Candy Brownies

Ok, so I haven't participated in a blog carnival in quite some time but, trust me, you don't want to miss this one. Even if you only read the recipe below, you will be blessed by the chocolatey goodness that follows. I promise. I don't kid about food. Particularly when it's in either the sweet or salty category.

If you'd like to view more super yummy ideas for dessert (fall is upon us anyway so what's a few more pounds to hide under a fluffy sweater, right?), just hope on over to Kelly's Korner. You won't regret it. I promise.

I shall now return to my prayer vigil for the Baylor Bears. We need a win this weekend, y'all. If we can't beat up on Northwestern State we have bigger issues than previously thought. 

Candy Brownies

1 family size box of brownie mix (make with 3 eggs instead of 2)

Spray 9x13 pan with Pam. Pour in half the brownie batter. Cover with chopped pecans, walnuts or peanuts, if desired. Cover nuts with miniature Twix candy bars. Just line them up until the entire surface is covered. 

Pour the rest of the brownie batter on top of the Twix and bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. (DO NOT over bake). Let cool and cut into squares.

Frosting:

1/2 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips

2 tablespoons of Light Karo Corn Syrup

1/2 cup heavy cream

Pour the chocolate chips into a bowl. Add in the corn syrup and coat the chips well. Pour the heavy cream into a microwave safe bowl. Heat it to almost boiling but be careful not to over boil. (Heat about 30 seconds and check it. Keep heating until it is hot.)

Pour the cream over the chips and let sit for about 1 minute before stirring. You should be able to easily stir at this point. Stir well; the frosting should be shiny and glossy. Pour over the brownies and refrigerate until ready to cut.

**For mint brownies, substitute Andes Mint Baking Chips for Twix bars and add 1/4 tsp. of mint extract to the frosting as the last step.

In Which I Just Break It Down Real Simple Like

It's Thursday and I just realized there have been no posts put up since Monday. Because I know y'all are just dying to know exactly what's been keeping us so busy, let me just break things down a bit.

Now that it's after Labor Day, I'm feeling the urge to dye my hair back dark; however, my man informed me a couple of weekends ago that he would prefer that the transition not be quite as "disgusting" as usual. I'm thinking he meant "dramatic." Perhaps that's wishful thinking but, hey, it's thinking nonetheless.

He actually asked me if I could just let it grow out and "back to normal." The short answer to that is 'no.' The long one, well, let's just say you don't want to hear that one.

So, for now, I still look like this...or close to this anyway...

Due to a nasty neighbor calling the dog catcher on Perkie (aka Houdini - remember how she climbs the fence?), the Puppy Posse has been relegated indoors. They took the news rather well. Actually, let's be honest, they were ecstatic. For the most part they've been really good but there's always tomorrow. Or today for that matter... 

Miss Thang is really enjoying 4th grade and we've been quite busy with school functions. We've already attended Parent Orientation, Grandparents' Night/Book Fair/Open House, taken school pictures and sold way too much cookie dough.

She claims her favorite subject right now is Geometry. I say "claims" because, as you may remember, this is the child who had a mini-breakdown over the math TAKS test in 3rd grade. In all fairness, she does have a much better math teacher this year so let's pray this change of events continues right on through the end of May 2010.

Due to copious amounts of rain (thank you, Lord), the BMBC softball team has been out of commission as of late. For two weeks in a row, their games have been called due to the condition of the field. 

While I wish I could feign disappointment, I actually think this is in the best interest of our players as the median age of our team is probably 10 years older than that of most of their opponents. Let's just say we tend to do enough rolling around in the dirt without adding mud and rain to the mix.

Or maybe that's just my man...I couldn't rightly say...

What I do know is that he looks rather studly in his uniform. See?
We're going to continue enjoying sub-90 degree temps here in the great State of Texas. Of course, it's supposed to be back up to the norm on Saturday when the mighty Baylor Bears take on Northwestern State. Should the outcome be similar to last week's game, you may not hear from me for a while.

And, trust me, that would be to your benefit...

Lack of Material

Happy Monday, internet friends!

So I had planned all of last week how I was going to share a post today about the wonderful time my family had at the first Baylor home game of the season. Indeed, we decked out in our finest green and gold garb (including one Robert Griffin III jersey on one 9-year-old) and headed over to Floyd Casey Stadium.

