They brought me all sorts of goodies. One of the moms in my room packed up all my gifts in my recycling box and her husband brought it out to my truck, which was awesome. Mason thought I brought it home for him!
This was a new recipe I tried this year. They turned out really good...a hint of coffee flavor with lots of chocolate and nuts. Nice and chewy. They came from the 2008 Taste of Home Cookies magazine. I should mention that the original recipe makes 18 dozen cookies! Really? 18 dozen of just one kind? I cut everything into fourths and figured I better try them out before I filled my entire freezer with them. Here is my version which makes about 4 1/2 dozen.
It's hard to get a picture of him these days though because once he sees the camera he comes running over. He loves to look at the pictures on the camera. He giggles every time. 
After he brought me the lens cap and looked at the pictures, he continued to sweep. He kept putting all of his toys in the dust pan and then watched them roll out. I'm pretty sure his love of sweeping won't continue when he's older and actually has chores to do, but we'll run with it for now.
Last weekend I made gingerbread waffles. They must have been good because mason gobbled them up and ryan requested them again today. Last week we topped them with powdered sugar. This morning I had a little heavy cream left so we topped them with whipped cream and raspberries. Yum!
On the agenda today is hanging at home and doing some organizing/baking/and cleaning. We now have shelves and rods in our bedroom closet so and I can't wait to go through and (purge) and organize everything. Now if we could only find a bedset and then we could hang some things on the walls! Then it's off to town this afternoon for some school obligations.
I'm sure mason will be a big help! When ryan was building the closet, he couldn't keep him away. He wanted to bring him things and follow along, trying to do whatever it was that daddy was doing. Also, he runs everywhere while helping (well, while doing anything really.)
I love this picture of him because this is how he moves. He doesn't walk anywhere. I love the little pitter patter of his feet as he runs all over the place.
Happy Saturday!
Warm Country Gingerbread Waffles
(from gooseberry patch christmas)
2 c. flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. molasses
1/2 c. butter
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 c. buttermilk
1 egg
Combine flour, cinnamon, ginger and salt. Heat molasses and butter until butter melts. Remove from heat and stir in baing soda (make sure you use a big pan, I wasn't ready for the science experiement happening in my kitcken when you add the baking soda...it foams up really high, which then makes great fluffy waffles!) Add buttermilk and egg, then add flour mixture. Cook in a waffle iron until golden.
Mason finished his dinner long before ryan and I tonight, but he happily sat in his chair and provided some entertainment. He had us laughing and laughing. We love that funny boy! 
Dinner used to be so boring before the little one:)
After that was "falling down" on the floor (thanks aunt kates for teaching him ring around the rosie!) He kept giggling over and over as we fell down. I'm pretty sure I got my exercise in today between all the lifting up to the windows, falling down on the ground, and chasing him around the house. Just in time for breakfast burritos! I love lazy sunday mornings together before we head off to church!
These are a yummy chocolate and mint flavored cookie (a perfect combo, really). I love the candy cane kisses on top! They harden up nicely and are easy to stack for storage or to give away. 
Mom came for the whole week which was pretty awesome. She brought Einstein's bagels and pumpkin cream cheese. She made dinner. She washed dishes. And she cleaned my bathtub! Mason had a ball with Nana. They played and played and played. He loved the crayons and coloring book she brought. I can't wait for her to come back again at Christmas time.
My sister and I were having too much fun with the whole being pregnant together thing. We loved having her and her husband spend a few days at our house. There was lots of hot chocolate, giggling at mason, games, and staying up way too late. 
As I have a quiet moment to myself this morning I realize I have so much to be thankful for! Good friends, a job that I love, my sweet family, the list could go on and on. Today we are having a meal with ryan's parents and grandparents along with my mom. It's the first time I've prepared the Thanksgiving meal at our house. I'm so thankful for our little home and all the many hours we've (especially ryan) put into making it what it is. It's come a long way from the "barn" it was four years ago.
Mindy and I had some great conversations and laughs. I love that we can just pick up where we left off when we get together. I also love that we have little babies in the mix now too. Although we did consider getting a sitter the next time we try to get together and work on some projects... 
One of mason's favorite things to do is to pile all of his toys on the couch and then climb up and play with them. Lately his links have been the object of his focus. But don't you dare link them together in a chain. He prefers them all separated. 
This way he can put them on his feet! He's so proud when he fits them on just right.
He keeps adding more and more, concentrating and giggling the whole time.
He's keeping himself entertained, but ryan and I are pretty amused at the whole thing too!
Mason was pretty much the cutest little frog ever for Halloween. Once we got his costume on he didn't really want to take it off. He wore it to the carnival at school on Saturday and then we went to some friends house for dinner. He pretty much wore it until it was time for bed. 
Then he played some more on Sunday after we put it on again. 
After we put the little hat on we kept noticing that his hair was a little disturbing in the back. I'm not sure if I'm ready to attempt another haircut, but it's about time!
Love this little guy!
