Sugar Cookies

Yesterday, Allie and I decorated sugar cookies for the first time. Since she has an allergy to eggs she has never had a sugar cookie before. My friend Anna inspired me to start experimenting with different recipes. My mom had bought me egg replacer from Whole Foods a while ago. I used it once to make brownies (and didn't follow the directions very well) and they came out okay. So, I decided to try again because I really want to be able to make things that Allie can eat. She is finally at an age that she notices people eating things that she can't have. I always try to take something she can have (rice krispies and oreos), but let's face it I needed to branch out!

I really don't like the egg replacer that I used and my mom has a different one for me to try. The dough was a little on the dry side. I'm not sure if that is because of the recipe itself or b/c of the egg replacer I used. After it was made I had to add a little milk to get the dough to stick together more. Then it was too sticky so I had to add in some flour. It was all a guessing game and I think they turned out pretty well. Next time I'm going to try a different "er" and a different recipe.

Allie loved decorating the cookies and got a little carried away with the sprinkles on the first one. For some reason she kept calling the sprinkles, "spray". Have no idea why! She loved eating the sprinkles and I had to keep reminding her to put them on the cookie. I'm so glad I've found something for her to enjoy and hopefully we will make more for Christmas! My friend Anna gave me a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and I plan to try those next. Her poor little guy is allergic to eggs, milk and peanuts!


*Yes, I know that my daughter is wearing a Halloween shirt
Allie putting the icing on her first cookie

Allie pouring on the sprinkles. I was too busy taking a picture to realize how much she had put on her cookie.

Mmm Mmm Good

A cold front came in on Thursday and I decided it was a good day to make soup. Usually I make taco soup, but that takes a while because I put it in the crock pot and since it was already 5 I didn't have time to do that. I decided to make a stop on the way home from work and pick up items for broccoli cheese soup. I know it's not the healthiest of choices, but it is one of my favorites and it takes no more than 30 min. to make.

Broccoli Cheese Soup
1 chopped onion ( I don't use an onion; I throw in some minced onion)
2 T. oil
6 c. water (sometimes I use 5)
8 chicken bullion cubes
8 c. 2% milk
12 oz. extra fine egg noodles (medium size)
2 (10 oz.) boxes frozen chopped broccoli
1 tsp. garlic salt
2 lbs. Velveeta cheese, cubed

I get everything ready before I start cooking b/c it cooks fast (cube Velveeta and brake up frozen broccoli).
Cook chopped onion in oil for 4 min. (I don't do this). Add water and bring to a boil. Add bullion cubes and boil until dissolved. Add egg noodles and cook 4 min. Add broccoli and garlic salt and cook 4 min. Add Velveeta and milk. Stir constantly until cheese melts. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy!

Cold: Take 2

Good grief! Allie has yet another cold. She just got sick a week and a half ago and already she has another one. This time she has a really bad cough and has run a fever. Last time she had a high fever and sore throat. Of course she was taken to the doctor both times. The first time I thought she had strep throat and this time I thought she had croup. I hate that money was "wasted" both times, but I know I would feel awful if I just assumed she had a cold and actually was sick. Hopefully she will be well during the Thanksgiving break. I know there is a lot of stuff going around right now (I have one kid out with chicken pox. Yikes!) and I know this won't be the last cold she will have this year. I'm just ready for my sweet girl to feel better for more than a few days at a time.

Sorry this post is so boring. Nothing else going on in our house. I will have more to post after the holiday! I am really looking forward to a week off.

