donations for Brendan

For those of you who went to Pflugerville Middle School, Ms. Saxon's son, Brendan, passed away yesterday. He left his wife and baby. It breaks my heart. I copied this link from facebook, and I'm sure any donations would help. I can't imagine the heartbreak his wife must be feeling. It just blows my mind how things can change in an instant. Hug your kids and kiss your spouse. And although cliche, live each day like it could be your last.

http://www.donations4b.blogspot.com/

Happy Mother's Day

Aubrey made me a jar of love for Mother's Day...so funny. Gotta love fill-in-the-blanks! I hope you all have a wonderful day! Enjoy my child's reasons for why she loves me.

A special memory with you was when we went to a trip.
My favorite thing to do with you is play with you.
Your hugs make me feel like you love me.
You are the best at cooking cheeseburger pie.
A special memory with you was when I went to the movye.
If we could go on a trip together, just you and me, it would be to Calfory. (California)
You are funny when you video me when I am criing. (ha! I'll have to explain this one later)
When you smile you make me fell good.
You are the best at singing eavthing. (she obviously inherited my tone-deafness)
I know you love me because you give me lots of love. (?)
A special memory with you was when it was my birthday.

and drumroll, please. My PERSONAL favorite...
I think you are the best mom in the world because you feed me.

If that's all it takes to be the best mom in the world, then consider me numero uno!! :)

Cleva's in the Kitchen

The author, Cleva Griffin O'Hayre, was born on September 7, 1901 in a log cabin on a farm near Mead, Colorado.

She married Paul O'Hayre on September 3, 1919 in Longmont, CO. She is the mother of 14 children. She has 46 grandchildren and 60 great-grandchildren.

Cleva O'Hayre published her cookbook in celebration of her 82nd birthday and her 64th wedding anniversary.

In December, 1982, the Rocky Mountain News named Mrs. O'Hayre "Best Cook in the West".


Unfortunately, her legacy does not live on with this great-grandchild. I will not be earning the title of "Best Cook of the South" anytime soon (or ever). However, there are some easy recipes in her cookbook that even I can't screw up! One of my all time favorites from when I was a kid...easy, no bake cookies. Creatively titled, "cookies" on pg. 151 of Great-grandma O'Hayre's cookbook.

COOKIES
1/4 cup butter
3 cups sugar
4 tbs. baking cocoa
1/2 cup milk
3 cups uncooked rolled oats
1/2 cup peanut butter

Combine first four ingredients in a saucepan, mix well, and cook over high heat for 5 minutes or until butter is melted, stirring all the while. Remove from heat and quickly add oats and peanut butter. Mix thoroughly and drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper. Cool thoroughly.

Thank you, Grandma O'Hayre, for making "cookies" out of ingredients that I usually have on hand. They were just what I needed this afternoon.

blake, aka baby bam bam, aka beamer...

Oh little Blake man, you are a mess. Literally. You usually need a bath by about noon. You turned 18 months on April 1 and you are into everything! The pantry is your favorite room in the house. You are quite the ham and you give a VERY cheesy smile when I pull out the camera. You tell everyone you see "hi" at the top of your lungs and then "bye" when we are leaving a place. Strangers usually get a kick out of that when we are out shopping. You love balls or anything that resembles one. You proved to be quite the car rider on our Spring Break road trip to Colorado. You did puke on the way there and on the way back, but it didn't seem to bother you much. You usually just watch whatever DVD your sisters have picked out. We're working on their selection. I know it won't be long before you are sick of princess movies... I can tell already that you love your big sisters. You kinda get on Adelyn's nerves a bit, but I think y'all will be big buds when you can talk. Aubrey thinks you are so hilarious and cute. Your favorite word is "baw-baw" for bottle, even though you've been drinking out of a sippy cup for a while now. You have strong opinions about your sippy cup. I gave you one with a hard lid the other day and you cried and kept saying "baw-baw, baw-baw" until I figured out you wanted the Nuby kind with the soft lid. You will not sit in a cart or a high chair. I strap you in and somehow you wiggle your way out and stand up. It makes me so nervous! You love to be outside. When you blow kisses, it melts my heart. You make our family feel complete and we couldn't imagine life without such a precious little boy. I love you, Blake Matthew Watkins.