no matter which party you are….
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pizza first. 
then it was time for a game.
board games are fun but a constant check of our patience.
playing games with kids can be really fun (laughing and happy and learning)
or go very badly (crying, fighting, pouting, sent to your room)
at least that's how it is at our house.
tonight was mostly the fun happy part.
 lorel – i was wishing you were here so you'd say "who knew?!"
i kept saying it like you did the whole time.
  C3PO has nothing to do with Whoonu.
he was just there which i thought was so typical.
  everyone chooses a card from their 4 with a word they think you'd like.
these were the words for me.
shopping i like the best.
jelly donuts i like the least.
  scott was the winner.
craig i know what are thinking….give him a haircut.
i say we just leave it.
with the messy long hair people may not notice the missing teeth.
Wow that looked like fun…it’s soo fun and simple when the family gathers around for a good ol game..and pizza…was that homemade pizza? I tried doing that last week and my 3 year old replied “can I have sometin else…I dunt wike it” must have been pretty bad, I ate it anyway so I didn’t hurt my own feelings. i think every girl in america, young and old, should throw caution to the wind and dress like your little annie. look how happy she is. i think it has something to do with her fabulous fashion sense. where what you like, when you like, no matter what. go annie!!! I sometimes get verklempt when I look at your blog. Who knew? Let’s discuss…call 555-4444. Give a call..we’ll talk…no big whoop. I’m always looking for new games to play with my grandchildren. This one looks like one we would all enjoy! Unless, like you say, it turns out to be one of those bickering, pouting, “I don’t want to play any more!” times — yes, those happen sometimes at Nana’s house too. That looks like a great game! And let me just say…that girl knows how to pick put an outfit! Priceless!! hehehe! Oh…how’s life with the new puppy going?/ Any “Meg” type funny stories?? :0) I love C3PO. Stalkers are family too, ya know? Why wasn’t I invited to game night? haha! we’re on a connect four streak…or that’s what i’m calling it cause it’s been scattered on my floor for weeks! Just checking in and am relieved to find that your family is sometimes prone to gametime-party-poopers also! We’ve got a few of those! Looks like such fun! We don’t play games too often! Scrabble is a tradition that my Step mom started with the grandkids when we are staying in their camper. I am astounded thatmy 13 year old son loves it! He likes Chess, but it takes too much concentration to be fun for me! My son also likes UNO and Connect Four. I like Chicken Foot dominoes! My older kids just discovered “Clue” and that was a fun game to teach them. Game nights are our favorite over here. I’m so glad to hear that board games are frustrating for other people too 🙂 We TRY…we REALLY try…but it so does try your patience, doesn’t it!!! Thanks for keeping it real! We’ll have to give Whoonu a try 🙂 I say leave his hair too 🙂 What a cutie! sorry about your Jayhawks last night…BUMMER! We love games too!!! I hope you guys are participating in “THe Million Minute Family Game Challenge”. (millionminute.com) It’s really fun. Our entire cub scout pack is playing along! How stinkin cute. Your family looks so much fun. Can you adopt me? How stinkin cute. Your family looks so much fun. Can you adopt me? Looks like loads of fun. I’m with you though… any type of “planned fun” around our house always seems to go terribly wrong.. I usually end up feeling like Mommy Dearest when it’s all over.. I think my expectations are always too high.. I’m picturing “Norman Rockwell”.. I usually get “Married with Children”. Unplanned always seems to work better for us… it just happens naturally when we’re ALL in the right frame of mind. okay…i know everyone knows how to make chocolate chip cookies.
but these are really good.
my favorites.
my friend jonelle gave me a book of handwritten recipes for my wedding.
this recipe was in it.
she called them the best ever…and i do too.
first thing to do is cream together crisco and sugars.
i like butter flavor crisco.
