Chocolate Chip Cookies

I get requests for this recipe all the time.   Just before my Aunt Becky died, she gave me a box full of my great-grandma's recipes.  This is one that I found on an old, torn, yellow recipe card written in pencil with the ingredients nearly worn right off.  My Pops said that my great-grandma never made cookies like these, yet the recipe was in the box and it looked well used.  Anyway. . . regardless of whether or not she made these cookies, here is the recipe, and I hope if you try them that you'll love them as much as I do.

Cream together until fluffy:

2/3 cup shortening

2/3 cup soft butter or margarine

Add sugars:

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup brown sugar, packed

Mix the eggs in one at a time until well incorporated.

2 eggs

Add 2 tsp vanilla

Mix together in a separate bowl then add to creamed mixture:

3 cups flour

1 tsp soda

1 tsp salt

Add:

1 cup of nuts (optional)

1 pkg chocolate chips

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 375 for 8-10 minutes, or until light brown.

Temples Announced

This morning while listening to General Conference, I was overcome with emotion as the Prophet announced the new temples to be built.  The new temples sites include Barranquilla, Colombia; Durban, South Africa; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo;  Star Valley, Wyoming; and in Provo, Utah where they would make the old Provo Tabernacle, which was burned in a fire last winter, into a Temple
I will always remember waking up that cold morning to the news coverage, pictures, and video of that beautiful building engulfed in flames.  I felt that something terrible was happening and I was upset that maybe if someone had been more careful, that building would still be whole and intact.  Yet, out of the ashes of that tragedy miracles began to emerge.  One of the most poignant, pictures of the Savior were being pulled out of the wreckage blackened and singed around the edges, but the face of Jesus remained untouched.  
How often are we told that as we struggle through the toughest trials there are good things that will come of our experiences?  The burning of the Tabernacle was certainly the darkest point of that building's history.  Who would have thought that through that devastating fire, the Provo Tabernacle would become a Temple?   There are good things ahead for each of us as we faithfully pass through the trials that come our way.  The Tabernacle has been a place for gathering and hearing the will of the Lord through the voice of our local leaders.  Now it will be a place for people to receive the blessings of eternal families.  
Right now we may be good, but we most certainly be better.  Through our trials, we can prepare to serve the Lord not the way we think we should, but in the way He needs us.  

Waiting for the Fireworks

It's a tradition for us every year to go to the same place to watch fireworks for the 4th of July.  We usually go early in the evening to play in the sports field and enjoy the company of friends and family while we're waiting for first, the jets to fly overhead, and the finally for the fireworks to commence.  It's a great time to take pictures, because, generally everyone is happy, the weather is nice and there are a lot of adults to help watch kids.  

She wanted to wear a hat so bad and was excited to get her picture taken in it. 

This baby is so fun to take pictures of.  I love, love, love her baby blues.

This picture just screams happy.

Another of my children so excited to wear a hat.

My nieces showing me the ice in their mouths.

What is Summer without cheesy orange fingers from Cheetos?

Definitely my husband's son

Kids running around with glow-sticks.

Heading home after the fireworks.

My baby's 1st birthday pictures

My little girl will be one year old next week. . . UNBELIEVABLE!  I took some pictures tonight to commemorate, but didn't get much in the way of cooperation from her- at all.  I may have to make another attempt at it, but for now, this is what I have.  Sometimes (well, most of the time) when I look at her precious face, I can't believe how very lucky I am.  Not just to have her, and to be able to be her mom, but to be able to have all the children I do.  I am one lucky momma, but my poor kids may have got the short end of the stick on that one.

Laundry Soap

Today I tried my hand at making my own laundry soap. I am excited to see how it works.

1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup washing soda or sodium carbonate (not sodium bicarbonate which is regular soda)
1/2 cup Borax

You will need a 2-gallon size bucket, a funnel, and some plastic containers for storage.

Heat 6 cups of water and the grated soap until the soap melts.  Add washing soda and Borax; stir until dissolved and remove from heat.  Pour four cups hot water into the bucket, add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon, plus 6 more cups of water and stir.  Using the funnel, pour into plastic containers, and let sit for 24 hours, shaking often. The more you shake, the better the soap will be. Soap will gel a little, so shake before each use.  Use no more that 1/2 cup per full load.

Some of my favorites

A sampling of some of my favorite images from the last few months.

A shot of Sadie I took for Easter.

The sunset on Father's Day

One afternoon in February, I got stir-crazy and drove around West Mountain and took this shot while I was out.

Spilled milk that I didn't cry over.

My sweet little girl during an impromptu photo-shoot after nap time.

You are loved.

My daughter's 5th birthday pictures

My little Mister

LOVE my boys

All my precious kiddos

A fun hinge on a charred door

My handsome son

LOVED this lighting

Some fun orange flowers

My beautiful baby

My handsome little guy

My beautiful girl

The "H" Kids