reeder Peach Queens (Marlene Monica and Bridget)!  I can just see them on those Peach Day floats now.  Elbow elbow wrist wrist wipe a tear kiss kiss Reeder girls!  We are sorry that we can't be there with you all.  I think we really are going to miss out on a good time, especially if you can get Mindy, Jennifer and Shelly to sing another rendition of the 1988 Reeder reunion favorite "I'm a little bit..little bit...little bit sad...little bit little bit little bit glad!"  If not, maybe some "Country Roads, take me home"?  Uncle Chris's homemade root beer out of a milk can is always a favorite of mine.  I am also sorry that I won't be there to crinkle my raffle tickets and again sweep all of the prizes like 1996.  Do you remember that?  I do.  Most of all, I will miss Uncle Dennis like I know you will too.  I love you Reeders.

Mark Reeder 

college football

Mark's Uncle Mike and Aunt Debi came to visit us! Well, okay, they came for the football. But it was fun having them over for dinner Friday night and then seeing them at the football game the next day. It was Emmy and Mont's first sports game ever, I believe and they both enjoyed it. We sat with the T-Birds in the visitors section and were so close to the cheerleaders that Emmy picked up a few new moves. SUU was up until the fourth quarter when UND scored two touchdowns for the win, 33/29. It was exciting! And really loud. The indoor stadium felt cozy and warm but really upped the volume with blazing music, announcers, and cheer squads. Crazy fun! Next time we go we'll probably be wearing green though... Unless its a game against SUU of course.

soundly sleeping

Thought I should give up an update on how this sweet boy is sleeping at night.... 

and sweet he has become when he gets all his sleep at night! 

We finally set up the good•nite nightlight on Sunday and since then, he's really done even better. He still cries for us a bit when we walk out of his room, but now that Mark is involved in the entire process, Mont doesn't mess around too much like he tried with me. Dads are good for that, aren't they? Good reinforcements. The video/audio monitor was doing good enough, helping me, but to help Mont, that night light really has done the trick. The last two nights he hasn't even made a sound through the night. Not one sound from bedtime until about 6:00. The night light turns into a sun at 6:20, so he will wait until it's bright yellow when he comes and tells us what happened and he leads us back in to show us. It has been miraculous. This morning he woke up at 5:45 and brought me in a diaper to change him. We're working on that whole process too.. So many fun things to work on. ha ha

I've even gotten a cold, the night of the trunk or treat, but with two good nights of sleep in a row, I'm feeling much better than I normally do 2 days into it. Yesterday, even with the cold, I woke up at 6:15 with so much energy, I cleaned out all our bathrooms and organized like crazy, did laundry, changed sheets, etc.. sleep does so much good for all of us, I'm amazed at the difference already!

(other sleep posts here and here)

ooooo.. spoooooky

It was another wonderfully chilly Halloween here in our neighborhood. They scheduled trick or treating for the Saturday night before Hallpween, which sort of threw me, but for the kids and Mark, it only meant more fun. It freed up our actual Halloween night to just attend our ward's trunk or treat in town. Here are my three spooks all dressed up. I had a costume ready to go, but the wig didn't work out, and without the hair, it wouldn't have been obvious... Defeating the whole purpose. I won dud award, and Mark won studliest award! Mont loved having his little fairy sidekick to trick or treat with this year, since last year she was passed out on our floor in her little cow get up; much more fun this year! And just to remember the fun, here is a picture with all our beautiful maple leaves scattered about. Happy Hallowen!

painting party

One neighbor has a birthday, another neighbor throws the little party, a third neighbor makes my favorite recipe which has become hers as well, and I am asked to put together a painting lesson of sorts. Done! 

To tell the whole story, I was a little nervous about teaching my neighbors, or anyone for that matter, the basics of painting.. When I paint, the mood is set with music of my choice, and the world is centered for those moments around the paint on my brush, and touching it delicately to the paper, letting it meld with the other colors around it. It's tranquility in its most productive form. 

What I forgot to realize about teaching friends/neighbors is that .. they're not children! They were able to focus and sit down and enjoy the relaxation while we talked softly and laughed at each other. It was far more enjoyable than I thought it ever could be. Taking a name from the recipe link above, we called ourselves "the coconut club" and we want to paint together weekly now. We probably won't be that lucky, but doing it many more times will be more than wonderful. 

And while on the subject of paintings.. last night I got the sweetest, most exciting package in the mail from a dear friend who I'm lucky enough to call family. A while back, she posted a painting she did when she was just, she said, messing around with her son's water colors! What she painted, I fell in love with. It reminds me of Julia Childs' love for food and silly phrases for some reason. The blending technique is beautiful and she really did a phenomenal job. I didn't know how to print it nicely or recreate it with her permission.. so I was a procrastinating, but I had a spot on my wall for whatever copy of it I could draft. What I was not expecting was to receive the original in a perfect white frame in the mail. The original! I love it so much. Thank you, Rachel!

sending in the reinforcements

Thank you for the comments and texts! Mont and I have been making progress little by little, night by night. Every night is a little better than the last, and last night when he came into my room all I had to do was tell him to go back to sleep on his pillow, quietly, and he did. Or at least I think he did. He may have ended up in the rocking chair that allows him to see down to our room, but I didn't check.. I was too tired!

So to check without moving, I've ordered a video (with two-way audio option) monitor to see if he's actually on his pillow, on the rocking chair or trying to talk Emmy awake. ha!

To reinforce the need to stay in bed until a reasonable time, I've also ordered the nightlight that stays a moon through the night and turns into a happy sun at a time I will set. I have high high hopes for these two purchases and hope that they will be worth it! Friends of mine have sworn by both, and I'm hopeful Mont will do even better with these.

Every night I've been sending Mark email after email of updates with every wake up and scenario that went down so that when he gets home tomorrow he'll have an idea of what has been going on and what's changed at night. I love his encouragement. If we can start getting proper sleep every night, I can't imagine how much energy we'll have during the day to do anything we have on our to-do lists! Last night was close to a good night's sleep for me, and I woke up so happy (even though it was at 5:00 am still - the nightlight is coming!) and full of energy. Glorious!

I feel bad during the night when I'm 'not nice,' but when I cheer him on in the morning and he gives me that tired crooked grin with hugs and kisses, it feels like it was all worth it. Can't stop now! I'm too close to getting a good night's rest!

(first sleep post here)

working on it

There are lots of things I'm working on these days. Remember my post of motherhood where I advised myself to enjoy everything good and bad because moments are fleeting? I could use a dose of that right now, but I can't wrap my head around anything other than my pajamas are still on, Mont's in his big boy underwear, and Emmy keeps pulling my fingers to guide me around any time I sit down to accomplish anything, and it's thundering outside, making it all a little better for me. Buckwheat still has to go out for his mid day jaunt, and it's already 2:47 in the afternoon. He doesn't want to go out in the rain, and neither to I.. my pjs would get cold.

I've avoided posting to facebook, because I enjoyed the feeling of being a little more private while we were in our own little family world the last few weeks, but now that we're home, the routines are going again and so are the old bits of fun.

Emmy is balancing on a cubby box turned sideways, playing dolls while Mont is resting his cup of vegetable-fruit juice on his rounded exposed juice-belly. (I don't typically give them juice, but it's even got Emergen-C in it, and half water - I'm such a scrooge)

This is a bunch of rambled thoughts, but it feels good to get them out here. Follow along if you will.

Mont has always been a terrible, terrible sleeper, waking up no less than 5 times a night, and sometimes upwards of 15 times a night. Emmy is a very sound sleeper in comparison, gently lulling back to sleep if ever she wakes up. Mark has been gone a few nights, and last night I thought I should take advantage of the remaining few nights so maybe we can get some quiet when he comes home. Maybe.

Last night when Mont woke up 10 minutes after I got to bed (I accidentally fell asleep on the couch after the debate for an hour) at 12:00 midnight. What commenced after that was something I'd happily forget if ever given the opportunity. I told him that I would tuck him in, but that I needed to go back to my bed. He would plead with me to stay with him and cry and scream when I started walking out. Every time he got out of bed, there was commotion, noise, and punishments of some kind. Emmy woke up from 12:30 to 2:30, wanting to be comforted herself, but she was still doing better than her big brother. Mont continued on this sleepless rampage until 4:10 when I think he cried himself to sleep on his bed.. I'm not sure, because I fell asleep at about 4:20, not getting to check on his location one last time.

I've read a few different 'reports' on toddlers being sleep trained today and what I've decided is that because I've started I have to follow through this now until he's done; hopefully it won't take more than a few nights, but knowing our luck it will take months. This morning I was even thinking about locking him in the upstairs bedroom where he can hash it out and climb into bed if he wanted to, without disturbing Emmy or us too much. However, with his screaming he could wake up our neighbor's dead cousin.

Another thing I've picked up from my 'studies' today have been to stay really, really boring, and go back to their room with them over and over and over and over again. And again. It will be another night of no sleep for me, but I'm hoping he will be a little more quiet. Did I mention I got less than 3 hours of sleep in my bed last night? I'm not counting the nap I got on the couch (but thank goodness I did get that!).

Another thing I'm working on are my pictures.. I have too many on my computer, that it is so full, and can barely upload any more from my camera card. I am working on putting my pictures together in iphoto books, but then I still have to move the photos to the external hard drive, then it will be on to uploading the SD card!

I'm lucky my 'problems' are so minuscule.. but today, when I'm tired they seem monstrous! So here I sit, writing these thoughts down wondering if anyone with tips will stumble across this and bestow all their child know-how upon me through comments! :)

** for the Autumn in Washington - white won for me **

personal space

This giraffe knows of no such thing; though, we didn't mind.

