Lemon Drop Cookies

I made these cookies for my sweet cousin Emily's baby shower. (Of which I would have loved to share photos, but I forgot my camera that night.)

I absolutely loved baking them. Not only do you get to zest an entire lemon, but you get to grind up lemon drop candies! (Do I sound lame? Well, it's nice to mix things up sometimes, okay?)

Lemon Drop Cookies (via See Jane Cook*)

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

3 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon extract

4 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp soda

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp. salt

Finely chopped zest of one lemon

1 (6-oz) package lemon drops (you can find these in the candy aisle at Target or Walgreens)

2 c. powdered sugar

juice of two lemons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In mixing bowl, cream sugar, shortening, and eggs; add flavorings. Stir in dry ingredients, lemon zest, and crushed lemon drops (I crush them in my blender). Roll into balls, flatten slightly, and bake on parchment lined (if you don't use parchment, cookies will stick to pan) baking sheet for 10 to 12 minutes. Let cool slightly on pan for a couple of minutes. Make a glaze by mixing powdered sugar with lemon juice. Brush glaze over cookie tops. Let cookies cool completely. Makes 4-5 dozen cookies.

*Disclaimer: I know, I know... I use A LOT of recipes from See Jane. But seriously, can you blame me?!

It's written in the stars...

...June's gonna have some good times with her cousins.

(I love this picture because it looks like their flying, so of course I had to add the stars.)

June got to meet some new cousins these last couple weeks.

The above cousin is Kensley, Alan and Jenny's new baby. She was born November 23rd (which also happens to be Kent's birthday... definitely a lucky day). I can't believe how huge June is compared to tiny Kensley. She is so beautiful. I can't wait to watch June and Kensley build forts and play house.

June was also privileged to meet Andrew (Laura and Steve's baby) when we went to Utah for Thanksgiving. Oh boy, is he a cutie. AND he was one of the most calm babies I've ever encountered, except in this picture:

I can't wait for Andrew and June to build forts and play ninjas.

Yes, it doesn't matter which cousin is involved, there WILL be plenty of forts being built.

June's First Band Photo?

Here's how it happened.

We were getting ready for the day. I put June's jeans on, then had William hold her while I went down into the basement to get her a shirt.

Within about 30 seconds of going downstairs, I opened the door and encountered this:

They also filmed my reaction:

When I look back, I was actually not THAT surprised to see everyone with their shirts off... why is that?

A Bacon Blankie to keep the Turkey warm.

Yeah you heard right... bacon blankie.

It's what David used to cover our turkey. Check out the beautiful weave pattern:

And that's pretty much how delicious our Thanksgiving meal was.

What is it about Thanksgiving that forces you to put hours of work into your meal...

... only to devour it in ten minutes?

It's a beautiful tradition.

Thankful Day 20-27

My goal to do a "Thankful" post everyday in the month of November was just a little too much for the week of Thanksgiving. You'll understand why as you read on.

I call this photo "RED HAIR."

I'm sad because not everyone we spent the fun week with is in the above photo. (We'll try again next time.)

The following is a list of things I am thankful for during my week spent in Utah with my in-laws (in no particular order):

Michael's Talk

Pandemic

Andrew's Blessing

Bradford Time Zone

DP Cheesesteaks (with Jalepeno cream cheese)

Shopping

Biscuits and Gravy

Minor Sheep Threat Shirt (see above photo)

Thanksgiving Dinner

Breath

Leather Jacket

Daniel's Red Scarf

Cafe Rio

Pumpkin Gas

Baby Kensley's arrival

Tetris

Ripped Diamondback Shirt

Double Features

80's Bully David

Vitamix Smoothies

Ikea

Bacon Wrapped Turkey

Surprising Big David and breaking his bed

Denting Big David's car with basketball hoop

Kitchen Cooking arguments

Bonanza

Dirt Tooth Construction Projects

Dirt Tooth arguments about job title positions

Sleepless Nights

Back Seat Drivers

Everyone yelling that the rolls were burning and they weren't

Chapstick Smoothie

Nelli's (Martinelli's)

Tates (Potatoes)

Walk through Bethlehem

Old Man Angel sitting on high perch hidden in the corner

22 people sleeping in one house

Jam Sessions

Purchasing one refillable beverage but sharing it

Robs mad

Five Guys

Sonic tots in freezing cold weather

Old Navy Quick Change

Walmart Trips

Triple Double Oreos

Leather Jacket Draw the Line Dance

Tight gas

Spent $20 beating the Terminator Salvation Arcade game in a leather jacket

Uncle David dancing to Atlanta Rhythm Section

Vernors and Egg Nog

Everyone getting tough in car rides

Doesn't this list sound like the greatest week ever? I'll elaborate on a few of those later.

Also, it might sound like I'm complaining on a few things listed, but I promise I'm not. It was all good times.

Thankful Day 19

This picture was taken a few weeks ago in our alley after a particularly stormy night:

When it's Saturday, and William is wearing his sweats and a t-shirt, he calls himself "King Saturday", whatever that means.

Today I am thankful that our tree is fixed and that we are flying up to Utah to spend an entire week of eating food, watching movies, playing music, and making jokes. And I'm also thankful that William and I can give ourselves nicknames and nobody judges.

Sincerely,

Possum Jenkins

Thankful Day 18

Today I took pictures, but I left my camera at my mom's.

So here's one from about a month ago:

I don't know why I love this picture so much. I think it's because they both look so serious? Or bored? Thoughtful? Anyway...

Today I packed, cleaned, ran errands, did the laundry and cooked. I hate packing... but unpacking is even worse.

It was pretty much another boring day, that is, until dinnertime. Thanks Debbie and Russ for letting us invade your house for a few hours. I think my favorite part of the evening was hearing your William cheering for Harry Potter in the next room. That was the best. I also forgot to ask where you purchased that Pumpkin Cheesecake.

Today I'm thankful for funny friends and Pumpkin Cheesecake. And I'm thankful that we are finally taking our trip to Utah for Thanksgiving week. I can already hear William and his brothers wrestling...