Cottage Cheese Cookies (better than they sound, trust me)

1/2 c. shortening
3 1/2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 pt. cottage cheese (So serious on this one. Sounds gross and "curdy" but the chunks cook out. That's coming from a girl who hates bananas, but wishes she doesn't for convenience purposes, because they're squishy and mushy. Go for it! You'll love them!)
1 c. cocoa
5 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
4 tsp. vanilla
Mix together shortening, sugar, eggs and cottage cheese. Then add cocoa, flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, and vanilla. Cream all together. Refrigerate dough 24 hours. Roll in a ball and then roll in powdered sugar. Dough is VERY sticky and spray Pam on fingers to help roll into balls. Bake 350 for 10 mins. on greased cookie sheet. Makes a huge batch but dough freezes fine. These cookies are SUPER moist.

Hot off the Press!

Getting married at the temple. Crayon art by Daradie, 6 years old.

Original story written by Daradie, 6 years old. No help on spelling or punctuation. Impressed. It's not the first...or the last of these stories, I'm sure.

Koen's list of things he's thankful for, age 4. He did have help with spelling. This was actually part of his talk he gave in sacrament meeting. Yep, correct. He talked about Nephi's "boat" (we valiantly practiced saying "bow" but failed) and brought his bow and arrow and held it up. He explained that Nephi's family gave a prayer of "thank yous" for the food. Koen concluded with his own list of "thank yous." Koen is thankful for: Koen (duh), primary, preschool (he's anxious to attend in the fall), temples, Koen, Daradie, Dad, Mom (family), toys, couch, porch, table (and a few other things he randomly saw while writing this list) and his new house. During his talk he added the priesthood, just like his dad. Precious, I know. Daradie gave a talk about prayer and Daniel and the lion's den. She did a beautiful watercolor work of a lion in a dark, purplish cave. It was quite inspiring.

It's Official, I have an Old Lady's Body

Conversation #1:
Me: Daradie, what's your favorite thing to do?
Daradie: (after some thought) In church I like to touch your arm right there by your elbow (triceps) and push it back and forth and watch it move around.
Me: Thanks (and I end all conversation and walk away).
Daradie: Mom, wait! I also like to touch your top leg (thigh) and feel it squish.

Which leads me to this conversation....

Koen: What are those?
Me: Oh, just blood vessels. Those are the roads that take blood all over your body.
Koen: I know, Mom but what are those? (as he points with extreme hesitation and queasiness of stomach)
Me: Um, those are blood vessels, too.
Koen: But why are they so big and yucky looking? I don't have those. Those are super gross. Yuck (and insert tongue sticking out with nose scrunched up and complete and utter disdain).
Me: Well, son, those are called varicose veins. (And to teach him a lesson and compassion for his future wife, I stick my leg in his face and he runs off crying. Some lessons are better taught by experience.)

And need I remind you of the "big bum" conversation on the right side panel of screen.....