Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Cookies you HAVE to try.
This recipe was originally intended for “White Chip Apricot Oatmeal Cookies” but I made a few alterations.  The outcome:  my favorite cookies everrrrr.

Combine 3/4 cup {1 1/2 sticks} butter, softened, 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup light brown sugar.  Beat until fluffy then add one egg; beat well.  Add 1 cup flour and 1 tsp baking soda; beat until blended.  Stir in 2 1/2 cups oats and {here’s the key} the WHOLE bag {12 ounce package} of semi-sweet chocolate chips.
Bake 7 minutes {for gooey goodness… it might be less in your oven} in a 375 degree oven.
Then come back to thank me for the best cookie experience of your life. (:

Vote, Vote, Vote!

I love the commercial where you see the lady in the wheelchair brave city buses and rain.. all just to cast her vote. "Everyday millions of people choose to do the right thing". Aww, how touching. Unfortunately for her, no one chose to do the right thing and let her know that she can spare herself that trek; and simply have the stuff mailed to her.

Only 54 percent of Americans vote. I'm thinking it has something to do with the fact that most people don't take advantage of the early voting...to have everything mailed to them... hmm. Who knows (cares)? Tony and I get mail-in ballots. In fact, I've never done it any other way. I couldn't tell you what voting on election day is like... but, seeing as this year is a close race, you should really vote. That is, if you haven't already. P.S. Yes on prop 102!

Pictures, Crafts, and Getting Older

A couple weeks ago, our family (finally) got family pictures done. We've been meaning to since Brody could hold up his head. But time flys. Speaking of time flying, Brody is 7 months old this week! Crazy. Getting our pictures done was a lot of fun, although all three of us (Tony, me, and the photographer) were trying so so hard to get Brody to smile. He smiled in a few though...

A couple days ago was our wards annual R.S. Craft Night! Tony is very understanding to me, he knows how much I love craft night. So he lets me go nuts and buy probably too much for me to handle. Although I thought I was being moderate this year, I still worked till the very end and had to finish at home. Mom, I know you wanted to see what I made...

Photo Coasters- here's just a couple Coaster Box- I did this a little differently, most people had all one color/print box, I brought two different kinds of paper to make the lid different than the box. I think it turned out well.

"Thankful" Blocks (probably my favorite this year)-

Letter Board-

Well there's the latest.

One of the reasons I love October

Ahh yes… our 2 year anniversary celebration. It fell on a Sunday this year so how much can you really do? So, we celebrated it the day before. I have to say, it was very special and one I’ll never forget! Do you know whyyyy?? Well, if you read my “Beautiful Beginning” post, you’ll know I fell in love with Tony at a certain Hyatt hotel in Scottsdale (no we didn't stay there, we just went on the gondola ride they have in the back). Well, he surprised me this year by taking me back to that very place!

First, we went to the movies and saw “Eagle Eye”, ate at our favorite restaurant- which was also a place he took me to in Florida when I visited him there during our long distance dating, rode the gondola again, and took in the beauty which is the Hyatt hotel. They have dozens of pools scattered around that are gorgeous, I couldn't help but take a few pictures. Here's just a couple though... in the gondola picture I was trying to help the guy figure out how to use the camera when he snapped a shot of me talking. Oh well...

Our actual anniversary was spent pretty much doing regular Sunday activities but we did treat ourselves to some homemade chocolate fondue, yum. Tony and I decided to make cards this year (instead of buy them)- and he wrote me the cutest poem on mine! What a great husband I have.

Power in prayer

I'm often reminded just how necessary it is that we consult with Heavenly Father on a daily basis- about small things in our life, and about the big things. I sometimes forget just how vital prayers are and that they really can be answered. For the past few months I couldn't find my social security card to save my life. I wasn't really looking, because I didn't really need it for anything- and I assumed it was in one of the 10 places I'm known to stick important things. However, after gathering Tony's and Brody's, I thought I should put mine in the same place.

While searching for it, it became apparent to me that it was no where I'd usually put it. I started freaking out because I knew someone had it and was pretending to be me, or it was floating in the sewer, or I accidentally threw it away. I was furious with myself; how could I be so irresponsible. Tony kept assuring me that it was safe, I just had to know I'd find it. Well I didn't believe him and for that reason it remained lost.

