Best Brownies

I have to share a recipe for the most delicious brownies!  Warning: they are super-rich!  I am a self-proclaimed choc-a-holic, and trying to eat more than 2 of these little guys in one day will make you SICK!!

Anyway,  here it is (and the recipe is titled "Best Brownies"  I found it online!)

Ingredients:

1 stick butter or margarine, melted

1 cup sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1/2 cup all-purpose flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

CREAMY BROWNIE FROSTING (recipe below)

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350.  Grease a 9" square baking pan.

2. Stir together butter, sugar and vanilla in a bowl.  Add eggs and beat well.  In another bowl, combine the dry ingredients; then gradually add to wet mixture and beat until well blended.  Stir in nuts, if desired.  Spread evenly into prepared pan.

3. Bake 20-35 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan.  Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.  Prepare CREAMY BROWNIE FROSTING; spread evenly over brownies and cut into 16 squares. 

CREAMY BROWNIE FROSTING

3 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

1 Tbsp light corn syrup or honey

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup powdered sugar

1-2 Tbsp milk

Beat butter, cocoa, corn syrup and vanilla in a snall bowl until blended.  Add powdered sugar and then milk until it reaches a spreading consistency.  Spread over brownies.

Enjoy with a glass of cold milk!!

 (Jason recommends topping them with vanilla ice cream) 

These really are some of the "best" brownies I've made and they were so easy.  Plus, I had all the ingredients in my kitchen, so I didn't have to buy anything extra and they lasted us a whole week! (and Lauren liked them, too!)

 

dreamin'

After Lauren and I spent the week in Florida, Jason came and met my dad and stepmom in Prattville so we could go home with him.  (Guess he missed us?!)  We ate at the Bass Pro Shop and then let Lauren walk around and climb on all the boats and 4 wheelers.  She loves it!

Jason had made reservations for the 3 of us to stay in a Homewood Suites that night in Huntsville, because being in the car with Lauren for 10 hours is no fun for anyone.  We thought if we broke the trip into 2 days, it would work much better! And we like to stay in Homewood Suites because they are nice and they have a kitchen!  We can keep milk/juice for Lauren in the fridge and not have to buy it constantly while we drive and also we can eat in the room and that saves us from going to a restraunt.

This particular hotel was in such a cute area!  It looked like it had been there for 100 years (by the style of the building) but it was obviously not 100 years old!  There was a fountain out front and you could walk to the little "downtown square" and eat or shop. 

We walked across the street to the Mellow Mushroom and ordered a pizza; and then brought it back to our room to eat.  Perfect!

Behind the hotel, there was the cutest street with such beautiful homes!!  I went ahead and picked the home I wanted. (you know, since we live no where close to this area! Ha!)

I mean, aren't these all beautiful?

They are a little out of my price range, but I was just dreamin', anyway! :)

This one was my favorite. 

 I loved the color of the brick and shutters and all the windows!  Plus, the white picket fence is adorable!!

But that is a lot of house for 2 people, so I decided that

 this one was more manageable in size.

It was so pretty! And the porch was to die for!  I love the ceiling fans and lights, and the furniture and American flag.

I could see myself sitting here with a glass of lemonaide!

Couldn't you?

I always see houses that I like in other cities than where we are living, and joke with Jason that we should just "pick it up and move it" to wherever we live at the time. (Don't even get me started on all the other homes that I have wanted to "move!")

 Guess the grass is always greener, huh? :)

However, if any of our family members that read this blog should happen to move to this area of Huntsville, you have my permission to buy any of the homes shown above and I will be glad to come visit! :)

"Share a Song" Sunday :)

Jason actually hear this song first and shared it with me.  I really love it, the words are  powerful and they just bring tears to my eyes whenever I hear this song.  Hope it blesses you, too!

(scroll down for the video)

Honestly

by Carl Cartee

Could I let go of all that you’ve given

 If it meant that it all would be yours

Could I sit at your feet, and forget about me,

and remember what I’m here for

Honestly I need to be broken

Honestly I need to fall down

Go ahead and shake my foundation

Cause Honestly I’m figuring out

that of all that I have, all that I need is you

honestly

If I leave behind all thats familiar

Could I do what has never been done?

