Toothsome Tuesday, Snickerdoodle Rorschach

Remember those inkblot tests that determined your personality based on what image you saw in the ink? I always thought those tests were a little weird, like maybe the dude randomly blotting ink on cards was the real mental patient.

I think I have stumbled on a really effective method for determining personality. I call it the Snickerdoodle Rorschach. Catchy name, reliable results and yummy treats when you're finished.

Here's how it works:

Cream
1 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs

Blend in dry ingredients

2 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Roll in balls and roll in cinnamon and sugar. Place on cookie sheet and mash a little.

Bake at 375 degrees for 7-8 minutes.

Test subjects are welcome to help combine ingredients and mix dough.

The most important part of the test is the rolling out process. Carefully observe test subjects as they roll dough balls.


Take note of body language, shape and size of dough balls, spacing and layout on the baking sheet. Of special interest is the amount of time subject rolls dough ball in cinnamon and sugar.



Draw final observations from the finished product.


Be sure to place all subjects cookies on a special plate, just for them.




Now compare with your own pan of Snickerdoodles, are you a little repressed? Are your cookies lacking originality and creativity? Do you scrimp on the cinnamon and sugar? COME ON! Loosen up a lot little! LET IT ALL HANG...uhh hmm. Now put your cookies on a special plate just for you, pour a tall glass of milk and enjoy your personality test results.

Mondays Muttered Mumblings

I worked at the hospital on Saturday, weird! The lights in the waiting rooms are kept off and many departments are closed. There was just one radiologist and two office people, everywhere I went things looked different, I got turned around and had to retrace my steps to find something familiar. It felt like the twilight zone.

Around 3:00 we needed some films from our storage area. I've only been to the storage area once but felt like the experience would be good training. The girl I was working with drew me a map to the building and the Saturday entrance just in case, uhhh, then she told me she would call if I was gone for too long, errr! I made it outside through the rain to the correct building, found the right halls and entered the storage facility. This building used to be a huge furniture store, part of it has been turned into an Insta Care, and offices. The room I was heading to says, Surplus, on the door, it is a huge room, two stories, with concrete walls and floors, chain link fence walls and metal stairs. The rooms are filled with old medical equipment, office furniture, boxes of who knows what, lots of locked garbage cans, shredding bins, and rows and rows, higher then my head, of old XRay films. Creepy!

I took a couple deep breaths and walked down the rows looking for the films I needed. I found them quickly, I was motivated to get the heck out of there! I tucked them under my arm and was heading out past all the creepy old stuff, when I noticed a box that said:

JERKY
Dog Treats

Made From
AMERICAN MEAT

What the... (sorry, I know it's not Friday, but this deserves a What the...) This is just not the box to have sitting on top of a locked garbage can, partially covered with plastic, in a creepy, American hospital surplus storage area.

What The... Friday, Things You Just Don't Wanta Hear

There are some things I just don't want to hear!

My #5 turned eight years old in May, he has always loved to play with my hair. Really loved it! Obsessively loves it! So the other night after a long day at work followed by parenting classes #5 needed some serious hair time. I was trying to finish reading a book so while I read, curled up on my bed #5 played with my hair. After a few minutes he asked me in a concern filled voice, "Mom, when was the last time you colored your hair?"

What the... Gray coverage tips! Just not something I wanta hear from my EIGHT year old.
*********************************************

I got the news from the blood work I had done when I started my job at the hospital that I was not immune to Mumps. Yikes! That means that unless I can provide documentation that I had the shot I have to get two, "stinging" Measles, Mumps, Rubella shots. Dang! I called my Mom, "Did I have a MMR shot when I was little?" I asked.

"Why?" She wanted to know.

"Because I'm immune to Measles and Rubella but not Mumps." I replied.

"Well, Ummm, let's see..." she slipped into Mom Memory Mode.

"I remember we lived in Murray... and that your sister was born and... No! You didn't have the Mumps shot, they didn't even have a Mumps shot back then. That was a long time ago!"

What the... I don't need my MOM telling me I'm getting old! And, Does she realize that, by association, she's getting old too?
************************************************

The other night I was cuddling on the couch with #7, Adorable Hubby was sitting in the arm chair. I left to get something in the other room. As I came back into the room I ran my hand through Adorable Hubbies hair and said, "Hey Lover!"

#7 swept open the blanket we'd been sharing offering me my spot back and said, in his sultriest 4 year old man voice, "Hey Babe!"

What the... Sultry voices on four years old, not something I want to hear. Even if he is awfully
cute ;)

*********************************************

There is a walking/riding/biking path in our community that we often pass on our way from here to there. At a certain spot on that path lives a homeless man, he is always there somewhere along the path and had been embraced by the community. We often see people stop to chat or bring him food or give him a little money. Every time we pass him #3 shakes his head with admiration and says with great enthusiasm, "I love that Hobo!"

What the... #3 is just starting to look at career and life choices. I don't want to hear this career choice.

