Pumpkin Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've finally broken down and taken the time to type out my pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's from a Libby Pumpkin can label from the 1980s. These cookies were a favorite of David and mine when we were in preschool, but Mom put the recipe away when we moved to Texas, and it wasn't until I was going through her recipes in college that I uncovered it. What a treat it was to rediscover these wonderful delights!

Ingredients:

2 cups flour (I use whole wheat)
1 cup uncooked oats
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. salt
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 t. vanilla
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl. Cream butter; gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; mix well. Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Stir in morsels.

If you want to make pumpkin shaped cookies, drop 1/4 cup of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. Shape it with a spoon or spatula into a pumpkin shape. Add a bit more dough to the top for a stem.
 

If you just want a round cookie, drop 1/4 cup of dough onto a greased cookie sheet. My cookies usually need to back about 8 1/2 minute, though I usually make smaller cookies, and the bigger you make them, the longer they'll need to make.

The cookies are super cute to decorate with icing and make cute jack-o-lanterns. Sometimes I'll even use candies (M&Ms, etc) to help make faces.

Enjoy!

We're Getting a Sister!

Last night my brother proposed to Laura. He took her to dinner at Hotel ZsaZsa, which she thinks is beautiful. She also loves the fountains on Fanin that Hotel ZsaZsa overlooks. While the two lovebirds were enjoying dinner, Mom, Dad, and I decorated the pool deck with rose petals and set up one of the cabanas with candles, roses, and petals. The cabana looks out over the fountains on Fanin and the pool at the hotel. It was so beautiful! We left and met up with Laura's family and lots of their friends at The Daily Review Restaurant, where Paula, Laura's mom, had reserved the party room and patio for us.

Laura had a wonderful, surprising night. David had her completely fooled, and she was so excited to see her family here from Canadian exile (what my family calls Exxon's placement of Laura's dad Mark).

Isaac and I have both always wanted a sister, and now we officially have one! Yay!

Two very happy couples at The Daily Review

Life Update!

Wow, I've ignored my blog for a while! Goodness!

Isaac and I are settling into our house. Except for 2 boxes, everything is unpacked and where it belongs. Someday, I'll find the motivation to sort those last 2 boxes. :) Things are slowly being hung on the walls. We're hoping to paint most of the house this weekend to add some character to it. Landscaping is in place, if not yet in the ground, and Isaac suprised me with 3 hay bales, pumpkins, and scarecrows the other night when I got home from work. Our house is certainly starting to feel like home!

Bailey is wonderful! He is cuter than ever, and constantly amazing us with his sweetness. Bailey hasn't seemed to have any trouble adjusting to yet another new home. He goes to my parent's house every day for day care, but he never wants to stay once I show up in the afternoon. He's ready for Mommy cuddles and to hurry home to see Daddy. He's found a new path to plod on our walks in the evenings, and Bailey is still getting to spend lots of time in Bella Vita with Nanny and Dede.

David was enjoying grad school, and I suppose he still is even after Monday morning's super early emergency appendectomy. He's with Mom and Dad in Clear Lake this week recovering. Hopefully he's going to feel like being pack at his apartment by the weekend. Laura has been faithful in coming down to visit him in the evenings this week. I hate that my brother has had to experience yet another yucky medical to-do, but I've enjoyed getting to see him and Laura a lot this week!

Mom and Dad are finally moving out of Pine Brook. They've owned this house since I was 13, so it's very, very odd for them to be moving. However, I do agree that they don't need such a large house with us grown, but it will be sad not having them right around the corner. I'll also miss that swimming pool in the back yard! Sigh. Mom and Dad bought a brand new house in Bella Vita a couple of blocks aways from my grandparents. They are going to enjoy it there so much, and Pearland really isn't that far. Bailey will miss day care, but day care can always come to him!