Cake Mix Cookies

Tonight we went to our friend's Leslie and Martin's house for Family Home Evening. We were joined by two other families from our ward that we enjoy spending time with as well. We started off with a little story about Jesus for the kids and then it was off to the kitchen for Apples to Apples! It was fun to play with people we didn't know as well because we never knew what people were going to choose! I'm happy to report that I just so happened to be the winner!

We all brought treats and I did my trusty cake mix cookies. I swear, they are always my go-to when I don't have a ton of time. They turned out great as usual and they were the first dessert gone! So, I thought I would share the recipe!

Cake Mix Cookies:

1 Box cake mix (I tend to use some kind of chocolate, but any kind works!)

1/3 C oil 

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

Add in any fillers you want! I used Mini M&M's and mini chocolate chips, but again, you can use whatever you want in your cookies. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake 8-10 minutes. 

*I also tend to drop them, that way they flatten out a bit, but the middle is still soft and chewy. 

Enjoy!

About time

I mentioned before that Ethan and I went to my parents house for Christmas. I couldn't help but to put up what little decorations I had. I put them up the week before Thanksgiving so when we came home from Charlotte it would all ready for us to celebrate the season. 

Fast forward to today, our decorations were still up and I decided they finally needed to come down. It wasn't because I wanted to keep them up, it was because by the time we took our stockings down to take them to my parents house, there were only two things left to take down and they eventually just blended into our decor so I didn't think about it. 

Christmas has officially been taken down. I'm starting to think of some possible decorations for Valentine's Day, but we'll see. I always have high hopes of make tons of decorations and then real left sets in and it doesn't happen. Maybe this will be the year!

24 Weeks

How far along? 24 weeks

How big is baby? According to my pregnancy app, he's as long as an ear of corn.

Total weight gain/loss:  Let's just not..

Maternity clothes? Yep. We did a little shopping spree yesterday so I finally have some maternity clothes!

Sleep: Sleeping great!

Best moment this week: Shopping spree!

Movement: Definitely, he moves even more at night.

Food cravings:  No cravings here

Food Aversions: Nope, and never did. :)

Gender: It's a boy

Labor Signs:  Nope!

Pregnancy Symptoms:  Gaining weight

Belly Button in or out? It's still in, but definitely working its way out

What I miss:  Working out and not getting short of breath 1 minute in.

What I am looking forward to: Getting my house clean!

Upcoming appointments/events:  I have my next appointment in 3 weeks.

Milestones: Last week of my 2nd trimester!

Heaven is Here

For Christmas, my mom got me a book called Heaven Is Here. 

It's the story of Stephanie Nielson, the author of NieNie Dialogues. She's absolutely amazing. Stephanie and husband were in a plan crash in 2008. She had over 80% of her body burned and her husband, who was flying the plan burned about 40% of his body and broke his back.

The book is about their life. From dating to raising a family, from the plane crash to the recovery of it all. She has such a way of writing that makes you feel like you could be best friends with her. She writes things that are so personal, but make such an impact. Just like the cover says, it really is about hope, triumph and everyday joy.

I haven't finished the book yet, but in one I read about half of the book, I couldn't put it down! Even without finishing it yet, I have no reservations in telling everyone they should read it! It has such an amazing message and I can't wait to finish it!