Friends

A few weeks ago, my dear friend, Amy, and her precious children came to visit my boys and me.  Jacob and Matt were on a "big boys' weekend" to see a Pirates game, so it was just two moms and five kids ages 6 and under.  Yes, that sounds...chaotic, but it was such a great time!

Amy and I have "known" each other for almost five years now.  The word "known" is in quotes, because Amy and I met through our family blogs.  We had a shared "blog friend" and through blog hopping, I found her blog and began reading (and commenting) regularly and she did the same. 

About three years ago, we met each other in person for the very first time.  We met at a restaurant near their home and where our family was vacationing.  It was a brief get-together, but we really enjoyed our time together.

Well, three years and two and a half kiddos later (Amy's expecting), we were able to get together again.

My friendship with Amy is such a blessing!!  Our children really enjoyed one another and Amy and I soaked up our time together.  There's nothing quite like a friend who's in the same season of life and has similar beliefs as you.  We talked and talked and it was such an encouragement to me!  

I am so grateful that despite the miles that separate us, our friendship remains!

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor;

If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.  

But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Making Memories

"We do not remember days, we remember moments. The richness of life lies in memories we have forgotten."

I'm back to blogging because I made the decision that I didn't want to have so many forgotten memories.  This is a great way to not only have a permanent record, but share it with friends and family!  I mean, if we get to live this amazingly hilarious, super busy, unbelievably joyful, surprisingly entertaining, all-encompassing, and often overwhelming life, then by all means, we should share it with those we love!

My boys are growing up and my marriage is blossoming, and I don't want to miss a thing!  So, be on the lookout for posts and pictures as I try to capture the ordinary everyday that is life with the Sloans!

Coming Soon...

I've made the decision to give this blogging thing a try again.  I'll be doing some housekeeping here on the blog and sprucing things up a bit over the next couple of days!  Hang in there, I'll be posting again soon!

Cookie Exchange Time

Here we are, ready for our online cookie exchange!

Early this season, I mentioned to Matt that I'd like to host a cookie exchange. You know, just gather some of my girlfriends and family around for some chit-chat and to share some recipes. Then life happened! Nothing big, just the daily cooking, cleaning, diaper changing, playing, laundry, rocking, diaper changing, singing, baking, errand running, Christmas shopping, diaper changing, bottle feeding, homework helping, and did I mention diaper changing!! Well, with all that life happening, the cookie exchange fell through the cracks.

I was so glad when my sister-in-law reminded me of last year's recipe swap. It was great to get some new ideas to satisfy my baking urges. I can't wait to try Matt's great-grandmother Britt's orange cookies this year. You can find that recipe in the comments section of last year's recipe swap.

Now, on to this year...feel free to either leave your recipe in the comments section, or if you want, you can post your cookie exchange ideas on your own blog and just leave the link in the comments section. I'm calling it a cookie exchange, but feel free to leave any baked good recipe you love around the holiday season (brownies, bars, mixes, drops, etc)! Happy Baking!!

WHITE CHOCOLATE PARTY MIX~
1 (10 ounce) package small pretzels
5 cups Cheerios toasted oat cereal
5 cups Corn Chex
2 cups salted peanuts
1 (1 lb) bag M&Ms plain chocolate candy
2 (12 ounce) packages vanilla chips
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

In a very large bowl, combine the pretzels, Cheerios, Chex, peanuts and M&Ms. Set aside. In the microwave, heat vanilla chips and vegetable oil on a medium-high power for approximately 2 minutes, stirring once. Pour melted chips over cereal mixture and mix well. Spread on wax paper. Allow to cool completely, then break into bite-sized pieces. Store in airtight container.

MONSTER COOKIES~
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter
1 stick butter, softened
3/4 cup multi-colored chocolate candies
3/4 cup raisins
2 teaspoons baking soda
4 1/2 cups quick-cooking oatmeal

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats (I use my baking stones). In a very large mixing bowl (I use my KitchenAid mixer as the mixture becomes quite difficult to manage), combine the eggs and sugars. Mix well. Add the salt, vanilla, peanut butter, and butter. Mix well. Stir in the chocolate candies, raisins,baking soda, and oatmeal. Drop by tablespoons 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.
Bake for approximately 10 minutes. Do not overbake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in large resealable plastic bags

ENJOY!!