If I believed in you like you believe in me,

 would you finish the work you’ve begun?

Honestly I need to be broken

Honestly I need to fall down

Go ahead and shake my foundation

Cause Honestly I’m figuring out

that of all that I have, all that I need is you

honestly

Your all that I need

Honestly I need to be broken,

Honestly I need to fall down,

go ahead and shake my foundations,

cause honestly I’m figuring out

that of all that I have,

all that I need it you.

the thunder rolls...

Last night Jason and I were headed for bed around 11:00.  That is pretty good for us!  It had just started raining pretty hard outside and I was actually excited, because there is nothing that I love more than sleeping while it's raining.  It is so relaxing!

I went in to check on Lauren one last time and turn the light off on her fish tank.  Just as I was walking out, the loudest thunder that I have ever heard boomed and practically shook our apartment.  Lauren jumped up and started crying. 

I picked her up and tried to comfort her and put her back in her crib.  Not happening.  She clung to me like a little monkey and so I was forced to make a decision. 

(We have never let Lauren sleep in our bed, for fear that once she did, we wouldn't be able to get her back in her own bed!)

However, it sounded like the thunderstorm wasn't going to stop anytime soon, so I brought her into our room.  When I put her in the middle of the bed between Jason and I, it was very clear that we needed our king size bed!! A queen bed with the 3 of us was a tight fit.  Jason fell asleep in about 3 seconds and I was laying there with Lauren, telling her that the "boom boom" wasn't going to get us, and we were ok. 

Apparently, Lauren likes to snuggle all of a sudden, so she was all up in my face when she fell asleep.  As some of you may know, I am not super-touchy feely (although Lauren doesn't usualy bother me) but there was no way I could sleep in that position.  I tried to roll over, but then I almost fell off the bed.  So I decided that I would just sleep on the floor next to the bed so I could hear Lauren if she woke up and also make sure that she didn't fall out of the bed!!  (Jason sleeps like the dead, so there was no chance of him hearing anything!) 

Ok, somewhere along the way, I forgot that I wasn't 16 anymore and sleeping on the floor is not comfortable!! I could not get situated, and only had one pillow (usually I sleep with 2) because the others were around Lauren to make sure she didn't roll off the side of the bed.  Finally around 2:30am, I headed for the couch, thinking it would be softer than the floor!!!

It still took me a while to fall asleep, because I don't like sleeping in the living room and I kept freaking out thinking I was hearing noises.  I fell asleep about 3ish (I could see the clock on the microwave before I fell asleep!)

Jason's alarm went off at 5:30 and guess who else woke up bright eyed and busy-tailed?  Miss Lauren Grace.  Seriously?  That is 2 nights this week that I have had not near enough sleep, and yet had Lauren bouncing around and wanting me to play with her.  When Jason left for work, I became the worst mom in the world and I planted her in front of the tv in the living room and I went back to bed. 

 I know, I know, call Children's Services if you must.  I am a light sleeper, however, and with the bedroom door open, she was literally about 7 feet away from me.  Plus, she woke me up every 30 minutes with requests for milk, juice, fish snacks; and then proceeded to bring me toys in the bed so we could "play."  When I finally got up around 7, there was a pink school bus, flashlight, baby doll and 2 plastic farm animals in the bed next to me! :)

I guess that I need to nap now since Lauren is napping, but I had to record this for posterity. :)  I am praying for a good night's sleep tonight! 

These boots were made for walkin'....

Lately, Lauren has been playing "dress up."  She heads into our closet (usually while I'm in the shower or getting ready at the sink) and pulls out some of my shoes to clunk around in. 

This week she has modeled boots, fuzzy pink slippers, strappy sandals and flats.  She even managed to "squeeze" her feet into Jason's huge shoes! (ha!  I am sure she could have fit her whole body into one of them!!)

While I was making dinner last night, I heard Lauren laughing in the living room.  When I stuck my head around the corner to see what was so funny, this is what I saw...

She had planted her little bottom right into her baby stroller!  It was hilarious!  She said "mommy, push me?"  Um, ok?!  Her feet were on the floor the whole time, and we laughed and laughed. 

