Good Job

Logan skinned his knee a couple of days ago. He is NOT a child who likes band-aids and it has been painful (he is reminded of the pain every time he looks at it). Last night his pajamas had rubbed it and a bit of the scab came off. He reminded me of his "owie" when I was getting him dressed and I told him I would be careful.
After making a the leg of the shorts go as wide as it could over his hurt knee he said, "Fank ( his thank you). Good dob, mom. Good dob."
Chalk one up for good ol' mom!

French Breakfast Puff Recipe

As requested, here is the recipe for French Breakfast Puffs (see next post).

1/3 c. shortening
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 c. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
~3/4 c. milk

*Preheat oven to 350.
*Cream shortening and sugar.
*Add egg and mix thoroughly.
*In separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder and nutmeg.
*Stir in flour (in about three parts) alternately with milk (in about three parts). Stir gently, after each addition, until just combined. You can add more or less milk to get a good muffin consistency. Do not over beat or over mix. (This is probably where I don't get it right, since I make sure my baking powder is fresh)
*Pour into greased muffin tin about 2/3 full (it should make 12, but I usually make 9 since mine don't usually turn out).
*Bake about 20 min. or until golden brown.
*While baking, melt 6-8 Tbsp butter in a bowl, and make ~1 c. cinnamon sugar in a bowl (1 c. sugar + 1 tsp. cinnamon, or however you like it).
*Immediately after the muffins are out of the oven, roll in butter and then in cinnamon sugar and set on a plate.

I had doubled the recipe and made 12 big muffins and 12 mini muffins when it worked for me.

Enjoy. And I hope you have success the first time.
(see post below for picture)

Success!

One of the recipes I got from my mother-in-law, when Robert and I got married, was for French Breakfast Puffs. While these are a favorite - a buttery, cinnamon and sugary muffiny favorite - they rarely turn out well for me. I always promised myself I would watch Lisa make them (hers are great) when she would visit, but never did - or forgot what the batter looked like.
I made them Saturday morning and they turned out the best yet! I had even made some in the mini muffin tin for little poppers ("poppers" are what Lisa's family calls them).

That night Robert and I went to a lab party and Robert decided to make Rainbow Jello. He put it together Friday night, and it turned out beautifully. Everyone thought I had made it, but no, it really was Robert. It was a huge hit and the kids were excited there was still some left over for them the next day.

He had made this in Utah for a lab party once (he was the only Mormon in the lab - in Utah, so bringing Jello was really funny) and his boss's son, who never liked Jello, couldn't get enough of it. When his dad said "I didn't think you liked Jello." He answered, "Well, I like it this way!"

No Blue Ribbon

(a couple of months ago when only a few were ripening)

We have been enjoying harvesting our tomatoes. Natalie (our tomato lover) is in heaven, ever since I told her she could eat tomatoes whenever she wants. When they first start ripening, one at a time, Robert is very protective of them (so he can eat them). Now we have a lot ripening all at once. I'll put a handful of cherry tomatoes in Natalie's lunch and she loves it.
We love planting a variety - cherry, goliaths, early girls, yellow pear (I was sad that my yellow pear wasn't a healthy plant and after only producing a few I had to pull it).This is the first year planted a garden here and I've learned a lot.
So, while I won't be entering our tomatoes in any state fair - you still can't beat the taste of a fresh off the vine tomato.
Last night I made a favorite of mine growing up - toasted tomato and cheese open-face (a little mayo, tomato, and cheese and then you broil it). It wasn't a favorite with everyone last night, but a little nostalgia made eating our garden tomatoes just that much better for me!
We have about 6 watermelons ripening - can't wait to cut into those!!

Miss one?

Just a friendly reminder about a new post that ended up a little behind.
I blogged about mine and Robert's 16th anniversary - starting it before blogging Logan's birthday, but publishing it after. It got tucked in after (or before - in time order) Logan's - so, scroll down.
I must also add that I love that my new printer has a scanner and I can now include pre-digital pictures, when the feeling arises. That makes me happy.

My Baby is 3!

Today is Logan's birthday!!

We held the birthday celebration a couple of days ago (Wed.), since Robert went out of town this morning. Logan was so excited for his birthday - we'd been getting him excited since Sunday and by Wednesday he was knew that this time "Happy Birthday" meant him!
He sat by me as I decorated his cake, making sure I did it right, handing me the candies and eating leftovers. When I came down with the presents, he wanted his party right then! I told him he had to wait until the kids came home from school and we had dinner.
When Logan heard the bus he said, "bus! birthday party!" I laughed and said not until AFTER dinner when dad was home. As soon as the kids walked in the door he ran around to show them the cake and presents. The same thing happened when Alyssa came home, and when Robert came in!
We went southern for dinner (I need to practice to I can get really good) - fried chicken, southern (so proper) baked mac&cheese, and buttermilk biscuits! Thank you Blue Willow Inn's Bible of Southern Cooking cookbook! Even Robert said we were spoiled with dinner, it was all so good! Once the table was cleared, it was time for cake - do you think Logan is happy?!After singing Happy Birthday . . .

everyone picked the part of the cake they wanted - I could have had a mound of "dirt" (crushed chocolate teddy grahams) and Logan would have been happy!Side note: his "meme" is his blanket, which is blue. Whenever he sees something blue, he calls it "blue meme". Like the candle he was saying he blew out, at the end of the video.
(Please ignore the pile of laundry in the background - I'm not that good at photoshop yet - but, hey, it's folded laundry!)
Then we opened presents, with siblings ALWAYS willing to help, and cards from extended family. When I asked him, earlier in the day, what he wanted for a present he said Thomas the Train. I hadn't gotten anything Thomas the Train, but then remembered a couple of DVDs I found at Goodwill, that I hadn't opened yet (love those finds). He opened those first and was so happy that he held onto them and opened the other gifts with one hand. With birthday money from grandparents, he bought another toy, that the day before he had cried for at the store. He was so excited to go back today and get it!

Happy Birthday, Logan!

Happy Anniversary!

Robert and I met at Brigham Young University. When he found out I was "waiting for a missionary," he told me he'd be after me. A few months later we were engaged and then got married on August 13th 1997 - a Friday.No superstitions for us - and now it's 16 years later.

With all life has had to offer - it's struggles and joys - there is nothing I would change.
After graduating from BYU and heading to Houston, TX for Robert to get his PhD, having Alyssa and Natalie join our family there, moving back to UT for his postdoctoral work, having Jacob and Logan join our family there, and now settling in GA, where I would love spending the rest of our lives.
It's been a great 16 years.
I'm glad he went after me.As I was hoping to get a recent family photo for this post, Robert reminded me of the one I have as the heading for the blog. Which I love.