Cowgirl Cookies

1 1/3 cup all purpose flour, spooned into measuring cup & leveled
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup cooking oats
3/4 cup m&ms
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup white sugar
1/3 – 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Stir all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.

Add

1 slightly beaten egg
1/2 cup butter (melted slightly in the microwave)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Use the back of a large spoon to work it all together. You may even need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.

Then roll the cookie dough into 1 1/2 inch balls, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and bake for about 10 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven. I got about 26-28 cookies out of these.

Here’s how they came out.

Pretty and tasty. But I still want to try the other mixes later, and if one tastes better I’ll make sure and update the recipe. Besides, I want to know how long these will last in jars. Any ideas?

Want to make some cute cookie mix gifts, too? Here’s how.

Start with a 1 quart smooth Ball jar. I found these at Hobby Lobby craft store.

Layer the ingredients in like this:

First: flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt
Second: oats
Third: m&ms
Fourth: chocolate chips
Fifth: brown sugar
Sixth: white sugar
Seventh: chopped pecans

Pack each level down really tightly. I mean it. Pack it in. Or else it won’t all fit. Also, I added the chopped pecans last, because if the ingredients were too much or not enough, then I could add more or less pecans to adjust. I’d rather sacrifice nuts than chocolate, you know. The ingredients should be flush to the top of the lid when you seal it up.

See. There’s some of the pecans peeking out from under the fabric.

To decorate the top of the jars, get a spool of suede cord and some fabric. I really wanted to find some pink western bandana fabric, but this will do.
Anyway, cut the fabric into 6 inch squares and the suede into 25 inch pieces. Place the fabric on top and tie ribbons around the lid to hold it in place.

INTRODUCING LeLe!!

Hello We did get Alexa a puppy, she has been begging for one for over three months and more so since we got to New Mexico.. Even the lady at the grocery store asks me if we got her a puppy yet. She must be telling everyone.. She wanted one for her Birthday but the opportunity came up to get one the other evening and let just say we jumped up, well Luis and Alexa jumped up.. I hesitated a little.. WHY because I knew im the one training, and getting up all night to potty, and the one who will be rushing thru the grocery stores to get home and hopefully not have a potty mess to clean. But once we went and saw her she wrapped her paws around me hands literally and I have not put her down since. She is a great little puppy so far and super smart with potty training also. We did have couple accidents but is to be expected and she cries when she needs to go out and her accidents are by the door just not fast enough getting outside. She did go to vet yesterday because after her first day with me, I knew she had worms.. That is all getting taken care of and her brothers are right next door also to play with. They also had worms and went to vet yesterday also after I told them about LeLe. She is almost 5 weeks old and goes back to vet May 25th for 6 weeks shots etc.. Alexa named her all by herself and she has had that name picked out since she got her first stuffed puppy dog two years ago... She has been on two drives with is and first time I put her in her a little plastic basket thing with her monkey cushion and blanket and she slept and did great, on the way home I sat her on seat by me and she was crying and not having it all... I pulled over and tryed to potty her she didnt have to go she cried to oget back in truck and I put her back in the back again back in her basket and she settled right in again no crying or nothing. WOW I thought that s awesome shes gonna be a good traveler and especially since we will have her used to the road and a kennel to travel in. Our second drive was to Chiro last night and she rode up in basket and way back I tried to hold her on my lap and she cried and would not settle down, so put her in basket and yep thats all she wanted. This is good so she will love her kennel it will be her special place and keep her safe.  Oh yea, LeLe is a Blue heeler/ Red Heeler mix or some call it Australiain Shepard mix with Blue Heeler. She is precious and perfect for our family.

First Night, we got her at 7pm that night and they were best buds right  away. 

Love her dark blue eyes. Precious

Love this photo, this was just last night her bed is
in our room so i can hear her at night to let her out. She was
putting her mouth up to mirror also. SO CUTE!!

Her monkey cushion living area she has her bed in back. She has her little corner already figured out. 

Little Bits of Alexa..

Hello everyone, I am catching up a little.... We are all doing good and have been enjoying our week and half of cool, rainy, stormy weather. We all know the three digit weather is right the corner and no complaining about this sweatshirt weather one bit. I do like the summer but im thinking its gonna be even too hot to sit at a pool.. And Im also limiting Alexas sun exposure to mornings and evenings, except running errands in afternoons, but thats in the car travel time not direct sit in the sun and play time.  She is going to dermatologists june 8th for some pigment spots on her hands and knuckles that she has had for over a month and without and fading I took her to doctor and they referred her to dermatologist in Odessa, Tx. Im positive she is fine but just want to be sure, since more and more were appearing and put sunscreen on her daily.. and More now since the appt. We will keep everyone posted on that, but like I said they are smaller in size and she doesnt have more than 6 and the largest one is little smaller than a dime. We Love and Miss All Our Family and Friends !!!XOXO

Our Pretty Flowers. As you can see we have lots of sand, no green.. So we needed some color. The planter on the right side is full of green and those are my jalapenos ive actually kept alive from seeds indoors and brought out after freezes were over. And the one on the right is half alive but never actually flowered or yet anyways, its a full sun sunsation plant had good ratings, but lets just say it was dieing and I couldn't handle it anymore and bought some flowers to add to it. Yes the colors are much better, something pretty too look at it.  Im thinking about giving up on my green thumb, I guess you either have it or you don't. 

