The best Blondies ever!

This is my go-to-recipe when I need to make a treat in a hurry. It is SO yummy!

Here's what you need:

1/2 cup butter

2 cups brown sugar

2 tsp vanilla

2 eggs, well beaten

1 1/2 cup flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

3/4 cup shredded coconut

1 - 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips

Here's what you do:

Melt butter. Pour butter into mixing bowl.

Add brown sugar and vanilla to the butter.

Beat in eggs.

Sift together flour, baking powder and salt, then add to egg mixture.

Stir in coconut and chocolate chips.

Pour into lightly greased 9x13 pan.

Spread mixture evenly.

Sprinkle a few chocolate chips on the top of the mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

And enjoy!

I have made these blondies with white chocolate chips and cranberries, I've added rice krispies for a little bit of a cruch, and sometimes I'll add some almond slices or walnut pieces. You can add (just about) anything to this recipe and it always turns out amazing!

I have altered the original recipe which was found in the "Southern Friends in Faith" cookbook, recipe submitted by my cousin Loretta Olson.

Coffee cupcakes...

I got to make a few goodies yesterday!

Well... I don't actually know how to make just a "few" goodies. 

I think it stems from being a part of a family of 12, I just can't help it...

The beige cupcakes I made are coffee flavored. I've made them before using a "white" cake mix and they were a huge hit!

This time I tried this French vanilla cake mix and put two packets of Starbucks instant coffee right into the cake mix and then I baked it as normal.  I love these little packets from Starbucks, they come 3 in a package. I mixed the other packet into two, yep two (it takes a lot of frosting to make the pretty swirl) containers of store bought vanilla frosting to make a really yummy coffee flavored frosting, it's the best! I think I could just eat the frosting by itself.

I made these goodies for a pink and brown birthday party for an adorable little princess who is turning 1 today. Happy birthday, princess!

Snow much fun!

 

 

    

The kids had a blast playing in the snow today!

Many thanks to our neighbor Rick, who showed them a grand ole time.

Elena is especially happy about the snow (she hasn't felt up to playing much this winter), so she's making up for it now!

It makes my heart happy to see my kids playing.
It makes my heart happy to see Elena well enough to play.

I knew there must have been something good about this snow. I did it. I found the bright side!

It's snowing here today. A Minnesota-like snow, the kind with tiny, whispy snowflakes that just float around in the sky. I've spent much of my day baking and looking out the window. It reminds me of one of those days when I'd come home from school and mom would have all of the counters and tables covered with dozens and dozens of cookies. I wish I had a picture. It was grand. I miss those days. I miss my mom and dad.

So, I have no picture of the cookies, no picture of the snow (computer issue), but I found this photo of my mom and dad on a waterfall hike the last time they came to Washington. I hear rumors that they are thinking about coming for another visit. I hope they're true! 

Cold Minnesota-like snow + cookies in the oven = one homesick chick!

Update on Elena

Elena seems to be perking up, but she did not feel up to going to school today. "One more day Mommy, just one more day", as she curled up under the covers.

She has been playing more and seems to have a bit more energy. When I see her bouncing around the house I become aware of my anxiety level and it eases a bit. When she's feeling good, she rarely walks anywhere, she bounces around a bit like Tigger.

She hasn't felt well for many months. She has good days and then needs several days to recuperate. As a parent, it has been draining, not knowing what to do, not knowing what is wrong... We (and the Doctor's) believe it's allergies, click here to read more.

She has been sleeping a lot. This week-end she slept til 10:00 one day and 11:00 the next day. Typically, she never sleeps in no matter what time she goes to bed. Even when bedtime was set really early, she would still lie in bed for hours, (having a terrible time falling asleep due to the congestion) and then be wide awake at 7:00 a.m.

The antihistamine that she's taking can make her sleepy. I am hopeful that she is finally getting the rest that she needs, I am hopeful that her body is transitioning into a healing phase.

