Have Some Sugar. . . Cookies!!!

It all started as a dream-like so many things in life. . .

My SISTER went to a play at our local Amarillo Little Theatre. During intermission she purchased a sugar cookie which she was less than impressed with both in design and taste. Since her and I are working hard to begin a party/cakes/cookies business and trying to get our name out that we are selling the best sugar cookies in Amarillo, she saw this particular situation perplexing. She could either sit on the sidelines and let everyone attending ALT programs eat sub-par cookies, or step in and help-which was obviously needed! If you know my older sister, Callie, she could not sit idly by and keep quiet. She approached the director of the upcoming "Tom Sawyer" production and said that her and I are starting a business and would he be interested in trying our cookies. All in hopes (dreams) that he would be swept off his feet and hire us to make the cookies for the upcoming production! Sure--dreams, dreams, dreams---

Well, Monday afternoon, my SISTER got a call from the director with a green light to go ahead and make some cookies for "Tom Sawyer" he loved them, loved them, loved them! Oh, and how many might he be wanting? 800. . . what? the most we've done in a day is 9 dozen, about 1/8 of that number, really?? 800??? That's 67 dozen. . . wow, ok, we can do this! He just needs 400 Friday at 4:00 and 400 Saturday at 4:00--no problem!

Thursday evening we began the baking frenzy, we had around 200 cookies baked and ready for decorating, we're doing good, real upbeat. If this takes us about 1 hour for 200, we'll be completely done with all 800 in about 4 hours, right? Well yes except the first 200 took us 7 hours to decorate! Boy did we underestimate the time and overestimate our ability! We started mentally crunching numbers and time and considered the fact that we only had 5 of the 25 boxes (for Friday) completed at midnight and decided that rest was for the wicked. Or at the very least, rest was for the people that didn't get themselves committed to making 800 cookies in ONE day. . . we pulled an all nighter and finished the 25th box of cookies at 10:00 Friday morning! We took a "nap" break and reconvened at 6:00 Friday evening for another fun filled night of cookie making!

On the bright side, Callie figured out a way to shave 6 hours off the second half of cookies making the process faster and more enjoyable. We completed our 800th cookie at 8:00 Saturday! Well before they were due might I add. . .

All in all, we had a lot of fun and learned so much about each other and perseverance!

We had to use the window seat to
hold cookies awaiting decorating!

This is about 164 cookies! We did 5 times that---!!!

New and improved design-time saver!

Final step--in the box!
Original design-box shut, 50 boxes!

WE ARE THE WOMEN!!

And a special thanks to our husbands and children who so patiently

put up with our stupidly optimistic original estimation of time!

Tri-state Fair Parade

Fall is here and that means fair time in Amarillo!! The fair gets started with a mighty downtown parade. Alea and her cousin, Miriam, were asked to walk with their (Daisy) Girl Scout troop this year. They did such a great job. It was a long walk and they took turns holding their banner, waving flags and showing their Girl Scout sign. It was exciting and I was so proud of both of them, they walked with their heads up and represented the youngest branch of the Girl Scouts so well!

School Begins

Here we go again! We've decided to homeschool again this year. After a lot of prayer, we know this is what the Lord wants us to do. We'll take it a year at a time. I've decided to do Kindergarten again with Alea. She excelled last year, but I think since she just turned 5 in May, we'll keep her age/grade appropriate. We started last Monday and she has already blown me away. I am so thankful for her attitude toward learning and her willingness to explore and learn with me. Benton is having a good time too. He does computer time while we are working hard and then they do all the hands on and crafts together. I'm proud of them both already.

We have a couple of solid homeschool families that have joined up with us for field trips or play dates every FRIDAY!! I am so thankful for friends who share our vision and enthusiasm for educating our children. We had our first field trip last week-Panhandle Plains Historical Museum-and the kids loved it and learned a lot by looking at the exhibits. We're going exploring at Palo Duro Canyon to collect rocks, leaves and bugs next week and then the fair the following week. I think I'm more excited about these learning opportunities than the kids!

Alea is also officially a Daisy (AKA first level Girl Scout) and has her first troop meeting tonight. She is really excited especially since her cousin and friend are joining her. She also started a tap/ballet class last week, with her cousin, and loves every minute she can spend in front of the ballet studio mirror! Life is good and we are trying to live every moment to it's fullest. We are enjoying family and friends in Amarillo and are planning a fall trip to Des Moines in a week!

The first day of school-Alea picked her clothes-she was excited and ready to learn!

Oh, Life. . .

Why is it we want what we cannot have!?!

Today's high: 100 degrees

Today's attire: snow hats, snow mittens, snow coats, pants, hoodie, crocks (?)

February 2009 high: 10 degrees

February 2009 attire: swim suit ???

Agenda for today: drink hot chocolate, make coffee filter snowflakes, play in "the snow"-fully attired of course, roast marshmallows in "the fire"! Good thing we're just PLAYING! Lovin' the summer!!!

Our Little Graduate

Alea has done a fantastic job in Kindergarten this year! We completed the "My Father's World" curriculum for Kindergarten and are going to use A Beka next year.

We have been involved with the end of school rituals with my nieces and nephews the past few weeks and Alea began to feel as though she deserved a Kindergarten graduation. I couldn't agree more! We, as home school parents, have to make an extra effort to make our children feel special-just as the Lord sees them. I threw a graduation together quickly and with the help of family! It was really cute and she was beaming all day and into the next day. She borrowed her cousin, Miriam's (ooohhh, aaaahhh) graduation cap and gown, Greg got Pomp and Circumstance, we used LaDonna's church stage and viola, graduation to the rescue. Thirteen proud family members looked on as Alea glided down the isle (cappless since it was too big), she sang school songs and said her phonetically correct alphabet. She ended with a special song about elephants and glided back down the isle. We followed the ceremony with Capri Suns and Little Debbies!

Happy graduation, Alea, we are so proud of you!

A Perfect Wedding

Saturday, June 5th, my sweet sister-in-law, Lauren Cooprider was married. It was such an awesome day and all around perfect in every way. I was worried about the weather being too hot and it was not. I was worried that my child might get a blister on her foot (as she was the flower girl I thought that might disrupt the wedding a bit), but she did not. I thought I might cry like a baby when Lauren came down the isle but alas, I did that during rehearsal so I did not. Everything was wrapped up in a happiness and a magical uniting of two lives beginning a new journey together.

I have never seen a pastor, accompanied by groomsmen, preceed down the isle to Michael Jackson-until this wedding. Derek apparently really likes Michael Jackson and integrated him into the wedding and reception-pretty impressive. One of his groomsmen even dressed up like Michael and made a "special appearance". From the seating in the outdoor gazebo wedding to the dancing at the reception, I felt so honored and priviledged to be a part of such a celebration. I almost felt like I was watching a movie, it was so perfect!

I hope Lauren and Derek have a blissful marriage and that the honeymoon never ends! We love you two and are so proud of you-God bless you!

Beauty School??

Ok, every child does it, right? Well, we have now had our turn. . .



Thankfully, that is hair from the DOLL! Alea and Benton snuck off to the bathroom with scissors and butchered their doll's hair. It looked like a regular barber shop when I opened the door-hair was every where. Uggg. . . Alea did get in trouble but we just kept saying how thankful we are that it was the doll and not her own, she's in a wedding in a WEEK. This too shall pass. . .