Gustav

We live on the Gulf coast- so we are feeling the effects of hurricane Gustav.

Luckily, we didn't have to evacuate because we are on the edge of the storm bands- only feeling the tropical storm force winds and rain.

Obviously, we haven't lost power yet!

The main difficulty had been entertaining DV during the rain and wind- he has been acting like a hurricane in the living room. There are toys where I never thought toys could be.

Today I just feel thankful. Thank God the storm spared us and we are praying for those it didn't.

IV's favorite cookies!

Today I made these cookies for IV and DV and they love them. They are very easy to make. It takes me about 1.5 hours including clean-up time.

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2 1/4 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup salted butter
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together flour and baking soda. Put butter and sugars in the mixer and mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add vanilla and eggs, mix. Mix in flour mixture, and then stir in chocolate chips by hand.

Drop teaspoons of dough onto baking sheets line with parchment. Bake cookies for 8 minutes, or until edges are golden and centers are soft. Cool cookies on wire racks. Store cookies in airtight container between layers of parchment.

Back-to-school haiku

Shannon at Rocks in My Dryer is having a contest today for a back-to-school haiku. I decided to enter:

Now that books are BACK,
No more free summer time TO
Play, instead busy SCHOOL.

Fun!!!

Where does the three-year-old sleep?

When we moved DV from the crib to a bed we decided to splurge and buy him an expensive bed. Lucky kid!

Here's a picture of him enjoying it, even before I added the race car decals. He started out sleeping in it with his crib mattress and when we decided he had gotten too tall for the crib mattress we switched to a twin.

But where does he sleep now? He takes his blanket and bear and sleeps on the floor- right by the door. Every night.

So the cute, "kids dream," bed is empty and we can't even move him into it after he's asleep- because opening the door wakes him up!

I hope he'll go back to sleeping in the bed someday- the hardwood can't be that comfortable!

Nerves

I have been taking off from my part-time job this summer. I have been really enjoying my free time with DV and little, visiting family vacations.

But ARGHHHHH! On August 19 I will be back to the grind- teaching Chemistry I labs. I adjunct part-time and stay home with DV the rest of the time.

I'm just not sure I'm ready to go back. I want more time off!

Truthfully? I am a little nervous. I always get this way before I start a new activity. Even one I have done before....

Bad Marshmallows!

Jen at Absolutely Bananas gave us this nifty writing prompt- write about a cooking catastrophe!

I am here to tell you marshmallows cannot be added to just any recipe.

I had some marshmallows. I had some brownie mix. And, I needed a dish to take to my potluck.

Can you see where this is headed? I decided I couldn't just make the mix brownies- I had to try for something exciting. So I added a bag of mini marshmallows to the mix before baking it.

I should have figured there is a reason marshmallows are never added to something before baking.

Here is what happened: browned and caramelized marshmallows on top of undercooked brownies. Totally inedible! I had to buy something for the potluck.

Here's my recommendation- DO NOT BAKE MARSHMALLOWS!!!!!

What I have learned from my son

What have I learned from DV? This is a really great question- as he has been around for just over 3 years now and I have learned A LOT.
1. Patience
2. Unconditional love
3. Enjoy the moment
4. Read, read, read
5. Always smell the flowers
6. Run don't walk
7. Chocolate is the perfect food
8. Prunes are the other perfect food
9. Daddy is a hero
10. Watch the garbage trucks (and other gross things)

Every day DV teaches me something absolutely vital. I don't know who I would be without him in my life. Thanks DV!