Deal...or NO Deal.

As many of you know...I taught middle school for 7 years. And in those 7 years, I played Deal or NO Deal with my students...OFTEN.
Honestly, it's one of THE best games when it comes to Middle Schoolers.
Why?
Cause you get YOUR way...and they get theirs.

For instance, this might be a DEAL OR NO DEAL situation.

Say something came up at school where they kids didn't get to work on their lessons like normal. Or we were getting OUT early...I'd say: "If you ALL work AS HARD as you can...with NO talking and fooling around...I just might make a DEAL to allow NO homework...or at least lower the amount of homework given."
And, I got my way...and they got their way. They worked like a dog. Hard. Quiet. Motivated.
IT.ALWAYS.WORKED.
Always.
They loved my deal...
and I loved their deal.

Well, I no longer work with students. I now, stay home with my 1 year old and take care of my house. Somedays I'd like to make a deal with the kitchen...or washing machine.
But, they don't like my deals.
Sigh.

And my 1 year old doesn't know how to play Deal or NO Deal.
So, sometimes I play by myself.
It's not as fun.

That just means I have more work to do.

And, that my friend, is what brings us to YESTERDAY.

Honestly, I don't know what was wrong with Easton. But, he wasn't Easton.
He was crabby. Clingy. Needy. Whiney. Fussy.
And just not Easton.

I think he's teething. (and he is a TERRIBLE teether. Just terrible)

So, yesterday, I did NOTHING. But hold him.
And hold him.
And after that got old for him...we took a drive. JUST to have him forget his crabbiness.

When Daddy came home, I GLADLY handed him over and said,
"Deal or NO deal! If you watch Easton I'll bake some cookies."

I thought it was a GRAND idea! Wil has been asking me to bake cookies for over a week now...and I JUST haven't had time.
It was a WIN-WIN situation!
Cookies for Wil...
Time to myself for me!

And the DEAL was done.
Just.like.that.

I was excited. I mean. EXCITED. No wiping noses. No fussy baby on my hip. Just me. A 30 min. break. Alone. In my kitchen. To create.

See, I planned to make these cookies in the morning...but, sweet little peanut didn't let me.

So last night, I was SET and working on MY part of the DEAL.

I grabbed my computer and was following the recipe from Mrs. B.  If you don't follow her blog STOP right now and go do it. I'll wait. You are missing out on a treasure. Her blog will make you come back for more.
Really. GO. NOW.

Ok. Now that you are a follower of Mrs. B...let's talk about the cookies she has mastered.

And my Deal or NO Deal...

Computer is READY to try these famous Chocolate Chip Cookies she makes. My butter had been sitting out for HOURS. And, her RULE is...FOLLOW this recipe to the T. So, like any good student, I did.

As I was getting out ALL of my ingredients I look down to see this....

WHAT!?! How are YOU in the kitchen? I laugh...and pick Sweet Babes up and take him to his father.
After all...a Deal's a deal! Right?

30 mins ALL to myself....

I get ready to make the 1st step. Taking my bowl over to the mixer...and
BAM!

He's BAAAACK!!!
Our conversation goes something like this...
"Um, Wil. Can you get Easton?"
"Oh, is he in your way?"
"Um, well, no. But, you said you'd watch him if I baked cookies."
"Oh. Come Easton."
And I pick Easty pants up and take him to daddy.

I read the blog. Beat in one egg at a time...
One...
Two...

I look down again...
HELLO DOLL.
What can I say...he loves me.
Again.
Our conversation:
"Wil."
"Easton, come to daddy."
I pick E-Pie up and take him to daddy.

I finish the mixing part...take a little taste and OH MY WORD. Divine.
Best cookie dough ever.
Best.
So. soft.
Couldn't wait to pop them into the oven and try them baked.
I put them in the oven and turn around...

WELL, hello there my sweet baby!
This time, he's not under my feet...he's just drifting through. I laugh.
But, my end of the deal is still in progress.
After all, a deals a deal.

I am about ready to start my 2nd baking sheet of cookies..WHEN....

Surprise. Surprise. Surprise.
He comes back.
Only by now, the crabbiness is gone. And he's smiling and happy.
He smells cookies.

I check on them...ALMOST READY.

And, after that, I lost track of how many more times Easton came to visit me in the kitchen. At one point when I was dealing with the oven...I told Wil he HAD to keep him in there because of HOT cookie sheets coming out of the oven.

But, let me tell you...the cookies...Divine. Some of the B-E-S-T I have ever tasted.
Perfect cookie.
Perfect.
Don't believe ME!?

We let Easton try a bite...
He's a huge fan.

And, although, our DEAL or NO DEAL was broken...
Wil did get some cookies.
He's a fan too.

So, next time you need some GOOOOOD cookies...run over to Mrs. B's blog.
Make 'um.
And tell her I sent ya.
You will love them!

Just remember....
Deal or no deal is for middle schoolers....not for husbands!

(no marriages were harmed in the making of the cookies.)
;)

Two years ago today...