(there is so much wrong with that sentence – i like butter flavor crisco.)
but to make these delicious cookies…you need it.
or regular shortening is fine too.
then you add your eggs and vanilla.
this is what i think is the key to the yumminess of these cookies –
you add 1 and 1/4 tsp. baking soda dissolved in 1/4 c. water.
  kind of seperated…
i think it's hard to see.
maybe this.
 see?
then you add the flour salt and baking powder.
then the very best part….
 the chocolate!
 make sure you sneak plenty of dough while you bake.
and if i am feeling nice…i save a little for lauren…her favorite part.
now to bake them.
if i am feeling lazy i put all the dough in a sheet cake pan and make bars.
(i don't know why my blog is double spacing! it's making me crazy!)
but i didn't have sheet cake until last year.
it's just something i never bought. weird right?
so for the past 13 years i just make regular old cookies.
i like them just as much but i tend to burn things (ADD) so the bars are easier.
 now just sit back and wait for someone to ring your doorbell
with 50 balloons, a tiara and a plaque that says Mother-of-the-Year.
surely it will happen one of these days right?
recipe is on the sidebar.
*edited: the family thing by the cookies is a sweet gift from my MIL.
it says "family is born out of the laughter of Heaven.
why else would we delight in wiping runny noses
and birthdays that aren't our own."
If pictures were edible, I would eat that last one. Please ship them to me. Thanks. My two year old and I made these cookies last night – complete with the butter flavored Crisco. OMG – they are amazing! You weren’t kidding when you said they were the best thing ever! Thanks so much for the edit! I love that quote and will put it on our chalkboard in the kitchen. 🙂 dad gum it… i need these… supposed to be on a “diet”! We made these last night and my 4-year-old couldn’t stop sneaking them out of the container this morning! Thanks for sharing the recipe!! Yummmmmmmmy…..thanks for sharing that; they look awesome…can’t wait to taste them. You both look soooo happy cooking together…you make me want to leave work right now and bake! Okay, so butter flavor Crisco is just about the creepiest ingredient in the world. But you know what, I use it every single time I make cookies. I have to pretend that I am not…. but the taste makes it so worth it. Even if it might make me die. I love the idea of making them into bars. I know what I’m doing this weekend. Thanks! It’s been a rough week, I may make these this weekend. You have evoked a serious craving within my soul, delicious cookie dough. Hi! I have been a “lurker” for quite awhile now and finally decided that I just HAD to tell you how GREAT you are!! I love the realness (is that a word?) of your blog. Whenever I click over to your page, I immediately feel calmed. And your pictures are amazing!! What kind of camera do you use, if you don’t mind me asking? My blog is private, so you can e-mail me the answer at ash_kat81@yahoo.com. If you have a minute, that is. I know you’ve got your hands full! Take care and keep up the wonderful posts!! Oh my . . .that was mean 😉 Just mean! I want cookies sooo bad!!! They look so yummy, I will have to make me some Anna just asked this morning if we could make cookies after school today. I’m always on the hunt for the BEST choc chip cookies…..even though I can’t eat them 🙁 I think today will be a bar day. She loses interest by the time we start the baking any way. Sounds yummy! We have those spin and saver containers too. My favorite. Happy Mothering! Kelly Oh yum!! Your T.V. alter ego is simple… Rachel Ray mixed in with a little Marlo Thomas in That Girl. 🙂 You’ll have to go to Melissa Ellen’s website and check out her alter ego!! It’s a good one. 🙂 Cute post! We’ll have to try them…especially in bar form as those look delish! yummmmmmmy. i need to make some of those. but first i need to go get one of those mixers. can you believe i don’t have one. probably because i don’t bake hardly at all because if i bake it, I EAT IT. so my poor family suffers. but you have inspired me. plus, i’m with lauren, love the dough!!! Yum! Thanks so much for the recipe! I just started reading your blog and bookmarked it with a link on my blog so I won’t loose you! Lol. I also want to say that I love your house (with all the laundry and everything!) Great photos! Happy Thursaday! I’ll be right over with those balloons. Hopefully you still have cookies to share. I have to try these it’s starting to get cool here so great time to bake….Your blog is such a great read…thanks ,Toni Do they mail well? My address is…… i’m definitely going to try that recipe one day soon. my family loves chocolate chip cookies. yay!! you never disappoint! sounds like a perfect something to do with the hurricane coming our way…that is if we still have electricity:) your blog is so entertaining! i love to read..i also love that you love photography!! I WILL make these. Meg, First have to say I love your blog! You & your family are a very entertaining read. I often relate, even tho I only have one munchkin, but sometimes he feels like 5. 🙂 YUMmmmmMYYYYY!!! I, too, am a chocolate chip bar kind of girl. I wish I hadn’t seen these. I’m now craving them! Now I have a project for tomorrow. They look really yummy, but I’m partial to real butter. I have to say I’ve never used butter flavored crisco (or crisco at all) in cookies, but I’ve heard cookies made with it are really good . . . but real butter, mmmmmmmmm. Yours look worth trying though, maybe right now! Since I also make Jonelle’s cookies, I’m waiting for that award too! These are the best. i am grateful for craig's job. for many many reasons.