Cookie Exchange (edited)

Edited to add: Please invite your friends to join us. You can even copy and paste the invite picture (I think!!) The more the merrier!!

My First Meme

A meme is a list of questions and answers that a blogger posts on their site. In turn, you can then do the same on your blog. Your readers can follow suit if they choose and the meme travels. I've seen many a meme and never participated, but today BooMama posted a meme and I've decided to play along.

What were you doing 10 years ago?
Ten years ago, it was the summer between my sophomore and junior years of college at East Carolina University. That summer I went on my Junior Enrichment trip as part of my NC Teaching Fellows requirements. It was at a summer camp on the NC coast teaching kiddos about the wild horses in NC and soaking up the sun, sand, and water!

Favorite Snack?
Oats & Chocolate Fiber One bars
Air popped popcorn
Anything sweet & salty (ex. chocolate covered pretzels or birthday cake and potato chips)
Coldstone dark chocolate ice cream mixed with peanut butter

To Do List?
Tomorrow's list: put clothes away, take baby to doctor for immunizations, rearrange dining room (with Mema's help), go to BJs Wholesale Club, make calls/emails for special needs ministry I head up, clean house for small gathering of friends on Sunday

Jobs I Have Had?
After-school care assistant, concessions at baseball field, waitress at Pizza Hut, music director at a small church, retail clerk at knick-knack store, bartender, special education teacher, special needs nanny, stay-at-home-mom

Places I Have Lived?
NC...yeah, that's it just NC!

Bad Habits?
Picking my cuticles, biting my lip, starting something then getting distracted and starting something else never to finish first activity, procrastination

Five Random Things People May Not Know?
I've broken both of my arms and had three casts.

I can pop lots of joints: fingers, toes, back, ankles, wrists, neck, knees

Matt and I were introduced by Jacob's mother six years ago.

The first time I met the girl who eventually became my sister-in-law, she mistook me for a really hot, much older guy's girlfriend.

When Matt and I met, I did not want children of my own! :)

CDs I Would Want If Stranded On an Island?
Lakewood Live
My mix-tape CD of love songs from my hubby
Best of Broadway
Billy Joel's Greatest Hits
Martha Munizzi

What Would I Do If I Were A Billionaire?
Donate a large chunk to my church, Children's Cup, breast cancer research, the Arc, and the Autism Society
Pay off remaining debt
Buy a house big enough for lots of kiddos and animals
Buy a vacation home in Kauai...on the water, yes indeedy
Save for kiddos education

How's that for a wealth of knowledge. Tag...you're it! Just put a comment linking to your meme in the comments section.

New blog!

My bloggy friend, Amy, has created a new blog for the purpose of providing women a place to share, encourage, and support one another as we navigate the waters of being a Godly woman, wife, and mother. I am honored to have been invited to join her as an author on the new blog. When I post there, I'll try to stick to a topic related to the purpose of that blog and save the family pictures and the "oh-so-high-class" topics like this and this for The Sloan Chronicles. So, if you like that stuff, don't worry, it'll still be here! But, if you are interested in being a part of this new "wifestry" community (or even if you just want to lurk), stop by the new blog! Hope to see you there!

National Delurking Day!

Okay, so it's not really National Delurking Day, but I thought now would be a good day for it anyway! You know me...I make stuff up! For those of you who don't know, lurking is when you read a blog, but never comment or respond. Now that I added that FEEDJIT thingy on the sidebar that tells where people are viewing from, I know there are lurkers on this blog. Today is the day to make yourself known. Leave me a little comment to let me know you read. You don't have to include your real name or location, but if you want to I'd love it. Also, let me know how you know us or how you found our blog. I'll even make it easy for you by giving you a question to answer, so you don't even have to make anything up! Can't wait to see who is reading!!

PS: I love you lurkers and am glad you read our blog!!

If you had an extra hour in the day, what would you spend it doing?

Spring has sprung!

I love the spring weather and in honor of this season, I lightened up the blog colors. Enjoy!

AND, I added a new feature on the sidebar entitled "Books Impacting My Life Right Now." Check it out!