We want to thank you for praying for her. We are hopeful with the progress that we've seen. We are thankful for the doctors and medicine that we have access to. We are thankful that we can share our concerns with you. We are thankful for good friends and family. We are thankful to have a mighty Physician to call upon and ask for healing. We are thankful for Jesus. We are thankful for hope. We are thankful for our little pumpkin.

Just a few photos I stumbled upon from September 2006.

Let the sewing begin!

My sewing machine is up and running.

And I feel the need to warn my drop-in friends and neighbors about what you might find if you happen to stop by.

You will likely find:
Laundry piled high.
Dishes that need to be washed.
The house will be generally neglected.
The kids will be generally fed.
I'll lose myself in a sea of fabric.
I may stay up all hours of the night. .
I may still be wearing my pajamas at 1:00 in the afternoon.
And I will be deliriously happy!
  
Oh man, I've really missed sewing!
It's been a couple of months since I've sewn. Sometimes life trumps sewing.
I dug out the machine because I'm trying to catch up on some unfinished sewing projects, I want to add more items to my Etsy shop and I'm contemplating participating in a Spring Bazaar... it's only a month away, so I need to decide soon, like today! Happy sewing to me!

And of course, I'll post photos of my sewing adventures here, so come on back to see my creations.

Parties, parties and more parties...

It looks like I'm in the middle of a busy party season... and, I love it! I'd plan parties everyday if I could!

Here's what I've got going on...

 1. I get to make mini-cupcakes and some treats for my little neighbor for her "1st Birthday Party". I like to think of her as my "adopted niece". She is adopted, however, not technically my niece, but I love her like she is!

2. A couple of my friends and I are working on plans for a "Welcome Home Party" for another little pumpkin who has been adopted from Ethiopia. I love her! I think she's my niece too... little do the momma's know!

*My mother-in-law is coming for a visit and she will help with the following two parties. 

She'll be fine with it, she loves to entertain just as much as I do. 

I've learned a lot from her, and it will be fun to do this with her.

 3. Party number 3 is for my little girl. She's going to invite her friends over for a "Dolly and Me Tea Party".  Oh, it's going to be so fun! We've been collecting tea cups and some fun, tea party hats at thrift stores. She's so excited!

4. Since, I'm going to go through all of the work of having a "Girls Tea Party", I decided to also have a "Ladies Tea Party" for some of my lovely lady friends and their little ones. It's kinda like a two-for-one deal. I'll get the kinks worked out on the first one and then the second one should be a piece of cake!

Deacon Egg Hunt 2008

Elena Egg Hunt 2009

5. And then after that, it will be time to plan the "Community Easter Egg Hunt and Potluck Brunch" at my Church. I'm actually already formulating things in my head, just not going to put much energy into it yet.

I love to entertain. I love to learn new "entertaining skills"! I love to read the entertaining blogs. I love to find simple ways to make things pretty. I think it matters. I think God cares about the details. I think God has created so much beauty around us. I think God is honored and glorified when we present beauty to Him and others. I think God is in the details. I think love is in the details. I think God is love...

Get the boy a chess set!

So, my boy checked out a big book at the library.

He showed it to me. He said he chose it partly because there were pages on "chess" and "hold on, let me find it (as he ruffles through the pages), there were pictures of tanks and army things..."

He wants to teach me how to play chess.

 He showed me the different pieces.

 

He is completely fascinated with the game.

He showed me which way I could move the pieces.

He has even positioned the book upside down so that I could see it better. "There's the one with the castle on top and then there's the one with the cross-thingy..." 

He said he's played it before on the computer.

I grabbed the camera and the chess lesson continued.

He wanted to show his sister how to play. She's sick, she's not interested.

I wish his Daddy was home. "Oh, maybe daddy and me could play it together on the computer!"

Um, do you suppose I should get the boy a chess set?

He's so cute, I think I'll get him 5 or 6!


I was so fascinated at his enthusiasm, fascinated at his interest, just soaking in every moment.
It was a moment I wanted to capture.
I think it's time. Time to get the boy a chess set!  