one of the reasons is the family employee party every year!
  this year's party was at The Alley.
we love this place but as a family of 7 we don't get to come.
we just can't afford it.
but once a year we get to do something really fun with craig's co-workers.
it's so cool to get to say "Yes" to everything for one afternoon.
go-karts? YES! more tokens? YES! more pop? YES! more go-karts? YES!
  when sean wasn't bowling, eating pizza, getting refills on dr.pepper
or begging to go to the arcade….
he was spinning upside down in the chairs.
even the chairs are fun here!
 daddy the go-kart racing rock star.
"high five me! high five me!" they screamed every single lap.
these are his groupies.
  big winner on the skee ball game!
even an alarm went off…and tickets just kept pouring out.
 look what 170 tickets can get ya.
 just what every 3 year old needs.
a dollar sign keychain covered in bling.
lauren used all her tickets on plastic necklaces.
(yes she was fully participating with us and we really enjoyed it!)
 she was pretending to be gangsta'.
word.
it was a great time!
can't wait to see what we get to do next time.
i will say again how grateful i am for craig's office
and how well they treat their families.
them's good people.
(that's my kansas hick grammer)
Loving those necklaces! Well, I’m not sure if my last comment posted or not…looks like you all had fun! Yeya gangsta! J/K! It looks like all of you were having a blast! Fun party! OMG….the look on your older daughters face is SO TEENAGER!!! i love it! love the bling! and just an idea…save it for halloween. my daughter was a “candy rapper/wrapper” for halloween last year. she wore a sweatshirt with candy glued to it, a hat and all that bling! it was great! Love the pictures and LOOVVEE the Bling! Where does Craig work so I can get my husband a job there? Oh, what FUN! These are the times I miss dh working for a big company. He won trips and cruises and dinners everywhere fine! i think we’ve won that dollar sign blinged up keychain before! too funny… I love,love those pix. Especially the one of your daughter holding up the tickets. Great angles.. YoYoYo! $$ necklaces!? Sweet! And I love the picture of the kids reaching out for daddy! You are GOOD!! My boyfriend works for a tire sales and service company based out of Oregon, Les Schwab. They have really good employee benefits, pay the guys well, but they don’t do anything like this! Wow! Take full advantage of that!! :] You are fortunate , my husbands co doesn’t do nottin’ Hi Meg, it’s been a while since I checked in on your blog and I’ve missed it…(computer still down). I love seeing all the great pictures and pure joy on your kids faces, it so makes me miss home. You would never see that kind of energy in the middle of Paris. I also love that you are going to try photography! You will do great! Keep up the good work. That looks like fun! Is it in Wichita? I’ve never heard of it. What a fun day!!! I’m jealous 🙂 what an awesome day for everyone!! it looks like you all had a great time. love all lauren’s bling. and skee ball is my all time favorite. great pix! I love the picture of Annie bowling in a skirt!! Too cute. Looks like such a fun time. And congrats to Craig. Ok, that is the cutest picture of Annie and her bling. Love it! That “what every 3 year old needs” comment cracks me up! sean said: "When you get a baby out….
