8/52

{ Brooks calling out for "Baby red biiiirrrdd!" with his magical rainbow mittens. After seeing a episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse he wanted to help out his friend Mickey find that little bird. ;) No such luck...I'm sure we'll look again today. }

{ Ava rocking some sweet, one-sided bed head. }

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

** This photos are giving me dejavu....okay they're almost identical to last week's. Oh well. :)

Cookies and "Bow-ken" Eggs

Last Friday was a sunny, but snowy day outside...so we took advantage of staying cozy, inside and made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. With Ava on my back and Brooks as my helper, we had an extra sweet afternoon baking together. Brooks had a fun time stirring the flour, and would add each ingredient to the mixer after I measured them. But he was not a fan of cracking the eggs, and got sad that they were "bow-ken." ;) He quickly cheered up, though, after the dough was finished and he got to enjoy the little bit left on the mixer's paddle. He even shared some with Aves, which says a lot since just recently his favorite word has been "mine" and he's got a wicked sweet tooth like his mama.

My friend recently perfected her recipe and was kind enough to share it on facebook, so I was excited to finally try it out. They were DELICIOUS, rich, chewy, cookie perfection. Thanks Emily! And thanks for letting me share it here too. :) 

Thick, Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
by Emily Tawzer

2 1/4 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2 cups brown sugar, packed

1 cup salted butter, softened (room temp)

2 cups rolled oats

2 eggs

2 Tablespoons thick maple syrup, honey, or molasses (I used molasses)

1 Tablespoon milk

1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate...dark chocolate would be incredible...and so would white chocolate with craisins)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In regards to the butter and eggs...room temperature butter is important, it needs to be soft but not too soft, and cold eggs straight from the fridge are just fine. Whisk together flour, soda, and baking powder in medium size bowl. Cream butter and sugar in mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add oatmeal, syrup, and milk, mix but do not over beat. Add dry ingredients (all at once) and mix until just combined. Add chocolate chips and mix briefly. Spoon HUGE 1/4 cup size cookie dough balls onto cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for exactly 11 minutes. The edges will be lightly browned and they may not look done, but that's the trick to the chewy cooke! As they cool, they become the perfect, chewy cookie. Enjoy!

Yields: 2 dozen large cookies

His 27th Birthday Weekend

The man of the house had a birthday over the weekend! Even though the majority of it was filled with homework, we sure had fun filling in the gaps with celebrating and showing Adam how much we love him and how glad we are he is ours!! Breakfast in bed ... 27 balloons with 27 reasons why we love and appreciate him ... lots of birthday kisses ... dinner at Market Street Grill with Mama and Papa Kjar ... Sunday brunch of German pancakes ... the birthday boy got a long nap while Brooks, the sous chef, helped me make lasagna for dinner and the birthday cake for dessert ... and 27 candles were lit and blown out. Wishing this next year is the best of your life so far love!!

^^ As you can see, the kids (especially Ava) thoroughly enjoyed the whipped cream frosting ^^

And part of Adam's birthday is two tickets to see The Piano Guys in May. One of the things I love about Adam is his appreciation for music...The Piano Guys are brilliant and beyond entertaining, so we are so excited for a date night out to see them live!

7/52

{ Last Friday it was extra sunny and rather warm...so when Brooks wanted to get outside and take his shoes off to feel the grass on his feet for a few minutes, I was more than okay. It's been a looooong winter for that boy. }

{ Sweaty hair and dimpled knuckles...that little Aves is sweet dream perfection. }

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Perfect Picker-Upper

That was a little Vine video from earlier today. :) We had a fun, family lunch date at Kneaders after stealing Adam away from work...wish we could do it more often. Fantastic food with my favorite people, it was the perfect picker-upper.

While there, Adam snapped a picture (right photo) of me getting an extra sweet kiss--as he had blueberry lemon loaf crumbs on his lips--from Brooks. And it's almost identical to one he took of us at Kneaders almost two years ago on Brooks' 1st birthday (left photo). Love that boy! Can't believe he will be three (three!) in less than a month.

Being a brother

Goodness I fall more in love with Brooks every time I see him engage and take on his role as big brother to Ava.

Sure, he thinks sharing with sister means giving her the crumbs from the last of the "go-fish" bag... 

And if he covers his eyes he disappears from the, equally sweet and messy, predicament the cinnamon sugar got him and Ava in the other day...apparently they thought it tasted just as good on the couch as it does on toast.

But he has a magic touch with her.

Clapping and patting her hands in the bath tub the other night made her laugh so hard that she got weak in the knees and couldn't stand...so plop and splash went her cute bum in the bathtub, and they both continued the laughing fest 'til they were out of breath.

Or today when she was crying in the car, he reeeeached over, and calmed her by holding fingers.

Yea, I'd say that being a brother is definitely better than being a superhero.

Laces for Love

Valentine's Day may have come and gone...but I have a little something you can do if you still want to share a little love that will help make a big difference in the lives of a beautiful family. :)

The Wilkinson family is made of two incredible parents and four lovely children, three of which live at home and one in heaven. They are ready, waiting with open arms, to welcome more children into their home...and they are taking the route of adoption to find the blessed little one(s). They have SO much love to give. How am I so sure of this?? Well, the super-mom of this family just happens to be Adam's sister. :) Go here to read more about this stellar family and their hopes and dreams in regards to growing their family through adoption.

Here's where you come in... The Wilkinsons started "Laces for Love" and are collecting gently used but still wearable shoes to raise money toward adoption. They can take ANY type of shoe - boots, flip-flops, high heels, dress shoes, sneakers, flats, cleats, all sorts. As long as there aren't any holes...and they match...they will take them! For every pound of shoes they collect, they earn $.70 toward their adoption. Amazing right?? You declutter, they earn much needed adoption money, AND the shoes go to third world countries. WIN, WIN, and WIN! Go here to see where there are drop-off sites near you...they're collecting the shoes now through March 31st. 

Please join us and help them complete their family! xo