I also babysat Katelyn Tuesday and Wednesday because her dad had some training to attend.  She is walking now, and Lauren loved holding her hand and walking around together. 

They even enjoyed a snack of goldfish on the Dora couch!

Katelyn turned 1 on May 21 and Lauren turned 2 on May 20!  How perfect is that?!

I think they are going to have fun together this fall when school starts

back and she is at our house everyday. :)

And finally, while I was fixing lunch today, Lauren was raiding our "office supplies" drawer in my bedroom.  This is the plug-in for my cordless gluegun.  She told me it was a phone and then proceeded to call Pop-Pop and talk to him! :)

(I know her teeth look crazy in this picture,

it is a bite of the string cheese in her hand!!)

I love being home with her and getting to do so many fun things with this silly girl!

Favorite Bible Verse

I haven't linked up to one of Kelly's "Show us your life" posts in a while.  Last week was "show us your favorite Bible verse) Problem is, I have lots of favorite Bible verses! 

So I picked my top 3.  :)

Lamentations 3:22-23  The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end; 
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

Micah 6:8

 He has told you, O man, what is good;

and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?

I also like Nehemiah 8:10 (on my blog heading) "...and do not be grieved,
 for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

**The Bible is one book that I love to read over and over and over again.  It gives me hope, encouragement and peace.   What is better than reading a book about the life of Christ and all that he did (and still does) for His people??**

I know how Alexander feels!

Have you read this book?  I used to love to read it to my kindergarten students when we had a crazy day at school. 

And Monday was a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day!!

The day started out bad.  I was awake until after 3am!! First, I got into bed at midnight, but my mind was going 100 miles an hour, so I got up and jotted down a "to-do" list, so I wouldn't forget all that had to be done this week. (we've been out of town for almost 2 weeks, but more about that in another post!)

When I got back in bed, I felt better, but then I realized that when we re-arranged the furniture in our bedroom before we went out of town (my idea), it put my side of the bed directly underneath the air conditioning vent!  Freezing cold air was blowing on my head. 

I tried to pull the covers over my head, but Jason had "burritoed" himself into them and there was nothing for me to pull!  So I decided to try to hide my face in my pillow, since I usually sleep on my stomach anyway.  But when I rolled over that way, Jason's fan (that he MUST have on to sleep!!!) was blowing on the side of my face.  Grrrr.....

I put the pillow over my head and finally fell asleep out of sheer exhaustion. 

Lauren woke up a little before 8, so I was going on less than 5 hours of sleep.  I decided I would bring her into my bed and let her watch Dora, hoping I could catch a few more minutes of sleep.  Lauren apparently had other ideas. Usually  she is a "zombie" in front of the tv, but this morning she kept poking me and trying to lift my eyelids and saying "what you doing, mommy?  what you doing?"  Over and over and over. 

My plan of getting some more sleep was foiled! :)

We spent the day doing some grocery shopping and errands.  When I got home, there was a message from Katelyn's mom, wondering if I could still babysit her the next day?  I don't mind, I just would have liked a little more notice!  So, while Lauren was napping, I had to set up our pack n play and extra booster chair for Katelyn.

Then I decided to take out the trash, and I twisted my ankle going out the door.  Good grief.  I had to wrap it in an ace bandage and hobble around for the rest of the day.

When Jason got home, he discovered a trail of ants coming into our kitchen.  Apparently, something in the box that I keep crayons and playdough in was attracting them.  (????)   So we had to perform a full-scale ant removal, taking everything outside and spraying it off and then Jason laid down the ant gel in the kitchen to keep them from coming back in.  

I also realized that I had lost my debit card somewhere between Florida and here.  After calling my dad to see if it was left in his car, I had to cancel it and then order a new one.  No fun!

And to top it all off, I got a little sunburn on my back while I was in Florida, and now it is peeling.  (which means it is itching and driving me crazy!!)

Monday night I was having a little pity party about my horrible day, and then I read Laura's post from her blog.  And it made me realize I'm not alone in having "those" kind of  days!! :)

However, after all that craziness, we enjoyed a fun new family sport that Jason has taught Lauren.  It's called "furnuiture vaulting" (ha!) sure to be seen at the 2022 Olympics!?