We were amazed at all of the tailgating, the massive number of people and inability to find anywhere to park. We also spent considerable time looking for the face painting tent because it's just not a Baylor game if my child doesn't have some face paint or a tattoo emblazoned on her cheek.

We excitedly rushed into the stadium only to be told our stadium seats (that we'd purchased with a gift card from Maw Maw for this exact purpose) would not be allowed this year. New rule. We grumbled a bit but just knew it didn't matter in the long run because we were about to get our second 'W' of the season.

I was going to take all of these cute pictures to share with you. 

And then the game started.

And the first half was almost a disaster.

They handed the ball off to the same guy, like, 32 times in a row. 

We didn't stop him any of those times.

We finally ended the first half and enjoyed a rousing performance by BUGWB. Seeing as we'd blocked a field goal on the last play of the previous period, we just knew momentum was in our favor.

Until we fumbled a kickoff return.

And then fumbled again on the first play of the next drive.

When I saw that #11 Phil Taylor, who is the size of a small condominium, was the one assigned to running down the fast guy with the long hair, I knew we were in deep trouble. No man that size should be assigned a task like that.

Did I mention we also kept running into each other and half of our defensive players were knocked loopy from helmet to helmet contact? From their TEAMMATE?

That's when we decided to leave.

As we were leaving Taylor said, "Well, at least I got a pizza."

Indeed, that was the only appetizing morsel to be found at the Case on Saturday.

We shall try again this Saturday.

In the meantime, I'm going to pray my sportsmanship will increase considerably this week.

And that we'll host a game actually worth photographing.

His Mercies are New Every Morning

I have nothing earth shattering to report today but did want to say that I'm feeling much better today. Got some great news yesterday that I, unfortunately, can't share yet but the prayers I asked for a couple of weeks ago are in the process of being answered. 

I've also kicked my pity party to the curb and am now ready to watch Baylor whip up on UConn this weekend. In addition, we actually finally have our parking pass that should have accompanied our season tickets. It wouldn't have been a big deal except that I was given the first, second and third degree about this stinkin' parking pass. And I was basically called a liar at one point. That really irked me. But it's all resolved now. Thank you, Jesus!

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy a wonderful weekend with my man and my girl (and the puppy posse) that will involve more football than I care to imagine at this moment, fattening food and a new dessert recipe that I'll share if it turns out well. I hope you do the same. Or some other variation of fun :-)

Thank heavens His mercies are new every morning.

P.S. I also plan to upload pictures so you won't have to continue reading copy heavy posts. Sorry for making your retinas bleed...

Pity Party

Last evening I headed home to let the dogs out and then Tay and I went to church for the Wednesday meal before going to our respective classes. I mean, really, how can one NOT go to church on Wednesdays when there's a meal with no regard for any diet under the sun or calories waiting for you?

Along with an ice cream sandwich for dessert.

Not me - especially not now that I've convinced myself calories don't count when consumed inside the church building. If only they would unlock the doors three times per day - every day - for me...

But I digress. Yet again.

Anyway, we went home and Tay immediately presented Davey with the Dallas Cowboys poster she purchased for him at the school book fair. Spent her own money. Every penny of it. On her Davey. Sweet, huh?

I thought so too...

Anyway, I'd been in kind of a melancholy mood all day and let's just say it continued to go downhill. For no reason whatsoever, I began throwing myself a bit of a pity party and the evening ended with me crying into my pillow while my man was no doubt wondering what the @#$%^& was wrong with me.

Nothing.

And everything.

Right, girls?

So today I have a headache - big surprise there, I know - and we also have a combination Open House/Book Fair/Grandparents' Day this evening. And a big appointment later this afternoon. So if you have a few spare minutes, I promise a quick prayer would not be wasted on us today.

Oh, and I'm still melancholy. Yet another surprise...so if you find my sanity - or just some happy pills - in your backyard or out and about while running errands, please let me know and I'll fetch it right quick.

It Happened on a Tuesday

Yesterday rocked along quite nicely and I even got a pleasant surprise when Dave's softball game was rained out. We love going to watch him play but we were all a bit tired after a hectic weekend. 

While Dave worked, my mom and I attended the Just Give Me Jesus revival at Baylor. It was awesome and Anna Graham Lotz is amazing! If this event comes to your area, I highly recommend attending. Life-changing, for sure.

Anyway, Tay and I got home last night and I threw a chicken casserole in the oven and was putting on my tennis shoes to do a quick 5 miles before Dave got home when it happened. My baby girl - my precious bug - came and asked me if she could use the telephone. She needed to call her girlfriend, Sophie.