But then all the sudden, the hay was gone - then we cared. It had only lasted one dang tongue-swipe! Poor kid.

(at the Montgomery, AL zoo a couple weeks back)

Autumn in Washington

On Instagram just a few minutes ago, I posted these two options for a shadow box project I can't decide on. I'm leaning more to the white one personally, but I still love the wooded one as well..

boots were made for playing

My mom and I took the kids to the park today after our early dinner and it just was not a day that Mont wanted to stay clean through. He worked right through the gravel like he was a cowboy mucking out stables. Those poor boots! I nearly cried for them, he on the other hand, was absolutely oblivious to the fact. Oh to be a child again. (or a cowboy).  I have a plan in place to brush up and polish them back to their former glory.. good thing they're boots that can take it. I'm sure it won't be the last time!

donuts on the pier

The kids and I flew into Sea-Tac this past Saturday and have been enjoying the cooler temps of the pacific northwest at my parent's home. Mark is finishing up his SOS training so we thought we'd distract my parents instead! It has been absolutely perfect weather, while still being able to enjoy the changing colors of the leaves. This morning we awoke to thick drizzly fog surrounding everything, but instead of drowning our sunshine-y spirits it just added to the excitement of the changing seasons as we set out for Pao's Donuts and Titlow Beach. Mont just kept singing a new spooky song my Mom taught him on the piano this morning, so it felt like September has already stepped into October! Mont devoured his own, then Emmy's sprinkle donut and I hit my limit after a maple bar and halfway through an apple fritter. Later I'll enjoy the rest, piled on with a buttermilk; that is, if Mont doesn't get to it first!

Nauvoooooo

[On our way from North Dakota to Alabama, we stopped here in Nauvoo for some fun]
[August 8-10]

the oxen - Mont and I wanted to keep them.

                      

 

still running like no tomorrow

                       

 

Mont was lulled by the clopping of the horses' hooves on the pavement.
It may have been the calmest 45 minutes of this entire trip so far.
Maybe we do need to move to Nauvoo after all.. :)

No one knows quite where her curls came from. I hope they never leave!

This was Elder Heaton (a cousin of the one we know Mom and Dad - small world)

not bad for a self timed shot! I ran and scooped up Mont, cowboy boots and all for this picture.

We stayed inside the old old Temple House, converted into the Woodruff Hotel.

It was really fun to stay somewhere that had been visited by Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. 

I thought it was beautiful inside, but the squeaky hardwood floors had been covered up.

Family photo flops: 

We handed our camera off a few times for family pictures, and every time I apparently forgot to switch settings or something.. cause every one of them is a flop!

And these people never told us when they were taking pictures! Just kept talking to us and saying,
"oh! good one. Oh! Good one." Well... better luck next time. My favorite is Emmy's belly shot - baby bellies are just SO squishy.

playground gang

When the car doors open, and the kids are unbuckled, 

there is a silent gunshot that goes off signaling to the kids that play time has begun. 

Just like wild colts through a broken gate, they galloped off to separate areas to romp and raise havoc (throwing bark or acorns, barking at nearby dogs, shouting and hollering, laughing and sliding (though, I must admit, that was all mostly my children..)). 

There were a couple moments of congregating on the yellow bus and at the swings; though, even that was too short lived. 

Last week was spent with some of our very best friends, the Chals, whom we had as neighbors in pilot training 6 years ago. It had even been that long since we'd seen one another. Yet, somehow it only felt like mere days had passed and we all had a ball. Mont and Cohen were the only ones to have it out most times, until of course, the last few hours of our stay when they calmly sat down and played cars together talking and giggling all nicely... finally.

Thankfully, we're driving Southbound again tomorrow. More time to party!

Pensacola Beach

Sunday, the day after we drove down, we took a drive down to the famous Pensacola Beach where the sand sparkles just like sugar and the water splashes like liquified gems. We tried to get these friends to one of our church services, but we failed miserably, not only did the military branch not meet at that particular building (just the offices were there), but the 9:00 ward let out early to prepare for Hurricane Isaac. With no clouds in sight, we decided to venture out and tickle our toes in the cool salty water. It was truly heaven with heat.

The lovely Chal family (Nate, Caila, Chandler Kate, and Cohen). Don't their names sound so nice together??

[from Nate's iPhone] Mark not feelin' the love :)

[Nate's iPhone] this little splash surprise got sand everywhere.. looks all nice and innocent here though!

"you going to draw those pistols or whistle Dixie?"

Crazy is as crazy does. When he puts these boots on, there's no holding still for this kid. 

Here's the rough rider in action. Every day he wears these boots, he gets several questions or comments about them. Lots from older weathered men saying, "Those are some fine boots there, son" or "Howdy, cowboy." Mont just lifts up a foot and says, "Those are my cowboy boots. I love 'em." with a big ole grin on his face. Grandpa Judd knew just what to get this little cowpolk for his birthday last month. I love 'em too, Mont Man.