YUMMY! YUMMY! COOKIES!

In March, our ward had a Youth Camp Auction, with youth and other members of the ward offering services, and other items for sale to raise money for our Girls' Camp and Scout Camps this summer. Nearly $4,000 was raised. Bruce donated snow removal. Veronica donated beginning piano lesson, our family donated Sunday Dinner and I donated one chocolate lovers dessert a month for six months. This was our last one.

We made cookies reminiscent of Three Girls' Bakery, at Pike Place Market, in Seattle. They were SO, SO YUMMY!

Here is the finished product. I'm going to include the recipe for any of you who might want to try them. ENJOY!

1 -1/4 cups firmly packed light brown sugar

3/4 cup Jif Creamy Peanut Butter

1/2 butter-flavor Crisco stick

3 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

3/4 teaspoon salt

About 12 cups of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (we used the regular size) (refrigerated)

Preheat oven to 375°F.In the bowl of an electric mixer combine brown sugar, peanut butter, CRISCO Shortening, milk and vanilla extract; beat at medium speed until well blended. Add egg. Beat just until blended.In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix just until blended.

Drop dough by rounded measuring tablespoonfuls (or cookie scooper) 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheet. Push peanut butter cup into center of the cookie. Bake for approximately 10-12 minutes. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet; transfer to cooling racks to cool completely.

HOMECOMING! Better a late blog than no blog!

Life has been crazy since we got back home from Dad and Mom's homecoming, so I am late on my blogging. I still wanted to document the events of the day. I drove to Utah the morning of July 31, 2007, with my four kids--Bruce, Veronica, Savannah and Joseph. Sadly, Travis was out of town for work and couldn't come with us.

We arrived to find Lori and her girls and Teresa and Zach making a "Welcome Home" sign. We pitched in and helped finish it and mount it to the fence.

When we received the phone call from Leslie, telling us they were at the exit, the sidewalk filled up with excited grandchildren. Yes, the rest of us were excited, as well, but we enjoyed watching the kids!

The older kids stayed in the shade with most of the adults, but the kids braved the sweltering sun and 100 degree heat to be by the sign.

The motorhome crested the hill and everyone cheered. Look at one of the twins' hair. Cute!

Look hard and you can see Dad waving out the side window of the motor home.

After going around the block, they finally pulled up to the house to park. Look closely and you can see Mom holding a camera, Leslie holding a camera and Dad holding a steering wheel.

Sister Higginson being greeted by grandkids.
Elder Higginson gets in on the action!
The returning grandparents and missionaries stand by their "Welcome Home" sign.
Four of the cute grand-daughters overlooking the lawn where the adults (and teenagers and babies) were visiting. The house was pretty warm, but the visit on the lawn with an occasional light breeze, was very pleasant.

We're excited to have Grandma and Grandpa home and look forward to them visiting us in Idaho. We are proud of their hard work serving Heavenly Father. What a good example they've set for the rest of us.