WHAT?!?!

How could this happen?!?! My little one was all grown up.

Could this be happening already? Apparently so.

Not only did my generally shy child pick up the phone and clearly ask to speak to her friend but she then proceeded to talk non-stop for the next 20 minutes. Then Sophie called her back and they spent another 20 minutes on the phone. 

Seriously?!?!

She was rather annoyed with me when I told her it was time to get off the phone and have dinner. But she did it without arguing. As she put the cordless phone back in our bedroom, she asked if she could "ever call her again or is this it?"

And then my mother apparently invaded my body because the following came out of my mouth:

"Of course you can call her again. Talk to her every day if you want but there are limits as to the amount of time you can spend on the phone."

Then Dave came home and was on his cell with a friend from work within five stinkin' minutes of walking in the door. That's when it hit me...

I am no longer the most popular one in our home. Not even close. I'm the one who makes sure the others are fed and clothed appropriately for their social commitments. 

How did this happen?!?!

Now I know why all of my friends are having second and third children - they need someone to hang out with now that their little ones have moved on to greener pastures. (Please know that I'm totally kidding with that statement.)

However, I did find out this morning that a good friend of ours is 8 weeks pregnant. And I am so happy for her. Truly. She has gone through a lot to make this happen. I wish her only the best.

She's only one of a SLEW of our friends who have just had a child or are expecting. And I'm happy for all of them, y'all. Please know that.

But, I have to admit, I'm a little jealous. Seems that ticking clock is very real. And palpable. And unrelenting. In a mocking kind of way. And now I'm left, once again, asking...

How did this happen?!?!

It all happened on what appeared to be an ordinary Tuesday...

Let the Games Begin!

Softball - this sport has been a bone of contention between my man and I at times. You see, when we first met, he was playing on a men's rec team. Before I knew it, he'd joined another rec team and was playing four nights a week. He would go to the fields directly from work and I was lucky if I saw him back at the house before 11pm.

Don't get me wrong, Tay and I ventured out to many a game and had a great time. She was very small at the time (think 2.5 to 3 years) and she particularly loved the snack shack. My independent little miss was so small the ladies working at the concessions stand couldn't see her little head over the counter. It was (generally) a good time to be had by all.

Until the nights began to add up and we saw Davey less and less. Then came the injury. Caught between second and third, a runner on the opposing team decided it was smarter to take out the knee of the person who was standing on second (that would be Dave) than to get out.

In case there's any confusion - he was wrong. But he didn't suffer the consequences. Dave did, though.

What was initially thought to be a meniscus tear was found to be a torn ACL through exploratory surgery. A surgery that took place at Scott & White (where he worked at the time) where you have to block out a certain amount of OR time. When time is up, you have to get out.

Which led to a knee that was "patched up" and not completely fixed. And eight weeks off of work.

Awesome, huh?

Well, not as awesome as the fact that we've now changed insurance and the knee that needs to be actually fixed can't be because none of the doctors in this town know - or believe - the history.

But I digress.

Anyway, my man was told to hang up his cleats forever. And I admit to being slap happy giddy about it. I won't lie. 

So imagine my surprise when our Sunday School class was looking for another player (on a day when Dave was working) and I actually volunteered him. It was clearly the Holy Spirit overtaking my body because that's just not rational thinking on my part.

Or was it?

You see, I think it's fabulous that Dave now has a group of Christian men to play with. He enjoys it a great deal and we now have something to do every Tuesday night. As for the possibility of another injury?

Well, I'm praying that because he's playing on the Lord's team, he'll be protected. That and I'm also banking on him being a bit older and a lot smarter this time.

Stay tuned to see if that hypothesis holds up.

In the meantime, we're having a blast at the softball fields.

See?

Look, he's actually on base!

Cute catcher, huh?

Our Sunday School teacher, Michael, is the pitcher.

And as for Taylor?

Well, some things obviously never change.

She was so excited to go to Davey's first game she could hardly stand herself. I thought it was so precious that she wanted to root the team to victory. But I later found out that wasn't quite the case.

For, you see, she's hiding a special little something behind her back. A treat, you might say. Or perhaps you could call it the real reason she wanted to attend.

What is it, you might ask?

Why, a pickle, of course! Not just any pickle either - it's a "softball pickle."

Clearly, while some things change dramatically, others never do.