1/2 Marathon

Last Sunday, Jarod competed in a 1/2 marathon race out at White Rock Lake. He ran so hard and did better than his goal time. His goal was to finish in 1 hr. 40min. and he finished in 1hr. 38 min. Actually I think his official time was 1hr. 37 min. and 58 sec. or something like that. He beat his time from last December by 20 minutes! I could not believe how fast he ran. I am so proud of him. His hard work and dedication paid off. This race was to help prepare him for his marathon in December.
He had a small cheering section for this race: Allie, my parents and me. I really liked this race b/c the cheering section wasn't as crowded as previous races. The race in December will be packed! The atmosphere was so laid back this time. I love that Starbucks is at every race and hands out free coffee and this time they handed out oatmeal. Yummy! Allie did really well considering we left the house at 6:45 am. She loved being outside and after Jarod finished we took her to play on the park for a little while.
For his marathon I'm hoping to be out there for the entire race. He would like for us to see him throughout his run to help give encouragement and Goo (this gross gel stuff he swallows for energy). We will have to a big plan laid out. Hopefully the weather will cooperate this year. Last year it was freezing and rainy. I would also like to make a sign but have no idea what I should put on it. Any suggestions are welcome!
Racing Schedule: Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day (now a Varner tradition). I will be walking the 3 mile with some of my family members (I hope!) and he will be running the 8 mile.
White Rock Marathon on December 14th.

Daddy's biggest fan!

This is the only picture that none of us had our eyes closed.

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween Everyone!
Thought I would share a few pictures from the Fall Festival at my church and my parent's church. Both of them were so different but lots of fun. I think Allie really enjoys trick-or-treating the best! We are looking forward to taking her tonight to the Rec Center in Lewisville. It has a walking path set up with businesses passing out candy. Should be lots of fun!

On Sunday Jarod has a 1/2 marathon and his marathon is in December. I can't believe it's almost here. I am so proud of him for working so hard and being so dedicated. He is setting a good example for me and for Allie. Hopefully I will get some good pictures of him on Sunday and will try to post them next week.
Hope everyone has a safe and fun weekend!

Greer catching a wave!

All my girls together! Annie thought her costume tasted yummy!

Allie loves her M&M's!

Pumpkin Patch

Sorry it has been so long since I've posted anything. I will have another post (hopefully today) of pictures from Fall Festival. It has been a very busy month for us. A few weeks ago we went to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound. We go every year and just love it. Usually my parents are able to join us but they weren't able to this year. We had a great time and Allie enjoyed rolling the pumpkins around, posing for her picture, eating kettle corn, going on a tractor ride and riding in the train.

Family Vacation: San Diego

We went to San Diego a little over a week ago. We had so much fun and I think we are finally back in our "normal" routine. The time difference had us all a little off for a while but I think everyone is feeling back to normal. Every year Jarod has a transit conference that he attends. One year it was in San Fransisco and this year it was in San Diego. We decided to make it into a vacation and invited my parents to join us. We really had so much fun! I am so glad we all were able to go together. While we were there, we celebrated my dad's 60th birthday. I think it was a b-day to remember.
Allie was such a trooper! I seriously can't believe how well behaved she was. I'm not saying that she didn't have her typical 2 year old moments (b/c believe me she did), but she just went with the flow, like she usually does. She loved seeing the ocean, the beach, all of the animals at the zoo and she loved riding the bus and train. She did really well on the both flights. Having a lot of stickers, crayons and our video ipod with Little Einsteins downloaded on to it helped a lot!
We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Balboa Park called Balboa Inn. If you like traditional hotels, you wouldn't have liked ours. I loved where we stayed. It had lots of character and plenty of room for all of us to fit. Our room was a two bedroom suite and off of our room was a terrace where we could enjoy our breakfast and coffee they brought us every morning.
On the first day we took a ferry to Coronado Island. While we were there we ate and went to the beach. On the 2nd day we went to the zoo for most of the day and then we had a late dinner. On the 3rd day (my dad's b-day) we went to La Jolla, saw the ocean and had an amazing lunch. That night we went and saw some sights in Balboa Park. Balboa Park is huge and absolutely beautiful. On the 4th day we went back to the zoo and that night we went to Seaport Village. We tried to do as much as we could. We even managed to get in naps for Allie which gave us all a little rest too!
Sorry for all of the pictures. I had a hard time choosing!



She was so excited to ride in the plane.
On the ferry to Coronado Island
First picture in the zoo

Allie looking for the polar bears.



This is at La Jolla by the ocean. Allie refused to look at the camera for most pictures we took.

Happy birthday to my dad!
The wave that came in behind them was huge!
Balboa Park

Dad blowing out his candle (match) on his slice of cake.

More zoo pics
I think this was the best picture I got of Allie the entire trip. She loves her new stuffed panda bear.
Allie riding the carousel at Seaport Village