Spider Paranoia

It's hard to see, but in the middle of this picture is a spider that wove a big web in my car last night. I got in this morning and nearly ate it! ACK! I screamed and jumped back out. I explained to Zachery that I hate spiders and I was afraid of them (he wanted to know what was wrong). Was that wise? Who cares, I do hate them and am afraid.

Much to my horror, later today, again in my car, another spider was hanging in the open door as I got in at the grocery store. I screamed (a bit more calmly than earlier today due to other store patrons nearby) again and used my key to knock it down and stab it on the floor mat. Twice in one day, and both in the car! They are ganging up on me and I feel doomed to spider nightmares tonight.


On a brighter note, I came back into the kitchen the other day ("the other day" can mean any day from years ago, to yesterday) and Avery had reached over and grabbed my food and was digging in. :) She wants whatever we're having.

Yay for trying new foods!



I took the kids swimming and here is Avery- her first time swimming. She loved it!

Life, As it Happens

Here and there and everywhere. Sometimes that how life flies. Life is good and even when it gets crazy busy, it's still good. Here are some good times we have had lately.


Avery trying a pretzel rod at therapy. She gets to sit in a swing and try foods, sounds tough huh.

Zachery at said therapy, getting to play on whatever no one else is using. I'm so glad they're casual about this. Yay for Zach.

Zach is finally smiling at the camera when I say "cheese". I can see both Eric and I in his face.

Avery is a goof and Zach and I love to make wild hair do's in the tub.



Avery loves playing with Zach's Connect 4 game.

C is for Cookie

I got a delicious cookie recipe from a friend, Jan in Texas. The cookies I made last night and are a hit. Thank you! Here it is.

Natalie Scott’s Chocolate Chip Cookies

In your mixer, combine:
One stick of butter flavored Crisco (I use the pre-packaged kind...that way you always get the right measurement!)
2 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
Beat together until very light and fluffy (this is important!), then add:
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Heaping 1/2 cup quick oats
Heaping tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

Mix till just combined, then add 1 cup each of semi-sweet, white, and milk chocolate chips. ***You can really use any kind...today I used butterscotch chips because I'd run out of white. Also, for the semi-sweet I often use the Nestle chocolate chunks instead of chips. Mix the chocolate chips in well (but don't over mix). I use a Tablespoon to measure out chunks of dough and roll between the palms of my hands to make perfect balls. Place (don't push them down or squish'em) on an ungreased cookie sheet in a preheated 375 degree oven and bake 7-9 minutes.+ Remember what I said about undercooking them. You definitely don't want to see the tops browning. I end up doing 8 minutes with mine.

And voila! A bit undercooked; I then leave them on the sheet for at least 5 minutes where they actually bake a bit more, but at a cooler temperature obviously :) Cool completely on wax paper.

***We only like milk and white chocolate, so we just do half of each of those to total 3 cups.

+I bake for 10 minutes, sometimes 11 and then let them finish up for 5 minutes or so on the cookie sheet

Any other winning recipies, send them my way!

Small Things and Cookies

Eric has been working on a swing set for about 2 weeks now, and it's now done! Thank you Eric! and Avery for making it possible. :) I told Zachery that Avery was getting a swing set and wanted to share it with him. He said, "Aw, that's so nice!". :) Zach has been eagerly "helping" Eric build and he is loving it! If you're in the neighborhood, come on over and take a swing ride.

Avery is doing well, okay she has a small cold, but what else in new? She prefers to crawl, rather than to try walking, but I'm plugging away despite her protests.

Can a pillow be too big? I've been waking up with sore shoulders, for 2 months now. What is the deal? I'm thinking that it is a big pillow, so I'm going to try sleeping without. ...Yikes, now that's roughing it. ;) I hope it helps.

I want to have a chocolate chip cookie contest. Who has the best cookie recipe? Butter vs. margerine vs. crisco, brown or white sugar, what to do? If you think you have a winner, please email it or comment it! The winner gets.... a slight pooch belly from eating all the deliciousness. jk I'll post my favorite recipe, and I promise to try any recipies you send my way.

On another note, I saw some fireflies for the first time this year this last week! That's one thing I love about being east of the mississippi! :) It's the small things.

Botanical Gardens

Toledo has some great assets and the Botanicals Gardens is one of them. It is a beautiful, manicured gardens, and it's free!!!

Today, a friend and I went and walked the gardens and I loved it. I felt like I was walking in Jane Austen world, or an english garden. Anyhoo it did me good to breathe in the freshness (minus the geese-do).


Elizabeth Delap and Avery. Eli is such a good little helper and wanted to push Avery around all over.

Zachery loved chasing all the geese, hoping to catch one, but they ended up escaping to the pond.


After that, Eric came and we went to Red Robin, finally. I've been wanting to eat a yummy Red Robin burger for a month now (red meat!) and the bottomless steak fries you get with it. The bonzai burger was deeeeeliscious.

Getting Over It

Zachery and Aunt Susie

Pull a rabbit out of a hat and the kids go nuts :)

Not sure what kind this is, but I love it.



Zachery likes to make faces in the side of our toaster.


I am sitting down at our computer, determined to write something and I hope it's good. :)

This past Sunday during our sacrament meeting, Zachery was a PILL (and not the numbing kind). I took him out 3 times and by the time I went home, I just felt defeated and tired. The details of the time are starting to fade, hallelujah. I'm sad to say it got to me, but I'm glad to say it's over. That wasn't a good way to start the week, but my mood is changed and the sun is shining.

I am a list lover, so here is a list of positive things of the week:

1. Swing set arrived and is ready to go up!

2. Roses and dalhia's are blooming along our driveway.

3. Avery had her best blood draw ever! She calmly let me hold her down and cried, of course, while they filled the viles, but after it was done, the sucker came and she was fine! They used to squeeze her heels as they tried to get enough blood out. Once it took an hour and three different people to do it. I was much pleased and it didn't take too long at all! I thanked the nurse profusely.

4. Zachery was very excited to play with his friend and fellow monster lover, Sam, and had a great time there. Thanks, Lindsay.

5. Monday night we had a great family home evening, talking about our "family boat" where everyone has a job and we all support one another. Zachery has been extra nice and helpful to Avery in helping her walk and be happy.

6. I'm getting a new stroller to replace "the beast".

7. During a visit with a friend, Jan H., I read something that has stuck with me and made a positive impact on me. On the subject of prayer, Bruce R. McConkie said, "Prayer changes our lives." Simple and thought provoking.

8. I had some more freezer jam and it's soooo delicious, I had to mention it here.