Wolves and Chocolate Chip Cookies

Not to be outdone, Koo is a Wolf in Cub Scouts and wanted to make chocolate chips cookies (not required this year) but we couldn't leave him out right?

So, we made soft chocolate chip cookies.

Bears and Oatmeal Raisin cookies

Part of earning a Bear badge in Cub Scouts, a boy has to make oatmeal cookies as described in the handbook.

Today, S.E. made oatmeal cookies with modifications: eliminate shortening and replaced it with butter instead, added cinnamon and raisins.

Here's the recipe (adopted from the back of the Quaker Oats container...many years ago).

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup ap flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups oats
1/2 cup raisins

Blend sugar and butter until homogenous. Add the rest of wet ingredients and mix. Add dry ingredients and then raisins. Bake at 350F for 10-13 minutes depending on how you like the texture.

New Year, new throw pillows

Since most of our household has been sick for the past three weeks, I'm just about done with laundry, kleenex, waking up to coughing, icky tummies, vomiting, correct medicine dosage and time and just not being able to get stuff done.

Well, it looks like we've turned the corner and just in time because I went ahead and made new throw pillows. I'm certain it's not been good for my family to lay against throw pillows that had seen too much germies roaming my house.

I get to a point where I can't even stand to throw them in the wash and call it a day.  Tired of all this cold/flu business.

Here's the interesting part. How did I make such custom, fluffy throw pillow that didn't break the bank?

1) I purchased home decorating fabric from Joann on sale 1/2 off for $4.99/yard. But wait!! I had a coupon for an additional 25% off sale and regular-priced fabric so I ended up only spending $15 dollars for all three designs.

2.) I made my own pillow form. Yup. I bought these full-size pillows from Walmart ($2.50 each). I ended up using five of them ~$14.00 total. I made nine throw pillows total!!!

How did I do this? Well, I marked the final size of the pillow and I cut the pillow down to size. Pulled out the extra stuffing and sewed it shut. Fluffy, clean, and inexpensive. If I wanted to get the fluffy pillow form at Joann...it would have been $7.99 (on sale!) each.

Revamped

I know this revamp is sort of anti-climatic because there's no "before" pic. I swear I took it. It was deleted by my lovely hubby while transferring pictures off the SD card to the big computer.

He thought it was a picture Koo took.

This was a free bag I took apart (from one of his enginerdy conventions) with advertisement on the pocket part.

Sewed new fabric onto it and now it's a cool catch-all bag.  Held Kindles, pens, fabrics, and books.

S.E.'s first run

S.E. ran his first two miles!!! He did it without stopping. Kept very good pace with me. The only time he stopped was to admire the view from a hilltop.

I've been running for awhile now and I don't think I've ever stopped in a middle of a run to admire the view. Thank goodness for my kid reminding me to stop and smell the roses. This is such a big moment for me because I have dreamed of being able to run with my kids. Koo does not have the patience yet for pacing. He is all fire or all burn out. He will sprint and then come to a a dead stop...heaving. And the cycle goes on.

I am happy for my son. He is such a better kid than I ever was. He is strong, kind, willing, and best of all, he has grit.

And the picture is brought to you by Mr. Koo (photography is his passion...Asian side spilling out).


Before we took off:

And we are off:

After 2 miles:

Koo is Eight

Okay so it's been a few days since my little guy has turned eight.

Koo at eight:

Still loves to make origami swords, crowns, and airplanes.

Loves piggies of all kind...except his conflict with loving bacon more...

Accessories! He loves to wear bracelets, dinosaur "tooth" necklaces and anything he can add to get a little flavor to his outfits.

Still loves to play soccer, volleyball, and starting to play tennis.

He's just a hard worker and he wakes up bright eyes and in a happy mood. Everyday.

We adore him so much and he's such a darling kid. Happy Birthday.