Cookie Cooks

Well, I made the orange/pistachio/chocolate cookies and they were splendid! Hubs was irritated that I gave away five plates of cookies and didn't leave him ONE. I always assume incorrectly that he doesn't share my ardor for cookies.

There remains half a batch of dough in the fridge...waiting to be cooked and road tripped to share with friends in North Carolina! Yay!

Bliss

Bliss is having babies who love to read books on our laps. Soren and Asher are dream come true baby babes!

You Know How I LOVE Cookies

I can't wait to make these cookies!!

Orange Pistachio Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

Makes about 4 1/2 dozen cookies

* 2 1/4 cups (11.25 ounces) all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 3/4 cup (6 ounces) granulated sugar
* 3/4 cup (6 ounces) light brown sugar, packed
* 2 extra-large eggs
* 2 teaspoons almond extract
* Grated zest of 2 large oranges or 1/4 teaspoon orange oil
* 1 1/2 cups (7.5 ounces) milk chocolate chips
* 1 1/2 cups (6 ounces) shelled pistachios, salted or unsalted, left whole

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F, with the rack in the center position. Line 2 baking sheets with silicone pan liners or parchment paper.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. Place the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Using an electric mixer set on high speed, beat the mixture until it is light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the eggs, one at a time, and mix well after each addition. Mix in the almond extract and orange zest and finally the flour mixture. When the flour mixture is totally incorporated, mix in the chocolate chips and nuts.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons on the prepared sheets, placing the portions 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies, one sheet at a time, until they just begin to brown around the edges, 10 to 12 minutes. The centers should remain pale. (If you like flat, crisp, chewy cookies, slam the cookie sheets down on a work surface halfway through the baking time. If you like softer cookies, skip that step.) Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool. Bake the remaining cookies in the same way.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.

Note: These make great freeze-and-serve cookies. Form the dough into 2 logs 10 inches long and about 2 inches wide. Wrap the logs in plastic wrap and again in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. To bake: Use a sharp knife to cut the still frozen dough into 3/4-inch slices. Place the slices 2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets and allow them to defrost for 15 minutes before baking them according to the directions above.

Dinner Drama

Soren is signing 'dog' and Asher wants the camera!

Nursery Fun

I had fun with silhouettes this past weekend. I framed a few animal silhouettes and put several above the nursery door. Asher and Soren LOVE them. They wake up saying, "bird!" Last night Soren woke up and after some water and some snugs I put him back in his crib. He sat right up and started doing the sign for dog and pointing at the dog! I love their passion for animals.

Baby Kisses

Leaning in for a kiss-eyes closed and lips puckered!

Soren loves to give Asher kisses--he leans right in and goes for the mouth. Asher always kisses back. The affection they share for one another is beautiful and effortless. Watching them kiss each other reminds me how lucky I am to have THEM, to have twins. I love that Asher and Soren get to experience life so intimately and profoundly together.

I also love when they give me kisses--nothing is sweeter or more satisfying.

Love for Yellow

My lastest Etsy prints arrived! I love them.

Ping Palm

These were the shoes I wanted desperately last summer...but could not find them online or in stores in either my size or color. They were a bit above my $40 spending limit on shoes, too. Well, just for fun I googled the name of this shoe and found them on sale at Amazon for $22! Success!

Diaper Toss

Asher and Soren think it is hilarious to throw their diapers around, and well, I think they are hilarious when they toss them around.

(for the record: I am selective about which diapers they can toss...)

Ear Warming Cutes

I amused myself by putting my headband on Asher and Soren. They loved the novelty of it for about five seconds then they hurriedly tore it off their heads THEN tried to either put it back on or on each other.

Born Scientists

Soren paused to spin the blades on his little helicopter and I was impressed by his curiosity and his willingness to slow down his usually rapid pace to observe the motion of his toy.

The other day on NPR an author was discussing how to raise science-minded children. He argued that the difficulty isn't in 'making' children interested in science but it 'maintaining' their interest. He said the children are born scientists because of their capacity for observation and exploration. They learn from touching and discovering their world--in seeing how objects move or how things work. I can testify that this is entirely true--Asher and Soren love to touch, taste, and experience everything. They love new environments and especially any chance to run outside. The author said that children lose their interest in science when they are constantly told 'stop touching that' or 'get away from that' or 'you'll get dirty' and on and on and on. Finally, this author said that they best way to 'teach' our children is to simply let them experience the natural world.

My Soren, he is a little caged bird. When he is outside, his eyes and face come to life! He gets so excited that he almost spins in a circle because he doesn't know where to dart first for what to climb first. Spending most of his life indoors keeps him caged and that makes me sad. On Saturday I went for a jog pushing Asher and Soren (the first ten minutes were really hard but I finally got into my groove) and on our way home I stopped at the playground to let them run around. Oh the fun but also, oh the stress! One adult watching two toddlers climb precariously on the playground was too much. I finally had to herd them back to the stroller and doing so broke Soren's heart and therefore, mine. His screams of protest had the agonizing tone of betrayal and confusion. How could you mom? He sobbed most of the way home and I felt wretched--why can't I have a normal life, the variety where one's husband is home at regular hours and on the weekend? Oh well. I need to be better about liberating my little caged bird and allowing him to hone his scientific skills.

Funny Faces

My sweet Soren covered in chocolate...yes, chocolate.

Asher giving me a kiss...so sweet.

Man, my babies know how to POSE for the camera! Apparently I only do hyper when it comes to photo booth.

An after dinner photo booth photo shoot with my cutie cutes.

All About My Little Peeps

I haven't written lately about how much I am loving on my baby babes. They charm me--nearly every second we are together. When we are apart, the memory of their warm cheeks and the hope for their tender kisses keeps me content.

