Chocolate Chip Cookies

3 eggs
1lb butter
1.5cups white sugar
2 cups. light brn sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 cups flour
1.5 teasp salt
1.5 teasp baking soda
4 cups choc chips (1.5 bags of 24oz size bags)

Cream butter sugar eggs and vanilla.
Add dry ingredients and mix well. Add chips. (It will be really thick and if you have a kitchen aid use it! it will be tough to stir!)
Drop by TEASPOON onto wax paper. (Make sure you use 1 heaping teaspoon – it looks small but it’s perfect…mine got a little bigger as I went along)

Do not reuse the paper for each batch!!!!

Bake 8-10 min at 350 degrees (check them at 8 min depending on oven…they get smokey…you want them light brown on the bottom)

This recipe will yield about 9 dozen smaller cookies! They are perfect for a party. Enjoy with some milk.

In a few short months we are off to Disney World and I am tunneling my excitement into crafts. The custom autograph books I made arrived by mail and I love them. I also just made a countdown calendar with circles to attach once we get to the 30 day mark. Now I need to get started on some Halloween costumes. I’m keeping myself busy.

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The newest cousin in the family arrived a few weeks ago (details in another post) and it was time to update my creepy newborn collage. Added to the bottom row is Eden, Lauren, and Issac. I may need help.

It really has been a particularly hot summer. Lucky for Lucy she she’s been swimming like a fish.

If you are a follower of the Ventura’s blog, you know that Rachel is currently copeing having been diagnosed with Melenoma. How scary it must be for her. I can’t wrap my head around how it must feel to get such news. I’m positive for her that this will soon be behind her and she’ll be onto bigger and better things. She is a special gem. There isn’t a sweeter, kinder, braver woman in this world. Truly she means so much to me. I couldn’t have asked for a better new sister ten years ago. It’s been such an honor to be a part of her life. Seeing her go from a teenager to a wife and mother has been so great. She has mentioned how much she’ll miss Lauren during her testing and surgery so I thought I’d make her a little something to take with her. It’s a brag book where she can slip wallet sized pictures inside. Filled with inspirational quotes, I really hope it helps her get through the tougher parts of this journey. We love you Rachel! Now get better soon.

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I finally had a chance to go through some photos on cd’s Tommy’s parents shared. Some of them were tougher to see. Many of them I don’t know who is who. But I went through and grab a few I thought I should share. I think I spy Stacie, Wally, Greg, Julie, Tommy, Mom/Laurie, Merriwheat, Billy, Sean and Gram. I’ve printed some of them to bring by and show Gram this weekend. I can’t get over how much Brittany looks like Billy. There are lots of Julie which is great since her birthday was this week. Happy Birthday Julie! Photos really do say so much. It’s such a treasure to have them. Click here to view these pictures »

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We leave for Disney in 73 days and it will be here before we know it. I am particularly excited for Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! And with that I must start on costumes. Lucy decided on Bo Peep from Toy Story and my brain went with it. Jack will make a super cute Woody. I have my work cut out for me.

And for a good laugh, I promise lots of pictures of Tommy and I. Here is the inspiration for our costumes…

Please comment below with your thoughts of Tom and Laurie, Mom & Dad, going as this lovable duo…