Baking cookies

Eliana didn't want to take a nap this afternoon, so we baked some Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal cookies instead.  She did a pretty good job stirring the flour and oatmeal together and not dumping too much on the counter.  She really wanted to eat one when we were done, but in the midst of eating it, remembered that she doesn't like chocolate.  I personally thought the cookies were delicious (I picked this recipe because it contains just about all of my favorite ingredient), and I would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to do a little baking.  And if you are like Eliana or my sister Abby and don't like chocolate, I think they would taste pretty good without the chocolate chips too. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

recipe from www.bakeorbreak.com

Ingredients:

• 2 & 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

 Preheat oven to 350*F.
Mix together the flour, oats, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl.  Set aside.
On medium speed, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and creamy.  Add peanut butter, and mix until combined.  Add eggs and vanilla, and mix until combined.
Reduce mixer speed to low, and gradually add in dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Stir in chocolate chips. 
Drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet.  Bake 10 to 12 min until lightly brown.  Let cool on cookie sheet for 5 min, then transfer to a wire rack to finish. 
Makes 6 dozen cookies. 

I actually cut the recipe in half because I didn't want to eat 6 dozen cookies myself.  I used old fashioned oats instead of quick oats (because that's what I had on hand) and butter flavored Crisco instead of real butter (because I have found using real butter in cookies makes them too melted and crispy).  Also, if I was to make this again, I would cut back on the chocolate chips a little because they overwhelm the cookies just a little bit.   Yum yum!

Cookies and milk

What happens when you realize that you don't like chocolate.

And on another note, I caught Eliana doing this later in the day.  She was taking her little baby doll and stuffing it under her shirt.  We talk about the baby in mommy's belly a lot, and Eliana insists there is one in her belly too.  Actually she thinks the baby lives in my belly button, specifically.  I guess she wanted to have a big belly like mommy too!

Look what's there!

4 years, Here's to many more!

Last week, David had a follow-up appointment with his oncologist Dr. Porque.  Everything looked clear, so that means we are nearing the four year anniversary mark of remission!!  Praise the Lord!  Alleluia!  What a journey it has been.  Three and half years of marriage, moving to Columbus for David's residency, a beautiful smart little girl who just turned two, and another bundle of joy on the way.  The Lord truly has blessed us beyond measure.  David is a strong, loving man who never gives up and who gives his all to his family and his job.  No matter what the future has in store for us, we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength.  I'm so amazingly glad that God gave David the strength to beat cancer four years ago. 

16 weeks

Park in the Snow

Before the polar vortex came to town, the weather was actually quite mild here in Columbus.  A week ago Sunday, the temperatures were in the forties, melting the last of the snow.  So I dressed Eliana up in her snow suit, not for the insulation, but because it was waterproof, and we went to Pierce Park in Grandview.  We had a blast!  She still doesn't have much interest in the snow, but all of the equipment was clear so Eliana was able to run around to lots of different places: swings, tunnels, slides, and ladybugs.  It was a great escape from being cooped up in the house for most of the past month. 

Tilting backward in the swing.  She thought this was hilarious!

Christmas Season with the Bonds

Busy busy busy!  I apologize for my lack of posting lately.  Christmas season has come and gone and we have been going nonstop for a while.  Plus throw in a case of Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease for Christmas and a low grade fever for her birthday for Eliana, a week of travel in Indiana, extra shifts at work, and multiple sleepless nights due to a sick little girl; and I'm beat.  No time for posting pictures of my adorable baby girl.  So here is a quick catch up.  :)

St Nick came to visit us way back on Dec 6th!  Eliana was mad at first that there was an orange in her shoe, but when I explained why, she got very excited.  She took her orange to daycare and told everyone "Nikky put orange in my shoe!"

One of Eliana's favorite parts of the Christmas season is the Nativity set (or "TV set" as she calls it).  She would play with the pieces and move the people and animals all around.  Often she would turn the kings to face the radio to listen to "Jesus songs" (Christmas music).  She likes it even more now that baby Jesus and the manger are in the scene. 

One of Eliana's many Christmas celebrations.  We are David's parents' house in this picture.  Eliana is opening presents with Aunt Rhonda and Uncle Ray.

Eliana loved playing guitar with Uncle Ray.  And I don't know why she has one glowing eye in this picture.

Stacking creation boxes with Grandmama.

Just chilling with Aunt Rhonda, listening to music, petting her new kitty.

We celebrated Eliana's second birthday a little early with David's family.  She is holding her Uncle Ray's old teddy bear and her new Princess Sophia doll.

Eliana likes to talk about how Princess Sophia has curly hair like Mommy, and how she has straight hair like Daddy.

And to top off our busy times, Eliana switched from a crib to her Big Girl Bed yesterday!  So far so good.  She really likes getting to climb into bed all by herself and says "I do it!"  I wasn't sure how she would deal with the change, but this has been better than I could have even wished for.  I hope it continues!