Lawrence Lines: 2014

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Fast Fall

This post will be a mixed bag as I only have a few minutes and a lot going on!

The past few weeks have been busy with the birth of a new family member: Walt Thomas Platt. He is growing fast and is truly loved by his family. I spent the better part of the week in Twin Falls at Loni & Steve's this past two weeks. Sure enjoyed the family!

Saturday before last we enjoyed a family event: 90th Birthday of Dorothy Hiss Ericksen Lloyd. It was so fun to see all the cousins and family members I so love. Many thanks to my cousin Ken, for the photos he has sent our way!

Also, at this event, some of us talked about getting better organized on the Family History Research. I would love this and we really need to assign some of the Lines to specific family members so we don't duplicate all those hours of research! We were thinking of working more on the Hiss and Bates people. If you wish to involve yourself, please email me and let's get rolling!

Looking forward to visiting Matt and Sara at the end of this month: Easton's birthday on Nov 1 and Lola's first birthday on Nov 2. Dad and I will be driving to Cedar City with GIFTS!!! Sara has requested a birthday dress for Lola Marie.

AND I am flying in for Leo's third birthday on 11 Nov. We are so missing Gen, Heb, Leo and Amy!!
It will be a great visit for sure.

....a new addition has arrived at the Lawrence household: A Therapy Pool. It is really a large size hot tub with swimming jets. I have been in it twice and am starting to feel the great benefits of the exercise in warm water.

Lastly, I made a batch of cookies today that we absolutely loved. They are not 'sweaty' like many fruity cookies. We like them as much as regular chocolate chip (and that is saying something!) Found the recipe on Pinterest. Thot I would share with you all. Have a great week!

Pumpkin-Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 14 minutes

Yield: Nearly 4 dozen

Ingredients

· 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

· 1 1/2 cups quick oats

· 1 tsp baking soda

· 3/4 tsp salt

· 1 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

· 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

· 1/4 tsp ground ginger

· 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

· 1 1/3 cups packed light-brown sugar

· 2/3 cup granulated sugar

· 1 large egg

· 1 tsp vanilla extract

· 1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin puree

· 1 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

· 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions

· Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, oats, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger for 30 seconds, set aside.

· In the bowl of an electric stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, whip together butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar until creamy (occasionally stop and scrape down sides and bottom of bowl throughout entire mixing process). Blend in egg then blend in vanilla extract and pumpkin puree. With mixer set on low speed, slowly add in dry ingredients and mix until combined. Mix in chocolate chips and pecans (if you want some chocolate to show through set some aside to press into tops before baking). Let batter rest 5 - 10 minutes (this just gives the oats some time to absorb the liquids so batter isn't so sticky and cookies don't spread so much).

· Scoop dough out 2 Tbsp at a time (I used a 1 1/2-inch cookie scoop, which I recommend using for evenly shaped cookies and fill it heaping), and drop onto Silpat or parchment paper lined baking sheets, spacing cookies 2-inches apart. Bake in preheated oven 12 - 14 minutes. Allow to cool on baking sheet several minutes then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

· Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Doggy Days of Summer

Things have calmed right down here at the Lawrence Hacienda. This week was filled with the lazy days of summer, and we have enjoyed it. On Monday, we went to the movies: Guardians of the Galaxy.

We thot it cheezy, funny and utterly delightful (with the exception of a bit of coarse language, but not bad language). On the way home, there was some crazy lightening over the Great Salt Lake. We have had rain two days this week.

Late Wednesday night, Carly called to say Graedy had broken his arm. It happened on the monkey bars while the older boys were attending football practice. So on Thursday, the Young Women had a temple baptism excursion I needed to attend; then Dad and I met in SLC and trooped on up to cheer Grae up a bit. We were glad to see the whole group! It seems the arm is still needing to be cast, and Grae has a bit of pain. It helps when the grandparents bring Avenger popcycles and books to read.
Carly and I stepped away for a minute (Dad stayed with the boys) to buy peaches and vegetables at a local fruit stand. Gotta love it! We split a box of beets.

The beets have been fun, in that there were enough to preserve for later in the year. I just blanched them whole with stems still on--for three minutes. Then immediately placed in cold water. When cool, they peel so much more easily than trying to peel raw beets (ugh!). Cut to bite-size and froze in freezer bags. Hope they turn out good. As a side note, we need to start shopping for a new deep Freeze. Ours is finally biting the dust. :(

Since the fall days are coming up soon, I have been reviewing the fall/winter fashion 2014. Am Pinning like crazy and planning some fun projects. Sewing projects this week consisted of creating a pattern for an upcycled mermaid jean skirt.

Still in process. Will include photos next week. I am also starting to work on Wren's birthday gifts for her upcoming birthday the end of this month. More about that next week. Also completed some t-shirts from scratch knocked off from J Crew that say "c'est la vie".

An interesting Family History discovery this week was following the Bourassa Line all the way back to 1 AD. Yes, you are reading that correctly. Someone has really done some work there! As you can guess, it gets into royalty which makes taking the line back much easier. Ends up we descend from Joseph of Arimathea. Check it out on familysearch.org if you get time.

Today we are cooking Dutch Oven Chicken and Potatoes, carrots, and onions for dinner. We had hoped Carly and boys would be down, but Graedy's arm is sore and they decided to hang at home this time. We love you all and hope your lives are super-great!!

Monday, July 28, 2014

Happy Summer!

Happy 4th of July!! The only family we missed were Mattie, Lola, Sara and her boys....

Wren and Amy at the FlagRaising on the 4th

Ford and Leo love the FireEngine

My niece and nephew, Alexis and Jase Wanlass

Dad Matt honored at the GHS 100 year Float, he was Studentbody President in 1973

Ryder, Nasch and Judd

A salon was throwing out combs......

Jax and Nasch

Grandma Barb and Amy, then Ford

In June, Gen and kids and Carly and family and I enjoyed a day at Hyrum Reservoir Beach. What a fun and relaxing day!

All the guys loved the sand! Leo, Jax Ryder and Nasch and Graedy below

Gen and Amy

Ry, Nasch and Jax--the legs are Graedy's -then Carly below!

This summer has been filled with so much fun and family! Loni and Steve and fam moved from Wisconsin into their first home in Twin Falls, Idaho. It is a beautiful home and perfect for their family.