Everybody Loves a Parade

The community where Adorable Hubbies parents live has it's town summer celebration the second weekend in June. We always attend since we lived in this town for years and because Grandma and Grandpa Take our kiddos on Friday night and keep them for a big ol' cousins sleepover then ask us to come watch the parade and join in a big BBQ. It's a fun tradition! And, really you can't call your summer complete with out at least one hometown parade.

So, just in case you missed out on the floats that make you go ahh! the entries that make you go Huh! And don't forget all that salt water taffy that the kiddies get to pick up off the street. Makes perfect sense to spend their whole lives convincing them not to eat stuff off the ground then take them to a parade and encourage them to fight for it. Any who, I took a few pictures so nobody misses out on the fun.

Pretty girls and great floats! What parades are all about!

The Three Musketeers waiting patiently for the next round of salt water taffy to be thrown. They pride themselves on being faster than the three and under crowd. That's #3 in the 'wife beater' and #4 in the backwards hat. Here's hoping "Gang Banger" is a phase!


No parade is complete without Ronnie on a golf cart.

Do you see what these flag twirlers are twirling. Pastel colored riffles? Apparently they haven't heard of Columbine.

Shh! A team of Draft horses and a butt suitable for Wrangler's is my secret fantasy!

So, if Smurf hair is your thing, call now! Bet they're booked through September.

Get your princess head gear here!

I know kiddies lets be in a parade today???? What the over organized mother does with the kids on parade day! Notice there is no advertising, no clue what entry 54 was promoting! But hey, one can never pick up enough free candy.

A giant onion! Nice!

Yo, Bicycle Dude! We're over here!

Ummmm! A UPS truck! Wow! Cause ya just can't see enough of those Big Brown Trucks on a normal day. I like that they added some colorful pictures to the side of the truck, you know, to add interest!

The loot!

The last entry in the parade...do ya think it's a hint????


The BBQ! We're not the most photogenic family ever.

Ahh, That's better! Our few little girls!

Hooray, your summer is complete! Just send me your address and I'll send you some salt water taffy!

Prioities

Ahhh! A day off, and first thing #7 wanted to invite his little friend Oliber (Oliver) over. As I listened to them play in the sandbox Oliver said, "I did that awesomely!" Great adjective Oliber!

I have worked full time for the past 4 weeks. after 18 years of being a wife and mother, wondering why Adorable Hubby came home at the end of the day and resisted going to play at the park or helping clean up after dinner or the bedtime routine. Or, better yet, asked me what I did all day (turns out I WAS watching Oprah and eating Bon Bons) I'm gaining some understanding into tired and finding a new found respect for those who work and parent full time.

I've always admired my friend Suz, she inspires me as she squeezes every drop out of each minute, reading and play time, hubby time and friend time all have a place in her busy working mom schedule. I'm learning that priorities make that all possible and that being a stay at home mom wasn't a guarantee that my boys, husband and friends were as high a priority as they should be.

Priorities are all about putting the things that truly matter most at the top of the list and letting lesser ranked activities go. I am not overly obsessive/compulsive when it comes to a clean house but I do like to keep up with the basics. Yesterday however, Adorable Hubby and I were a higher priority then a clean house so after getting breakfast made and chores assigned out. We slipped into the bedroom for a little quality couples time ; ) We enjoyed 25 delicious minutes of solitude before our youngest priority knocked on the door and called out accusingly, "You guys ALWAYS do this!"

Keeping up with my blog is also a priority, not only do I love chronicling our lives and wish I had captured more of the funny day to day comings and goings of our older sons; but I love all the friends I have made. So, were adjusting and reordering the most important things.

Out here in Boy Land, my priorities are growing up, I'm hoping they'll soon be off the pacifier and potty trained. And, I'm hoping to do it all, Awesomely!

Congratulations #5

Friday was supposed to be my blog catch up day...Not!

Friday was supposed to be about relaxation and rest...Not!

Friday was supposed to be about reconnecting with my boys and my Adorable Hubby...Not!

Friday was about the eight thousand little jobs that only a mom does. My hat is off to all you working men and women who come home and care for a family.

Friday was cooking and cleaning and yard work to prepare for Isaac's baptism on Saturday at 11:00.

One of the blessings of our life is our numerous extended family and friends. Our little social butterfly, #5, invited everyone he saw for a month. It was his special day! Lots!!!! of people came to support him, 50+ . We ate cold turkey, rolls, salads and chips, Scotch-a-Roos and pumpkin cookies, sugar cookies, and watermelon, fresh homemade salsa, and veggies. Yum!

Congratulations Isaac!

And now I'm going to read some of your blogs.

Yes Virginia , There is a 3:30 AM

I am SO not a morning person, waking up before 6:oo AM doesn't make me grumpy or anything,
because I'm. Not. Freaking. awake!

My schedule this week is 6:30 am to 5:00 pm, ackk!

So I asked the 65 year old lady training me, who wore a lime green suit with matching ear rings and shoes, what time she gets up in the mornings.

"3:30 AM"

What the...

I didn't even know there was a 3:30 AM

I'm off Friday, can't wait to catch up on every ones lives. Thanks for your comments!