Valentine's = Baking

Can you really ever be too sick to bake? In my house . . . that would be a no. The girls and I stayed home from church today. We all have such bad head colds. I sound like a man and I am a little concerned about the girls. They are so stuffed up that I think they are oxygen deprived, they can't walk a straight line. Plus their ears are so plugged I find myself yelling everything. I don't need too much of a reason to get the butter, sugar and eggs out to play with. But Valentine's Day seems to be the best reason today. Here are the results:


The cookies are the best recipe I have found in years. They just might trump my famous chocolate chip cookies, they are that good.

So now you can picture what we'll be having tonight as long as you are picturing a big scoop of Vanilla Bean ice cream on the side. Oh, and even better. Mark will be having some too, we expect him to walk in the door any minute.

Gotta love the Love Day!

McKennaism: Desperation

McKenna is desperate to get her family back to normal. Bailey had a sleepover at a friend's house last night and so this morning was eerily quiet at the Frandsen Fun House.

As McKenna walks into the office with a handful of change from Mark's change jar this is the conversation:

Mom: Hey, what are you doing with that?
McKenna: Maaaayyyybbbeee if we pay Daddy, he will come back! I bet Billy (that's Bailey) will come back too, she likes money! We just need to go outside and yell out to them! Come on . . . let's go!

Great idea Firecracker (new pet name because . . . well . . . it's perfect)


So I followed through with my truffle promise and here are the results. Rich, creamy, mouthwatering, heartfelt, chocolate bliss and enough to spread around to my other lonely friends of deployed husbands and good friends that are willing to help me out. Something has to ease the throws of separation, calories from chocolate, they're free when they are for therapy (at least that is what I keep telling myself). And look Mark, a whole new use for all my scrapbook paper, see, there is a reason for the forest that has been cut down on my behalf:


Oh, and a very Happy Valentine's to my man with the hands! I love you!

Happy Valentine's Day!

My post for the day of love is a little late. Our day was full and fun! Bailey spent the day at school exchanging valentines with her buddies. She was thrilled to have High School Musical notes to pass out! McKenna and I had a wonderful day at home, a little cleaning, a little baking and a whole lot of play. McKenna gave me the best valentine by sleeping for 3 hours at nap time. Boy did I get a lot of fun accomplished by spending the whole time in my scrap space! Thank you McKenna! Then when she woke up she became my photography project and we played for about an hour. The two "light my fire" images above is an idea that I saw on a friends blog and I decided to use it to complete my photography challenge for the month on aperture. It was so fun! Plus it gave me a cool image to have and to hold. McKenna then painted while I listened to the radio on the web. Which led me into our dinner conversation. I posed the question, "What song could be Mom and Dad's song?". Well, funny Mark jumped right in with Tim McGraw's "Angry all the time" so I hit him back with Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" then he backed down. So here is the one we both always agree on, "Come what May", then I suggest, "Crazy Love". Then we both remember our recent special one, "Red Umbrella". So click on the songs and enjoy a little musical love! Then tell me a little about your favorite songs about love!