...continued. Baking, it isn't so bad!

Time for a cookie exchange! I decided to proceed with the Paula Deen recipe. God Bless the Butter! The recipe is Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies. Here's how you do it - preheat your oven to 350:

First, you cream one stick of butter and an 8oz block of cream cheese...oh so good!

Then, you add 1 tsp of vanilla extract and 1 egg...beat well.

Next, you add 1 -18oz package of chocolate cake mix - any kind will do, I hear devil's food is good too!

Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let set for at least 2 hours in the fridge to firm up a little  - don't you wish you could put yourself in the fridge so you could firm up a little...I wish!

Once dough has set, form little balls just a little smaller than the size of a walnut. Roll in powdered sugar to make a pretty, white coating which will give you the cracked effect when baked.

Bake for 10-12 minutes, remove and let cool - sprinkle with powered sugar for some yummy goodness! Eat!

 

 As for me, I am not a baker of any kind. So if I can do this, you can do this!! Have fun and ENJOY!!

Always,

April

Me? Bake?...um, okay...

So I've been invited to a cookie exchange on Saturday. I'm not a baker, I've never claimed to be good at it. An easy cake, mix and pour, bake for this long and PRESTO, a no mess-up cake that I messed up. I need an easy recipe, an easy one with butter in the recipe because I like butter...so does Paula Deen! I'm gonna check out her website and see what I can come up with. We shall see how this works!

To be continued...

Family...here's mine

Love.

Time

Today was a really busy day. I had planned to help my friend Heather in her very first photo session but time worked against us this day. That's okay though, I know we'll have many more opportunities in the future. She did a FABULOUS job!! I'm so proud of her.

Caleb had his first game today. I am so proud of him. This is his third season in basketball. He has learned so much in previous seasons. Just when I think he isn't paying attention (like staring at the cheerleaders) he's on the defense, he's making baskets, he dribbling. I just wanted to run out on that court and tell him I was so proud of him and pinch his cheeks. I did refrain until the last buzzer. I then let him have it! This picture is not so great. I just wanted to capture him in "action".

Gabrielle had dance practice. She has her very first recital tomorrow. I'm so excited for it! It's a Christmas recital. This will prepare them for the big recital in May. I plan to take lots of pics and will post as soon as possible.

Little beings.

This is Caleb. He handsome, smart, whitty, and so much fun to be around. He has his moments of...I don't know what to call his moments. We refer to them as just that, "Moments". Caleb is eight years old, birthday is in August. If you leave him alone, he's just fine. If he's tired, just let him be. He's mine and I love him.

This is Gabrielle (you couldn't guess that, could you?). She's a funny little girl. She's smart too, she catches on to things easily. You can't get much by her. She'll make you laugh for sure. She's four years old, birthday in June. She too has her moments, but I love her!

No cake. Sad, but we're gonna be okay.

After my last post, my husband got a hold of the infamous "black list" for promotion. He was not on the selected list. He was so disappointed but was relieved in a way because now I do not have to leave my job or this area. We will get to finish our time here on Lejeune which we love because of the convenience of the area and the DoDea school system.

I could tell that his heart was broken, he was very sadden by the news. Other people who were promoted he knows personally and felt that promotion was not justified. He's been to war 2 years and 1 month total. There are people who were promoted who have NEVER been or others who have been once, granted they've paid their dues. Others who were promoted didn't even take a picture. How can they promote someone without even seeing what they look like??

His words to me this morning touched me. He said to me, before he left the door to go to work, "At least I still have my family"...that's his spirit, keep pushing on and never give up the fight. There's always next year.

I love you Oscar. You are an inspiration to me. <3

Marine Corps...and our life.

I love the Marine Corps, for the most part. It has provided for my family in many ways, it has also been the cause of many problems. We always work through and push forward. Some days were harder than others. Some years I didn't think we were going to make it, but we always did and still do. We've been through separation like you could never imagine, we've been through and he's survived war(s), there's so much that we've endured in this journey.

Promotion is coming up. My husband "knows" he isn't getting promoted. I have faith but will love him regardless. He is an excellent Marine. He has a work ethic like no other and he teaches me to be a better person and employee, yet he has no idea. I idolize him. Good luck babe!

Yummy...comfort food.

We all have the urge every now and then...the urge to splurge, on FOOD! I made brownies the other night. They were so yummy! I ate until my belly didn't want anymore even though my mouth did!

Photography

I would love to utilize this site to display my new beginnings. I'm an aspiring photographer, kind of. I'm an underwriter for a mortgage company but would much rather be out taking photos ANY DAY! I would hope it would allow me the flexibility to stay home with my children. Now, it's all about getting started, practicing, learning....doing. I've recently asked a couple of families I know if I could "shoot" them...no pun intended. That's the only way I'm going to get my name out there. We'll see how it goes, I'll keep you posted.

Life

I've recently had the chance to reconnect with my very dear friend from high school. She was such a really big part of my life for much of my youth. Circumstances changed and we drifted apart. But, I never forgot about her. I'm so glad she's accepted me back into her life after all of the years and things that have transpired, she's still here for me, just as she always was. I've always looked up to her. She may not have known it, but I did. She was always smiling, always so together, just always with the "now". She's true to herself and true to others. There's no competition with her, she's encouraging. Her beauty shines inside and out.

She'll forever be a part of me and my family. The way that it should be. I'm so excited for the rest of our lives.