Two years ago today was our wedding. In another post I'll share our love story and tell you how we met, fell in love, and got married in 3 months. BUT, until then, enjoy these pictures of where we were two years ago.

Wil--You are the BEST gift I've ever been given. God knew I needed someone strong, yet kind, loving and gentle and one that could make me laugh. I'm SO glad you and I are together and look forward to MANY MORE years as husband and wife. (just less E.R. trips!) Love you so much and am so thankful for you!
--your wife--

Me with the Love of my life!

The Bride

Some of my favorite girls in the world!

The wedding party!

The Groomsmen. Yep. I had more bridesmaids than he had groomsmen. Yep. It drove me nuts too...that the bridesmaid/groomsmen ratio wasn't even. BUT, I have SO MANY friends and EACH one played SUCH a huge role in my life that I could overlook the lopsidedness for the sake of friendship.

The Nolt Family
Wil has 8 younger brothers and sisters. To save time...I won't tell you their names! :)

The Phillips Family
Isaac and Libby Wendland, Paul and Dixie Phillips, Rachel and Wil Nolt, John Phillips, and Beka and Zach Fox.
Note: None of my siblings were married at the time. I just added their married names to help with the who's who in the picture!

The Groom's cake. The hunter with his bride!

My mom and Wil's mom lighting the candles.

My sister, Beka, as she came in. Her wedding would be less than a month after mine.

Two of Wil's nieces doing a great job of being flower girls!

SO HONORED my father could BE there at the wedding! He had a kidney transplant ONE month before, and we didn't know if he would be able to MAKE it...let alone perform the wedding! BUT, God is EVER faithful and DAD was there--giving me away and taking part in the wedding! To God be the Glory!

Mr. and Mrs. Nolt---FINALLY!

EVERYONE commented on the Mennonite hats! I received MORE pictures of the hats than ANY other picture that day!

A promise fulfilled

January 28, 07
"Another journal complete. Another year come and went. 2007. Who would of thought.
"So-and-so" and I dated and realized we were not meant to be. BUT, God has a prince of a man out there for me so I'm not in to hurry, I'm not going to worry, it's in the hands of God there's nothing I can do. It's just one more day closer to YOU."

Found that written in my journal from 2007.
Glad my PRINCE finally showed up!

At the end I wrote:
"Thanks, Jesus, for your unspeakable gift!"

I've got sunshine on a cloudy day...

Today was PERFECT weather to be outside! Last week it rained for days...but today, Iowa once again redeemed itself and here are pictures to prove it!

Wil and I went to the lake and while he fished, Easton and I went for a nice little...er...long walk.
The birds were singing, the sky was amazingly blue, the green all around made so happy. We walked and we walked. Such a perfect day!
This was Wil's fishing spot. I brought a lawn chair and a good book while he was finishing up this little fishing day. Easton loved being outside! He looked ALL around and kicked his feet.

Wil parked the car and walked over to the OTHER side of the lake to fish. After my hour walk, with Easton in the stroller, and a lawn chair on my back, I walked over to be with Wil. Ugh. Halfway there, through mud, and grass, and dirt, up hills, in muddy water, and the sun beating down on me, I got there. I felt like a pioneer woman, trying to live, beat the odds so her child could have a better life...The picture above is the END of our LOOONG walk to meet up with Wil. Yes, it's prettier in the picture than with a stroller and lawn chair on your back!

Changing up bait. Trying to catch a BIG ONE!

Easton slept the WHOLE walk, and on the way to the car Easton just started talking and cooing and looking at his daddy. He did look over at me to get this cute picture. *NOTE* Yes, it was 70 degrees. Yes, it was sunny and warm. Yes, we do have TWO blankets on our baby. WHY--you ask--Easton is ALWAYS (I promise) ALWAYS cold. He wears short sleeves and his lips quiver. SO...we always have ONE blanket around him...and the heavy "lamb" blanket has to be by his face when he sleeps. SO two blankets it is!

After the "trail of tears" trip to find my husband, I had Wil push the stroller back. I carried the lawn chair and we both carried the fishing pole. Yes, I did whistle the Andy Griffith tune as we walked...when I had the fishing pole. I couldn't help myself!

Talking and cooing with his daddy! Happy baby loves to be outside!

My sweet baby boy---I can't get enough of him! ;)

Talking about the next fishing trip we plan to take!

And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Yesterday was a PERFECT day. JUST perfect. Wil, Easton, and I woke up early and went to Aroma's to get some coffee.

Easton's 1st time in Aroma's.
Wil---before the coffee!

Me---with my Iced chai tea. YUM!

Then, we headed for a walk...SUCH a beautiful DAY!

Easton wanted OUT of his stroller...so Wil carried him as we walked. He liked that better!

Our little family!

After coffee and a walk, we headed to a Stillwater Greenhouse with my family.

Us---at Stillwater---We WILL be back to get more flowers!

Lunch!

A wanna be Laura Ingalls....

Going back to his Mennonite roots! ;)

Such a grand day!