That was until this morning. I prayed to find it days ago, but I wasn't listening for answers. I was certain I could figure it out logically, since there are only a few places I'd put such an item. But today's prayer was so much more sincere. I told Heavenly Father about my weaknesses and how I needed Him. I also told him I was capable of figuring it out and just needed some inspiration. Not that He doesn't already know, but I told Him how important that tiny paper is, and that I really needed help finding it "today". My prayer was answered, no more than 3 minutes later, when I found it in a place I had already looked, but not as thoroughly. My testimony of prayer would not have been strengthened if I hadn't tested it. I'm so grateful to know I have a Father in Heaven who cares about the things I do- and that will help me if I ask. You bet I said a prayer of thanks after that.

Tagged by Jessie

OK, so here are the rules: Tell about 6 quirks of yours and tag 6 six fellow bloggers to do the same.

I had a hard time thinking of anything cool but here goes,

1. I'm obsessed with to-do lists and I write one daily. If I do something that wasn't on my list, I write it down anyway just to cross it off right away.

2. I pick things up with my feet probably more than I bend down and pick things up. It's easier..

3. When I read, I catch myself making the faces the author is describing the characters make.

4. I've always tried to find ways to make extra money- when I was 10, I had a hit lemonade stand. Lemonade with pink lemonade ice cubes. Then in 8th grade I made starburst bracelets and sold them for a dollar- people who bought them would buy me the package of starbursts too. Those bracelets were the jam! I held my own yard sales, attempted clothing design for a company, and then there was my dog walking business... dog walking was the most successful, obviously.

5. I pop my toes everyday, and I can't stop. Unless someone tells me my toes are going to fall off from doing that, I don't see a reason to deprive myself. I can also bend my arms in a weird way- the next time you're with me, I'll show ya.

6. Everywhere I go I take band-aids and dental floss...among other things... I keep an old Altoids gum tin in my purse and it's full of goodies! I'm convinced I might need something in there someday but I never use anything and I can't seem to throw it out. The contents of the tin are as follows: rubber band, bobby pins, nail clippers, hair ties, toothpick, a button, old eye liner, Benadryl, and a light days pad. I'm prepared for pretty much everything, right?

Okay, I tag- Anne, Danielle, Sarah, Tony, Natalie and Sylvia.

Beautiful Beginning

Sunday marks two married years for Tony and I. Seems like a long time for me but at the same time we've had so many adventures and trials, it should be longer than that. I love being married to Tony, he's so downright awesome. Since we are celebrating our anniversary this week I thought I'd do a couple things. First, I want to say 3 things I love about Tony:

1. He's hilarious. I love a good laugh- and Tony provides one on a daily basis. Once, we were sitting on the couch and he excitedly jumped up to grab a dew in the fridge. Noticing his excitement for his favorite beverage, something told me he was going to do the robot dance. And what did he do on his way to the fridge? The robot dance! It was great

2. He's loving. Ever so rarely, I can be slightly emotional. Which leads to me being sorta cranky. My family has a name for it- Connie Claws (how rude). But I admit, Tony has been clawed a few times for no reason at all; but, he's always the one hugging ME and telling ME sorry. What a swell guy.

3. Hardworking. Tony is going to school full time and working full time because he firmly believes that I should be home with Brody. I really appreciate his hard work for our family!

How did this union come to be you may ask? When Tony and I meet new people we're often asked, "So how did you two meet?" and I'm always cutting the story short. I shall no longer deprive you of the real story, so let it be told! And actually, you'll get the double long version, muahahahaha! (Well it's still not everything)...

My sister Anne (lets call her) went to EFY in 2001 and met a guy from Arizona who was in a band and played bass (lets call him C. Smith... NO Chris S.) Chris mailed Anne a CD of their bands songs and they became good friends over the years. 2002-2003 Anne joins army, stops correspondence with Chris. Here's where I come in!

February 2004-I felt it my duty (for some weird reason) to email Chris with the news of Anne's joining the army. To do this, I knew I had to go on their bands website and get his email address. While I was meandering through the website, I noticed a striking young man who played the guitar. It was mentioned on there that they were giving away FREE CD'S! I had listened to their music, and liked it a lot. Now that Anne would be gone, I would certainly need a CD of my very own. So, I picked the lead singer to email and requested a CD. Oh how cool I felt when he actually responded! I thought he was very nice, especially for some hotshot lead singer in a band. We wrote back and forth a couple times. He was surprised to hear I was all the way in Virgina. (I moved there after graduating high school) But, despite our distance, he was willing to get me his songs and offered a few ways to do that. What a nice guy. Month later, we stopped talking and I was left CD less.