This is Alexa's plant these were her seeds she started indoors previously posted in blog, and they eventually passed on. no green thumb im telling ya, I actually keep telling myself its the heat, maybe im in denial a little. :)
Well they are fake but we water them anyways.. haha 

Alexa and mini Alexa!! She lover her baby doll she is her buddy and she goes almost everywhere with us. 

I have been wondering when this day would come, I was hoping it never would. But considering I've slowly been getting paid back from my own childhood I knew it would happen. :)Yes that's GUM in here HAIR!! She was hiding on the couch trying to hide it, and knew exactly what happened. We didnt have to cut Rapunzels hair thank goodness she was so upset. But we did get our gum privileges taken aways for the week. : (  !!!  And I'm thinking that me telling her we were going to have to cut her hair was more of a punishment than the NO Gum for a week. She cried her big heart out after I said that.. so let just say I don't think at least I hope we wont be having  anymore GUM in the Hair episodes.

past few weeks....

Hello I have not posted anything in a few weeks. We are doing good and keeping cool. Its is nice and hot here already, like it is everywhere right now. Hitting record breaking temps for April and don't even want to think about July and August.

Alexa and her soon to be flowers we hope!! This pic was take weeks ago so i need to take new one they are tall now but still no flowers :(

At the lake here in Jal. There are lots of ducks and small trout in this lake. Ducks are friendly and love to be fed bread. 

Easter Craft for our Window. 

Elmo Show

At the Elmo Show with her energy snack!! :)

Great Seats!!

feeding ducks, this one is blind actually. he has hard time but we make sure he gets fed plenty. 

She loves feeding them. 

My Little Dirt Princess!!

I believe I have the perfect combination of a Princess Girlie Girl and Play in the Dirt Nature Girl. Alexa has always loved dresses, she prefers to wear one everyday no matter what the weather. She says we can always wear leggings, or tights and a sweater or shirt underneath if needed, But she must wear a dress,not jeans!!!! She insist on having her toenails and fingernails painted once a week or more. But still loves her rock collecting, and digging in the dirt and sometimes laying in it. So there she is in her ruffly dress, with her freshly painted nails, sometimes in flip flops, sandals, or dress up princess heels sitting in the dirt digging with her fingernails. Yes Fingernails. Im not sure whether we paint her nails to cover up the dirt in between showering and nail trimming or if its just her girlie way.
We did go shopping the other day and got a new sand pail and shovel. So this will help with the nails. :) I cant complain though I have the perfect mix of girlieness with a side of tomboy. Pictures to come!!

Going to See Elmo Make Music LIVE

Yay, tickets purchased for Elmo Live, Alexa is thrilled. I was surprised that it was coming to Hobbs, Nm. She Loves Abbey!! Guess we need to start our outfit creation got floor seats third or fourth row back right in center. Im sure she will dance her little heart out.  It is on  Thursday April 17th at 1030 am. We have about a 50 min drive to get there. Not too bad at all. I thought she might be little old for it, but I mentioned it and she then named off every character by name, what they wear, and look like. The reviews from the show were great from other moms with kids in ages from 1-10. So it will be perfect.

Sunday Funday at the Park.

I was freaking out a little more with each step she took, shes not allowed to climb it alone.. she loved it !!
she slide down and ran back for one more time, but she had to wait for daddy to have his turn to follow her back up again. yes Luis went down too, big kid at heart!! 

Part of the playground equipment, there are basketball courts,  baseball field, a walking path all the way around the lake and park area, and 5 covered, picnic table areas with charcoal grills, and smokers attached to use. They all have electricity with 11 outlets. Perfect for a day of cooking out and not having to go home once its dark were thinking next weekend if we dont spend Sunday at the rattle snack roundup in Texas!!!

The park here is too cute, one perk of the small town. Man made lake looks like the JAL town logo thingy.. dont know what its called Sorry :) 

Trout

PIC 1, it wont upload right, but to can see the is pic 1, also excuse the popped collar haha 

PIC 2 pic wouldnt upload properly :( She gets a little closer to the fish, and that lovely popped collar again. gotta roll that down next time. 

PIC 3 and she touched it... and then it flopped at her and she jumped back too bad I didn't capture that photo.