(i thought….oh no where is this leading?')
can it cry so much that it would run out of breath?"
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after sean came home from a play date i asked "did you say thank you?"
he said "Oh no! i was having such a good time i just forgot!"
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annie asked:
"does food go into your throat, down to your tummy
and into your toes and that's how we get energy?!"
i answered "ummmm….yes!" to make it easy.
sean said "hey!….that's NOT what happens to food!"
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annie asked last night "why does bread have sugar in it?"
she was eating cinnamon sugared toast.
and before i could say that it didn't she shouted……
"Cause the chicken wanted to get to the other side!"
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while walking the dog annie remembers something:
"Oh mom…you forgot to get me to ride a unicorn!"
me: "i did? was i supposed to do that?"
annie "yes. don't worry we'll do it in…..6 years."
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sean did not want to ride go carts yesterday.
then he finally got brave and did it.
while walking to the car he said
"i wish i wouldn't have not wanted to do that before. it was great."
me: "well, next time you are nervous about something you can tell yourself –
remember the go-karts"
he answers seriously "yeah well i am never going to be a doctor.
you have to touch feet AND privates….gross!"
huh?
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for some reason my kids think it's hilarious to see a man in a suit riding a bike.
they laugh and laugh.
the other night the conversation over ice cream went like this:
sean: wouldn't it be funny to see a man in suit on a bike?
scott: or on a bike in a diaper?
talby: or in a diaper on tricycle?
scott: with a beanie hat with a propeller?
annie: yeah!! a diaper! hahahahahahahahahha!!!!"
that would be pretty funny.
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at bible study i served sloppy joes.
sean asks "did you make these mom?"
me: yes sean. you'll like them. they are the same that i always make.
sean: are the same as dad makes?
(craig makes sloppy joes occasionally when he has to cook)
me: yes, they are the same as dads…it's our secret man-wich recipe.
sean realizes i am kidding about the secret and says:
"well it should be a secret because it's so good!"
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funny stuff.
It’s been so much fun catching up. I had to choose this post to comment on, because I just LOVE these little conversations of your kids that you capture. I still cannot look at a bus for sale without thinking of some way to convert in into a motor home with an arm that comes out to feed the driver :)! And NOW I will not be able to look at a guy riding a bike in a suit without also picturing him wearing a diaper! I love the way a child’s mind works. It’s sooooo — free form! In the head — out the mouth!:) Oh… gotta love the “darndest” things those kiddos say!! Precious Post! Thanks for making me smile this morning. ~Jill 🙂 Gotta love my neighbor kids! Those are wonderful! When my kids say hilarious things, I tell myself that I’m going to remember them and write them down later . . . and I rarely do or I don’t remember entirely and lose some of the kid-flair. Sweet! Oh that had me laughing out loud!! Aren’t kids HILARIOUS?!! Mine have been saying some pretty funny things lately too! Gotta write ’em down so we don’t forget those sweet moments! Thanks for sharing!! Wow! Can’t believe you can remember ALL of your children’s conversations so well!! Those are great!! Those are so good! Glad you wrote them down. We had one of those never ending conversations in the car last night that had something to do with the moon, who made God, stores, roads, and ice cream all in one converstation. Their little minds are so funny. Wow! Can’t believe you can remember ALL of your children’s conversations so well!! Those are great!! so great! Too cute! Aren’t they just hilarious?!? My favorite most recent cute quote was from one of my 6 year old twins… She told a friend of mine “I go to private school”. My friend said “You do?… what school do you go to?!” (knowing that she goes to public school). My 6 year old tells her the name of the school. My friend asks “XXX School is private?” She replies.. “Oh yes… it’s VERY private… there’s harldly ANY neighbors around.” Very cute!! My 18 year old had 2 friends over Saturday and they were in our front room watching a movie. My 15 year old son came home and then disappeared. I asked my husband if he was in his room or was he watching the movie with the girls. My 8 year old said, “Why? Are you worried that he is making love?” My husband and I looked at each other with big eyes. I asked him if he knew that meant having se** and he said “No” and turned red. I guess he thought it meant flirting with the girls. He doesn’t really know what se** is but I have tried to be open with the word and say things like it is what men and women do when they are married to make babies. Oh wow. I am crying. Crying laughing. Kid converstaions are my favorite posts ever!!! You have a great memory! people often shake their heads at me because I love working with kids….but they say and do the funniest things EVER!!!! I LOVE IT!! I really need to write some things down too…I will TOTALLY forget…and it will be gone forever. Never a dull moment around your place 🙂 Don’t ya love that…for the most part anyway!? cute! kids are so funny and they don’t even really know it. wish i would have written down some of the things my kids said. how precious!
