Papa's Forest

 Like a postcard, this is the drive into Papa's Forest!

We headed back to Minnesota last month to spend some precious
time with my in-laws. My most favorite day of the entire trip was spent
carefree up in the woods. Here are a few pictures I snapped of the
kiddos and Zac from that glorious day.

 Given the chance, Benny would spend all day on the

big tractor.  It truly is his happy place, even though

it is sitting idle in the barn.

Zac and I went for a long ride through the woods on the 4 wheelers.

It was so amazing.  It is always fun to go off and feel lost in the woods.

Then Zac took Logi for a ride.  She loved it until they saw a huge

animal (a bear-squirrel, as described by our 5 year old love) and 

was scared on any subsequent ride.  Zac still has zero clue what

animal they encountered, so it is safe to assume it was Harry.  

Yes, yes that Harry!

Off they went.  Seriously, this was the best day.  Our trip 

home to Minnesota was overshadowed with the sadness

of my father-in-laws battle with pancreatic cancer, but on this

day nothing seemed to matter but the wind in the trees and

the cold on our cheeks and of course, Harry!

Crunchy Cornflake Cookies

I ate a  cornflake cookie at a cafe when we lived in Oklahoma and it was 

love at first bite!  I threw this recipe together almost 5 years ago, 

and the taste is deliciously spot on! These cookies are loaded with some 

of the best pantry goodies imaginable, so of course they are certain to be a hit!

 What you need:

 1 cup Butter, soft

1/2 cup + 2T Oil

1 cup Granulated Sugar

1 cup Brown Sugar

2 Eggs

2 cups Cornflakes

1 cup Quick Oats

1 cup Raw Pecans

1/2 cup Shredded Coconut (unsweetened)

3 1/2 cups AP Flour

1 T Baking Soda

3/4 tsp Salt

2 tsp Pure Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp Cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

Place the oats, coconut and pecans in a food processor fitted with the

sharp blade. Pulse until consistency of large crumbs.

I feel certain we over pulsed the three ingredients as I had eager helpers

in the kitchen, after their soccer game. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Next, pulse in the cornflakes until bits of cornflakes appear throughout.

Then set the food processor aside

In the green bowl are the wet ingredients whipped together: butter, oil,

eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar and pure vanilla extract. I use an 

electric hand mixer to blend the wet ingredients.

In the sifter, awaiting a sift, are the dry ingredients: AP flour, 

salt, baking soda and cinnamon.

Slowly sift and hand mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. 

Then fold in cornflake crumble goodness.

 Use a small scoop (this is ~2 T scoop, but you could do as small as 1 T)

Line 12 on a parchment lined baking sheet and press the dough 

balls flat with clean finger.  

Bake for ~13 minutes in a 325 degree oven.

Remove the cookies from the oven, then edges should be a tad 

darker in color than the centers.  Allow the cookies to cool for 

a minute on the baking sheet, then transfer to a wire rack 

for complete cool.

Enjoy. 

xo

First Day of School Wonderment

The hubs and I are cleaning up files and files of photos on the computer (this is a moment where I miss flipping through old pics, from a box.  Some stuck together, some way out of focus...) and my heart nearly split in half when I realized my little sugar has 3 'first day of school' pictures.  Seriously Logan, I adore the stuffing out of you.

First Day of Preschool.

She got in the program the day before this picture was taken,

as we were wait listed, as we had just decided we were buying

a house in the town, and got her on the wait list.  I remember

dropping her off.  She was so confused because she couldn't find

her best little friend that she went to a little 'school' progam with,

in our old community (in Oklahoma).  It broke my heart, but she

had the biggest heart and loved to play...I knew she would be great!

 First day of Pre-K

Oh dear. Seriously, this was as good of a pic I could
snap on that day, but I cherish it because that was
where she was in life.  Now, she can ham it up for the
camera...just wasn't into it then.

 First day of Kindergarten.

 As the first year of elementary is in its final weeks
I am still most  thankful for our walk
to school each morning.

Now time, slow the heck down!!!