17 month-olds are adorable! Asher and Soren are in that place where learning, discovery, and expression all come together and the result is explosive and astonishing. They seem to demonstrate a new sign or word each day! Their understanding and memory of things is impressive. Today Soren signed thank you, water, milk, drink, dog, airplane, and more. Asher usually follows Soren's lead and signs what his brother signs. What really stuns me is when I see Asher and Soren sign dog or say bird and I will see them pointing at a tiny bird on a sign or a dog in the distance. I hope they cling to their awesome sense of observation. They truly WATCH and NOTICE their world.

Asher and Soren are increasingly affectionate. Soren loves to give his brother kisses, which is essentially the most beautiful act in the world. The other day I was feeding Asher in his booster seat while Soren was busy playing. Suddenly Soren runs up to Asher and kisses his arm--Asher then leans his head down while Soren reaches up and they exchange such a tender kiss. Cuteness, serious cuteness.

I regularly watch them play, listen to them communicate, and see how determined they are in all that they do and I am absolutely humbled by their beauty. I did not know that so much cuteness and sweetness were possible. They melt me with their goodness.

I struggle to balance my life as most people do. Leaving my babies for work continues to be my greatest source of anguish. When I come home from work Asher and Soren both want to be held but not at the same time, which is a huge challenge yet I am pretty talented at slugging them both around. We dance together, all three of us, it's fun. The times that they both crawl or fall into my lap remind me that we've been doing this their entire lives--sharing this sacred space of family, of brotherhood--since they were conceived, and I know why our togetherness is so effortlessly joyful.

I fear for the toll that our regular separation will take on my children (or do I project that toll on them???). When I am home, Soren becomes hysterical when I leave to change my clothes or start a load of laundry--I wonder if he thinks I will leave and not come back for ten hours. It's heart breaking. I know I'll be just as heart broken when he no longer notices whether or not I am around. I like being the center of their universe and I strive to make that universe a loving, comfortable, happy, nourishing, and creative place.

I love my Deuce.

Growing Up

This is a horrible photo--blurry and fuzzy but it's something. I do not have any 'before' photos because they would be much too embarrassing. Seriously.

Jamie and I got a bedroom set! Our boring, unsightly bedroom went from Ikea collegiate to sophisticated and beautiful. We now have a large dresser, bed, and night stand. The dresser drawers are cedar lined...heaven! Once we get the room settled I'll post better photos. Yay for when WE grow up (not so yay when the wee ones grow up at warp speed).

Love it!

Want it!

The Latest in Lost Wall Space

My most recent wall hanging...a trio of chairs. I love it.

Happy Birthday Beckham!

My sweet nephew Beckham is FIVE years old today! Sheesh. We love this little man. He is adorable in ways immeasurable. He brings cheer and coolness every where he goes. We love you big guy!

Such a GREAT Weekend

Soren assuming his favorite position and activity: reading books on mom or dad's lap.

SOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE!!!

Soren getting some sleep sack love from dad.

I love this little man.

Asher describing, in detail, the features on his new toy.

The Deuce loved their 'old timey' toy! It was so cute to watch them drag (and occasionally kick) it around the house.

Another awesome weekend has concluded. Jamie was home all weekend and that was holiday enough! I love it when we are all together without interruption. Sharing meals together, running errands together, reading books together, and snuggling with our boys are really my favorite activities. We did loads of each this weekend.

Jamie deserved props for being such a terrific husband and dad. When he is home, he is HOME. He takes care of us and spends time with us. His commitment is to family and I feel extremely fortunate to have his attention, love, and affection as the grounding forces of our family.

Presidential Breakfast

Breakfast with The Deuce is always sweet like nutella.

In celebration of today's holiday I made a baked pancake and smothered it in nutella. I served it with sliced bananas and it was loved by all!

Who is your favorite president? I like several but today I would say Andrew Jackson--not for his mistreatment of minority groups or his penchant for duels, but for his ruggedness. He was not part of the Virginian or Northeast elite yet he wanted dearly to honor the cause of the revolution and and those who fought for us to have this free society.

My Valentines

The only evidence I have of the cookies I made...they were wonderful. I borrowed my neighbors frosting tips and even tried my hands at fancy frosting--let's just say I lack the slight of hand for delicate details but the frosting was piled high and it was yummy.

Soren biting into his first ever Valentine's cookie!

Soren LOVED his cookie cook.

Asher did not hesitate to bite into his cookie, which he also LOVED.

Like many folks, I love the tradition of making sugar cookies for Valentine's day. My mom always treated us with her delicious cookies and I am ecstatic to do the same for my own children, neighbors, and friends.

Asher and Soren helped me deliver cookies and valentine's to our neighbors and they also sent valentines to all of their grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Being a kid is so fun (read: having kids is so fun)!

In addition to giving their first valentines, Asher and Soren received their first valentines and that was really cute. Asher and Soren received cookies with their names on them (in the most divine cream cheese frosting), so fun!

MY valentine surprised me with a sweet card, TWO body butters (Satsuma and raspberry) and 16 sensational raspberry Godiva truffles. Heaven! The most tender gift, however, was simply his love and kindness to our children. Valentine's night turned into a bit of a nightmare. Soren was up for THREE hours (1-4) and Asher was up for the last half hour. I sat with Soren the first hour and after every all my soothing efforts were exhausted and he seemed calmed, I put him back in his crib. He screamed and screamed! Enter my valentine. He dutifully took his turn with Soren until he was finally ready to sleep without protest. He also comforted Asher when he woke up. Folks, it was a tough night. Apparently Asher and Soren wanted to be newborns again (which begs the question, HOW did we do TWO newborns???). Thank goodness I have such a kind souled husband who loves me and our children.

2009. A wonderful valentines day!