today is our anniversary.
craig told to go back to sleep and he'd walk the dog, feed the kids
and take them to school.
he gets more romantic everyday.
i can't express my love and respect enough….
happy anniversary sweetheart.
our trip was our way of celebrating big and a date will be the small.
a date!
can't wait for that.
also today was annie's first day back to preschool.
  she picked out a perfect annie outfit.
and added her sparkly shoes.
every single time she puts these on she says sweetly
"thank you so much for buying 'dees mama.
i always wanted 'dees for my birthday."
and i say, "i know. you're welcome"
and her shirt is a size 24 month dress.
  i heard them say "i'm the mama. i'm working"
what do you think of that kristin?
pretty cute.
my small taste of freedom begins again today.
You’re a good mama for letting Annie wear what SHE picked out! That was always the hardest thing for me, still is sometimes. I always tell the girls that they are a reflection of the family and vice versa. Congratulations! Kelly HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!! what a sweet man you have. so hope you enjoyed your day. annie, annie – she makes me smile. what a little doll!! i love her sense of style. enjoy your bits of free time – they are like heaven. I KNEW today was something, but I couldn’t put my finger on it! Happy Anniversary. You’re putting all those cynics to shame, sister! Oh Meg, Happy Anniversary to two very special people! Thanks so much for the dinner – it was not expected – Russ and I really appreciate it. Hope you have your own party tonight – those are the best 🙂 Happy Anniversary Meg! Clink! Glug Glug! Smooch! ha ha. Have a special Anniversary! How exciting! Happy anniversary, how fitting I am going right now to put a post up and there is a picture just for you on it. Happy Anniversary! I love Annie’s little face! Too cute! My Jake’s first day was today and he SCREAMED and CRIED! HELLO? WHAT??? This is the child who could care a less if I leave—EVER! I don’t know WHAT his deal was! Seriously…I didn’t know how to act…neither of my boys have EVER acted like this! Evidently, he calmed down and when I picked him up…he said, “It was GREAT MOMMY!” ????????? Enjoy your date! Happy Anniversary!! “working”….does that translate into “bloggin” ? Happy Anniversary to you both. Have fun on your date. what a precious sweetheart she is! Wow – what awesome cookie cutters. I would love to find some like those little girls. We could have fun decorating those. Happy Anniversary! I hope you guys have a sweet day! Awwww, what a cutie pie!! Happy Anniversary, we were married in September, too! The 12th will be our 16th anniversary. your craig needs to give my craig some anniversary lessons. 🙂 don’t forget to send me over your ikea list!! annie looks very happy to be back with eliza. Yes, indeed. Happy anniversary! Congratulations on your anniversary! What a beautiful picture of the flowers… your husband sounds dreamy. i love that she can pick out her own outfit. i do the same with my kiddos..there are too many to fuss with every single moment, and it makes the secure in themselves…at least that’s my story! i’m so glad to see someone else stretches the use of those cute dresses… they DO make perfect baby doll tops! 🙂
our little caesar’s has this guy
and a kid who dances with a sandwich board that says $5 pizzas.
and my kids looooove them.
pizza at the park.
girl time after dance class…
don’t tell the boys.
i WANT.
i want this so badly.
it is perfect for me….other than the price.
my girls got a kick out of our anitque shop (that we rarely go in.)
they played with a rotary phone.
talby dialed then said “hello. you must be an old person!” into the receiver.
ok… i am off to relax in my bath.