November 2005- I was sitting in my apartment at BYU and I was having quite the boring day. I felt worn out from dating useless guys and working two jobs. It was time for me to leave Provo, and I knew that. I was online checking my email and started going through old emails. I found the emails me and that lead singer wrote back and forth and I thought, HEY! That guy never got me a CD! I wonder what happened... So after much deliberation, I decided what the heck, I'll just email him again and see if he remembers me and see if THIS time he'll get me one. I got a quick response back from him saying he was on a mission but if I wanted one he'd get me one in March when he got home. In the meantime, he thought I could write him (what a missionary). So we started writing letters and included pictures. Weird random fact: After my first letter from this missionary, I felt the need to pray about him. Nothing marriage wise, but just telling Heavenly Father what I was doing and if that was OK. I was nervous to have a pen pal- who didn't live in China, and who I was kinda connected to.

March 2006 rolled around and he was now home from his mission. I was instantly aware of the fact that he was an RM, he's adorable, and so he certainly would have girls chasing him down. I wasn't too far from the truth, and for that reason I was pretty much turned off to him. I'm not one for that kind of competition, and I hate rejection. So to me, if nothing else, I had a few fun months writing that attractive missionary and I'd probably get a CD out of it. (Who am I kidding, who cares about the CD at this point?) Anyway, although I was certain I didn't want to go after a guy who had several girls going after him, I couldn't deny the crush I'd gained for him and I rather enjoyed his calls and texts. Before he came home on his mission he told me of his plans to go to Utah for his mission buds wedding. He thought it would be a perfect time to meet up, finally. (I was back at school- but this time at BYU-Idaho.) I went back and forth with the idea- but felt more comfortable with deciding against meeting him. My roommate who was supposed to drive us to Utah (they were all going for a different reason that same weekend), got in an accident and could no longer drive. That was it, I was definitely NOT going now- besides, I didn't want to on the weekend before finals. But on one of our daily conversations with this hot guitar playing RM, he sang "quit playing games with my heart" to me (since I kept saying I'd go and then would change my mind). That won me over. I decided I would drive the 4 1/2 hours in my not so reliable car, to meet him. If the guy was a jerk, at least I'd have roommates with me for support. I couldn't lose, although I was preparing for the absolute worst.

April 22, 2006- The first time ever seeing him was like a scene out of a movie. The sun was setting beautifully behind him as he came walking toward me and at about 15 feet away, we ran to each other and immediately hugged in a way that felt like long lost friends reuniting after years of being apart. Conversation was so easy with Tony, he was hilarious and no doubt cuter than his pictures. I was wrong, the weekend didn't crash and burn like I'd imagined, and I didn't need my roommates to console me. Better yet, I was glad I went; and, smiled as I drove home, remembering that thing Tony said to me after the first couple of hours... "if we get married, we can have a music room.. and make music together."

Long story even longer, we have talked everyday since that time. I had to drive from Idaho to California after the semester was over (so, like a week later) and I ended up taking a detour to Arizona on my way to see him again. I almost wasn't able to, but a series of events made it happen (that's another cool story, but I'll spare you). It was a good thing too because that was when I knew we were going to get married. He took me on a gondola ride, he also showed me a song on the guitar he started writing for me... I knew I was going to marry him. We had a long distance thing for a couple of months but managed to make trips out to see each other. He was in Florida then, selling pest control, and I was back in Virginia. It didn't take long for him to go back to Arizona and for me to move out here, too. It was crazy that two people so far from each other for so long ended up happily married 6 months from the day we finally met. I love this story because our meeting was years in the making and I didn't even know it. Happy 2 years, Tony.

For you, Mom and Dad

And Mike... and Anne... whew. If my tribute to Arizona post didn't get my family packing their bags for the next flight to Mesaville, I guess I have to bring your grandson/nephew to you. 6 months already but I feel like it's been longer. His first tooth is making it's way in and he's all over our apartment. Anyway so here are some recent pics of our little (BIG) guy. Enjoy. Everyone else, you're free to enjoy too.. even though you probably see him more. (:

Ignore my funny voice and the fact that I let Brody lay on the tile... Apartment living doesn't give me much options on that last one. They're not soft, but at least I can say the floors are clean!