Pete isn't home=

=I'm bored=I bake

but luckily I had the good sense to consult Cooking Light --and these are great!

Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 1/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 lg egg whites
3/4 cups chocolate chips

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Combine dry ingredients in a bowl
• Combine sugar in butter in electric mixer on medium
• Add vanilla and egg whites
• Add flour, stir in chocolate chips
• Drop by level tablespoons on greased cookie sheet, 2" apart
• Bake for 10 minutes, until golden

Yield: 4 dozen

I AM occupying my time in SOME beneficial ways, though. The Hope Center is doing its annual Boxes of Hope drive, collecting shoe boxes (or bags) of toiletries and basic items for Lexington's homeless.

If you're a local reader and you've got the time, these can be dropped off at any local UPS store.

from their site:
Everyday, the Hope Center provides emergency shelter, food and clothing to homeless people, but it is much more than just a shelter. We are a comprehensive social service agency delivering a variety of programs to help people get off the street and stay off the street. We do that with the help of thousands of people in this community and beyond.

Our house is so quiet!

There aren't any extra people in our house today --it seems so big and quiet. Pete and I had SO much fun getting to play with our nephews,

and I think they had a good time getting to play with ALL their Aunts.

But Hannah does seem sad today that there is no one to read stories with her.

Last few days...

until everyone rolls into town. I had a dentist appointment this afternoon after work, tomorrow we've got tickets to the philharmonic, and Saturday morning I've got the PRAXIS at 7:30am! Pete and I will have Saturday afternoon before the rellies start to arrive on Sunday.
We went to Sams yesterday and bought a turkey, a ham, and enough snacks to feed the all the hungry, hungry carters. We moved Hannah out of the office and into the living room. She sorta gets that her crate has been moved, but any time we tell her to go to bed, she still runs into the office and stands in the corner where her crate used to be!

I'm still struggling with what to do now that I've quit my full-time job. I thought I had it narrowed down to teaching or speech pathology, but then we met this dentist across our table at a dinner, and she thought I looked like a dental hygienist. I asked her if that meant overly talkative with straight teeth, but it put enough of a bug in my ear that I came home and looked at UK's program. There's a pre-admission conference in two weeks and I figure there's no harm in going. I might as well keep my options open.

Other than that, not too much going on around here --it's the calm before the storm.

I have the best husband EVER!!!!!!!!

Pete just surprised me with a mini-vacation for Christmas weekend........

WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE ROCKETTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've never seen them before, I've been obsessed with them since I was about four, and now I get to see them LIVE. PLUS we'll have four days in NYC --I've been there before a few times, but I still haven't been up the Empire State Building or gone to the Statue of Liberty. I'm hoping we can see a show as well while we're there --maybe Jersey Boys? I'm so excited, I have to start making lists.

I'm not sure who's cuter

Hannah on her second-ever Halloween, or toddler Pete on his:

Bumblepooch vs Paddington Bear

What do you think?

It's bad news when it's Sunday afternoon and I'm bored/putting off studying for the Praxis because I make things like this:

Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Balls

1/4C brown sugar
1/4C granulated sugar
1/2C light corn syrup
3/4C peanut butter
1 t vanilla
2C Rice Krispies

• Stir together sugars and syrup in saucepan; bring to a boil.
• Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter; mix well.
• Add vanilla and Rice Krispies.
• Roll into balls (Tablespoon-sized), place on wax paper.
• Let cool for a few minutes. Enjoy!

Yield: 24 balls (and a badonkadonk butt)

Confession:

Pete and I have now watched Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders: Making the Team for two years in a row.