Pray for my pumpkin...

Could you, would you... pray for my pumpkin?

She tried to smile. I told her she didn't need to.

She was relieved. She feels more like this.

Even Remington is trying to comfort her.

This has been her position most of the day. Moving from couch to couch, with a stack of books nearby.

My sweet little pumpkin is sick. Again.

We've started a routine of medicine. Doctor's suspect allergies.

She has a cold. Her brother has it too, he bounces back quicker.

Her immune system is weak, due to allergies. She doesn't sleep well. She misses a lot of school.

Antibiotics should kick in soon. Hopefully the cold doesn't hang around long. The allergy medicine regiment can take awhile before we see results. Hopefully no breathe right strips in two weeks, could be up to 6 weeks before we see a noticeable change in her health.

So, could you, would you... pray for my pumpkin?

The Bees...

As we add more to our blog, I find myself adding more to our "description box" located on the upper right hand side of the blog.


It has been a collective effort, and it is still evolving. But as of today, here's the extended edition of the definition of "the LundbyHive".

We're a family of four living in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.

• Two of us have a bit of a remodeling addiction.
• Two of us really love books.
• One of us loves pretty magazines.
• Four of us are dreamers.
• Two of us are planners.
• Two of us love to sew.
• Three of us love crafts.
• Two of us love video games.
• One of us likes video games.
• Four of us love cucumbers.
• Four of us are creative.
• One of us loves Nerf products.
• One of us loves horses.
• Four of us love Thai food.
• Two of us take the garbage out.
• Four of us love waterfalls.
• Three of us frequent the library.
• Four of us love to entertain.
• One of us loves to cook.
• Three of us would prefer to bake.
• Four of us love RV camping.
• Four of us love traveling.
• Two of us play soccer.
• Four of us love a good deal.
• Three of us like Top Ramen.
• Two of us have never met a stranger.
• Four of us like to start projects.
• Two of us like to ride scooters.
• Three of us have a very quick wit.
• Two of us devour new technology.
• Two of us love to "junk".
• Four of us seek peace.
• Four of us love Jesus.

And all four of us are going to document the celebration of our life as we know it, life with the Lundby's.

Have you ever tried to define your family? This was pretty fun, but it took us awhile.

A couple of weeks ago I asked the kids to help add more to the definition of "the Lundby's". Elena wasn't so sure and um... Deacon said, "unnecessary" with a mischevious look on his face. He loves getting a laugh and he's very successful at it.

Our Valentine's Date!

We started our night here.

       

We watched this. Click here for more info.

      

He loved it. I loved that he loved it. I'd go see it again because I might get more out of it next time. Actually, I'd go see it again to see it with him, because he loved it so much and I love him so much and when I wasn't confused, I really was entertained.

We asked a stranger to snap our photo in the lobby.

 

 We asked him to take one more, for good measure.

Then we went here.

http://www.typhoonrestaurants.com/

We shared this. It was amazing! Lemongrass clam chowder, YUMMY!

 

 We ordered this.

 I ate this. I loved it.

 He ate this. He loved it. I loved that he loved it, but I was kinda glad we weren't sharing.

 Then we asked the waitress to snap our picture.

 And one more, for good measure. The first one was better.

 And then we went to meet him.

 I have a new nephew.

 I like him.

Oooh, I really like him!
(I don't really know what that look means, but I'm gonna go with "I really like him!") Ha ha!

 He's my sister, Nora's son. I like her too.

 His name is Hank Edward Bergman.

 I loved holding him.

He's so precious.

He's trying to wake up.

He's awake.

He looks like he's thinking about something.

 Okay, Auntie I've had enough..

But he's so cute and so tiny, I can't stand it!

 

He often looks like he is smiling.

He's only 6 hours old.

Sleepy little boy.

He's so sweet.

 And he held him too. I like that.

Thank you honey, for a lovely Valentine's Date!

Newborn baby, yummy Thai food, a somewhat funny play and my really funny and sweet honey... what more could I ask for?