monster cookies

Hello friends. 

it's been so beautiful all along the east coast the past few weeks. 

unseasonably warm and the birds are busy building their nests, 

(sounds like someone else i know)!  i've been surprised at the amount of energy i continue to have....now 27 weeks along.  i am deeply grateful and trying to use my energy wisely.  

we had a VERY LAST MINUTE "cars 2" party for our luke last week, with this amazing weather we wanted to seize the opportunity to celebrate outside, (a rarity with a march birthday).  here's a sneak peek of the festivities....more to come later, (and by "later" i mean whenever i get around to it)! ;)  

we made our favorite cookies last week.

luke is my ever-faithful helper.  he finds so much joy in putting his hand to projects. i decided to capture the moment, the first picture, (above) was not "staged" and it just looked so friendly....so that's where the idea began.

enjoy. we sure did.

the recipe is at the bottom of this post if you'd like to make them yourself.  it makes a LARGE batch, so go ahead and freeze some for later.  they taste so great right out of the freezer as well. 

MONSTER COOKIES

3/4 cup butter

1 cup sugar

1 cup brown sugar

4 eggs

1 lb chunky peanut butter

2 1/2 tsp. baking soda

5 cups quick oats

 12 oz. chocolate chips

1 cup m&m's

cream butter and sugars together.

add eggs and beat until fluffy.

add remaining ingredients except for choc. chips and m&m's.

mix well.

fold in choc. chips and m&m's.

form into teaspoon sized balls.

bake at 350* for 12 minutes.

eat 5 or less, (if possible)!  

"While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about."
~Angela Schwindt~

Nesting Area ~ please do not disturb.

 Came upon this picture the other day and let's just say that the darling sign on the porch should be hanging on mine, (it reads, "NESTING AREA please do not distrub")!

I've been in serious nesting overdrive. 

No corner is left unturned. 

Somehow 6 months have come and gone already!

I am feeling SO GOOD and SO GRATEFUL.

Of course I'm tired by the end of the day, but that's usually the case when there isn't a human growing on the inside!  In all honesty, I feel my very best when I'm pregnant.  I truly enjoy it!  And this is the "nice" trimester.  Still not too large and lots of energy to burn!  

25 weeks of Lovie. 

 

 Paisley was sick last week so we had lots of extra snuggle  time.  It was sweet at first and then a little annoying because she was at my side constantly.....BUT, it was JUST what we both needed though, to sloooow down and just exist.  What a GIFT a normal day is.  Luke wanted to take a picture of us the other day so I let him.  This was pretty much our position for the day, (except for taking Tyler to/from school and making meals).  

Just letting you know we're still here. 

We are doing well and I'm so excited to reveal to you the stuff we've been working on. Lovie's nursery will be started tomorrow!!!

I MADE MYSELF finish all most of my other projects before starting on the nursery, (working on it is kinda like my reward for getting all that other stuff completed)!  

Tonight is the first night with ALL THREE CHILDREN IN ONE BEDROOM.  They look so sweet up there.  The boys in a queen bed and Paisley in her newly redecorated "corner" of the room.  She's sleeping in her toddler bed.

I'm watching my belly bounce around as I type and it looks so funny!  NEVER ceases to amaze me....all this kicking and action and life, coming from the inside~out!

"It is only possible to

 live happily-ever-after 

on a day-to-day basis." 

 ~Margaret Bonnano~

Here's to a little "happily ever after" in your day......

and to your normal days, the ones that feel so wearisome and exhausting.  The ones where everyone is alive and healthy and you have food to feed your children.  The ones where you have running water and seeds to plant.  May we be grateful for the "normals" of life and not take them for granted.