MEMORIAL DAY

Today the Omaha World Herald has a really neat special section about 100 WWII vets. Some of it is online at Rendezvous with Destiny. It is a really neat tribute. The first quote on the front of the section is stirring around in my brain this morning. I try to imagine what it must have been like in those days right before and during the U.S. involvement in WWII but I don't think any of us will ever know. Here is the quote......

"There is a mysterious cycle in human events. To some generations much is given. Of other generations much is expected. This generation of Americans has a rendezvous with destiny."

Franklin Delano Roosevelt, June 27, 1936

CREEPY

Does anyone else find this picture of Barack Hussein Obama and his throng of "fans" creepy or is it just me?

FAVORITE THINGS

At our last MOPS, our mentor moms talked about their favorite things which inspired me to think about mine. Here they are......

Favorite New Snack for Kids:
Quaker Caramel Flavored Rice Cakes

Favorite New Face Product:
Guinot Gentle Face Exfoliating Cream

Favorite Video Game:
Guitar Hero 80's edition

Favorite Cookie:
Paradise Bakery's Coconut Chocolate Chip

Favorite Kid's CD (that does not drive me crazy):
Deliberate Kids by Phil Joel

Favorite New Break from Reality:
Watching the reality show Top Chef

Favorite Books for Summer Reading (Christian Fiction):
Sophie's Heart and Pretense both by Lori Wick

Favorite New Cookie Recipe:

courtesy of Rachael

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
2 c. butter
2 c. sugar
2 c. brown sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
4 c. flour
5 c. blended oatmeal
1 tsp salt
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
24 oz chocolate chips
1 (8 oz) Hershey bar, grated
3 c. chopped nuts (your choice), optional

Measure oatmeal and blend in blender to a fine powder. Cream the butter and both sugars. Add eggs and vanilla, then mix together with flour, oatmeal, salt, baking powder and soda. Add chocolate chips, Hershey bar and nuts. Roll into balls and place 2 inches apart on a cookie sheet. Bake for 10 minutes at 375. Makes 112 cookies. Recipe may be halved.

Favorite New Polish for Summer Toes:

OPI Flashbulb Fuschia

Favorite Ice Cream

Breyer's All Natural Black Rasberry Chocolate Ice Cream

THE MANY FACES OF CAMDEN

Claremarie is a sweet girl. She is very even-tempered and laid back, relatively slow to anger, and doesn't really show too much emotion over all. So obviously, she takes after her dad.

Camden, however, is very high strung. He can be laughing one minute and throwing a bloody fit the next. He is stubborn and ornery. He likes everything to be just so. To say he is "passionate" would be a big understatement. He is very dramatic, very type-A. I can't for the life of me where he gets these characteristics from. :-) When he is in a loving mood it is just the cat's meow. Almost every night, after he has been tucked in, he always calls me back into his room yelling, "Mommy, I need to tell you something." I go into his room and he always says the same thing. "Mommy, I need to tell you that I love you and I like you." Makes my heart melt every time.

CUPCAKE INSTRUCTIONS

These are so easy I'm almost embarrassed to post the instructions. Basically you just make cupcakes (we used white cake but I suppose you could do any flavor). Frost them with yellow frosting (again I'm sure you could use any color). Cut large marshmallows in 4 pieces. I used kitchen shears because a knife didn't work. You are supposed to shape them into petals but I found that when I cut them they automatically made that shape. Pick any colored candy for the center. We used melt aways because CM loves them. Put five marshmallows and the candy on each cupcake and wallah (Is that how you spell that??) Flower cupcakes!!