Grandma Rose: Happy Birthday!

We had a great time celebrating my mom's birthday with an old fashioned Weenie & Polish Dog roast!

Everyone loved it-especially Ava!

Nice see-food, hon!

I love the gang sign Owen's throwing out to his peeps!

Good goin', homeboy!

Mom,

We all love you so much! 

You make every one of us feel so special and loved. 

You are a super-special mom, mother-in-law, and grandma! 

And it is a great blessing to have you in our lives.

We love you!

Samuel, Olivia,

Isabella, Ava, Iris,

Owen & Gabriel

This is life...

Seeing a little piece of you...

in them.

It's incredibly humbling.

Simple Sugar Cookies

I needed a simple and easy sugar cookie recipe for my daughter's tea party that would yield fabulous, soft, and chewy cookies.  It was the day of the event, with only hours until the guests arrived, when I stumbled upon this recipe on allrecipes.com.  I adapted the recipe to what I had on hand, and because this was a no-need-to-chill-the-dough-in-the-fridge and a no-rolling-of-the-dough recipe, I had my cookies baked and cooled in plenty of time for the party!

Simple Sugar Cookies

Yields 24-36 Cookies

Instructions

1/2 cup shortening, butter-flavored
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

Directions

Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.

Cream the shortening, butter, and sugar in a large mixing bowl.

Add the eggs and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients, and then slowly add to the wet ingredients.

When combined, roll the dough in the palms of your hands into walnut-shaped balls and space evenly on an ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake for 9 minutes, or until the bottoms just start to brown.

Remember, do not overbake.  You want these babies to remain moist and chewy.

Enjoy!

Iris' Spring Tea

Tell me,

what good is a beautiful spring day

if not for an equally fabulous spring tea?

Iris and I were of the same opinion,

and so we sent out invites to all the four-year olds we know,

decorated our home,

baked treats,

and waited...

...for the fun to begin!

The doorbell rang...

and rang...

and rang...

and soon our backyard was humming with excitement!

The air was filled with happy squeals...

...a flurry of bubbles...

...and laughter!

We coul not have done it were it not for our fabulous helpers!

Thank you Ava...

Elizabeth and Isabella!

We took a break from the fun in the sun to decorate sugar cookies!

Never have you seen so many sprinkles...

...atop gobs and gobs of frosting!

There was a brief respite from the festivities to watch a little of

-what else?-

"Cinderella"!

We took our tea (fruit punch),

caramel corn,

petite brownies & cupcakes...

...al fresco!

Amidst the fluff of organza and lace...

...there was a lone boy!

We were delighted that Iri's Sunday School classmate chose to join us!  Though he was in the minority, I do believe he had a great time! 

Thanks for coming, Nathan!

As the "tea hour' came to a close...

...it was time for some games "on the lawn"!

We divided the girls into teams,

and in relay-fashion they attempted to fill water pitchers with

...what else? 

Tea cups filled with water!

Some were intent on not spilling a drop!

Others ran without care!

And still some tottered graceful as can be!

In the end though,

they had a smashing time!

The grand finale of was a riotous game of "Duck, Duck, Goose!".  They had so much fun, and we all died laughing when Nathan, at the conclusion of our game, took a flying leap to capture the runner!  Well done!

Then it was time to wait for mom's and dad's to collect their princes and princesses!

What better way to wait than with lollies?

It was a delighful day! 

And at the end, I positively flopped on the bed!

Thank you to all the mom's who stayed to help,

and for all the parents who let their little ones 

share this special day with us! 

We were so glad to have you!

And last of all,

endless XOXO's to my sidekick and best friend. 

He is happy to help in every capacity,

and most of all,

he makes us smile.

Iris and I are eternally grateful!

Happy Tea-ing!

2010 Father & Son Campout

Samuel took the boys-

{I can't believe I can say that: 

I have BOYS!}

-up the hill to our ward's annual Father & Son Camp-out.

It's something we all look forward to,

the girls and I love the alone girly time,

and the men get to be burly

and stomp around in the grass for awhile!

This year Samuel was in charge of the food and he spent the better part of the afternoon mixing pounds and pounds of pancake batter.  Before he left I begged him to take photos and he came through with flying colors.  There are a total of two, yes two, photos which does qualify for my request for photo"S"!

Thanks hon!

They enjoyed beautiful weather,

fire-side skits,

ate a world-class breakfast,

and came home safe and sound!

Until next year...

Uncommon Friends...And the Tears that Fall When You Say Good-bye

You know what I'm talking about. 

And if you don't, you surely will one day.

I never thought that one of my best friends would reside "just over the fence".  And yet, when we moved to Roseville nearly two years ago now, that's exactly what happened.

We passed sugar, eggs, and who knows what else over that fence.  

We laughed together,

cried gobs of tears together,

and just were.

We not only shared a love of cooking,

but a between the two of us,

we had a bounty of life experiences that tried us,

and yes,

ultimately strengthened us.

Thank you, friend.

Our family has been richly blessed to know you and yours.

We dearly miss you all.

And look forward to keeping in touch.

Queen Victoria:

"You will go when I dismiss you.
I am your queen, and I am telling you to stay!"

Prince Albert:

"Good night, Victoria."

[Exits]

Queen Victoria:

[Storms over to door.]

"You may not go!
You may not go!
I order you to stay here in this room!
Albert!"

{Mmmm.}

I suppose they'll be no ordering you to stay...

Afterall it didn't work for Victoria, did it?

Anyhow, we love you and

we wish everyone all the best!

Thank you again...

for everything.

Olivia

P.S. 
And the Jackie Roll...
How can I ever repay you?