Adventures in Statema Land: A Brief Update

6:33pm. Should be getting the rest of the stuff checked off my to-do list as my plan was to be in bed by 8pm, but I wanted to post a few pictures that have been sitting anxiously on my computer awaiting their chance to be placed on the blog.

Grace is still up. Our goal was 6pm to have her asleep (woke her up at 5:45am) but girly needs to sing a few praise songs and a few silly songs and then she's usually out. Usually it's sweet and special but I-Want-Her-To-Go-To-Sleep-NOW.....I am going to be all alone with her tomorrow for 12+ hours of travel and I want her to be well rested. And, you other mamas out there know exactly what I mean!

So, while I await her Zzzzzzzzzz.....

Here are a few photos from the last two weeks.

Happy Birthday Brooke

And, SURPRISE!

I asked Brooke if I could take her out to dinner for her birthday.

She graciously said yes.

What she didn't know was that I invited all her friends to join us, as a surprise.

We went to Ellensburg Pasta Company and had a joyous time celebrating Brooke.

I know she'll hate me for posting this one
but I love the pure joy on hers and her mamas face.

BBQ

Tetta, Shelby, Mariko and Aki joined for a Friday night BBQ.

We love having people over especially our friends from AUAP-CWU.

And, Grace loved entertaining them the entire time.

So wonderful to have had the opportunity to meet these incredible students. In about a month and a half they will all go back to Japan. They will be greatly missed!

Gloomy Rain Storm = Cookies From Scratch

She is a pro!
Girlfriend can bake.

And, she does much better at using cookie cutters.

This was exactly what we needed while the rain feel and thunder boomed--hence the headphones.
Boy did the first loud rumbling BANG scare into a near panic attack. We have not heard thunder in almost a year. It was a big, unfriendly shock, but after we got headphones on and cranked up some Chris Tomlin we were good to go.

I can not get over this face.

Notice Bailey about to swap a cookie

Big girl bringing the cookies to the oven.

1st time taking the cookies off the cookie sheet (we had only one casualty)......

.....and 1st time putting them on the cooling rack.

These ended up being the yummiest homemade cookies we've ever made.
Got the recipe off the back of a kids book my mom sent Grace about a girl making spring time cookies with her mom. Who knew they would be that good. It took every ounce of self control in me to not eat them all up after she went to bed that night.