(and make lists and think about too much stuff)
That pizza guy reminds me of when I worked at a coffee store, and had to dress like a giant muffin and hold a placard directing people to visit the shop. Only, my face was visible, and I was fifteen!! I have visited your blog a few times…first time commenting. Just saw your photos…love love your home…such a cozy feeling. It’s so beautiful here! As always, you’re photos are wonderful! My teenager thinks Little Caesar’s pizza is IT! It gets expensive when he and his friends can each eat their own pizza. i’m gonna eat your Waffle… sooooo cauuuuute! Okay. I only skimmed your post, but I totally know the antique store of which you speak. Chris and I ADORE this store, but rarely go in there because of the non-negotiable prices and the lurking/following. that sign is great!! would look fantastic in your kitchen. your puppy is just the cutest. i want him. Yes how much is the sign, I love it too , it is always interesting to see what is too much for one compaired to another. What’s up with only 1 comment? How much is that sign? Maybe you need it for your birthday? I have never seen that Little Caesar’s guy! |
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Andria - It is so funny. I agree the part where Hillary says I should have wanted it more was so funny. Not a Hilary lover, but do agree she got raw deal from media. They fawn all over Barack Obama & softball all their questions to him, meanwhile, Gibson at ABC did the hardest interview I’ve ever seen him do of Palin. I hope all these media types keep up their sexist behavior, they’ll tick off every woman in America!
katie - hahahahahhahahaha! i love SNL!!
Shannan Martin - That voice was dead-on! And the funny scrunched-up, pulling the lips over the teeth thing. I can only hope and assume that even Palin herself got a kick out of it. If anyone could impersonate me that well, I would! Will Ferrel as GW and Tina as Palin. Two of the best ever.
ps- Do you watch 30 Rock? It’s our fave…
Deb - Oh, I loved the part where “Hillary” said she’d won had she just “wanted it more.” I saw the white knuckles. Lol
Staci - Wasn’t it GREAT!!! Still cracking up 🙂
Jilly - Loved it, how could you not love it? The accent and mannerisms were perfect!
Kim - Visiting…Traci sent me over. Great blog. Your pictures are amazing. I loved the whole Tina Fey thing. The first time I saw Palin I knew Tina had to do her on SNL!
jerusalem - that is so funny! they both so nail them, too funny!
Shana - I knew it! I saw that skit coming the minute I saw Palin – she and Fey look just alike!… and I knew you would love it being the SNL lover you are. We even let Jace stay up since Phelps was on. He now thinks SNL is the “funniest show ever!” Hmmm…what kind of parents are we!?!?
traci - that was hilarious. they were awesome. i missed it that night.
mom - We saw that Tina was going to be doing Palin on SNL and we had to watch. This was hilarious. I haven’t watched SNL for a long time and I’ve decided we’re just too old, because not much else was funny to us.
traci - Tina Fey nailed Palins voice but she didnt nail her looks (imo). Palin is prettier than Fey pulled off. Anyhow, it was funny
chris - That was so good . thanks
Chris
Shelly H. (in Overland Park, KS) - Very funny!! I missed the beginning of SNL, but when I heard a clip of this played on the radio, I went and found it last night. I told my husband that he needs to find it also.
Hilarious!! Tina Fey totally nailed it!!
PamperingBeki - I almost posted that on my blog today too! Isn’t that hysterical!!
Tina Fey *nailed* Sarah’s voice. Loved it.