Joyful June-Part 1

Hey folks! This is Kate. I haven't posted on here for a long time, but since Justin spent all of June in Kansas taking a class, it seems appropriate that I update you on the happenings here in Brooklyn. 

Though we certainly missed Justin dearly, the kids and I managed to have a great month. Fortunately, visiting grandparents helped to ease the separation and my load (Thank you!). The kids did amazingly well during the month and Elizabeth only cried once about missing Daddy. Henry seemed unfazed, though he did say it was hard without Daddy during a bedtime battle. Justin returned to us this past weekend and we are so happy to have him home.

During the first half of the month we completed a cloud experiment, 

the kids made mint-chocolate brownies for Justin, which took two and a half weeks to arrive in Kansas, 

we welcomed GiGi and enjoyed her green rice, 

Henry leaped tall buildings in Manhattan, 

we took the Staten Island Ferry with my mom,

we checked out the harbor in Staten Island  and found it lacking in shade, refreshment, and entertainment, though Batman did make an appearance,

the kids ran through the fountain in Battery Park,

Elizabeth posed in Battery Park,

we had our first of many swims at the pool on post,

Elizabeth was on the red team at field day (Justin's shirt was the only red option in the house), 

the kids and I explored Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refugee, well, first they had to read their free comic books from DSNY,

then we walked through coastal wetlands,

and discovered a muskrat lodge,

Dr. Elizabeth gave "Puppy" a checkup,

Henry made this awesome dragon on his own, 

Elizabeth posed at the playground, 

Henry posed as a Power Ranger at playgroup, 

and we enjoyed ice cream cones to celebrate hitting the half-way mark in our separation.

More to come!

Cookie of the Month: June -- Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie

We've now completed 36 months of cookie-making and are very proud of our children for their continued willingness (if not downright happiness) to make cookies for their grandparents. Although we don’t know what the future holds, we’ve had a great time these past three years at Toddler Bakery Surprise of the Month Club headquarters and hope the grandparents have enjoyed their monthly treats. 

Follow this link for a blast from the past, our first month of cookie making: http://goo.gl/qaXYrr

This month, we followed the recipe for “Ultimate Chocolate Peanut Butter cookies” in order to prepare the favorite cookies of our newest family member, Uncle Brian Meierdiercks. However, after 35 months of carefully ensuring that the kids don’t pour ALL the sugar on the floor or that the butter actually gets into the bowl instead of on spoons into their mouths, our streak has stopped. This month, instead of just a teaspoon of baking soda, as the recipe called for, these cookies received a healthy dump of the white stuff.

It’s not so bad, when you think about it. The cookies scrub your teeth while you eat them. They clean your breath and calm your stomach. Truly, there are worse ways to mess up cookies. Or at least that’s what we’re telling ourselves.

According to the recipe, what makes these cookies the ‘ultimate’ peanut butter cookie (in case you want to make them yourselves with the proper amount of baking soda) is the little chunks of Reese’s peanut butter cups. They are supposed to be soft, brownie-like cookies with that extra oomph of flavor that only Reese’s can offer.

Here are photos: