Kelly Times Two

Thanks to my Nestle Toll House chunky cookbook, I've discovered a new favorite recipe with coconut, an ingredient that my siblings have loved ribbing me about for many years, probably because I would find ways to inject most of my food creations with the white flaky island goodness.  This recipe is quite similar to my kids' favorite cookie recipe I make, but there are a few changes in it that impress my taste buds to want to create these moist and fabulous tasting chocolate chip cookies on steroids. Island Cookies 3/4 cups butter, softened 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 large egg 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 3/4 cups (11.5 ounce package) chocolate chips 1 cup flaked coconut 1 cup chopped pecans Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Mix ingredients in a stand mixer, continually adding the ingredients in order and mixing until everything is wel...

School was out a few days ago for the summer, on May 31, and Hannah has spent hours reading in her free time.  Yesterday she read Charlotte's Web, and today she is reading Pippi Longstocking, in addition to the Harry Potter series for the second time.  We are so proud of her for developing this passion to read and hope that she will continue to throughout the summer and her life. 

Our family had a memorable time in Washington, District of Columbia, from Thursday, April 11, through Monday, April 15, 2013, as we had the once in a lifetime chance to see our son, Christopher, march in the famous National Cherry Blossom Festival Parade with his high school band. We enjoyed beautiful weather and the opportunity to visit these famous national sites. Traveling with a twelve-month old baby and a nine-year-old was fun, but we had to be creative with our time to squeeze in naps for Isaac and to get the kids to bed each night at a decent hour. Parade day, we showed up more than an hour before it was to begin to insure that we would have a good place to watch for Christopher. It was a good thing because people squeezed in all around us by the time the event began. Work it, girl! This band was hilarious to watch. They were jamming and completel...